Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Usefulness Of Requirement Error Taxonomy As A Defect Prevention Technique: An Empirical Investigation, Sana Rehman

Computer Science

Defect prevention techniques can be used during the creation of software artifacts to help developers create high-quality artifacts. The Requirement Error Taxonomy developed by Walia et al. [22, 23] helps focus developer’s attention on common errors that can occur during requirements engineering. This paper investigates the usefulness of the Requirement Error Taxonomy as a defect prevention technique. The goal was to determine if making requirements engineers’ familiar with the Requirement Error Taxonomy would reduce the likelihood that they commit errors while developing a requirements document. We conducted an empirical study in which the participants used the Requirement Error Taxonomy during …

Adapting Web Page Tables On Mobile Web Browsers: Results From Two Controlled Empirical Studies, Ramakanth Reddy Annadi

Computer Science

Displaying web page content in mobile screens is a challenging task and users often face difficulty retrieving the relevant data. It can force them to adopt a time-consuming hunt-and-peck strategy. Application of design principles can improve the view of the webpage data content and reduce the time consumption in viewing it. This is especially true with HTML tabular data content. This thesis discusses the background and applications of the gestalt design principle techniques to HTML tabular data content. An empirical study was performed to investigate the usability of two types of the adaptive styles namely, single and multi-layout. This thesis …

The Rail And The Cross In West Virginia Timber Country: Rethinking Religion In The Appalachian Mountains, Joseph F. Super

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

West Virginia underwent significant changes in the four decades between 1880 and 1920. The Gilded Age and the Progressive Era witnessed political, social, cultural, and economic upheavals as industrialists looked to exploit natural resources and propel the Mountain State into a position of leadership in a modern national economy. Railroads opened up the remote interior counties, paving the way for the oil, coal, and timber industries. The West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway, under the direction of Henry Gassaway Davis, scaled the highest peaks of the Allegheny Mountains. Davis and his business associates quickly took control of the timber and …

Predicting Opioid Prescribing Behaviors: Influence Of An Expert Opioid-Risk Evaluation, Alison M. Vargovich

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Opioid analgesics have been shown to be effective for short-term pain reduction; however, chronic opioid therapy does not improve functioning, and may lead to problems with dependence and abuse. Physicians report having difficulty discerning substance abuse or drug diversion, which can lead to over- or under- prescribing, poor pain management, and may contribute to the growing number of opioid-related overdose deaths. The primary aim of this study was to determine if a psychological opioid risk evaluation influenced opioid prescribing in physicians at the West Virginia University (WVU) Family Medicine Clinic. For this retrospective study, participants were 151 (89 female) adult …

Pathologies Of The Poor: What Do The War On Drugs And Welfare Reform Have In Common?, Kalynn Amundson, Anna M. Zajicek, Valerie H. Hunt

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) authorized drug testing of welfare recipients as a criterion for assistance eligibility. This raises the question of a possible confluence of War on Drugs and Welfare Reform policies, as indicated by continuity in policymakers’ rhetoric. We examine federal-level policymakers’ debates surrounding the authorization of drug testing welfare recipients. The analysis reveals that themes of social pathology were present in both policy areas. Crime, drug addiction, welfare dependency, and drug testing themes are comparable in both debates. Teen pregnancy, out-of-wedlock birth, and female-headed households themes were more prevalent in Welfare …

Institutionalization Of Children In The Czech Republic: A Case Of Path Dependency, Victoria Schmidt, Jo Daugherty Bailey

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Despite the development of alternative forms of care, international and domestic pressures for change, and over 20 years of efforts at deinstitutionalization, the Czech Republic has one of the highest rates of institutionalization of children in Europe (UNICEF, 2012). The continuing reliance upon residential care for children by the child protection system, particularly for children who are disabled or of Roma descent, demonstrates a case of path dependency in which a solidification of the system’s response is rooted in its past. Understanding the impact of historical precedence is key to reforming the current system.

The Neglect Of Network Theory In Practice With Immigrants In The Southwest, Emilia Martinez-Brawley, Paz M-B. Zorita

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper reviews selected theories of international migration including social network and human capital. It discusses the nature of social networks among immigrants and the costs and benefits for the sending and receiving countries. The history of social network theory in social work practice is revisited. Given the current importance of immigration in the Southwest, the strength and limitations of applying networking principles in practice with immigrants in the border areas are included. This article does not focus on the complexity of networks among refugees or asylum seekers, where government population dispersion or resettlement policies might change their circumstances.

