Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Trust Across Scales: Investigating The Relationship Among Trust And Confidence In Social Institutions, Childhood Aces, And Political Identity, Riley W. Briekos, Gwendolyn O. Hillger, Paige M. Thissen, Benjamin P. Brecht, Avery M. Chapp, James D. Harms, James Cottrill, Amanda Hemmesch, Ann Finan, Sandrine Zerbib

Scholarship in SCSU Survey

Using data from our 2023 Fall Survey of Minnesota Residents, we examine the relationship between trust and confidence in social institutions and how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact perceptions and behavior.

Increasing Housing Stability Through State-Funded Community Mediation Delivered By The Massachusetts Housing Mediation Program (Hmp) Fy2023 Evaluation Report, Madhawa Palihapitiya, Karina Zeferino

Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration Publications

The Massachusetts Housing Mediation Program (HMP) is a comprehensive statewide program that provides free housing mediation services as a tool to increase housing stability with the intention of preventing homelessness created by landlord-tenant disputes. It is administered by the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) at the University of Massachusetts Boston and deploys the community mediation system infrastructure with 11 Community Mediation Centers (Centers) participating and serving all 14 counties of the Commonwealth to provide free conflict resolution services for tenants and landlords/property managers with housing disputes at any stage, from the earliest point a problem occurs, up to, and …

Nicotine Addiction: A Hidden Health Crisis, Macy J. Mcgrath, Andrea Walker, Anahita Mohammadkhah

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

In the United States, nicotine addiction is an ongoing health crisis (U.S Food and Drug Administration, 2023). Pivotal to this crisis is the prevalence and ease of access to devices that deliver nicotine. Covering a broad spectrum, devices range from traditional forms of tobacco such as cigarettes, pipes, etc. to new nicotine devices such as e-cigarettes and vapes. Yet, even with the health crisis looming, more and more individuals are becoming addicted to nicotine (Ayers et al., 2011; Lyu et al., 2022; Pokhrel et al., 2021). In particular, research indicates that the 18-24 age demographic is significantly more likely to …

Addressing Barriers To Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Massachusetts Community Mediation, Madhawa Palihapitiya, Jarling Ho, Shino Yokotsuka, Karina Zeferino

Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration Publications

This report presents over three years of systematically engaging, documenting and analyzing the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) needs/gaps and assets of state funded community mediation centers in Massachusetts. The report was compiled by researchers and an in-house DEI expert at the statutory state office of dispute resolution, the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The office has been serving as a neutral forum and state-level resource for over 30 years.

The report is based on qualitative research that falls into the category of community based participatory research conducted through a series of community …

Annual Report On The Head Start Family Financial Capability Program: 2015–2016, Jami Curley, Anne S. Robertson

Center for Social Development Research

This report presents results from a mixed-methods evaluation of the third year of implementation of a financial-capability program with Head Start families in the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area: The Head Start Family Financial Capability (HSFFC) Program. The program combined savings incentives, budget and credit counseling, and one-on-one coaching with 10 hours of financial education on debt management, banking, budgeting, saving, and credit. The results reported here come from analyses of data on 339 adult program participants from Head Start families, 107 Head Start staff who participated in the program, and administrators and staff implementing the program at Head Start …

Employee Financial Wellness Programs: A Review Of The Literature And Directions For Future Research, Geraldine Hannon, Meredith Covington, Mat Despard, Ellen Frank-Miller, Michal Grinstein-Weiss

Center for Social Development Research

This is a literature review of studies that have examined the implementation of financial wellness programs in the workplace. The review suggests that employee financial wellness programs (EFWPs) have drawn on both existing and new methods to improve the financial security of employees. Although a number of studies have been conducted on employer-based financial education and retirement planning, evidence concerning the efficacy of EFWPs is limited. Moreover, the methodological shortcomings of studies in the workplace financial wellness field have limited evidence concerning returns on investment and impeded efforts to make best-practice recommendations. Thus, researchers should consider strengthening the evidence base …

The Mars Desert Research Station - Erau Crew 160 Expedition, Lycourgos Manolopoulos, Ashley Hollis-Bussey, Hiroki Sugimoto, Cassandra Vella, John Herman, Marc Carofano

Student Works

The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) is a research program which is owned and operated by the Mars Society. The MDRS is located in Hanksville, Utah which hosts simulations that are typically two weeks long for professional scientists and engineers as well as college students of all levels, in training for human operations specifically on Mars. This space analog facility is in isolation, allowing for rigorous field studies regarding research that represents a true mission as if the crew members are conducting a real expedition on Mars. Participants are assigned specific roles and tasks that are typically aligned with their …

Residential Mobility During Adolescence: Even "Upward" Moves Predict High School Dropout, Molly W. Metzger, Patrick J. Fowler, Bennett Kelberman

Center for Social Development Research

Racial and economic segregation have long endured as systemic challenges in U.S. metropolitan areas. To combat the inequalities of segregation, two broad policy approaches have emerged: (1) preservation stresses investment in low-income neighborhoods, and (2) mobility stresses moving households in low-income areas to more affluent areas. Our recent study reveals some possible unintended consequences of the latter approach, particularly for adolescents. We find that moving during adolescence is associated with decreased odds of graduating from high school, even when moving to significantly higher income neighborhoods.

