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Homesteading In Maine: Motivations And Current Trends, Alexandrea Merchant

Master's Theses and Capstones

People in the United States who practice the alternative lifestyle of “homesteading” seek to live self-sufficient lives by growing food, building dwellings, and living with resolute autonomy. Great variation exists in the degree of self-sufficiency attained and desired by individuals engaged in homesteading. It was the purpose of this study to illuminate the motivations underlying adopting and engagement in this lifestyle in Maine homesteaders. Through interviews with 10 homesteaders in Maine and participant observation, I documented the narratives and elucidated the motivations of this under researched group. Common themes emerged. Participants expressed concerns about personal health, the environment, and institutions. …

Safety Net Benefit Access In The Official And Supplemental Poverty Measures By Race And Gender, Nikhail Sinea Maestas

Master's Theses and Capstones

Historically, minority women have made up a disproportionate percentage of the low-income population who receive safety net benefits. However, there has been no previous research that assesses how alternative poverty measures could impact these isolated groups of women. This study aims to determine which groups of people would receive the largest benefit if state and federal agencies used the supplemental poverty measure (SPM) rather than the official poverty measure (OPM) to determine eligibility for various safety net programs. In addition, this study assesses the intersectional effect of gender and race on poverty using the SPM and the official U.S. poverty …

Non-Industrial Private Forest Landowner Engagement And Amenity- Driven Migration In Wildfire-Prone Landscapes Of The Inland Northwest, Morgan Ann Crowley

Master's Theses and Capstones

Rural counties in the Inland Northwest have a ‘working lands’ culture that supports livelihoods dependent on the health of wildfire-prone private and public forests. Wildfires threaten economic livelihoods and exacerbate the challenges of working landscapes impacted by changing economies, demographic trends, and forest conditions. The main objectives of this thesis are to investigate: 1) what comprises amenity-driven migration and how are amenity- driven migration and wildfire severity related?; 2) are amenity-driven migrants engaged in forest management activities in Wallowa County, Oregon and what is forest management engagement?; 3) how does landowner parcel proximity from WUI, USFS land relate to perspectives …

Is The Relationship Between Adolescent Dating And Delinquency Spurious? The Role Of Self-Control In Explaining The Correlation Between Dating And Delinquency, Amber Elaine Swindell

Master's Theses and Capstones

Research suggests a relationship exists between dating and delinquency among adolescents. The goal of this thesis was to further consider the relationship between adolescent dating and delinquency, and test the possibility that self-control could serve as a confounding variable. Using OLS regression and two waves of New Hampshire Youth Study data, a longitudinal dataset composed of two cohorts of adolescents, I tested the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between adolescent dating and delinquency. Cross-sectionally, findings suggest dating and delinquency are significantly related, even upon adjusting for self-control and demographic controls. Longitudinally, levels of dating appear positively associated with changes in delinquency …

Masculinity And Sexual Violence: Comparison Between Japan And The United States, Kei Saito

Master's Theses and Capstones

Japan has received considerable attention in the field of criminology in its unique features, such as its low crime rate. Available research seems to suggest that the Japanese rate of sexual violence, like other crimes, is equally lower compared to the United States. The present study examines the potential influence of gender construction on sexual violence, building upon previous research on the Confluence Model of Sexual Aggression by Malamuth and his colleagues. Data from the General Social Survey in the United States and Japan were used to compare elements that relate to gender roles, gender identity, and sexual behavior to …

The Role Of Parental Self-Efficacy: The Voices Of Mothers With Low-Income Navigating Supports, Services, And Obstacles, Sarah M. Bond

Master's Theses and Capstones

Through semi-structured interviews, the current study examined the role of parental self-efficacy as mothers with low-income navigated challenging contexts and experiences while receiving formal and informal supports. Mothers shared their unique experiences, which provided insight into their lives and how contextual variables influenced parental self-efficacy. As a result of this study, four themes emerged: 1) the function of mental health, 2) sense of community, 3) stability, and 4) the perceptions of child development and growth. Findings indicated that a sense of stability mediated contextual challenges and increased parental self-efficacy, identified that informal and formal supports contribute to both high and …

Socioeconomic Status, Mastery, And Goal-Striving Stress Among Rural Youth, Michael S. Staunton

Master's Theses and Capstones

Although a growing body of research documents the links between goal-striving stress and emotional disorder, less research examines the psychosocial antecedents of goal-striving stress. Drawing on longitudinal survey data from a panel study of rural youth, this thesis examines the effects of socioeconomic status and mastery on educational goal-striving stress, occupational goal-striving stress, and combined goal-striving stress. Results indicate that each measure of goal-striving stress is not equally well predicted by socioeconomic status and mastery. Notably, the effects of socioeconomic status on occupational goal-striving stress and combined goal-striving stress are conditioned by mastery, while neither socioeconomic status nor mastery is …

