Digital Commons Network^™

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Rehabilitation Programs, Victoria Miceli

Senior Honors Projects

Rehabilitating criminals has become a highly debated topic throughout the U.S. With the majority of criminals being repeat offenders, the correctional institution has made rehabilitation a top priority. Research over the last twenty five years has shown that some programs are more effective than others. After reviewing the body of research, I developed a modification of a widely used assessment instrument, the Correctional Program Assessment Inventory, to make it more suitable for use in Rhode Island. I used this modification together with the State of Michigan’s Program Assessment Tool to assess the degree of which four of the over 100 …

Peer Grief Support At The University Of Rhode Island, Ariana Darcy

Senior Honors Projects

According to statistics, 22-30% of all college students are within their first twelve months of grieving the death of a family member or friend (Balk, 2008). There are even more students dealing with the illness of a family member or friend. This demonstrates the immense need on college campuses for support for students experiencing loss. One of the most beneficial types of support are peer support groups.

Peer support groups provide an essential environment for grief that cannot be obtained from individual counseling. People experiencing grief are apt to feel alone. Members of peer support groups tend to be relieved …

Residential Protectionism And The Legal Mythology Of Home, Stephanie M. Stern

Michigan Law Review

The theory that one's home is a psychologically special form of property has become a cherished principle of property law, cited by legislators and touted extensively in the legal scholarship. Influential scholars, most notably Margaret Radin, have asserted that ongoing control over one's home is necessary for an individual's very personhood and ability to flourish in society. Other commentators have expounded a communitarian vision of the home as rooting individuals in communities of close-knit social ties. Remarkably, the legal academy has accepted these theoretical accounts of the home without demanding a shred of empirical evidence. The misplaced belief in the …

A Comparative Study Of Self-Esteem: College-Aged Women Vs. Women At Midlife, Audrey Fritton

Social Work Theses

A woman’s self-esteem, defined as “a realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself,” can have a profound impact on her overall life choices and outlook. Low self-esteem is associated with numerous consequences such as eating disorders, alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, and social withdrawal. This study investigated the self-esteem level of college-aged women as compared to that of women at midlife and also identified the external factors that impacted this perception of self-esteem. It was hypothesized that the intense focus on women’s rights and political activism of the 1960’s and 1970’s would have promoted greater self-esteem in young women of …

A Study Investgating The Lingering Emotional And Psychological Distress Of September 11, 2001 On College Age Students, Lauren Deluca

Social Work Theses

This study was concerned with understanding the lingering psychological and emotional effects that September 11th continues to play on college age students today and the different factors that impacted their current feelings and emotions. Originally, the researcher wished to explore the relationship between the students’ geographic locations on September 11th, 2001 and their level of psychological and emotional distress in its aftermath. Unfortunately, the responses available for the variable geographic location could not be analyzed in a way that they could be used for this study. The study did, however, provide feedback based on the relationships between other variables indicating …

Sexual Abuse In Preschool Aged Children: Teaching Childcare Professionals To Identify Signs And Symptoms, Kristin Pleines

Social Work Theses

Identifying sexual abuse in young children is difficult, but crucial to a child’s immediate well-being and long-term well-being. Because many children spend a large percentage of their day in childcare settings, the aim of this study was to help teach early childhood educators to identify and report sexual abuse. To accomplish this, the researcher designed a training program about sexual abuse and how to report it. The training program was then forwarded via e-mail to ten experts in the childcare field who had previously expressed interest in the study. These experts responded to a survey and provided many other suggestions. …

Positive Behavior Support And Student Response To The Behavior Education Program, Kate Paolella

Social Work Theses

School-wide positive behavior supports (SWPBS) is an evidence-based systematic approach that views problem behaviors in a positive, preventative manner. Once a school-wide discipline system is in place, an intermediate-level intervention can be implemented to support the 5% to 15% of students who are at-risk of engaging in more severe behavior. Students who do not respond to universal behavioral approaches and need extra support can benefit from a targeted group intervention like the Behavior Education Program (BEP), which is based on a daily check-in check-out system providing students with immediate feedback on their behavior. This research study described the effectiveness of …

A Comparison Of Teachers' Perspectives Of Social Competency Of Autistic Children In Inclusion And Self Contained Classrooms, Tara Noonan

Social Work Theses

Building relationships at the preschool level is a significant developmental milestone of early childhood. Children with disabilities often lack certain social and language skills necessary to build friendships with peers. While many preschool children with disabilities have difficulty building relationships, this study will concentrate on autistic children and their ability to achieve social competency. There are three classroom environments in which preschool children with autism can be educated: the self-contained classroom, the inclusion classroom, and home schooling. This qualitative study attempted to determine whether the self-contained classroom or the inclusive classroom promotes more social competency building in preschoolers with autism. …

Synthesis Report On Canadian Youth: A Focus On Minority Youth, Zenaida R. Ravanera, Beaujot Roderic

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Using data from the 2006 Census and the 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey, this report provides demographic, economic, and socio-cultural profiles of young Canadians aged 15-24, with focus on visible minority groups, Aboriginal, Anglophone living in Quebec, and Francophone living in the rest of Canada. The profiles of young followers of various religions are also examined with the use of data from the 2001 Census.

