Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

U.S. Residents' Current Attitudes Towards Immigrants And Immigration: A Study From The Life In Hampton Roads Survey, Daniel K. Pryce

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Immigration is a fiery topic in U.S. society, as it generally brings to a boil native-born citizens’ disparate attitudes toward immigrants and immigration. While immigration has its fierce supporters and opponents alike, the topic provides fodder for politicians who use it to stoke the fear of an impending “immigrant invasion” among citizens. This is why scholars must regularly undertake empirical studies to assess community members’ views about immigrants and immigration in U.S. society. To add to the contemporary immigration debate, I analyze data from a random sample of 610 respondents who reside in the seven cities that make up the …

China's Global Leadership Aspirations And Domestic Support For Climate Policy, Chen Xiang, Terry Van Gevelt

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

In recent years, China has pivoted towards a global leadership role in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Notwithstanding the complex political economic reasons underlying China's global leadership aspirations, we are interested in seeing whether the associated national discourse championed by the state increases domestic support for climate policy. That is, do China's international leadership aspirations foster a unifying sense of national pride among the domestic population, thereby lending support to the legitimacy of the state and expediting the implementation of costly domestic climate policies? To test our hypothesis, we enumerated a vignette experiment embedded with conjoint analysis to a …

Mapping The End Of Coal: How Policy Strength, Ownership, Finance Shape Global Plant Retirements, Jiwon Kim, Theodor Florian Cojoianu, Theodor F. Cojoianu, Maretno Agus Harjoto, Dariusz Wojcik

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This study examines how national environmental performance, institutional investor divestment from fossil fuels, investment in renewable energy, and ownership type influence the global phase-out of coal power plants, and whether these effects are constrained by geographical boundaries. Using data on coal plant retirements across 90 countries, we test whether domestic and cross-border factors shape the timing and likelihood of asset closure. We find that companies headquartered in countries with stronger environmental performance are more likely to retire domestic but not foreign plants. While institutional investors divestment is often assumed to exert cross-border influence, our findings show that divestment pressure by …

Factors Affecting The Quality Of Life Of Residents In The United States: Lessons From Virginia, Daniel K. Pryce

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Evaluating community members' views about their quality of life is important for improving quality of well-being in society, as most societies are interested in the collective well-being of the people. Moreover, quality-of-life research helps public officials to understand how well they are meeting the needs of the electorate. Using the theoretical framework of Maslow's Developmental Perspective, which argues that the higher the need satisfaction of the majority in a given society the greater the quality of life of that society, I explore the effects of multiple variables on quality of life in the Hampton Roads region of Southeast Virginia (this …

Effects Of Actualized Language Policy On Ukrainian Stability, 1989-2022, Dawn Hersey

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation seeks to generate a new perspective of the complicated relationship between actualized policy and stability through looking at Ukraine’s language policies and stability in a mixed manner approach that includes both primary and secondary sources. Russia justified its irridentist activities through claiming to protect Russian nationals within Ukraine’s borders: language policies within Ukraine appear to be a trigger for Russian antagonism. Neither Russian irridentism nor Ukrainian nationalism are being considered as right or wrong in this dissertation: the intent is to highlight trends, patterns, and perceptions in alignment with Ukrainian language policy. This dissertation does not present a …

A Study Of Regulatory Compliance In U.S. Nursing Homes, Patrick Schumacher

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The federal government is responsible for ensuring that nursing homes comply with regulations designed to protect residents from abuse, neglect, and substandard care. To this end, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) partners with states to conduct onsite inspections of nursing homes, during which regulators may identify violations. The agency can take one or more actions in response to violations, including imposing civil money penalties (fines), appointing a state monitor, or mandating remedial education for staff. Despite this regulatory framework, the quality of care in nursing homes remains poor, with many facilities failing to protect the well-being of …

Challenges In Financial Prosperity: Cutback Management And Bounded Rationality In New York State School Districts, Moontae Hwang

