Digital Commons Network^™

"As-Yet-Still-Forgiven Past": Dylan Thomas And Nostalgia, David Bradley Bailey

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Dylan Thomas exhibited a variety of nostalgic influences within his poetry. A careful study of his life will reveal a nostalgia that evolved from adolescent musings upon an ideal past, to a self-destructive urge to return to innocence through death. Thomas incorporates a variety of historical influences within this nostalgia, but his primary influence is ultimately his own tormented past. This study not only focuses on the personal nostalgia of one man, but the variety of ways nostalgia can affect people, history and society as sociological force.

Senior Citizen Access To And Utilization Of The Farmers’ Market: A Holland Michigan Study, Jennifer M. Kadrovich

McNair Scholars Journal

This research examines whether or not senior citizens in the Holland, Michigan area have access to and use of the local farmers’ market. The intent is to determine any access issues the elderly population may have in the availability of fresh nutritious produce. It is assumed that many elderly people have poor health, are on a fixed income, have a lack of transportation, and suffer from decreased mobility and social isolation. Because of these limitations senior citizens may not be able to easily obtain fresh produce which may, in turn, impact the nutrition of this group.

Examining The Role Of Early Life Social Conditions On Adult Mortality Through Historical Record Linkage: Implications For Contemporary Public Policy, Nora Bohnert, Alain Gagnon

PSC Discussion Papers Series

This study examines the effect of early life conditions on adult mortality. The individual, household and community details of children residing in Quebec in 1901 are linked to their subsequent ages at death in late adulthood using the 1901 Canadian Census and Quebec death registers. Preliminary results of logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses indicate that childhood poverty status is not significantly associated with risk of death after age forty. Sex, birth cohort, parental literacy status, farm status and number of siblings in the childhood household are found to significantly effect mortality after age 40. Gender differentials in …

Elder Abuse Identification And Intervention: Final Report To Blue Cross-Blue Shield Of Michigan Foundation, Mary C. Sengstock

Sociology Faculty Research Publications

In 2006 through 2008, Dr. Mary Cay Sengstock held a grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation to study the effectiveness of the current system for identifying and assisting abused elders in the State of Michigan.

This document presents the Final Report of the project. It can serve as a model, not only for the State of Michigan, but for other states regarding the mechanisms which are effective in identifying and assisting abused elders, as well as the problems and dilemmas which may arise.

Is There A Trade-Off Between Fertility And Longevity? A Comparative Study Of Three Large Historical Demographic Databases Accounting For Mortality Selection, Alain Gagnon, Ken R. Smith, Marc Tremblay, Hélène Vézina, Paul-Philippe Paré, Bertrand Desjardins

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Frontier populations provide exceptional opportunities to test the hypothesis of a trade‐off between fertility and longevity. In such populations, mechanisms favoring reproduction usually find fertile ground, and if these mechanisms reduce the chances for survival in old age, demographers should observe higher post‐reproductive mortality rates among highly fertile women. We test this hypothesis using complete female reproductive histories from three large demographic databases: the Registre de la population du Québec ancien (Université de Montréal), which covers the first centuries of settlement in Quebec; the BALSAC database (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi), including comprehensive records for the region of Saguenay‐Lac‐St‐Jean (SLSJ) …

Sociology Multiple Course Revisions 09/17/2008, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Panel On “Low Fertility In Comparative Perspective” At Meetings Of The Canadian Population Society, University Of British Columbia, 4-6 June 2008, Roderic Beaujot

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Abstract not available

Demographic Change, The Labour Force And Work-Family Conflicts: The Challenge Of Public Policy Adaptation, Roderic Beaujot

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Les changements démographiques (vieillissement, faible natalité et leurs conséquences) ainsi que l’évolution de la main d’oeuvre (féminisation, secteur service, phénomène 24/7) apportent des nouveaux conflits travail-famille. Dans un monde où on cherche à maximiser la participation à la main d’oeuvre et à assurer la reproduction de la population, ces conflits portent divers défis d’adaptation des politiques publiques. Nous considérons les changements dans les modèles de couples et les intérêts variés par rapport aux types de support de la société. Nous considerons les politques par rapport à divers types de familles.

Male Survivors: Walking The Tightrope Of Masculinity, Luke Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual assault of men is a serious social problem and has drawn well deserved attention from many different researchers as well as the general public. Even though there is much concern and interest in this troubling crime, limited research has been conducted on the long-term effects of sexual abuse on male survivors. Using data collected by the Virginia Department of Health, this study investigated the effects of sexual abuse of men. Specifically, this inquiry examined specific emotional and physical conditions as potential consequences of sexual victimization among men and the extent to which those conditions vary between male victims and …

Economy And Mortality In Social Science: From The Renaissance To Ideas On Demographic Transition, J Tapia

English

Objectives: To present the history of ideas about the influence of economy on mortality from the Renaissance to the twentieth century.

