Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Post Colonial Studies, Nashieli Marcano, Kyle Brooks

Research Guides & Subject Bibliographies

No abstract provided.

Text Selection And Course Design: Faculty Perspectives On Critical Reading And Critical Thinking, Julie Collins-Dogrul, Kenia Saldaña

Sociology

This study of sociology faculty in twelve private colleges and universities compares teaching with textbooks and textbook alternatives in undergraduate classes. Faculty explain that textbooks provide a breadth of material that is organized and streamlined in a way that promotes consistency across instructors, facilitates content delivery to students with a range of abilities, and reduces course preparation time. Despite these benefits, faculty have a strong preference for textbook alternatives. Faculty argue that readings, like monographs and journal articles, develop students’ critical reading and thinking skills. Additionally, when instructors design courses with alternative readings they engage their own critical reading and …

Beyond Words: Newspapers, Language Usage And Disability Stigma, Laura Kruczinski

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Sociology has a long history of documenting socio-political views that are used by media to portray stereotypes and perpetuate the potential stigmas associated with race, social class, gender, and other disadvantaged social categories. There is comparatively little existing research that discusses how media coverage is connected to disability-related stigma. In this thesis, I use grounded theory to construct a content analysis of newspapers coverage of the 2016 United States Presidential Election. From the data, I examine how stereotypes related to disability may be used in political discourse, drawing from the refined theory of stigma, as outlined by Link and Phelan …

The Great Recession: A Meta-Analysis Informed By Conflict Theory, Joshua J. Discipio

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This study was directed at understanding the sociology of the economic conflict better known as the Great Recession as interpreted through the lens of theoretical perspectives consistent with conflict resolution and elucidated the role traditionally important social variables, such as gender, power and identity, played in pioneering the fertile breeding grounds from which the 2007-2009 global financial crisis would eventually emerge. In progressing through the meta-ethnographic approach to qualitative meta-analysis developed by Noblit and Hare (1988), qualitative analysis software was implemented to elicit the formal procurement of prospective thematic concepts grounded in the findings of nominated original studies so to …

Social Cohesion Among Individuals Participating In Re-Entry Groups, Todd Reiser

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

When prisoners are released from incarceration they enter a social landscape that holds unique challenges. One of the ways humans living within social systems understand their place and role is through the mechanism of religion. This study investigates how group religious practice establishes a shared worldview among those recently released from prison; a worldview that promotes the creation of positive social cohesion which contribute to life improvements, social mobility, and social status changes. "Social networks may include friendship circles in local congregations, scripture study groups and relationships with religious leaders who serve as role models for individuals" (Kerley et al …

Conceptions About Terrorism: How Fearful Are We And How Does That Affect Us?, Rebecca Jackson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Since the crusades, terrorism has been a form of violence used to promote some kind of agenda, whether political, social, religious or ideological (Martin 2018). With many different definitions of what constitutes terrorism, it is somewhat difficult to measure what exact impact terrorism has had globally. Attacks such as those on 9/11 in the United States and the Manchester bombings have been accepted worldwide as examples of acts of international terrorism. International terrorist attacks have lasting effects on both those directly affected as well as the larger community and beyond. Studies have shown that Americans are overly afraid of terrorism …

The Transition From Active Duty To Veterans In Higher Education, Chantel Nicole Boudreau

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This paper focuses on the transitions from military life to civilian life experienced by veteran students at a public university and how they differ for male and female veterans. I gathered my qualitative data through one-on-one interviews with 12 respondents; four females and eight males. I found that veterans must overcome a number of different hurdles. Some veterans had negative experiences while others had very positive experiences. In this article we will learn of the many different struggles experienced by student veterans and what led them to be where they are now. One thing that stands out in this qualitative …

Just A Chemical Imbalance: Exploring The Absence Of The Social Etiology Of Depression In Common Medical Websites, Zoe Folsom

Conspectus Borealis

In recent decades, depression has received increased attention in the United States. As diagnosed instances of depression rise, and as it has usurped all other conditions in both national and global disability costs, pressure continues to mount to address and mitigate the societal impacts of this seemingly unstoppable disease. While this has taken various forms, from campaigns to destigmatize mental illness to government entities devoting to reducing social costs of depression, the prevailing narrative proves incomplete. Despite a wealth of research supporting a direct link between social factors (such as life satisfaction and relational satisfaction) and instances of clinical depression, …

Ignatian Intent: Using Ignatian Pedagogy For Sustainability In The Sociology Classroom, Erin E. Robinson

