Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Introduction: This Bridge We Are Building: “Inner Work, Public Acts”, Chris Bobel, Tim Sieber, Karen L. Suyemoto, Shirley Tang, Ann Torke

Chris Bobel

The symposium for which this is an introduction arose like a flower out of soil usually not known for nourishing vibrant, critical intellectual reflections: routine university governance committee work. All authors have been co-members for two years of the Diversity Committee, of the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Sciences and Mathematics, at the University of Massachusetts Boston. While it is true that most of us share wider intellectual and programmatic collaborations outside this committee, it was genuinely the task of doing our committee work that gave impetus to this panel. For this symposium, we used as an …

Behind The Seams: An Ethnographic Study Of The Performative Nature Of Theatrical Costumes, Emily M. Lindholm

Student Publications

Actors are said to bring a play to life, but what about the garments that they wear? Like set production, light design, and direction, the role of the costume plays an important part in informing and enchanting the audience. However, this is not all that they do. This paper acts as an in-depth examination of the culture of costume creation and destruction at Gettysburg College, researching their roles as garments, as well as how the garments themselves "act" around others. Imbued with their own set of responsibilities, the costumes are expected to behave certain ways, perform specific functions, and put …

A Study Of Japanese Animation, Michele Gibney

Michele Gibney

This paper takes a sociological approach to the question of popular culture’s ability in Japan--specifically that of Japanese animation--to be reflective of the country's sociological concerns. This is not to say that all anime shows consciously reflect Japanese life, but by extrapolation of recurrent themes one can construct a model of certain sociological issues in Japan. The author split the paper up into five sections each of which tackles a different theme. These sections are: Education, Social and Class Differences, Environment, Post-Nuclear Visions, and An Emergent Feminism. The main point that the author conveys in each section is a way …

Village Literacy: Adult Education In Northeastern Kenya, Jodi Heidorn

Senior Honors Theses

The underdevelopment of effective adult literacy programs in Northern Kenya is a problem that must be addressed to meet the needs of a changing generation of nomadic pastoralists. Existing programs must be reevaluated in order to increase their efficiency and incorporate the unique aspects of local cultures into their design. This paper explores the broadening definition of literacy and discusses how there are in fact multiple literacies in any given culture. Next, it examines the history of education in Kenya and the barriers that may be unique to adult literacy programs in Northern Kenya. Also, it examines how changes in …

Should A Program Of Sex Education Be Mandatory In Public Schools From 4th-12th Grade?, Tara St. Onge

Sociology Student Scholarship

For a position paper and presentation in her Changing Family course last fall, Tara explored the debate surrounding sexual education in the public school system. After completing extensive research regarding the policies which are already in place and evaluating their success, Tara formed the position that a program of sexual education should be mandatory in public schools form 4^th to 12^th grade. During an era where popular reality television shows include “Sixteen and Pregnant” as well as “Teen Mom” depict what a large issue teenage pregnancy is and how mainstream it has become in society. Tara does an …

Rhode, Deborah L.: The Beauty Bias: The Injustice Of Appearance In Life And Law., Margaret Svogun

Journal of Interdisciplinary Feminist Thought

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Examination Of University Of New Hampshire Student Impact On The Town Of Durham, New Hampshire, Audrey Hickey

Honors Theses and Capstones

University of New Hampshire students and Durham, New Hampshire residents have a historically contentious relationship that reached a low point in the early 2000s. On three occasions, university students flooded downtown Durham, vandalized stores and started altercations with police. Local newspaper reports and anecdotes assert that relations have improved since that time.

This study utilizes 39 semi-structured student, resident, business- owner and administrator interviews to examine the current state of the relationship. A brief overview of town-gown relations and a case study of student-resident relations at the University of Delaware is included to highlight the universality of the issues in …

Book Review: On Critique By Luc Boltanski, Alexander M. Stoner

Catalyst: A Social Justice Forum

No abstract provided.