Trans Women And Aging: A Qualitative Study, Martha B. Leighton

Master's Theses and Capstones

Data from interviews with 11 transgender women ages 55 to 77 were used to examine the experiences of gender-diverse individuals throughout the lifespan. Specifically, qualitative methods were used to examine how participants had experienced discrimination, developed strengths and resiliencies as a response to discrimination, and employed strategies predicted by Hobfoll's Conservation of Resources Theory. Focused coding of the data revealed significant and pervasive discrimination in multiple settings and throughout the participants' lives. The data also, however, revealed a wide range of strengths and resiliencies and indicated that participants employed a variety of strategies that allowed them to amass, maintain, and …

How Rural Low-Income Mothers Use Resources To Work Non-Standard Schedules, Laura E. Andrew

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study's aim was to determine the resources used by rural low-income mothers' working non-standard schedules to manage stress and keep their families from a chaotic state. The Double ABCX theory of family stress guided this study. Resources identified were strong mental well-being, parental confidence and skills and large social support network. Data were collected from 51 rural low-income mothers who worked non-standard schedules, by surveys and interviews three separate times. It was found that mothers who had the resources of strong mental well-beings, strong parental confidence and skills and large social support networks had lower stress levels when working …

Effects Of New Hampshire's Same-Sex Marriage Legislation On Married Same-Sex Couples And Their Families: A Preliminary Study, Amber J. Royea

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study explores the effects of New Hampshire's revised marriage statute and the ability to marry on married, resident same-sex couples and their families. The researcher used qualitative research methods in order to investigate the experiences of eleven participants in regards to the effects that marriage has had in their lives and the lives of their dependent and adult children. Based on the data and content analysis, a grounded theory of developing a same-sex marital identity emerged showing that the effects of marriage depend on an on-going interplay between personal and social contexts. Participants' lives were affected by marriage in …

Dominance In A Dating Relationship And Violence Approval As Partial Mediating Factors Between Violent Socialization And Perpetrating Dating Partner Violence, Thomas Lopez

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study investigated the possible mediating relationships between experiencing corporal punishment and partner violence perpetration and witnessing parental violence and partner violence perpetration. The sample used was 14,252 university students in 32 nations who participated in the International Dating Violence Study. For both men and women, self-dominance partly mediated the relationships between corporal punishment and perpetrating minor assault and corporal punishment and perpetrating severe assault. For men and women self-dominance mediated the relationships between witnessing parental violence and perpetrating minor assault and witnessing parental violence and perpetrating both types of assault for males and females. Violence approval did not partly …

Sex, Infection, And Trust: Condom Use Among Gay Men And Their Perceptions Of Hiv, Michael Jeffrey Staley

Master's Theses and Capstones

Unprotected anal intercourse among gay men remains high, despite the well-known fact that HIV/AIDS still disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). This qualitative, exploratory study seeks to understand the meanings and motivations of gay men's condom use and non-use. I observed three organizations that center on gay identities in the spring and fall of 2010 and in the spring of 2011. Additionally, using a semi-structured format, I interviewed 19 gay or bisexual men between the ages of 19 and 39. Condom non-use was high; 16 men reported not using a condom in their sexually active lifetime. Three …

Outreach And Citizen Engagement In The Winnicut River Watershed: A Participatory Action Study, Jillan Scahill Farrell

Master's Theses and Capstones

Recently, citizen initiated watershed management has seen a rise in popularity. Citizen watershed groups have been created across the country especially in New England. These groups advocate for protections and responsible watershed-wide management. Each watershed contains a certain set of unique ecological, social, regulatory and problem situations and therefore each watershed organization requires a full mapping process of the policy and social process as well as the ecological and problem situation before engaging the citizens. This research explores the Winnicut River watershed in southeastern New Hampshire. Covering three communities and representing a subwatershed of the Great Bay coastal watershed this …

New Media Use And Rural Youth Substance Use, William Meub

Master's Theses and Capstones

Data from the Coos county youth survey is used to examine new media use habits and explore the relationship between new media use and substance use among two cohorts of rural youth (N = 657). Specifically, I present descriptive information on new media usage, examine whether new media use is related to substance use and explore a possible moderation relationship between substance use and negative substance-use-related behavioral outcomes. Older adolescents reported more new media use than younger adolescents but there was no evidence of sex differences in usage. Greater new media use was found to be related to greater substance …

The Foster Parent Experience Of Attachment, Taylor Cohen

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study explores the attachment experience of foster parents. The researcher used a qualitative research framework to explore what 10 foster parents experienced in regards to attachment with their foster children. Based on the data and content analysis, a foster parent ecology emerged showing that the foster parent/child attachment relationship is affected by doctors, therapists, social workers, case workers, other foster parents, and the biological parents. The temporary nature of foster care and the goal of reunification of child to biological parent also affected the attachment relationship between foster parent and foster child.