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

In the sociology classroom, students expressed thoughts of denial of the importance of a number of social issues, including climate change. During this time, I was involved in two initiatives which were collaborative efforts to weave Ignatian Pedagogy with sustainability education. First, at Canisius College, we developed a Sustainability Initiative to embrace a comprehensive approach to environmental sustainability in academics, community and campus culture. Second, I was invited to become involved with the AJCU Ecology Educators group working on the Ignatian Pedagogy for Sustainability. Through the application of the Ignatian Pedagogy for Sustainability tool kit, I took the opportunity to …

Kinder And Less Just: A Critical Analysis Of Modern Gleaning Organizations And Their Place In Food Recovery Discourse, Anna Clare Gorman

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The practice of gleaning began as a way for the poor to provide sustenance for themselves and their families. Changes in societal ideas about private property as well as a shift toward a neoliberal style of governance have caused gleaning to become what it is today: a practice primarily undertaken by charitable organizations, nonprofits, and church groups who then donate their bounty to local food banks, providing fresh produce to the food insecure. In modern society, gleaning is often held up as a single solution to the problems of food insecurity, poor nutrition, and food waste. This thesis complicates that …

Undocumented: Living In The Shadows, Jennifer C. Sloan

Open Educational Resources

This course explores the lives of undocumented students in the United States. The first portion of the course will explore the socioeconomic and political institutions that created the "illegal immigrant" problem and how the US government, civil society, immigrant advocates, artists, and humanitarians have approached the issue. The second portion of the course will discuss how undocumented students navigate the education system, public spaces, and work life in the U.S. Finally, we discuss previous "solutions" to the undocumented immigration "problem", what were the outcomes of those decisions, and what we can learn from these previous attempts.

Rising Expenditures On Pets, Rachel Marsh

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The purpose of my paper is to highlight the rising expenditures on pets in the United States and to elucidate possible reasons behind this trend, considering the role(s) pets play within families especially in place of human counterparts. Robert K Merton's notion of latent and manifest functions provide the theoretical framework. I consider the popular works Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, John Grogan's Marley and Me, and the Disney film The Fox and the Hound, as well as turn to statistics regarding how much money people are spending on their pets and specific areas where …

Student, Athlete, Or Neither At All: A Closer Look Into The Experiences Of Black Basketball Players In The Ncaa, Armando D. Dunn

Senior Projects Spring 2019

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

The Context Of Authority And Sociological Knowledge: An Experiential Learning Project, Julia F. Waity, Stephanie Crowe

Communications in Information Literacy

In this innovative project, a social sciences librarian partnered with a sociology professor to embed the “Authority is Constructed and Contextual” frame into an upper-division sociology of poverty course. Students in this course participated in an experiential learning project, collaborating with local children on a participatory photo mapping project to document the children’s neighborhood. By working directly with community members in this field experience, the students gained an understanding of the differences between scholarly authority and community authority and what can be learned about poverty from each type of source. Engagement with a local community provides students with a direct …

Biased, Janessa M. Andiorio Ms.

Capstones

BIASED is a journalistic podcast focused on intertwining journalistic reporting with opinion to explore the bad behaviors and entitled attitudes that comes with athletic status and how it develops. By talking with coaches, current and former athletes and sport sociology exports this project explores how athletes view themselves as well as how society enables certain sport culture.

https://jandiorio194.wixsite.com/biased

Together But Separate: Uncovering School Segregation In 2018, Eliza Davern

Honors Program Theses and Projects

While many Americans assume that school segregation and other forms of racism are a thing of the past, the reality is that our country still has a long way to go in terms of racial equality, especially when it comes to our public-school system. Schools today are more segregated than they were more than 60 years ago when Brown vs. Board of Education was put into effect. This thesis seeks to understand the concept of school segregation as a part of America today. The following work analyzes both the history of school segregation as well as its role today, through …

Yellow Fever: Asian Representation In Western Pornography, Chye Shoong Chin

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This research project seeks to explore the various implications porn films make on Asians Orientalism. Generally, Asians in pornography are composed of multiple negative archetypes, all based on the underlining purpose of servitude. Characters are portrayed through stereotypes including the use of colonial language to misrepresent Asian men and women in both straight and gay porn videos. Referred to as Orientalism, this ideology exploits Asian characters to privilege the White, male viewer. My research project investigates the following question: How are Asians represented in gay and straight pornographic films and pornographic scenes?

I will be applying scholarly arguments to various …

#Metoo Movement: The New Wave Of Feminism, Jannette Delgado

Sociology Student Work Collection

Every wave of feminism serves a different purpose based on the state of society and how it treats women from all backgrounds. This presentation shares a glimpse on how the socially media-driven #MeToo movement has impacted all social spectrums from Hollywood to the higher courts and why it has remained effective in and outside social media.

“Are You Accepting New Patients?” A Pilot Field Experiment On Telephone-Based Gatekeeping And Black Patients’ Access To Pediatric Care, Tamara Leech, Amy Irby-Shasanmi, Anne L. Mitchell

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Study Objectives

To determine whether the name and accent cues that the caller is Black shape physician offices’ responses to telephone‐based requests for well‐child visits.