The Social Psychology Of Evil: A Look At Abu Ghraib, Kristin Richardson

All Theses

In the spring of 2004, the military police assigned to guard the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad, Iraq found themselves at the center of numerous investigations regarding the abuse, torture, rape, and murder of detainees in United States custody. Their behavior was influenced and encouraged by U.S. officials, including President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The Bush administration effectively created a reality for the military police that fostered increasingly violent and aggressive tendencies beyond what is expected or allowed in similar circumstances. Existing literature and conclusions from previous studies support the claim that social and situational …

Usos E Significados Da Tecnologia Na Academia: Uma Abordagem Sociológica, João Monteiro Matos

João Monteiro Matos

perceives, uses, and interacts with new information and communication technologies (ICT) in their everyday working practices.

The main goal is to understand whether these new technologies can be an indicator of different scientific cultures, using the metaphor of the “two cultures” introduced by Charles Snow (1963).

I will make use of this metaphor to examine differences and specificities of two scientific communities: the natural sciences and the social sciences community at two institutions of the University of Lisbon.

This research follows a mixed methods strategy, combining the application of a survey and qualitative interviews.

This study will contribute to the …

The Implications Of Africa-Centered Conceptions Of Time And Space For Quantitative Theorizing: Limitations Of Paradigmatically-Bound Philosophical Meta-Assumptions, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Publications

“The Implications of Africa-centered Conceptions of Time and Space for Quantitative Theorizing,” looks at Eurocentric scientific conceptions of time and space, how they effect theorizing concerned with these matters, and how they are altered as one considers non- Eurocentric conceptions. For example, one might look at the assertion of circularity, holism, and continuity in contrast to linearity, disjunction, and discontinuity. The example focused on is a scholarly article focusing on constraints associated with time travel. The article deconstructs the piece as Eurocentric and re-conceptualizes it from an African-centered cultural and social perspective.

Correlations Between Language, Identity, And Discrimination Among Spanish Speakers In Providence, Katherine Rennie

Global Studies Student Scholarship

This study examines how discrimination based on language hinges on the importance of language to one’s personal identity. In order to understand the connections between discrimination and language, the literature on discrimination and its various components is investigated. Scholars’ findings concerning the connection between language and identity are then examined. A discussion will follow of the neuropsychology of language and of the scientific argument that human language came about in response to an evolutionary need for symbolic communication. These themes create a framework for the following study. In order to understand the experience of discrimination as a result of language …

Becoming An Administrator, F. Patrick Lattuca Iii

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

This study is part of a limited but growing body of research that examines and describes the social side of pulic school administration. Most training programs that prepare public school administrators are highly effective with regard to providing students the theoretical foundation that surrounds administrative roles, but as the literature illustrates, there is a gap between theory and practice. This autoethnographical dissertation addresse this gap by providing an analytical description of what individuals do when acting as a public school administrator. Specifically, this study follows the transition into an assistant principalship and how the author was socialized into that role

Evidence Of The Shaming Effect: A Look At Ncaa Football, Holmes Hill

All Theses

This paper addresses the general theory of shaming and the effects it has on criminal behavior. There has been much debate of the use of shaming in the criminal justice system and the effects it has on criminal behavior. The lack of quantitative data has limited such debates to theory without evidence. This paper applies the theory to NCAA football statistics to study the behavior of football players on the field, to explain the way people and how people respond to shaming. The analysis is based on seasonal team statistics of all division I football teams in correlation with a …

Sudden Death And The Myth Of Cpr / Book Review, David B. Sugarman

David B Sugarman

Whether we think about Miracle Max, quoted above, or Dr. Mark Green from the television show, ER, our society harbors a stereotype of emergency healthcare practitioners who serve the public interest by rescuing critically ill or injured individuals from sudden death, that is, the termination of cardiopulmonary functioning. Stefan Timmermans, a Brandeis University sociologist, offers both the general public and the academic reader a backstage view of our healthcare system's failing attempt to live up to the mythical images that we have constructed. His observations are simultaneously enlightening and disturbing.