The Needs Of Rural Homeless Families In Grafton County, New Hampshire: A Qualitative Inquiry, Pamela B. Thyng

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study explored the experiences of homeless families in the rural area of Grafton County in New Hampshire. In the literature review there is evidence that the needs of homeless people in rural areas are unique. Because of the unique needs of this population the service providers face different obstacles than their counterparts in urban areas. The researcher interviewed (N=7) homeless family members living in, or previously living in, a shelter as well as county government officials in the region. Through the use of a semi-structured interview and a grounded theory approach to the analysis of the data several themes …

Net Resiliency: A Study Of Risk And Protective Factors In Single And Two-Parent Familes, Chad E. Depasquale

Master's Theses and Capstones

The main goal of this study was to discover how family makeup affects net resiliency scores of children. This quantitative study uses Two-Tailed t-tests, and Pearson correlation to uncover any relationships between net resiliency and living in a single or two-parent household. A sample of 91 children ranging from eleven to eighteen years old was utilized for the study's data collection. Their net resiliency scores, risk factors, protective factors, and family makeup were analyzed to discover any potential relationships between them. The analysis of these factors showed children living in single-parent families have: lower net resiliency scores, fewer protective factors, …

Unconventional Mental Health Treatment: Reexamining The Racial Disparity In Treatment Seeking Behavior, Meghan L. Mills

Master's Theses and Capstones

Using 2005-2007 pooled data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this thesis examines how race affects the type of mental health treatment ught by adults. This research examines whether a more inclusive definition of mental health treatment that incorporates unconventional mental health treatment may partially account for this disparity in treatment seeking behavior. Specifically, by including and differentiating between "formal" and "informal" complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as types of unconventional mental health treatment, it was hypothesized that the greater use of "informal" CAM (i.e. seeking help from a religious or spiritual advisor or friend or …

Does Democracy Impact The Lives Of The Poor In Nicaragua?, Tanisha Shandie Brown Mitchel

Master's Theses and Capstones

Does democracy help the poor? Nicaragua, the emphasis of this study, will be used to analyze the impact democracy might be having on improving the lives of the poor. The World Development Indicators (World Bank) and the Human Development Index (United Nations) from 1992--2006 will be used in this study to measure economic growth in Nicaragua. The Latin America Public Opinion Project data on Latin America measures Nicaragua public opinion regarding democracy and economic growth in the country.

The graphs from the World Bank illustrate that the standard of living for the poor in Nicaragua is improving and that democracy …

Capital Punishment And Specific Offense Deterrence, Brian Giardina

Master's Theses and Capstones

Deterrence has historically been a justification for capital punishment. Recent studies have found deterrent effects as strong as eighteen murders prevented per execution (Dezhbakhsh, Rubin and Shepherd, 2003). Most prior studies have tested for deterrent effects on homicide rates generally. The current study looks for a deterrent effect on a specific type of capital crime; the felonious killing of law enforcement officers. Two separate hypotheses were tested. First, the presence of a capital punishment statute will deter this specific type of homicide in a given year. Second, executions for any reason will reduce the likelihood of this specific type of …

Gender Bias In The Legal Field: Experiences Of Female Attorneys And Law Students, Jessie L. French

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study examines the experiences of female attorneys and law students with respect to gender bias. Contemporary evaluations indicate that while women comprise approximately 50% of the job force, they are significantly underrepresented in management positions and continue to be paid less than men; this is especially true in the legal field. Thirty-five in-depth interviews were conducted, 25 with women who had obtained a juris doctorate and 10 with female law students. Women discussed their experiences in the legal field relative to law school, expectations for their careers, media influences, gender discrimination and harassment. Qualitative analysis revealed that pregnancy was …

What Is The Glue That Holds Work And Family Life Together? Perceptions Of Work And Family Balance Among Working New Hampshire Parents, Sabrina C. Harris

Master's Theses and Capstones

Using a mixed methods research approach, the current study used data gathered from the Survey of New Hampshire Working Families to assess participants' perceptions of work and family balance. As part of the survey, parents were asked to report the one thing, the glue, that holds work and family life together. Participant responses were analyzed qualitatively using content analysis. As a result, seven glue themes emerged: 1) partner support, 2) work flexibility, 3) support of family, 4) personal strengths, 5) children, 6) income, and 7) religion. Additional research questions were created with the hope of revealing demographic trends among specific …

Psychiatric Status, Self Control And Violence: Application Of The General Theory Of Crime, Feodor A. Gostjev