The focus on the youth stems from a life course perspective recognizing that transitions in education, work, and family life in adolescence and early adulthood may differ for young Canadians belonging to minority groups from those …

Exploring The Impact Of Immigrants' Views Of Public Sentiment, Jacqueline Salaway

Social Work Theses

Immigration is an issue that has become increasingly important in American society. An understanding of the issue of immigration, as well as the various issues related to it, is essential in the social work profession. It is apparent through recent changes in national immigration policies that the “pathway to citizenship” is becoming increasingly difficult. The literature reveals that public sentiment about immigration strongly influences the development of these policies. In addition to the influence that public sentiment has on policy-making, it is equally important to understand the ways in which public sentiment impacts immigrants’ perceptions of themselves. This research study …

Sociological And Psychological Predispositions To Serial Murder, Katie Marie Krueger

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This paper looks specifically at the true definition of a serial killer, attempting to clarify the misleading depiction that has come from the media influence. Twenty-one people, including infamous murderers such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, as well as more obscure killers, such as Carl Panzram, were studied in depth. Data was gathered from a variety of published sources on each convicted serial killer focusing on his/her life prior to the beginning of the killing spree. Unlike previous research on the topic, this investigation looked at a larger sample of serial killers, as well as a more complete set …

A Study Of The Relationship Between The Principles Of Distributive Justice And Political Ideology, Maryalice Multari

Social Work Theses

Ideology plays a very important role in everyday life, particularly in a President’s term of office. Under the Presidency of George W. Bush, welfare and other Social Services were severely cut due to the fact that he believed in more conservative viewpoints (higher military spending, higher tax cuts for the wealthy, etc.). However, ideologies are not only seen on a grand scale: everyone makes day-to-day decisions based on his/her own beliefs. This study hypothesized that males within the Providence College student body would believe in more conservative ideologies, whereas females would believe in more liberal ones. Statements based on both …

The Internal And External Affects Of A Governor's State Budget Cuts On The Department Of Child Welfare, Tara Albury

Social Work Theses

State budget cuts reduce the resources available to the Department of Child Welfare. The Child Welfare Unit has had an increase in caseloads and a decrease in workers, resulting in an increase in caseloads for the remaining workers. In January 2009, the Department of Child Welfare made a transition with a community wide initiative to a more family directed all inclusive, team approach to service provision. The State was divided into four Initiative Regions, with a lead agency in each. This research examines areas of success, changes in staff responsibilities, changes in clients’ participation in services and barriers to the …

White, Vernon, 1915-2008 (Mss 255), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 255. Correspondence, research notes, slides, and photographs related to Vernon White's interests: covered bridges, hominy holes, archaeology, and grave covers, chiefly in Kentucky. Also includes drafts of his books and information about the White family of White Mills, Hardin County, Kentucky as well as information about White's participation in World War II. To view a selection of illustrative material from the White Collection go to this website: http://www.wku.edu/library/dlsc/vernonwhite.php

The Elderly: A Descriptive Study Of The Perceptions Of The Elderly And Their Driving Abilities, Kimberly Pine

Social Work Theses

This study advances the understanding of older driver’s perceptions on their driving abilities. It focuses on examining a deeper and more detailed understanding of the different challenges the elderly are experiencing, in respect to driving and retention of their license. Additionally, it is important for others (such as family, doctors, social workers etc.) to interact with the elderly and assist them in receiving services if they are no longer capable of driving a vehicle, as well as talk with them if they are struggling with giving up their license and consequently their independence. Specifically, the analysis focuses on which gender …

An Exploration Of Morale And Decision Making Of Children And Youths In Foster And Residential Care, Kevin Stanford

Social Work Theses

Children who are forced into foster or residential care are one of the most vulnerable populations in the United States. Many of these children have not had the benefit of a positive adult role model in their lives and therefore lack social skills and self-esteem often resulting in criminal activity. Previous research indicates various positive and negative influences on morale and decision making of children and youths in both of these populations. This study aims to build upon previous research in an attempt to improve the lives of youths in foster and residential care by further delving into the influences …

Providing For Rhode Islands Juvenile Delinquents: Community Based Services Vs. Incarceration, Shannon Fitzgerald

Social Work Theses

National research has shown that high quality, alternative community based diversionary programs for delinquent youth are both more effective at reducing recidivism and less expensive than incarceration. As the state of Rhode Island faces budgetary issues, not unlike the issues the United States is facing on the national level, they have begun to move toward this model as a way to address juvenile delinquency. But the question is, does Rhode Island have the available resources to provide a better alternative for these youths than incarceration? This exploratory study’s objective was to explore if Rhode Island’s juvenile delinquents will be better …

Human Trafficking And Global Policy: A Study On The Casual Factors Of Human Trafficking, Ashley Margarida

