Other Sociology Commons^™

The Global Debt Minotaur: An Analysis Of The Greek Financial Crisis, Steven Alfonso Panageotou

Masters Theses

Since November 2009, Greece has been mired in financial crisis with little indication that it will be solved in the near future. Research and media accounts have faulted Greece for sowing the seeds of its own financial crisis through fiscal mismanagement extending back to the 1980’s. Successive Greek governments have been criticized for racking up an unsustainable amount of foreign debt. Due to the prevalence of such accounts, European officials and Greek politicians have adopted a nationally oriented strategy to resolve the current crisis. This strategy means that the brunt of the reform effort falls on Greece to neoliberalize its …

We Are The 'Who Dat' Nation: City Identity, Narratives Of Renewal, And Football Fandom In New Orleans Public Realm, Casey Knoettgen

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Research often frames the relationship between sports and the city in terms of economics as researchers debate the costs and benefits of using public subsidies to build stadiums, retain professional teams and host mega-events. However, people assign symbolic or intangible values to their home sports teams that cannot be measured through economic frameworks. My research examined the ways in which urban residents create value around their home professional sports team that other researchers dismissed as hard to measure. Using the New Orleans Saints as a case study, this research incorporated interviews, questionnaires, content analysis and participant observation to provide greater …

Life In The Stands: The Experiences Of Female Major League Baseball Fans, Kelly Lynn Balfour

Doctoral Dissertations

Females have long been overlooked as sports fans in our society, especially female fans of men’s professional sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA). There is a vast amount of research available as to what motivates females to attend sporting events, but not on their experience of being a sports fan. Professional sport organizations are now beginning to acknowledge the female fans in their marketing and team apparel. The purpose of the proposed research study is to understand the experience of females who self-identify as fans of Major League Baseball (MLB). Ten female fans of MLB were interviewed and asked to …

Waiting In “The House Of Life”: Experiences Of Seeking Asylum In The United States While Living In Buffalo, New York, Meagan Nicole Salisbury

Honors Capstone Projects - All

I am interested in the experiences of individuals in Upstate New York throughout the process of seeking asylum. I want to know asylum law influences the daily lives of individuals in relation to their cases and other emotions and activities. To address this, I traveled to Vive, Inc. in Buffalo, a shelter for individuals seeking asylum in either the U.S. or Canada, and conducted nine interviews. I interviewed people seeking asylum, one woman who already obtained asylum in the United States, and the two staff members.

Based on my interviews, I argue that seeking asylum in the United States is …

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 …

Out Of Our Depth: Hyper-Extensionality And The Return Of Three-Dimensional Media, Justin Alan Brecese

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work theorizes the contemporary attraction to three-dimensional media. In doing so, it reframes ongoing debates surrounding digital three-dimensional media in order to critique the neoliberal social relations such media engender. I argue that the contemporary interest in dimensionality, especially regarding digital media, is symptomatic of a broad cultural shift, wherein millions of lives are now essentially being lived through two-dimensional, "flat" media, which have consequently generated a lack of spatial relationships and a craving or desire for "depth." This "desire for depth" has arisen in contemporary society because people are being "spread too thin" through a combination of the …

The Social Contagion Of Violence; A Theoretical Exploration Of The Nature Of Violence In Society, Kayla Kirkpatrick

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

A Conflict Of Interest: Analyzing The Impact Of The Integrated Coastal Management (Icm) And Tourism Promotion On The Environment And Livelihood In Bagamoyo Town, Tanzania, Nancy Shedrack

Culminating Projects in Social Responsibility

This study uses a qualitative research methodology approach to explore the conflict of interest among coastal resource users and the development process in Bagamoyo town. The samples were purposively chosen to reflect the diversity of environmental conditions, socio-economic status and opportunities available to local coastal communities like fishing and farming. The total number of respondents interviewed for this study was thirty-three. I used narrative stories through in-depth interviews of the respondents, documented information and a focus group comprising of 10 respondents, who did not participate in the in-depth interviews, to discuss the issues.