Review Of Coming Up Short: Working-Class Adulthood In An Age Of Uncertainty. Jennifer M. Silva. Reviewed By Marguerite G. Rosenthal., Marguerite Rosenthal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Jennifer M. Silva, Coming Up Short: Working-Class Adulthood in an Age of Uncertainty. Oxford University Press (2013). $29.95 (hardcover).

Review Of The Good News Club: The Christian Right’S Stealth Assault On America’S Children. Katherine Stewart. Reviewed By John E. Tropman., John E. Tropman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Katherine Stewart, The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children. Public Affairs (2012). $25.99 (hardcover).

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 41, No. 2 (June 2014)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE - Howard Karger, James Midgley, and Subas Risal

AUSTERITY VERSUS STIMULUS: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES AND POLICY PRESCRIPTIONS - James Midgley

THE BITTER PILL: AUSTERITY, DEBT, AND THE ATTACK ON EUROPE'S WELFARE STATES - Howard Karger

BETWEEN RETRENCHMENT AND RECALIBRATION: THE IMPACT OF AUSTERITY ON THE IRISH SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM - Fiona Dukelow and Mairéad Considine

ITALIAN WELFARE IN THE AFTERMATH OF ECONOMIC CRISIS: NEOLIBERAL REFORMS AND LIMITS TO THE PATH DEPENDENCY APPROACH - Ijin Hong

DEFICIT-DRIVEN AUSTERITY POLICIES: EFFECTS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE UNITED STATES - David Miller and …

Resident Perceptions Of Redevelopment And Gentrification In The Heartside Neighborhood: Lessons For The Social Work Profession, Mackenzi Huyser, Judi Ravenhorst Meerman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article reports on how residents experience neighborhood redevelopment efforts and gentrification. Research on gentrification has been dominated by studies on displacement and other factors that impact neighborhood mobility. This article explores how low-income and homeless residents experience gentrification by using in-depth interviews with residents still living in the Heartside neighborhood (Grand Rapids, MI). Findings are evident in three broad areas: sense of belonging, recognition of changes in the neighborhood, and restrictions in the neighborhood. Discussion of these findings and implications for social workers are presented.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 41, No. 3 (September 2014)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

RESIDENT PERCEPTIONS OF REDEVELOPMENT AND GENTRIFICATION IN THE HEARTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD: LESSONS FOR THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION - Mackenzi Huyser and Judi Ravenhorst Meerman

LATINO MIGRATION TO PROTESTANTISM: A HISTORICAL, SOCIO-CULTURAL, ECCLESIASTICAL ANALYSIS - Larry Ortiz

THE IMPACT OF GENDER AND SOCIAL NETWORKS ON MICROENTERPRISE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE - Seon Mi Kim and Margaret Sherraden

SOCIAL POLICY AND STATE CAPACITY IN IRAN: HEALTH AND EDUCATION POLICY FROM 1981-2009 - Masoumeh Qarakhani

INCOME PACKAGING STRATEGIES OF ECONOMICALLY DISCONNECTED WOMEN AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL POLICY AND PRACTICE - Andrea Hetling, Jinwoo Kwon, and Elizabeth Mahn

THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SECONDARY …

The Impact Of Youth Debt On College Graduation, Min Zhan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study examines the associations between educational loans and credit card debt with the possibility of college graduation among a group of youth who enrolled in college. It further investigates whether the associations differ by levels of parental assets. Results indicate that, after parental assets and other variables are considered, educational loans are positively related to college graduation; however, there is evidence that educational loans above $10,000 reduce the probability of college graduation. Parental assets are positively linked to youth’s college graduation, and the relationship between educational loans and college graduation is stronger among youth whose families have lower levels …

Are Payday Loans Really Evil? Controversy, Regulation, And Innovation In The Secondary Financial Services Market, David Stoesz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Stagnant income and persistent debt have induced low- and middle-income households to rely on alternative financial services (AFS): buy-here-pay-here auto loans, check-cashers, payday loans, auto title loans, rent-to-own furniture and appliances, and pawnshops. A secondary financial services market has evolved to serve the secondary labor market, replete with trade associations as well as state and federal regulators. Mainstream financial institutions have marketed innovations, such as reloadable debit cards, to appeal to low- and middle-income consumers. High fees and interest rates of AFS products have fueled a volatile debate about the future of the secondary financial services market, with options including …

Individual And Country-Level Institutional Trust And Public Attitude To Welfare Expenditures In 24 Transitional Countries, Nazim Habibov

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Does institutional trust on the individual and on the country level influence public attitudes to state social welfare expenditures in transitional countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia? To answer this question, this study draws on a comparative survey conducted in 24 countries. Multilevel binomial logit regression was used to allow for the simultaneous inclusion of variables at the individual- and country-levels of analysis. Institutional trust is associated with positive attitudes to welfare expenditures on the individual level, but not on the country level. Women, older individuals, those who are less educated, and those of low-income …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 41, No. 4 (December 2014)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

