Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Exploring Local Elected Officials' Capacity To Govern Effectively, Mario King

Dissertations

A successful local government exemplifies inclusivity, innovation, and deliberate decision-making, all advancing responsible management of taxpayers' resources. In this qualitative investigation, a phenomenological approach is employed to delve into the lived experiences of local elected officials. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the capacity of these local elected officials for success in governance. Subsequently, the insights from these local elected officials' experiences are harnessed to evaluate their influence and impact on municipal performance.

The management of municipal performance encompasses the provision of social services, the maintenance of fiscal operations, and adherence to statutory obligations (Avellaneda, 2008). …

Criminal Justice Update - December 2023, Delaney Rabenold

Criminal Justice Updates

The Criminal Justice Update is a monthly newsletter created by the Adams County Bar Foundation Fellow providing updates in criminal justice policy coming from Pennsylvania's courts and legislature as well as the US Supreme Court.

Contents:

• Updates from PA Governor's Office (no new updates this month)

• Updates from the PA Legislature

• Updates from the Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court (no updates this month)

  • PA Supreme Court (no updates this month)

  • PA Superior Court

An Examination Of The Usage Of Grants And Municipal Bonds To Fund Capital Projects For Local Governments, Collin Patrick Davis

Online Theses and Dissertations

Funding for capital projects is a vital need for local governments. This thesis compares two forms of funding, that being debt funding through municipal bonds or funding from state and federal grants. This thesis compares and contrasts these two forms of funding, looking at the economic and political risks that can come with using municipal bonds, as well as the need of resources that local governments need when it comes to securing grants. This project also looks at the case study of one such local government that needs funding for a capital project, that being the city of Richmond, Kentucky, …

Kebijakan Keimigrasian Indonesia: Pandemi, Infrastruktur, Dan Kontrol Perbatasan, Anggadika Kriswibowo, Bong Bong Prakoso Napitupulu, Putri Mushfiya, Pekik Aulia Rochman, Ruly Mailan

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to immigration policies in Indonesia. The government has implemented various measures, such as a temporary ban on the entry of foreigners and tightened border control, to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the implementation of these policies faces several obstacles, including inadequate infrastructure and overlapping authorities. Therefore, this research aims to examine the post-pandemic implementation of immigration policies, focusing on the role of migration infrastructure and the effectiveness of border control. The research findings indicate that both physical and information technology infrastructure play a central role in supporting policy implementation. On the …

Kejahatan Perdagangan Manusia Di Indonesia Dan Jepang: Studi Perbandingan Regulasi Dan Pelaksanaan, Wilman Jayawardhana, Atika Ariani S, Ika Arini Batubara

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

Pemberantasan perdagangan manusia merupakan prioritas kebijakan sosial dan pencegahan kejahatan yang telah ditetapkan banyak negara pada abad kedua puluh satu. Perdagangan manusia, sebagaimana didefinisikan dalam hukum internasional, dapat terjadi untuk berbagai tujuan eksploitatif. Namun, berbagai bentuk perdagangan manusia sering kali digabungkan dalam banyak penelitian, kebijakan, dan intervensi. Sebagian besar perhatian kasus perdagangan manusia saat ini tertuju pada perdagangan seks terhadap anak dan perempuan, sehingga korban laki-laki dan jenis perdagangan manusia lainnya relatif terabaikan. Dalam studi ini akan dibandingkan perbedaan regulasi dan pelaksanaan terhadap kasus perdagangan manusia di Indonesia dan Jepang dengan menggunakan metode kualitatif berupa riset pustaka. Hasil penelitian menemukan …

Perceptions Of The Farm Bill Among Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans, Rebecca J. Vogt, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Bradley D. Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Steven A. Schulz

Nebraska Rural Poll

The federal legislation known as the farm bill encompasses all things related to agriculture and food. This includes not only farm income safety net and conservation programs that typically come to mind when thinking about the farm bill, but also domestic food assistance programs (like SNAP), rural development (providing funding for items like broadband service, utilities, and housing programs) as well as programs that are focused on specific producers and crops. Given the variety of programs it entails, how familiar are rural Nebraskans with the farm bill and federal agricultural policy? Do rural Nebraskans support federal spending on the various …

Kejahatan Transnasional Di Indonesia: Studi Kasus Yakuza Sebagai Organisasi Kejahatan Internasional, Adi Saputra Rusli, Yanwar Iswahyudi Mansur, Nisrina Arumdanie, Biky Uthbek Mubarok

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

This article presents an analysis of the Yakuza phenomenon, an organized crime organization with deep historical roots in Japan. Through a qualitative approach, this research explores the history and development of the Yakuza, their criminal focus, operational networks, and their impact both national and international levels. The Japanese government's efforts to combat the Yakuza, on a national and global scale, are detailed, including programs for drug prevention, anti-human trafficking, and counter-terrorism. In an international context, the Yakuza is known for its extensive networks, creating new challenges in global security. This research also highlights the importance of global efforts to counter …

Potensi Ancaman Penggunaan Osint Menyebabkan Kegagalan Pengambilan Keputusan Akibat Informasi Hoax, Surya Dwi Putra, Bhernedetha Nindya Kusumastuti, Nasrul Ma'arif