There have been a number of initiatives …

A Content Analysis Of Statutory Grounds For Involuntary Termination Of Parental Rights: The Impacts And Susceptibility Of Incarcerated Mothers And Their Children, Holly Marie Duke

Master's Theses

As the myriad of complex circumstances surrounding incarceration and foster care debilitate the parent-child relationship, the likelihood of legal severance between an incarcerated parent and their child increases. Despite the nation’s mounting prison population over the last three decades, the growing interaction between the prison and foster care populations has received minimal attention in the literature. To date, the influence of the statutory grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights on the legal severance between incarcerated parents and their children has been largely ignored. The purpose of this research is to determine the susceptibility of incarcerated parents to the involuntary …

Social Capital At The Rural Winter Farmers’ Market: An Exploratory Study Connected To Sustainability And Local Food Systems, Shaun S. Phillips

Culminating Projects in Social Responsibility

Farmer's markets have seen phenomenal growth in the United States since 1994, and in the last five years winter farmers' markets (WFMs) have also gained popularity. In this study, I explore social capital which consists of social networks, trust and reciprocity, and resources (Glanville and Bienenstock, 2009) at the WFM with the aim of learning about the role of the social capital with a focus on the vendors. Despite being seldom used in empirical studies, I employ James Coleman's ( 1988) forms of social capital which include: obligations, expectations, and trustworthiness of structures, information channels, and norms and sanctions, and …

Parent Education Trainings For Youth Sports: A Look Into Administrators Feelings About Need For Trainings, Christopher W. Woodside

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Unto The Least Of These: The Pentecostal Church And Social Ministry, Stacey U Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations

This project explores the relationship of Pentecostal churches in the U.S. to social ministry. Taken from the results of multivariate logistic regression and likelihood ratio tests utilizing the National Congregations Study , a nationally representative sample of US congregations, I found that Pentecostal congregations are statistically less likely to participate in social ministry than non-Pentecostal Christian congregations. Through chi-square analyses, I also found Pentecostal churches to be less likely than non-Pentecostal Conservative congregations to participate in social ministry. Through a series of interviews and observations of five Pentecostal Assemblies of God churches in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area, assessments were …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Of Chronic Homeless Individuals' Challenges To Independence, Dewana Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homelessness is a comprehensive social problem affecting approximately 744,000 people in the U.S. Despite consistent efforts from politicians, state and local leaders, and service providers, the number of homeless people continues to rise. Although there are some explanations in the literature to account for the increase of homelessness, the literature tends to not include the voices of the homeless themselves. The purpose of this phenomenological study, which used Maslow's hierarchy of needs as its conceptual framework, was to understand the life experiences of members of the homeless population, as perceived by four male residents of a mission in an eastern …

Intraracial, Intergenerational Conflict And The Victimization Of African American Adults By African American Youth, Katherine E. James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black on Black victimization amongst inner-city African American youth is a well-documented phenomenon. Less understood are the shared lived experiences of inner-city, middle-aged African Americans who have been victims of crimes perpetrated by African American youth. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived, shared experience of this population. Social ecological theory, psychological sense of community, and crisis theory served as the theoretical frameworks for the study. A qualitative method of phenomenological inquiry was used to gain insight into the meaning ascribed to the victimization experiences, as well as the resulting thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and life-impacting implications. In-person, …

Humanizing The Other, Cynthia A. Ortega

CMC Senior Theses

In this piece of literature, storytelling is used as a method towards understanding, knowing, and validating the experience of the “other”, in this case Mexican immigrants of all shapes and colors, sexual preferences, and diverse socioeconomic standing. I would like to shift the discourse from their potential as socioeconomic assets towards a recognition of their essence as participating members of our community. Immigrants are artists, they are intellectuals, they are leaders. They are simply not given the space in American society to develop their potential without being chained down to the “immigrant” label. I would like to stress the recognition …

Micro-Credit Lending And Women's Empowerment: The Experiences Of Rural Kasoa Women, Eunice Adjei-Bosompem

Culminating Projects in Social Responsibility

In an attempt to alleviate poverty and empower poor people, many NGOs and government agencies have been providing credit and social services to rural women in the Kasoa district of Ghana. The goal of these credit schemes is to help the rural poor, especially women earn a living through their on-going income generating activities.