Method and Data

In this pilot study, we employed a quasi‐experimental audit design and examined a stratified national sample of pediatric and family practice offices. Our final data include information from 205 audits (410 completed phone calls). Qualitative data were blind‐coded into binary variables. Our case‐control comparisons using McNemar's tests focused on acceptance of patients, withholding information, shaping conversations, and misattributions.

Findings

Compared to the control group, “Black” auditors were less likely to be told …

Straining To Prevent The Rohingya Genocide: A Sociology Of Law Perspective, Katherine Southwick

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This paper analyzes the generally muted international response to the protracted plight of the Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar, from the perspective of sociology of law. The first part provides background on the Rohingya crisis and discusses relevant international legal frameworks relating to crimes against humanity and genocide. The second part adapts analytical frameworks developed by Felstiner, Abel, and Sarat on the emergence and transformation of disputes, in order to examine some of the factors that frustrate the processes of naming crimes, blaming perpetrators, and claiming rights and protection for the Rohingya minority in the international context. Work …

Hypermasculinity In The Heavy Metal Subculture, Whitney Doucette

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This study analyzes the dynamics of the heavy metal subculture through the lens of gender. Through fieldwork in the heavy metal culture, themes of discrimination against women were made notable. The sociology of gender, both subtle and conspicuous, was used as a theoretical basis for this research. The purpose of this paper is to study relevant aspects of gender in the contemporary heavy metal subculture. I conducted ten interviews with self-described fans of the music genre, as well as thirty participant observations in the environment in which they dwell. Themes of sexualization and ostracization based on gender expression were apparent. …

Tackling Under-Declared Employment In The European Union: Input Paper To Thematic Discussion Of European Platform Tackling Undeclared Work, Colin C. Williams

Colin C Williams

Evaluating Policy Approaches Towards Undeclared Work: Some Lessons From Fyr Of Macedonia, Colin C. Williams

Colin C Williams

Sociology 29000: Immigration, Jennifer C. Sloan

Open Educational Resources

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the study of immigration from a sociological perspective. The course begins with an overview of the factors leading to migration and examines how social, economic, political, and legal issues affect individual decisions to migrate. Immigration is first examined first through a historical lens by looking at the history of migration to the United States as well as migration to European and Latin American countries. Next, we turn to the policies that govern migration and borders to study how those policies have affected migrant flows and the ethno-racial makeup …

Sociology 38103 / International Studies 31113: Race And Ethnicity In International Perspective, Jennifer C. Sloan

Open Educational Resources

Race and ethnicity are key dimensions of stratification in society. This course examines the conceptual construction of race and ethnicity in different societies around the world during different eras. It pays special attention to the causes and consequences of racial and ethnic conflict and cooperation from the perspective of state institutions as well as cultural groups.

Anti-Queer Microaggressions Towards Queer Black Men, Camisha D. Fagan, Anna Smedley-López

McNair Poster Presentations

Microaggressions are reoccurring derogatory messages that degrade and/ or discredit one’s identity. While invisible and unknown to many, they remain visible and apparent to those impacted by them. The research questions for this project are: (1) What microaggressions do Queer Black men experience within larger society? (2) To contrast with larger society, what microaggressions do Queer Black men experience within Black communities? By conducting focus groups, I will examine the intersectional microaggressions that Queer Black males experience in their own community, as well as document microaggression that they experience in larger society. After conducting my focus groups, I will be …

Ethnographic Research In The U.S. Intelligence Community: Opportunities And Challenges, Bridget Nolan

Secrecy and Society

This article considers lessons learned from conducting research inside the intelligence community. Drawing on a year of ethnographic field work and interviews at the National Counterterrorism Center, I show that “boundary personnel”- people who navigate between the worlds of academia and national security - provide value added in the form of tacit knowledge that outside researchers would not be able to deliver. At the same time, these people face delays, challenges to freedom of information, and ethical considerations that are unique to their positions. Despite setbacks, social scientists must continue their engagement with national security organizations to further our understanding …

Evaluating Competing Perspectives Towards Undeclared Work: Some Lessons From Bulgaria, Colin C. Williams

Colin C Williams

The Social Construction Of Understanding & Neoliberal Multiculturalism: Analysis And Critique Of The Peruvian Moratorium Gmos, T. W. Dondanville

Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development—Student Research

No abstract provided.

Social Problems (Ksu), Evelina Sterling, Daniel Farr

Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Grants Collections

This Grants Collection for Social Problems was created under a Round Nine ALG Textbook Transformation Grant.

Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process.

Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials:

• Linked Syllabus
• Initial Proposal
• Final Report