Master's Theses and Capstones

Previous studies have suggested that psychiatric patients are more likely to be violent then the individuals in the general population. This thesis uses data collected in MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study to compare violent behaviors perpetrated by psychiatric patients in 10 weeks after their release from a psychiatric hospital and by subjects living in a similar community setting. Furthermore, Gottfredson and Hirschis's (1990) self control theory is applied to examine etiological causes of violence. The outcomes suggest that psychiatric patients were more likely to be violent during the study period than the community control subjects. The difference in violence rates …

Asset Forfeiture: State Restrictions And Equitable Sharing, Charles Kucher

Master's Theses and Capstones

Civil asset forfeiture is criticized for its lack of procedural protections for property owners and for skewing the priorities of law enforcement. Federal civil forfeiture law allows federal agencies to prosecute civil forfeiture cases for state and local law enforcement agencies, a practice that is criticized for allowing the circumvention of state laws. This thesis looks at three factors governing forfeiture at the state level (standard of proof, conviction requirement and financial incentive) and examines their effect on federal equitable sharing payments. The results indicate that both conviction requirement and standard of proof affect equitable sharing payments and suggests that …

Chronic Pain As The Result Of Traumatic Injury: A Group Counseling Model For Survivors, Corianne S. Woodard

Master's Theses and Capstones

Millions of Americans live with chronic pain as the result of traumatic injury. These individuals face countless challenges as they attempt to cope with daily pain and grieve the many losses caused by their injuries. The physical and emotional stresses associated with chronic pain and traumatic injury place these survivors at significant psychological risk and contribute to the perpetuation of their chronic pain. Group counseling with a grief model emphasis is a cost effective way to meet the specific needs of survivors living with chronic pain. These needs include: the establishment of a social support system, an opportunity to grieve …

Seriousness Perceptions Of Computer Crime Vs Traditional Crime, Abbie Beaulieu

Master's Theses and Capstones

With the various advancements made in technology over the last few decades, computer crime has evolved and many are used to victimize more and more American internet users every year (NW3C, 2008). However, no researcher has examined neither how computer crime seriousness is perceived by internet users nor which (if any) social factors affect how the seriousness of computer crime is perceived. The current study attempted to determine internet users' perceptions of computer crime seriousness versus traditional crime seriousness. In addition, the study tried to determine the effects of the following factors as they relate to computer crime seriousness: personal …

Apco Project 25 Wireless Data Services Over Land Mobile Radio Channel For Smaller Law Enforcement Agencies, Ivan Elhart

Master's Theses and Capstones

Digital data messages are very important in modern communication systems and advanced mobile data technologies have opened the door to a wide range of applications and services in the public safety environment. Still, the availability of mobile data services among public safety agencies is hampered by two issues of the implementation of data communication: the reliability of commercial data services and the high cost of the equipment needed to support mixed voice and data transmissions over private land mobile radio channels.

This thesis describes the design and development of an inexpensive Software Defined APCO Project 25 Data Base Station that …

Child Sexual Abuse In The Boy Scouts Of America, 1970--1984, Jenna Kline

Master's Theses and Capstones

The present study examined child sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts of America (1970 to 1984). In particular, this study explored the role of the institution in child sexual abuse. The data analyzed was gathered from the Boy Scouts Ineligible Volunteer File system and included a sample of 529 adult males who had volunteered to serve as adult role models for the Boys Scouts and were suspected of alleged misbehavior. Analysis of the data revealed a profile of the alleged abusers. These men were typically in their mid-30s, single and had spent an average of 41.4 months in the Boy …

Substance Use Among New Hampshire Adolescents: Attitudes As Predictors Of Substance Use Behavior, Jessica Aimee Bean

Master's Theses and Capstones

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the relationship between substance-related attitudes and substance use behaviors among a sample of New Hampshire adolescents. Data from the New Hampshire Youth Survey, a longitudinal survey of deviance among adolescents, were used, yielding a sample of 760 middle- and high-school students. Hypotheses tested include whether substance use and attitudes varied by sex or age, whether attitudes and behaviors had predictive ability on one another, and whether that predictive ability varied by sex or age. Data were analyzed through a series of logistic and ordered logistic regression models. Findings showed that (1) age, …

A Compatibilist Theory Of Justice And Desert, Matthew John Cutler

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis argues against the asymmetry of desert observed across theories of distribution and retribution. While distributive theories have downplayed the significance of desert, retributive theories have outwardly embraced the role of desert in punishment. At the heart of this imbalance rests an unresolved tension between determinism and freedom. In the interest of bringing symmetry to theories of justice, this thesis reconciles determinism and freedom as two compatible notions of human actions and traits.

Additionally, this thesis argues for an increase in opportunities afforded to the least advantaged in order to balance punishments and benefits. This position stems from an …