This study found that micro-credit programs are very helpful in empowering rural women to enhance their economic activities to meet the needs of their families as well as afford them the opportunity to contribute in household decisions.

This study concluded that micro-credit schemes empower rural women. …

Youth Movements In Latin America: 20th Century Stories Of Age, Struggle, And Socio-Political Independence, Amaris Delcarmen Guzman

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, the very nature and everyday functions of Latin American governments under dictatorship, authoritarian-like governments, and military regimes were questioned and challenged by many of its citizens, especially its young citizenry. Literary journals and books suggest that many young people in the late 1950's to early 1980's were very aware of their government's practices, did not agree with such practices of the government, and therefore created youth movements in countries as the case in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Brazil to bring about change. This topic was brought about as an interest to …

Heroes: A Realistic Depiction Of Heroism, Cheryl’Lynn Joost

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

In the world we live in, heroes are traditionally thought of as perfect individuals who always save the world. Perfection, however, is unrealistic in the real world. The television series Heroes is a form of text that provides viewers with heroes that are more realistic to the real world and easier to relate to. Heroes, which debuted in September of 2006, follows various people around the world who have recently discovered that they have extraordinary abilities. With their newly discovered talents, the characters now have to decide how to use them. This study critically analyzes particular characters that illustrate the …

Balancing Rosie And June: A Study Of Lynchburg College Postwar Alumnae And The Impact Of The Feminine Mystique, Dinah Watson

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

In 2003, the movie Mona Lisa Smile debuted describing the frustrations that many college women may have faced in the years after World War II. Wellesley College was the elite all-female institution that openly and proudly prepared its young women with the proper rules of etiquette and correctness. Despite Wellesley’s own excellent academic reputation, its close proximity to the prestigious single-sex male college, Harvard, made it even more appealing and convenient for the Wellesley girls to find a “suitable” husband. The novice young art instructor, Katherine Watson, was unique in that she wanted to offer her students not only a …

Examining Juvenile Crime And Recidivism, Charles M. Watson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

High juvenile recidivism rates are a dilemma that is plaguing the juvenile justice system and the treatment facilities that operate within. There is little understanding of the causal relationship between recidivism rates, treatment types, and the demographics of the residents at the various treatment facilities. The purpose of this research is to identify the common flaws existing in current treatment practices and to utilize social labeling theory as a means of gaining a better understanding of this issue.

The Rhetoric Of Crisis: How We Talk About The Vulnerability Of Youth, Casey Cramer

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The classical definition of rhetoric is generally understood to be the art of persuasion. Originating in ancient Greece, rhetoric was one of the three original liberal arts. It focused on effective use of language, most often in the arena of politics and public discourse (Brummett, 35). By mastering persuasive language, politicians were able to shape and sway public opinion in their favor. Conversely, by understanding the mechanics of rhetoric, citizens were able to recognize and interpret speech that was purposefully constructed. The prevalence of rhetoric in political speech made it an integral part of a democratic society - politicians needed …

Incarceration Of African-American Males: Impact On African-American Families, Terri Barnes

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Abstract not Included

The Attraction To Activism: Recruitment And Retention In Progressive Student Organizations, Waverly De Bruijn