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The Great Recession posed unexpected fiscal challenges for public sector entities, particularly small and mid-sized organizations such as school districts, which operate with limited revenue flexibility and constrained managerial capacity. While the recession was a macroeconomic event, which could be an exogenous shock to state and local governments beyond their control, state and local policy responses played a critical role in shaping its long-term effects on local public services. Scholars have emphasized the importance of long-term perspectives among policymakers and public managers to sustain the quality of public services during crises. However, the heightened uncertainty of the recession also constrained …

The Invisible Costs Of Privatizing Welfare: Administrative Burdens In Contracted Medicaid, Soyun Jeong

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Why do governments favor contracting out social services? Do private actors guarantee a better service experience for citizens? How should we understand the trade-off between efficiency and high-quality service delivery? These are the central questions that motivate this dissertation. Focusing on Medicaid, one of the largest social safety net programs in the United States, this dissertation investigates the impact of outsourcing Medicaid delivery to private health insurance companies. It explores how this privatized structure generates administrative burdens and shapes policy feedback effects. Theoretically, this project seeks to bridge the administrative burden and policy feedback literature by examining how burdensome policy …

Collaborative Governance In Practice: Evaluating Intergovernmental Relations Through The Santa Clara County Healthy Cities Initiative, Astrid J. Robles

Master's Projects

In the United States, intergovernmental relations (IGR) is rooted in the principles of American federalism, which focuses on the constitutional power dynamics between national, state, and local governments. While federalism outlines the structural framework, IGR specifically focuses on how federal, state, and local governments interact administratively, financially, and politically within the federal system. Beginning in the 1960’s, governments across the U.S. began to rely on non-governmental and private sector organizations for program implementation (Boyd & Fauntroy, 2000). This shift gave rise to the concept of collaborative governance, which expanded the scope of IGR by incorporating traditionally excluded groups from the …

40 Years Passing By In (A) “Heartbeat”, Christopher Janney

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

This article outlines the forty-year history go Christopher Janney’s iconic performance work “HeartBeat.” Trained as an architect and jazz musician, Janney combines these two disciplines to create large interactive light/sound installations and performances. On the one hand, he attempts to make architecture more like music, more “alive” using real-time sensing devices as on his “Harmonic Convergence” installation on the Miami International Airport. On the other hand, he attempts to make music more like architecture, more physical more visual. In his “HeartBeat” performance, a dancer wears a heartbeat device that amplifies his/her heartbeat in “real time.” Over this pulse, live musicians …

Yoga Sūtra Book Four And The Yogabindu, Christopher Key Chapple

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

Four themes from the fourth pāda of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra are examined here: karma (IV:2-13), individuality (IV:16), humility (IV:20-22), and freedom (IV:29-34). Affirmations and variant interpretations of these four are provided from Haribhadra Virahāṅka’s Yogabindu, most likely composed a century or two later.

Collective Karma: From The Yogasūtra To Taylor Swift, Zoë Slatoff

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

The Indian knowledge traditions speak at length about karma, which is divided into three categories—accumulated (saṃcita), ripe (prārabdha), and future (kriyamāṇa). While much is said about our individual karma and how it affects our repeated reincarnation in cyclic existence, how does this affect others and how do others affect us? In other words, as this paper explores, what is our reciprocal and collective karma?

Painting Liberation: A Visual Ontology Of The Interplay Of Mind And Consciousness In Book Four Of The Yoga Sūtras, Melissa Townsend

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

This presentation explores how artistic practice can illuminate philosophical questions about the nature of mind, consciousness, and liberation as articulated in Book Four of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Through a series of paintings that visually translate these sūtras, I propose that art offers a unique, experiential means of engaging with the complex relationship between citta (mind) and puruṣa (consciousness).