ARE PAYDAY LOANS REALLY EVIL? CONTROVERSY, REGULATION, AND INNOVATION IN THE SECONDARY FINANCIAL SERVICES MARKET - David Stoesz

INDIVIDUAL AND COUNTRY-LEVEL INSTITUTIONAL TRUST AND PUBLIC ATTITUDE TO WELFARE EXPENDITURES IN 24 TRANSITIONAL COUNTRIES - Nazim Habibov

THE INFLUENCE OF VETERAN STATUS, PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS, AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ON INADEQUATE SLEEP - Andrew S. London, Sarah A. Burgard, and Janet M. Wilmoth

CORRELATES OF JOB BURNOUT AMONG HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR WORKFORCE RETENTION - Madhavappallil Thomas, Vandana Kohli, and Jong Choi

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPATHY AND ATTITUDES TOWARD GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION - M. Alex Wagaman and Elizabeth A. …

The Influence Of Veteran Status, Psychiatric Diagnosis, And Traumatic Brain Injury On Inadequate Sleep, Andrew S. London, Sarah A. Burgard, Janet Wilmoth

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Adequate sleep is essential for health, social participation, and wellbeing. We use 2010 and 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (N = 35,602) to examine differences in sleep adequacy between: non-veterans; non-combat veterans with no psychiatric diagnosis or traumatic brain injury (TBI); combat veterans with no psychiatric diagnosis or TBI; and veterans (non-combat and combat combined) with a psychiatric diagnosis and/or TBI. On average, respondents reported 9.28 days of inadequate sleep; veterans with a psychiatric diagnosis and/or TBI reported the most—12.25 days. Multivariate analyses indicated that veterans with a psychiatric diagnosis and/or TBI had significantly more days of inadequate …

The Relationship Between Empathy And Attitudes Toward Government Intervention, M. Alex Wagaman, Elizabeth A. Segal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Throughout history, government policy and programs have played integral roles in shaping social services. This article reports the findings of a study that explored the relationship between interpersonal empathy and attitudes toward government intervention among college students. Findings suggest that increased levels of empathy are associated with more positive attitudes toward government intervention. This relationship is even stronger for participants from marginalized identity groups. Nurturing empathy among those engaged in social welfare policy-making may support government efforts that are in the best interest of communities they are intended to help.

Goffman And The Infantilization Of Elderly Persons: A Theory In Development, Stephen M. Marson, Rasby M. Powell

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Infantilization is a behavioral pattern in which a person of authority interacts with, responds to, or treats an elderly person in a child-like manner. This paper uses Erving Goffman’s theories as a framework from which to analyze the reasons for and the results of infantilization of elderly residents in partial and total institutions (i.e., adult day care centers and nursing homes). First, we review the literature on infantilization. Next, we offer a brief summary of Goffman’s work and delineate his major theoretical assumptions. Then, we analyze the process of infantilization through Goffman’s theories. Finally, we offer suggestions for advancing research …

Correlates Of Job Burnout Among Human Services Workers: Implications For Workforce Retention, Madhavappallil Thomas, Vandana Kohli, Jong Choi

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Job burnout has impacted workers and negatively transformed the social agency and its clients. This study examined the correlates of job burnout among human service workers in a non-urban setting in Central California. Using a convenience sample, researchers collected responses from 288 participants on a 13 item burnout scale. Findings indicated that workers experienced moderate to high levels of job burnout. Several scale items, including caseload size, age, gender, education, and experience, were significantly correlated with burnout. In addition, regression analyses revealed that caseload size was the most significant predictor of job burnout among human service workers. Implications for workforce …

Accounting For Accountability, Celina Su

Publications and Research

Review of the book Open Budgets: The Political Economy of Transparency, Participation, and Accountability, edited by Sanjeev Khagram, Archon Fung, and Paolo de Renzio.

Lake Street Teen Center, Kelsi Mueller

Architecture Theses

The Lake Street Teen Center addresses the question how can design positively impact a place susceptible to delinquent behavior? The Typology for the investigation of this problem is a center for teens. The Theoretical Premise/Unifying idea which ushers the research is “Architectural design can create healthy environments to promote good behavior.” The site for the project is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The square footage for the building is 8,554 square feet. By combining qualitative and quantitative data the Mixed Method research approach was used to examine the theoretical premise, unifying idea, and problem statement.