Enough Already? Linking Science, Geography, Mathematics, And Sociology Through Population Study, Roxanne Greitz Miller, Lilian M. Were

Education Faculty Articles and Research

In several previous Issues In-Depth columns, science topics deeply affected by population size--such as climate change, fuel and agricultural resources, and ecology--have been discussed. In this column, we will discuss the issue of population growth in developed and developing countries, why this is an important topic to discuss with young adolescents, and how interdisciplinary connections can be made between science and several other subject areas through an examination of populations across the globe.

Graduate Training In Sociological Theory And Theory Construction, Barry N. Markovsky

Faculty Publications

Nearly all of sociology's top graduate training programs require their students to complete one or two courses on sociological theory. The instructors for these courses have an extraordinary opportunity to affect the perspectives and practices of future generations of scholars. This study assesses the backgrounds, attitudes, beliefs, and practices of those instructors regarding different approaches to theorizing, with particular attention paid to topics related to science and to theory construction. Sociologists who teach required theory courses in the discipline's top fifty graduate training programs were asked a series of questions pertaining to their own training and to the courses they …

The Increase Of Bipolar Disorder In Children And Adolescents, Kristen Wroblewski

Social Work Theses

This cluster study investigates the different possibilities that may have caused an increase in the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder in children and adolescents, including comparison to diagnosis in other countries. The same criteria for diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder for adults are used for children and adolescents, which may be misdiagnosed due to other disorders having the same characteristics, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In the cluster study, current and past students’ files at an alternative school were analyzed to determine whether the diagnosis had increased within the setting. Main findings were that Bipolar Disorder did increase over the …

The Relationship Between Parental Substance Abuse And The Effects On Young Children, Lindsey Capaldi

Social Work Theses

This was a relational study investigating the implications of a parents drug use on a young child’s life. A review of the literature revealed that a child is severely impacted by their parent’s drug and alcohol abuse. Prenatal or postnatal use of drugs or alcohol can mean health, mental, social and emotional issues for a child. The relational study compared children whose parents have a history of drug or alcohol abuse to the children whose parents did not. The sample was observed in the Head Start setting and consisted of 77 children. The children whose family life did not include …

Foster Youth And The "Aging Out" Age In Rhode Island, Kelsey Creeden

Social Work Theses

Foster care is a temporary placement of children and youth with others outside of their home due to child abuse or neglect. Since its 19th century origins, the foster care system has evolved to focus on three goals of providing safety, well-being, and permanency until the child leaves the system, either by reunification, adoption, or “aging out”. Because these youth often “age out” without a home, job, or support system, programs such as the Life Skills Program and the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative are working toward providing this population with skills that will assist them in successfully aging out …

The Lack Of Mental Health Professionals And Services For Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Kiley Morgart

Social Work Theses

Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are vulnerable to abuse and are not receiving proper care at an early age due to their parents’ negative reactions towards having a child who has a hearing impairment. The lack of proper care and their vulnerability to abuse puts these children at a high risk of not developing properly. A qualitative study was undertaken using interviews to find services/agencies that provide help to parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing in Rhode Island. Findings indicate that there is a sufficient amount of service for parents but these parents …

Effective Interventions For Treating Superficial Self Mutilators, Maria Palladini

Social Work Theses

Self-cutting is the most common form of self-mutilation in adolescents but there is insufficient knowledge as to which treatment methods to reduce self-mutilation are most effective. This exploration into the causes of self-cutting and the treatment interventions, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), compares adolescents who had DBT treatment with those who have used other treatment methods. Research findings indicate that the average age of adolescents in treatment was 15 years old and had been in treatment at least one time prior. Adolescents in DBT treatment showed signs in reducing/stopping self-cutting behavior along with improving communication skills with caregivers. Implications …

The Need For Gender And Age Specific Life Skill Groups, Sara Pateras

Social Work Theses

Adolescent life skill groups can strengthen self-esteem, develop appropriate body image, and improve peer and adult relationships while providing a sense of unity and support for its members. By separating boys and girls, adolescent life skill groups encourage the easeful gender specific discussions. This research investigated the effectiveness of adolescent girls’ life skill groups on increasing self-esteem, developing appropriate body image, and improving both peer and romantic relationships. This research evaluated the results of a pre-test and post-test administered to 174 participants in a life skill group ran by Big Sisters of Rhode Island. This study found that the average …

A Call For The Spiritual Dimension To Be Included In Social Work Education, Stephanie Sullivan

Social Work Theses

Spirituality is a concept that is not easily definable and because of that, many people shy away from fully understanding how one’s belief system can affect other factors in life. As a professional social worker, it is one’s duty to look at the whole individual because every system is intertwined with another. When pondering over whether or not aspects of spirituality is used in everyday social work practice, one must ask the question about the worker’s view on spirituality. This qualitative research study shows how spirituality in social work is arguably important both personally and professionally in the profession. After …