The paintings function as a form of “visual ontology,” inviting viewers to engage with abstract philosophical concepts in a sensory, tangible way. By depicting the interplay between the mutable processes of the mind and the unchanging awareness of consciousness, these …

A Qualitative Analysis Of College Students' Interest In Mhealth Solutions, Leslie Hoglund, Craig M. Becker, Cara Tonn

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

This study explores college students' perceptions of an AI-driven mHealth application designed to promote well-being. With rising mental health challenges in academic settings, students increasingly seek digital tools that provide holistic support for physical, mental, and financial health. Through focus groups, this qualitative study examines students' preferences for personalized health tracking, educational content, and flexible reminders within a private, supportive community. Key findings emphasize students' desire for a balanced, all-in-one app that integrates health and wellness tools without overwhelming them with notifications. Students also highlighted the importance of social media integration for outreach, though concerns were raised about potential stress …

Impact Of Volume-Based Procurement Policy On Coronary Stent Use In Tianjin: Interrupted Time Series Analysis, Zhao Yang, Liangyu Ni, Wei Zhao, Yuxi Li, Yongyi Wu, Qiyun Zhu, Linlin Da, Weijia Liu, Qi Zhang, Jianping Li, Bin Jiang

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze the impact of China’s centralized volume-based procurement policy on the procurement and utilization of coronary stents in Tianjin from 2019 to 2021.

Methods

An interrupted time-series design was used to assess monthly procurement data of coronary stents and balloons in Tianjin from January 2019 to December 2021.

Results

The volume-based procurement policy significantly reduced coronary stents prices, with an average price reduction of 92.67% for ten selected stents, and the lowest price dropped to 469 CNY. Following policy implementation, annual procurement in Tianjin increased by 59.55%, and tertiary hospitals demonstrated a significant monthly level …

Using Mindfulness To Manage Moral Injury In Veterans: Feasibility And Satisfaction Of A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Michelle L. Kelley, Adrian J. Bravo, Elizabeth E. Burgin, Susan A. Gaylord, Christine Vinci, Megan Strowger, Jeffrey M. Gabelmann, Joseph M. Currier

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective

The present study assessed program feasibility and satisfaction among recent-era veterans who participated in Mindfulness to Manage Moral Injury (MMMI), a live facilitated web-based 7-week mindfulness-based program targeting moral injury among veterans.

Method

In total, 56 post-9/11 veterans were recruited with 28 randomized to the MMMI condition and 28 to the Education and Support (ES) condition. Most participants identified as being White (71.4%), male (66.1%), and had a reported mean age of 41.50 years (Median = 39.50, SD = 9.26).

Results

Among the 56 participants, 82.1% attended at least one treatment session and 44.6% completed all seven sessions. There …

Family Stress Processes Underlying Covid-19-Related Economic Insecurity For Mothers And Fathers And Children's Internalizing Behavior Problems, Joyce Y. Lee, Shawna J. Lee, Sehun Oh, Amy Xu, Angelise Radney, Christina M. Rodriguez

Psychology Faculty Publications

COVID‐19 and its economic fallout have resulted in unprecedented financial insecurity and material hardship for many American families, with a disproportionately negative impact on children and families from socioeconomically disadvantaged contexts. The current study applied the family stress model to examine the family processes underlying pandemic‐related economic insecurity and children's internalizing behaviours. Online survey data from an economically diverse sample of mothers and fathers, who experienced at least one type of pandemic‐related economic insecurity in the United States (N = 259), were collected across two longitudinal time points in the early weeks of COVID‐19: (1) 14 April and (2) 30 …

Trustworthiness And Trust: Identifying Factors That Drive Successful Human-Ai Interaction In Nuclear Power Plant Applications, Yusuke Yamani, Austin Jackson, Casey Kovesdi, Jeffrey Joe, Jeremy Mohon

Psychology Faculty Publications

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are rapidly evolving and promising tools for efficient and continued safe operations of the U.S. nuclear power plants (NPPs). Emerging AI techniques like large language models (LLMs) are one such technology that may help personnel at existing NPPs perform work more efficiently. For example, operators may query the current operational status of a power plant via a chat interface, leveraging LLMs to access plant-related information in an interactive manner rather than manually collecting various sensor data for surveillance or work order tasks. This is a fundamental shift in the way …

Psychosocial Determinants Of Public Transportation Use Among Brazilian And American Users: An Integrated Modeling Approach, Ingrid Luiza Neto, Hartmut Günther, Bryan E. Porter, Taciano L. Milfont, Pastor Willy Gonzales Taco, Caroline Cardoso Machado