Regional Differences In Beverage And Fruit Consumption In China, Xiaotian Wu

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the impact of regional and other demographic characteristics, such as age, education level, and household income, on food consumption in China. In total, data for 2342 households from 11 different Chinese cities were analyzed. Two separate studies on fruits and beverages were conducted, each with four `home food' groups and four `away from home food' groups. A two-step quadratic ideal demand system model was used to analyze the regional differences and the effects of the other demographic characteristics on food consumption in China. Regional differences in beverage and fruit consumption were identified …

International Criminal Trials And The Disqualification Of Judges On The Basis Of Nationality, Milan Markovic

Faculty Scholarship

Judges who sit on the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) and other international criminal tribunals (“ICTs”) are nationals of particular states and are elected to serve largely on the basis of nationality. Since the advent of the Nuremberg Tribunal, however, ICTs have perpetuated the notion that national identity is irrelevant to a judge’s performance of his or her duties.

This Article will contend that judges at the ICC and other ICTs should not preside over trials concerning crimes allegedly committed by or against their fellow nationals. Judges should also consider recusing themselves from cases that strongly implicate the interests of their …

A Retrospective Clinical Study To Evaluate Treatment Outcomes Of Vital Pulp Therapy With Prorootrtm Mineral Trioxide Aggregate, Endosequencertm Root Repair Material, And Biodentine Rtm, Nathaniel T. Nicholson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The aim of this study was to evaluate success rates of vital pulp therapy cases completed exclusively by endodontic residents at West Virginia University School of Dentistry with 3 different bioactive calcium silicate cements. The materials used were ProRootRTM Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) white, EndosequenceRTM Root Repair Material (ERRM), and BiodentineRTM. Failures were also examined to observe trends toward failure associated with multiple factors.;All follow-up examinations included a clinical and radiographic evaluation, which included multiple examiners that read each radiograph. Associations between procedure failure rates and the factors of interest were examined through non-parametric tests due to the small number …

The Effects Of Hypnosis And Symptom Interpretation On Jurors' Perceptions Of Recovered Memories Of Child Sexual Abuse, Sarah Nunley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current study examined mock jurors' perceptions of recovered memories of child sexual abuse. Participants were presented with one of four written vignettes of an adult female who recovers memories of child sexual abuse during therapy. Two variables in the vignettes were manipulated: the method of memory recovery (hypnosis informed vs. control uninformed) and presentation of psychological symptoms commonly related to history of sexual maltreatment (symptoms informed vs. symptoms uninformed). Participant mock jurors were asked to respond to questions regarding credibility, defendant guilt, and award of monetary damages. The continuous dependent variable analyses found significant results with regard to plaintiff …

Bridging The Gap - Sustainability Through Technê, Holly Burley

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores the relationship between experiential and scientific approaches to sustainability and the architectural approaches to the hot-button issue. It will provide an example of how an environment can encourage participation in sustainable futures and how architecture may invite these sustainable decisions. Through the typology of student housing, this 70,000 square foot project will utilize some of the first independent years of a young adults life to lead to a better-understood relationship between students and their place in the world. The design will be catered towards Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut with hopes of further influence in the field …

Gastronomic Innovation : A New Methodology For Nutrition Education, Joshua Muckenhirn

Architecture Theses

The title of the thesis is gAstronomic Innovation: A New Methodology for Nutrition Education. The question being investigated is, how can architecture be used as a tool to ultimately improve society’s overall health and well-being? The typology for this thesis investigation is a culinary education center for young people. The facility will be nearly 90,000 square feet. The Theoretical Premise/Unifying Idea guiding the thesis is “a youth oriented culinary education center can contribute to improving the health of future generations by empowering youth before they become trapped in the cycle of “fast” and processed foods that has been branded into …

Courage Campus - A Place Of Healing And Re-Discovery, Matthew Avard

Architecture Theses

This thesis will help develop a place where armed force members can begin to reconnect back to society. Architecture will be used to create a safe haven for service members andfamilies who have been affected by horrifying and gruesome warfare. The perception is that architecture can foster a sense of place, while healing along side fellow comrades who have endured that same fight. The outreach/rehabilitation center is located in the Medina River Greenway, south of San Antonio, TX. Total Square Footage: 241,800 sq. ft.

Architecture As Desire : Exploring The Origins Of Our Desire To Hear Music, Blake Hagen

Architecture Theses

Our mind is subconsciously entertained and potentially enslaved by classification into categories. A typology is a system used for putting things into groups according to how they are similar and architecture has equally adopted this practice. Typically buildings are classified according to principal activity, which is the primary function carried on within each building. This separation into pre designed types has formulated a way of thinking and restricted our ability to creatively exercise and challenge our understanding of the purpose of our actions and potentially envision new ways of living, or new building types. We need to think more critically …