The Seed For Oklahoma Kids Child Development Account Experiment: Accounts, Assets, Earnings, And Savings, Sondra G. Beverly, Margaret M. Clancy, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

This brief presents the latest results from SEED for Oklahoma Kids, a pathbreaking randomized experiment to test the effects of automatic, universal, and progressive Child Development Accounts (CDAs) in a statewide sample. Key features of the CDA are automatic opening of a 529 account and an automatic initial $1,000 deposit. The results show that CDAs with automatic deposits invested in a 529 plan may enable children to accumulate meaningful levels of assets over time, even if their families do not contribute to the accounts. As the brief indicates, the new results also have key implications for public policy.

Refund To Savings 2013: Comprehensive Report On A Large-Scale Tax-Time Saving Program, Michal Grinstein-Weiss, Dana C. Perantie, Blair D. Russell, Krista Comer, Samuel H. Taylor, Lingzi Luo, Clinton Key, Dan Ariely

Center for Social Development Research

Refund to Savings 2013: Comprehensive Report on a Large-Scale Tax-Time Saving Program

The Early Good News About Child Development Accounts, Sondra G. Beverly, Margaret Clancy, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

This brief summary of early research findings from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment may help Child Development Account (CDA) proponents communicate the value of such accounts to policymakers, educators and others.

A Review Of “Delivering Research Data Management Services: Fundamentals Of Good Practice”, Darren Sweeper

Sprague Library Scholarship and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Alec 845 - Research In Leadership Education: A Peer Review Of Teaching Benchmark Portfolio, Karen J. Cannon

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

This is a benchmark portfolio of the graduate research course offered in the ALEC department, ALEC 845 – Research in Leadership Education. Students in any department or graduate program are welcome in the course but it primarily serves students in ALEC who are pursuing either a master’s in leadership education or a doctoral degree in human sciences with a specialization in leadership studies. The course itself is intended to provide an introduction to social science research methods and help students understand and begin to practice ethical social sciences research that contributes to the body of scholarly knowledge in their disciplines. …

Effects Of Leadership On Financial Performance At The Local Level Of An Industrial Distributor, Rod L. Flanagan, Gary Stewardson, Jeffrey P. Dew, Michelle M. Fleig-Palmer, Edward Reeve

Faculty Publications

An important component in the industrial products supply chain is the distribution segment of the channel. The health and success of industrial distributors can often influence the success cess of manufacturers whom they represent. Although research has demonstrated how leadership is a key ingredient in the success of large corporations across industries, very little leadership research has been conducted in the industrial distribution market segment—especially at the local level. This research fills the gap between what is know about leadership in larger organizations, and the need for greater understanding of leadership at the local level of an industrial distributor. The …

Inquiry, Innovation, & Impact: Report To The Community, Center For Social Development

Center for Social Development Research

Inquiry, Innovation, & Impact: Report to the Community

Lessons From Seed: A National Demonstration Of Child Development Accounts, Michael Sherraden, Julia Stevens, Deborah Adams, Ray Boshara, Margaret Clancy, Reid Cramer, Bob Friedman, Rochelle Howard, Karol Krotki, Ellen Marks, Lisa Mensah, Bryan Rhodes, Carl Rist, Edward Scanlon, Trina Williams Shanks, Michael Sherraden, Julia Stevens, Leigh Tivol, Robert Zager

Center for Social Development Research

Lessons From SEED: A National Demonstration of Child Development Accounts

Youth Savings Around The World: Youth Characteristics, Savings Performance, And Potential Effects, Rainier Masa, Margaret Sherrard Sherraden, Li Zou, Fred Ssewamala, Lissa Johnson, David Ansong, Gina Chowa, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Youth Savings Around the World: Youth Characteristics, Savings Performance, and Potential Effects

Relating Bike Racks And Bike Ridership, John Sens

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Abstract The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the relationship between bicycle ridership and bike racks in a given area. The goal was to discern whether or not the density of bike racks determines the number of riders in the area. I predicted that there would be higher ridership in the areas with a denser bike rack concentration. To investigate this point, I set up five different areas of varying sizes with a similar number of bike racks, and then observed them over a period of 5 business days. By using a simple tally of the bikes found on …

Perceived Effects Of International Volunteering: Reports From Alumni, Benjamin Lough, Amanda Moore Mcbride, Margaret S. Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Perceived Effects of International Volunteering: Reports From Alumni