Approaching A Sociology Of Aesthetics: Searching For Method In Georg Simmel's Rembrandt, Michelle Marie Nixon

Theses and Dissertations

Art leaves the viewer with an aesthetic experience. Through art, "a truth is experienced that we cannot attain in any other way" (Gadamer 1975: xxii-xxiii). Traditional sociological methods of studying art negate both this experience and the concept of aesthetics altogether. This thesis attempts to find a method to approach the sociological study of aesthetics that acknowledges its existence and the aesthetic experience by studying the work of sociological founder, George Simmel, in his recently translated monograph Rembrandt: An Essay in the Philosophy of Art. Even though it has recently been translated into English, among German-speakers, it was the …

The Sociology Of Harriet Martineau In Eastern Life, Present And Past: The Foundations Of The Islamic Sociology Of Religion, Deborah A. Ruigh

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This paper is a critical analysis of Harriet Martineau’s philosophical stance and epistemological modes, her systematic sociological methodology, her use of this methodology, and her sociology of religion. How to Observe Morals and Manners (1838), Eastern Life, Present and Past (1848), and other relevant works will be used to examine Martineau’s evolving epistemological modes as well as her sociology of religion. How to Observe, Martineau’s treatise on systematic sociological methodology and cultural relativism, will serve as an exemplar for analysis of Martineau’s methodological practice as evidenced in Eastern Life. The research problem herein is three-fold: (1) to examine …

Factors That Influence Helping Behaviors: Does Race And Socioeconomic Status Of A Victim Influence Whether Others Help?, M’Keba Barksdale

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Personal Factors that Influence Helping Behaviors The murder of Kitty Genovese played an historic role in promoting research on helping behavior (Manning, Levine & Collins, 2007). For many years research articles, psychology books, and other references about the murder of Kitty Genovese informed people that she was stabbed to death in front of her home while 37 witnesses watched and did not help. However, more recent research has shown that this research was not accurate (Manning, Levine & Collins 2007). There were actually 38 witnesses and some who testified at the murder trial, that at a first glimpse it did …

Discovering Resilience In Children Who Witnessed Their Caregivers With Cancer: A Retrospective Study, Cassandra N. Menz

Social Work Theses

Cancer is a powerful disease and has been shown to affect both the individual battling the disease as well as the friends and families. Research has shown that children and/or adolescents who have witnessed their caregivers with cancer have emerged as resilient from this experience. Through interviews, this study investigated college students at a small liberal arts school in Southern New England, who have or have had primary caregivers with cancer to see if they have gained resilience. This study revealed the effects that cancer can have not only on the individual who is battling the disease, but also on …

Facebook: The Newest Weight Loss Supplement?, Jaclyn Longo

Social Work Theses

This study sought to find a correlation between Facebook usage and exercise and diet habits among college-age females. A review of literature has shown the prevalence of eating disorders on college campuses and the pressures directly associated with these statistics. Eighty surveys were collected in order to measure both qualitative and quantitative data concerning the participants Facebook, eating, and dieting habits. Results revealed a strong drive among these females to stay thin through the use of diet and exercise habits, along with a correlation between viewing Facebook photos and the urge to workout. Further research on this subject should focus …

Effects Of A Witnessing History On The Female Ability To Negotiate Romantic Relationships: A Retrospective Analysis, Kimberly Rodrigues

Social Work Theses

Research suggests that witnessing domestic violence (DV) in childhood may have long-term negative effects as a person enters adulthood. This exposure may hinder the ability for adults to build healthy romantic relationships. In an effort to better understand how a witnessing history affects adult romantic relationships, this study focused on the retrospective stories of women who were in recent domestically violent relationships and who also reveal witnessing DV as children. Participant’s narratives were analyzed for themes relating to their witnessing history, such as type of violence witnessed, frequency of violence witnessed, and whether or not participants felt their witnessing history …

Why Do College Students Stay In Unhealthy Relationships And Why Are Peers Hesitant To Intervene?, Melissa Devito

Social Work Theses

This study focused on why college students remain in unhealthy relationships and why they may not intervene. Additionally, the study sought to determine student’s perception of themselves and others using scales that measured their self-esteem, comfortability, and vulnerability. Sixty five students at a Catholic southern New England private college participated in this mixed method study. Results revealed that the definitions of relationships were gender based and students were aware of sexual abuse but remain neutral about reporting it and intervening. Implications from this study include the need for future research on reporting sexual abuse on college campuses and to gather …