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Abstract not Included

Modernization And Divorce In Japan, Motonobu Mukai

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Divorce rates in Japan have increased since the mid-1960s, and even more rapidly since the 1990s. Divorce rates decreased throughout the period of industrialization, although modernization theory has argued that economic development brings pervasive cultural changes (including higher divorce rates). However, values regarding family are also influenced by the persistence of traditional values. Before WWII in Japan, a decreasing divorce rate was influenced by political ideology, which deliberately intended to change traditional ways of marriage and divorce. After WWII, however, this ideology diminished, and material affluence has led to an individualistic view that in turn has led to higher divorce …

Witchcraft, Communism And Social Control, Kristi B. Salmons

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Society is composed of rules and regulations governing action, behavior and thoughts of its members. The Salem witch trials of 1692 and the McCarthy Era are discussed in terms of their how and why each event occurred so similarly. Findings suggest social stress and large scale societal shifts to be at the crux of the issue. Other factors discussed relating to causality are; gender, deviance and its functions, norms and conformity.

Motivations To Volunteer In Selected Service Organisations In Australia, Sonia D. Langridge

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The contributions of volunteers assist many organisations to stretch scarce resources further in a bid to provide important services to the community. Such organisations are challenged to motivate the participation of new and continuing volunteers. Although most people in the community recognise the value and importance of volunteerism, few actually commit to participating as volunteers. This study seeks to expand the somewhat limited research on volunteers in an Australian context. The sample consisted of 361 volunteers from three service organisations in Australia-- Rotary International, Horne and Community Care (HACC), and Surf Life Saving Australia. Each of these groups fulfils an …

From The Southeast To Fort Ancient: A Survey Of Shell Gorgets In West Virginia, Darla Spencer Hoffman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

One of the most unique and artistic artifacts found throughout the eastern United States is the engraved shell gorget. During late prehistoric and protohistoric times many of these gorgets were transported from the Southeast, where they were associated with the Mississippian Southeastern Ceremonial Complex, into Fort Ancient territory.

Engraved shell gorgets can be traced to their region of origin, indicating prehistoric trade networks that were in place throughout the eastern United States. In addition, the gorgets can serve as temporal markers to order late prehistoric and protohistoric Fort Ancient sites in time.

Shell gorgets are found mainly in a burial …

Sociological Implications Of Technology: The Historical Treatment Of Technology In Sociological Theory And A Proposal For Empirical Research, Martin E. Hansen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Technology, as a form of knowledge, can be an important explanatory variable in empirical sociological investigations. In this thesis the macrohistorical concept of technology within the discipline of sociology is traced and critiqued, with special attention given to analytical misconceptions and reifications, e.g., confusing technology with its processes, products, and social consequences. An analytical model is initially presented which attempts to facilitate a better understanding of the dialectical interrelationships between technological, social, and natural (scientific) phenomena. Recent attempts to measure the effects of technology on social relationships are critiqued, particularly in their inadequate conceptualization and operationalization, confusion of cause and …

Selected Dimensions And Orientations Of Religiosity Related To Marital Satifaction As Perceived By Married Seventh-Day Adventists In The Midwest, Margaret D. Dudley

Dissertations

Problem. A significant number of married people in contemporary American culture are exhibiting difficulty with the marriage relationship. Since Seventh-day Adventists believe that the Bible suggests basic guidelines, it would seem that their religion would have a positive effect on their marital relationship. The basic question for this research was: For Seventh-day Adventists does religiosity, defined as commitment to biblically-based religious beliefs and practices, contribute to marital satisfaction? Some previous studies demonstrated that it does. Additional multidimensional research was needed to identify which religious dimensions and orientations correlate with marital satisfaction. A multidimensional study of this kind has never been …

Anger Control, Fred Berec Ongaga

Student Dissertations & Theses

This study was designed to assess the efficiency of anger control training with twenty-three institutionalized male delinquents evidencing verbal and physical aggression. The study employed a two group crossover design. After an initial test session assessing anger with a variety of measures, the immediate treatment group received anger control training. Following this training both groups participated in a test session. The delayed treatment group then received training and both groups were finally tested a third time. For a number of measures, both groups showed significant differences between the first and the second testing sessions. However no significant differences could be …