Psychology Faculty Publications

Overreliance on cars can promote individual, environmental, economic and social problems, requiring the development of measures to reduce car use and encourage the use of more sustainable transport options. Contributing to this call, here we report a cross-cultural study conducted in Brazil (n = 312) and the United States (n = 518) investigating the applicability of the model of Bamberg and Möser in predicting the use of public transport. Results indicated the model is equivalent across samples, regarding both the measures and the relations between the variables of the model. Intention strongly predicted self-reported public transport behaviour, explaining 70% of …

Transformative Impact Of Ai And Digital Technologies On The Fintech Industry: A Comprehensive Review, Soudeh Pazouki, Behdad Jamshidi, Armia Jalali, Arya Tafreshi

Finance Faculty Publications

This paper examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies on the financial technology (FinTech) industry and demonstrates how AI- enabled strategies are increasing the ability of businesses not only to grow, but also to better serve their customers through operational efficiencies. But as immersive as the technological advancements may be, they present challenges in connection with increasingly complicated licensing regulations and a constantly evolving technological landscape. We examine the way AI and algorithms are streamlining workflows, enhancing productivity and expanding access to financial resources for traditionally under – served populations. The paper also discusses the macroeconomic implications …

Forging Monetary Hawks: Early-Life Inflation Experiences And Government Debt In Africa, Christine Strong

Economics Faculty Publications

This study uses a novel dataset to examine the impact of early‐life inflation experiences on government debt across 30 African nations from 1980 to 2022. We propose that central bankers who encountered inflation crises during their formative years are more likely to develop preferences for hawkish monetary policies. However, for these preferences to influence fiscal outcomes, central bankers must operate within an environment of institutional independence. Indeed, our analysis reveals that past exposures to inflation crises, on their own, have no statistically significant impact on government debt. However, when central bank independence is accounted for, a significant negative relationship emerges, …

What Makes A Teacher A Teacher: A Philosophical Approach Aligned With Plato, Sojung Kim Hinterkopf

Dissertations

This thesis investigates how contemporary U.S. educational accountability policies—namely No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Race to the Top (RttT)—redefine the role of teachers through a compliance-oriented lens. Moving beyond logistical and emotional impacts, this study applies Plato’s Allegory of the Cave as a philosophical framework to uncover the intellectual and ethical constraints imposed on educators. Through qualitative document analysis of federal policy texts, three metaphorical themes—shackles, shadows, and enlightenment—emerged to represent how teachers are bound by data-driven mandates, compelled to perform surface-level success, and yet still retain the potential to guide students toward deeper intellectual engagement. The findings reveal …

Policy Paper On Incorporating Migrant Children In A Strengthened Public Education System, Amira Abdelaziz, Dina Ibrahim, Dunia Zaatar

Papers, Posters, and Presentations

A transit, destination, and sending country, Egypt generously hosts more than one million refugees and asylum seekers (UNHCR, 2025), in addition to several migrants estimated at nine million in 2022 (IOM, 2022). Against this backdrop, the country is currently facing growing challenges in ensuring access to quality, inclusive, and equitable primary education for migrant and refugee children, particularly following the arrival of Sudanese nationals since April 2023, when the conflict in Sudan erupted. Egypt’s new Asylum Law No. 164 of 2024 grants de jure access to basic education for all refugee children until the age of 14, yet the law …

Shining Light On Policy: The Case For Solar Panel Mandates On New Construction Projects, Emily Glazier

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The note argues that solar panel mandates on new construction projects are a necessary and sensible approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving climate goals, but their implementation must include provisions to protect vulnerable communities and address environmental justice concerns. While such mandates face legal and political challenges, the benefits of decreased emissions and energy independence outweigh the costs, particularly when paired with measures like community solar systems, incentives, and exemptions.