Effectiveness Of Anti-Bullying Policies In High Schools, Angela Ju

Social Work Theses

This study focused on the effectiveness of anti-bullying policies in high schools from the perspectives of college students. Literature suggests that anti-bullying policies are in place nationally in high schools but implementation of these policies have been questionable. Several studies have indicated a need for more enforcement of bullying prevention efforts in high schools. This quantitative study gathered data from surveys distributed to and completed by college freshmen students, almost all of whom have had a bullying experience at least once in high school. Findings imply that participants were split in their perspective of how effective and beneficial their high …

Is Mental Illness An Access Barrier To Seeking And Receiving Abortion Services?, Miranda Cummings

Social Work Theses

This study examines the relationship between one’s mental health status and access to abortion services. A review of the literature confirms that no prior research has been completed to determine whether or not mental health status is a barrier to seeking and/or receiving abortion services. A qualitative study using professionals from the mental health and abortion service fields was conducted to explore this relationship. Findings suggest that there are implications for some individuals experiencing mental illness. Another finding concludes that mental illness may be a secondary access barrier if one’s health insurance is provided by governmental funds. An implication for …

Caught In Cultural Limbo?: A College Student’S Perspective On Growing Up With Immigrant Parents, Melissa Weiss

Social Work Theses

Much recent scholarship of immigrants, has found a second-generation disadvantage, or an “immigrant paradox” instead of a “second generation advantage”. In contrast to past studies, this study employed qualitative methods to explore mental health and risky behavior variables of the immigrant paradox among college-aged children of immigrants who attend a private, liberal arts institution to gain a more meaningful understanding of this “paradox”. No strong evidence suggesting an “immigrant paradox” in terms of these variables was found, but instead participants expressed cultural pride. It was also found that these individuals valued their present support systems and those they had while …

The Motherhood Earnings Penalty: A Study Of Inequity Between Daycare Providers And Elementary School Teachers, Amanda Regis

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Sex Education In Our Schools, Kelley Conti

Honors Projects

This research project involved interviewing 42 parents with children between the ages of 12 to 18-years-old regarding their views and opinions on sex education for today’s youth. All 42 parents agreed they wanted a more informative sex education for their children than what they were exposed to as children. This included those with formal sex education as well as those that learned from peers, siblings or in their neighborhood. Another aspect all parents agreed on was the need for a more comprehensive sex education. Thirty-eight parents thought abstinence should be included as an option in sex education classes but not …

Mandatory Reporting: A Study On The Effect Of Universal Mandated Reporting, Amanda Regis

Honors Theses and Capstones

Scandals at Penn State and Syracuse University have the world talking about mandatory reporting. There no debate in the academic community concerning the detrimental effects of child maltreatment and neglect, but the debate concerning mandatory reporting is ongoing. This study looks at the effectiveness of universal mandatory reporting of child maltreatment versus the current statute of mandated reporting for only certain professions in the states of New York and Pennsylvania. When Pennsylvania changed its legislation to a universal mandatory reporting law, it experienced a great increase, of 500%, in the number of substantiated reports of child maltreatment. While this increase …

Sociology / Demographics - Cornell University, Keith Jenkins

Data Curation Profiles Directory

The researchers interviewed for this data curation profile use data from the US Census and other federal and state government sources and process, analyze, and distribute the data on the project website in a way that makes the data more accessible and easier to use. The researchers also produce analytical reports that are also available on the website. The data management needs center around the researchers’ desire to utilize an external data repository to reduce the effort required to maintain the data on their website. The researchers would need the repository to offer similar web APIs to what they currently …

Why All The Counting? , Roger D. Clark

Roger D. Clark

This article addresses the question of why counting has figured so prominently in feminist social science studies of children’s literature. It documents the quantitative approach to children’s books used by both liberal and radical feminists, gives an account of why this approach has been so popular among feminist social scientists, and outlines some of the achievements and limitations of this approach. The article also indicates some reasons why recent, multicultural feminist, social science studies have used a more qualitative approach to children’s literature, as well as some reasons to expect that one might count on a greater balance of qualitative …