Social Work Theses

Victims of human trafficking may be exploited for prostitution, sweatshop labor, domestic work, and as child soldiers for armed conflicts. Elements of human trafficking include deception, recruitment, transportation, coercion, exploitation, and forced labor. Statistics of individuals trafficked vary according to source, but it is estimated that 700,000 to 4 million individuals become new victims of human trafficking every year. The literature on policies pertaining to human trafficking demonstrates a lack of international collaboration and inattention to the causal factors associated with human trafficking. This studied hypothesized that a positive relationship exists between a country’s view on prostitution, tolerance of male …

New Ways Of Addressing The Psychological Traumas Of War: Supplementing Traditional Social Supports To Prevent Homelessness Among Mentally Ill Veterans, Leeann Byrne

Social Work Theses

Both nationally and in Rhode Island, there is a high prevalence of veterans in the homeless population. Many homeless veterans suffer from serious mental health issues and military specific traumas, adding to the social stigma they face. To avoid homelessness, veterans need to treat their mental illness with the assistance of their social support networks. Despite incredible advances in technology and mental health care, provision of mental health services to veterans still remains very traditional. With an influx of veterans returning from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, a greater number of younger clients will be entering the system. …

Francophone African Immigration To The United States: Causes And Implications For American Social Work Practice, Whitney R. Henderson

Social Work Theses

Francophone, or French-speaking, West Africans immigrants within the United States are of particular interest due to their choice of relocation. It is noteworthy because they are choosing not to immigrate to France, where there is excellent healthcare offered and the language commonality between France and the immigrant. This research studies why members of this population were choosing the United States over France. This exploratory research of Francophone West African immigration to the United States was conducted via face-to-face interviews with three members of this particular population in Providence, Rhode Island. Results from the interviews indicated that there are various reasons …

Dealing With The Unsuccessful Cases: An Assessment Of The Experiences And Process Of Coping With Patient Suicide In Mental Healthcare Professionals, Jennifer Heinemann

Social Work Theses

Mental health care professionals will inevitably encounter all types of “unsuccessful cases” in their line of work. Patient suicide is the extreme of these cases and can have a negative impact on their personal and professional life. This study sought to continue and expand research in this area by investigating the experiences and impact of patient suicide on all mental health professionals, the services available to them, and their opinions on best practice methods. Twenty- eight in-patient and five out-patient mental healthcare workers in Rhode Island were surveyed for this study. Analysis confirmed the impact of patient suicide on professionals …

Why Should Men And Women Marry And Have Children? Parenthood, Marital Status And Self-Perceived Stress Among Canadians, Ali Muhammad, Alain Gagnon

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Based on the Canadian Community and Health Survey (2000), this study examines the stress perceived by parents and non-parents across marital statuses, adjusting for for age, education, work, income, and sense of community belonging. Results show that fatherhood increases perceived stress in all marital statuses, particularly among singles. Motherhood does not affect perceived stress among married or cohabitating women but single and postmarried mothers endure appreciably higher levels of stress. Interactions between working and parental or marital statuses are also observed. The sense of community belonging appears as an important coping mechanism lowering stress levels. Results are discussed in the …

Sociology Discipline Unit Mission 2008-09, Assessment Of Student Learning Committee

Assessment of Student Learning Reports

No abstract provided.

Barriers To Utilization Of Prenatal Care For Low Income Women Living In Rhode Island: Impact Of The Client-Service Provider Relationship, Nicole Lescarbeau

Social Work Theses

Federal legislation was enacted in the 1980’s to expand Medicaid eligibility of prenatal care coverage. Despite this focus however, many women still continue to not utilize care early or adequately (Regenstein, Cummings, & Huang, 2005, p.1). This study examines how barriers to utilizing early and adequate prenatal care, such as a lack of transportation and/or childcare, affect women of low income living in Rhode Island. Specifically, the focus is on the clients’ perceptions of the client-prenatal service provider relationship. This study also examines the impact of utilization of early and adequate prenatal services, and of substance use, on birth outcomes …

Sociology Discipline Assessment Report 2008/2009, Sociology Discipline

Assessment of Student Learning Reports

No abstract provided.

Sociology Discipline Goals & Methods Assessment Report 2009, Sociology Discipline

Assessment of Student Learning Reports

No abstract provided.

Governing Pluralistic Societies, Tom Tyler

Law and Contemporary Problems

Societies can be held together in many ways. Historically, many groups were linked by a common history, common ethnicity, and common religious and social values. These societies shared a unified set of norms dictating right and wrong. Other groups have been held together by charismatic leaders who present a unifying vision, but modern pluralistic society, uniquely, accepts a diversity of views about what is appropriate and reasonable, which makes these forms of authority difficult to enact. The form of authority emerging in western democratic states has been, instead, authority based upon the processes of government: people recognize democratic procedures as …

International Policies And The Social Work Response: The Example Of Nafta, Lindsay Adamski

Social Work Theses

The policies made in the United States can have an important impact on the rest of the world and policy makers must consider the effect of U.S. policies not only on the citizens of the United States, but the global community as well. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is an example of a policy of the United States that has changed the economy of Mexico, and in many ways made Mexico more dependent on the United States. This paper looks at the effect NAFTA has had on the economies, jobs, and workers of both Mexico and the United …

Sociology Minor Program And Curriculum Approval 03/13/09, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Sociology B.A. Program And Curriculum Approval 03/13/09, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.