Efficacy Of Stress Acclimation Techniques In Coastal Wetland Plants (Spartina Alterniflora And S. Patens): Implications For Restoration And Nursery Production, Taylor M. Sloey, Kylie D. Gieser, Kaitlyn Pounders, Sofía E. Báez, Jennifer L. Whytlaw

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The implementation of coastal nature-based features, created wetlands, and wetland restoration has increased globally over recent years. Many of these projects have been successful in meeting their goals, however, when projects fail, it is often attributed to mortality of transplanted vegetation. Transplant mortality may be due to inappropriate timing, poor site selection, or abiotic stressors associated with transplant shock. Science-backed guidelines have been well established in many coastal regions regarding site specifications and species selection, but nursery practices for reducing transplant shock remain inconsistent. In this study, we tested a combination of four salinity acclimation treatments and two inundation acclimation …

A Comparative Analysis Of Artificial Intelligence Regulation: Implications For Singapore, Cheng Kit Kit Pang

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In relation to artificial intelligence (“AI”) regulation, Singapore presently adopts a wait-and-see approach, refraining from implementing any hard regulation before 2026. This article is directed at making recommendations for Singapore’s future AI hard regulation and conducts a comparative analysis of the hard AI regulation in the EU, the People’s Republic of China (“China”) and South Korea. This article draws lessons specifically from Asian jurisdictions with similar socio-legal and commercial considerations. In particular, China and South Korea are at the forefront, actively pushing for hard regulation. Key takeaways include the potential drivers for a shift towards hard regulation, the scope and …

Digital Orthodoxy And Political Populism In Eastern Europe: How Orthodox Media Facilitate Political Mobilization, Dmytro Garaschuk, Oleh Sokolovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the intersection of Orthodox digital media and political populism in Eastern Europe, focusing on how religious institutions utilize digital platforms to facilitate political mobilization, reinforce nationalistic narratives, and undermine democratic institutions. Drawing on a comparative analysis of six countries–Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Georgia, and Montenegro–the study identifies a shared ideological matrix that fuses populist rhetoric with theological motifs. The research highlights the strategic use of digital media by Orthodox actors to construct moral binaries, sacralize political resistance, and disseminate disinformation framed in religious language. Particular attention is given to the role of the Russian Orthodox Church and …

Latinos In Massachusetts: Dominicans, Phillip Granberry, Michelle Borges, Florita Coto Tristán, Daliza Nova

Gastón Institute Publications

The Gastón Institute’s 2024 Latinos in Massachusetts series includes this statewide report on the Dominican population in Massachusetts. This report analyzes Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data from the 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Our descriptive analysis uses both household- and individual-level data to estimate population size and percentages and to compare Dominicans to Other Latinos and Non-Latinos in the state.

Assisted Living, Residential Care, And Memory Care Staffing Level Dynamics: Oregon, 2017–2023, Sarah Dys, Ozcan Tunalilar

Institute on Aging Publications

Objectives

To examine changes in staffing levels over time in Oregon assisted living and residential care (AL/RC) communities between 2017 and 2023.

Design

Longitudinal study of licensed AL/RC communities.

Setting and Participants

A total of 1720 setting-year observations from 535 individual AL/RC communities in Oregon between 2017 and 2023.

Methods

Primary data were collected through the Oregon Community-Based Care (CBC) study. Staffing levels were estimated as care staff hours per resident per day and reported overall and by staff type, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, certified medication aides, unlicensed care staff, life enrichment staff, and social …

Managing The Impact Of Workplace Trauma For Australian First Responders: Harmonizing Policy And Practice, Aglae Hernandez Grande, Fleur Sharafizad, Ben Farr-Wharton, Yvonne Brunetto, Matthew Richman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Police, fire, ambulance, and emergency services workers face an increased exposure to traumatic events while at work, negatively affecting their mental health, and with broader financial, legal, and moral implications for the public sector organizations that employ them. To better support these workers, and to mitigate the potential financial burden resulting from workers’ compensation claims, many first responder organizations are implementing wellbeing initiatives. This article examines the efficacy of an initiative for a sample of 530 frontline and administrative first responders, working in one state jurisdiction in Australia. The results indicate that wellbeing programmes moderate the impact of trauma on …