Lack Of A Will Or Of A Way? Taking A Capability Approach For Analysing Disability Policy Shortcomings And Ensuring Programme Impact In Afghanistan, Jean-Francois Trani, Parul Bakhshi, Ayan A. Noor, Ashraf Mashkoor

Brown School Faculty Publications

The present paper attempts to analyse some of the shortcomings that have impeded efforts in the field of disability in Afghanistan. After an overview of recent disability initiatives, this article presents elements that have contributed to the limited impact. The context of a Conflict Affected Fragile State (CAFS) makes particularly intricate the development of state-capacity as well as the delivery of basic services for the population. To overcome identified gaps, it is argued that Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach (CA) constitutes a relevant framework for designing disability policy and implementation. While the definition of human development has evolved considerably over the …

Exploring Saving Performance In An Ida For People With Disabilities: Some Preliminary Findings, Margaret Lombe, Jin Huang, Michelle Putnam, Kate Cooney

Center for Social Development Research

Asset development policies have been promoted as a means to create a more inclusive “ownership society.” During the past few years, asset building scholarship has begun to focus specifically on marginalized groups including persons with disabilities. Using a sample of Individual Development Account (IDA) program participants (N=376), we examine effects of disability status on IDA saving performance; we also assess variations in saving performance by individual and programmatic characteristics. Our results suggest that disability status, in addition to a number of individual and program characteristics, is associated with saving performance in an IDA. Implications for practice and scholarship are presented.

Fostering Low-Income Homeownership: A Longitudinal Randomized Experiment On Individual Development Accounts, Michal Grinstein-Weiss, Jung-Sook Lee, Kate Irish, Chang-Keun Han

Center for Social Development Research

For low-income families, homeownership represents an important strategy to move out of poverty and offers long-term social and economic development opportunities. Individual Development Account (IDA) programs facilitate savings towards assets such as home purchase through matched savings, financial education and case management. Using longitudinal experiment data from the American Dream Demonstration, this study examines the influence of IDA participation on homeownership rates among low-income participants after 18 months (Wave 2) of program participation and after 48 months (Wave 3) at program completion. Involvement in specific home-search activities at Waves 2 and 3 was measured to determine whether these activities mediated …

The Balance Sheets Of Low-Income Households: What We Know About Their Assets And Liabilities., Adam Carasso, Signe-Mary Mckernan

Center for Social Development Research

The Balance Sheets of Low-Income Households: What We Know About Their Assets and Liabilities.

Wealth Building In Rural America: Programs, Policies, Research, Jon Bailey, Jami Curley, Karen Edwards, Gena Gunn, Eric Henson, Njeri Kagotho, Anna Lee, Kathleen K. Miller, Luxman Nathan, Trina R. Shanks, Michael Sherraden, Margaret S. Sherraden, Jean Schumacher, Bill Schweke, Ann Ulmer

Center for Social Development Research

Wealth Building in Rural America: Programs, Policies, Research

Inclusion In College Savings Plans: Participation And Saving In Maine's Matching Grant Program, Margaret Clancy, Chang-Keun Han, Lisa Reyes Mason, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Inclusion in College Savings Plans: Participation and Saving in Maine's Matching Grant Program

Barriers To Asset Accumulation For Families In The Seed Pre-School Demonstration And Impact Assessment, Sondra G. Beverly, Jared Barton

Center for Social Development Research

Barriers to Asset Accumulation for Families in the SEED Pre-School Demonstration and Impact Assessment

Account Monitoring Report At December 31, 2005, Lisa Reyes Mason, Vernon Loke, Margaret Clancy

Center for Social Development Research

Account Monitoring Report at December 31, 2005

Seed Account Monitoring Research At June 30, 2006, Lisa Reyes Mason, Vernon Loke, Margaret Clancy

Center for Social Development Research

SEED Account Monitoring Research at June 30, 2006

Service-Learning And Civic Outcomes: From Suggestive Research To Program Models, Suzanne Pritzker, Amanda Moore Mcbride

Center for Social Development Research

Service-learning has been identified as an intervention that may address low levels of youth civic engagement. Service-learning is compared to two other interventions that have been associated with civic outcomes: community service and civic education curricula. Studies of these three types of interventions are systematically reviewed and compared, taking into account rigor of designs and methods. Across a range of civic indicators, no clear pattern was found regarding the impact of each intervention. This review highlights the need for increased rigor and sensitivity of measurement in future research on civic development among school-age students.

The Delphi Method, Linda Stone Fish, Dean M. Busby

Faculty Publications

Dear Reader,

We would like to ask your help in a research study of considerable significance for family therapy researchers and clinicians. The present study is designed to compare and contrast the various research methodologies in the field by examine the opinions of prominent family therapists. The completion of the three questionnaires that will make up this study will require a total of no more than 1 1/2 hours of your time. In appreciation of your participation, a complete summary of the findings and a list of the other panelists will be sent to you.

This study will employ the …