Social Work With Affluent And Low-Income Families: Attribution Theory, Katharine Terbush

Social Work Theses

A study to assess attribution theory and the work done by social workers with wealthy and poor families was performed using two vignettes identical in information suggesting abuse, with one described as a wealthy family and the other a family living in poverty. Attribution theory suggests that humans label and assume certain traits to be true of different persons based on their status in our society. A person with a wealthy status may be viewed by their social worker as less likely to be abusive to their children because of their status, while a person living in poverty would be …

Issues Regarding The Peruvian Maternal And Child Healthcare System, Patrick Cassidy

Social Work Theses

This paper highlights the deficiencies of the Peruvian Healthcare system. Despite the treaties and covenants the Peruvian government has signed, it has done little to mitigate the ills of its broken healthcare system. Peru’s current healthcare system is characterized by inequality between women, children, the poor and the wealthy. Furthermore, there is a lack of accessibility to maternal and child healthcare services that violates every individual’s right to health. The Peruvian government has been unresponsive towards the needs of women, children, and rural culture. Ineffective non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been incapable of alleviating Peru’s broken system. Additionally, Peru has not …

The Role Of Elementary School Physical Activity In Combating Childhood Obesity, Bridget Freeman

Social Work Theses

Childhood obesity is currently on the rise because of the lack of emphasis on physical activity, overeating and malnutrition; it has especially been escalating in children of low income families. Physical education and recess in elementary and high schools are being eliminated or reduced as the requirements of the “No Child Left Behind Act”. This study compared the opportunities available to exercise in eleven low income, medium income, high income, and private elementary schools hypothesizing that low Socioeconomic status children may be at greater risk due to the cost of healthy food, neighborhood safety, and issues restricting at home physical …

The Contributing Factors To Student Absenteeism/Truancy And The Effectiveness Of Social Services And Interventions, Courtney Hocking

Social Work Theses

One major issue that schools are currently facing and seeing little or no improvement with is effectively dealing with student absenteeism and truancy. Despite early interventions, programs are still failing to effectively motivate students to attend school. This research study examines the success of an implementation of a perfect attendance award within an elementary school to increase student attendance. An examination of student attendance from the 2006-2007 academic year and from the 2007-2008 academic year, suggested that the perfect attendance certificate distributed monthly to students with no absences for that month is a positive motivator for students to attend school …

Confronting Death: Co-Infection With Hiv/Aids And Hepatitis C, Ian Parker

Social Work Theses

This paper discusses a qualitative study completed by the researcher revealing the need for assistance for people living with a co-infection of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. It is the role of a social worker to assist this at-risk population. Services must be made available to those co-infected, including courses on end of life coping skills, substance abuse, stigma, and depression and anxiety. Included in this article is a study that documents qualitative data from clients at a Drop-in Center in Providence, Rhode Island for people living with HIV/AIDS. The data proved inconclusive with regards to co-infection and death and dying, …

A Cello Anthology, Alina R. Castro Swonger

Senior Honors Projects

Throughout my life, music has been incredibly important and influential. As a cellist for over 15 years, and a great admirer of music for as long as I can remember, music has been an outlet for self-expression and reflection. Realizing the power of music on a personal level, is what first inspired me to learn more about the history, culture, social setting, and life of the composers involved with the various pieces I have studied. I have come to realize that classical music, even without lyrics, can express the deepest emotions, share complex ideas, and create revolutionary change. It is …

Bullying In The Elementary And Middle School Levels, Caitrin O’Rourke

Social Work Theses

Bullying can be defined as deliberately hurting someone emotionally or physically. Although bullying is a serious issue, at times, it is instigated by overprotective parents or the lack of resiliency in students. This research study, using pre-tests, a PowerPoint presentation and a book on bullying, and post-tests, was conducted in order to determine whether or not a presentation on bullying could educate students about bullying and assist in preventing it in the future. Findings indicate that an educational presentation on bullying did educate elementary school students on bullying (p<.05) but did not educate middle school students (p>.05). Findings also indicate that a presentation on bullying does not …

Grant, Erin M. (Fa 235), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid and full-text scan of paper (Click on “Additional Files” below) for Folklife Archives Project 235. Paper: "Goal Posts and Parking Lots" written by Erin M. Grant for a Western Kentucky University folk studies class.

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 …

Sociology Form A: Discipline Summary 04/2008, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Blobaum Finds Meaning In Milo Festival

This Month

Eve Blobaum, who hails from a small town in Nebraska, is looking at the ways in which community festivals function as ritual reproductions of traditional values, symbolic constructions of community identity, and in the case of small rural towns passing from existence, a means to cope with social change.