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

Penggunaan Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) merupakan katalisator di bidang intelijen. Meskipun OSINT memberikan akses informasi publik yang tiada tandingannya. Risiko terhadap privasi individu karena sifat terbuka informasi di OSINT yaitu potensi pengumpulan dan penyimpanan data pribadi secara massal dapat menimbulkan risiko serius terhadap keamanan privasi. Selain itu, gangguan dan keinginan akan informasi yang diambil dari sumber terbuka dapat dipasarkan, sehingga membuka peluang penyebaran informasi palsu atau manipulasi data. Ancaman terhadap keamanan nasional juga menjadi sorotan utama, dimana informasi yang diperoleh melalui OSINT dapat dieksploitasi oleh pihak yang tidak bertanggung jawab untuk tujuan kriminal atau teroris. Ketergantungan pada informasi terbuka juga …

Analisis Risiko Keamanan Siber Dalam Transformasi Digital Pelayanan Publik Di Indonesia, Muhammad Alfi, Ni Putu Yundari, Ahnaf Tsaqif

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 has now brought many changes in its development where public services are increasingly integrated with information technology. In responding to global developments, the Indonesian government is carrying out an adaptation process by transforming public services in order to improve the quality and equality of public services.. However, cyber security risks are a serious challenge that can hinder sustainability and success in transformation. Through a comprehensive literature review, this research describes the development of digital transformation in Indonesia, applicable cybersecurity policies and regulations, as well as relevant risk analysis methodologies. The research findings show that strong policies …

Operasi Militer Selain Perang Dalam Rangka Penanggulangan Bencana Alam Di Indonesia: Peluang, Tantangan, Dan Studi Komparasi, Fatimah Fatimah, Isro' Kurniawan Rahakbauw, Ruben Hisar Eriyono

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

Indonesia is a country that is prone to natural disasters in terms of geography and topography. In 2008, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) was formed which functions to coordinate disaster management in Indonesia. BNPB partners with various institutions in Indonesia, one of which is the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). Overcoming disasters is one of the main tasks of the TNI in Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP). This research is quantitative in nature with a literature study to look at opportunities, challenges and comparative studies of OMSP activities in managing natural disasters. In the context of natural disaster …

Dampak Sekuritisasi Konflik Laut Cina Selatan Terhadap Keamanan Maritim Indonesia, Suyud Puguh Sunoto, Ade Aryanti Fahriani, Marthen Napang

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

This study delves into the impact of the securitization of the South China Sea conflict on Indonesia's maritime security, with a focus on the geopolitical challenges faced by the country. National security encompasses not only military aspects but also involves non-traditional threats such as territorial conflicts, economic security, and regional stability. Drawing upon the Copenhagen School of Security Studies, this research considers threats from a liberal perspective, identifying international relations practices that emphasize cooperation and peace. This paper discusses the securitization of the conflict in the South China Sea and its implications for Indonesia's maritime security. By analyzing securitization efforts, …

Western Maine Addiction And Recovery Initiative's Substance Misuse Prevention And Wellness Day: Year 2 Feedback Survey For Mvhs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

As part of the evaluation of the Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative’s (WMARI) HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grant, staff from the Catherine Cutler Institute’s Substance Use Research and Evaluation team developed a survey to gather feedback from individuals who participate in substance misuse prevention and wellness events. Two separate PRE/POST surveys were deployed at Mountain Valley High School to assess knowledge gain, beliefs, and satisfaction. For more information, please contact Lindsey Smith at [email protected]

The Perception Of Natural Resource Management In Nebraska: Efforts For Cross-Boundary Collaborative Management, Daniel Morales

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nebraska’s agricultural landscapes are rapidly changing, affecting natural resources and their successful management. I utilized two surveys and scenario planning (Chapters 1: statewide survey, 2: local survey, and 3: scenario-planning workshop) to investigate attitudes and perceptions of natural resource management and cross-boundary collaboration. My first objective focused on determining what prevents Nebraskans from addressing natural resources challenges, considering demographics amongst generations and the type of areas they live in (rural versus urban). The second objective focused on whether landowners engaged with their community in managing natural resources. The third objective was to develop alternative future scenarios for the Denton Hills …

Decoding Usage And Adoption Behavior Of The Low-Carbon Transportation Market: An Ai-Driven Exploration, Vuban Chowdhury

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The transportation sector stands as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with its environmental impact steadily escalating over the past few decades. This has prompted government agencies to facilitate the adoption and usage of low-carbon transportation (LCT) options as alternatives to fossil-fuel-powered transportation. LCTs include modes of transportation that minimize the overall carbon footprint of the transportation sector by relying on energy sources that are environmentally sustainable. These sustainable transportation options have also garnered significant interest in the transportation research community. For government agencies and researchers alike, a comprehensive understanding of the adoption and usage …

Active Listening: Are You Hearing Me Or Listening?, Taylor Jones

Goal 3: Interpersonal Intelligence Narrative

Be able to determine the difference between hearing someone when being spoken to and actively listening to them

Do you ever talk with someone and realize they aren’t listening? Sure, they hear the words that leave your mouth but are not genuinely listening: they may not be present, texting, staring off into space, etc. If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation like this, on either side, you run the risk of making someone feel neglected and undervalued, and you could miss out on important information. Active listening requires attentiveness to the speaker so you, as the listener, can understand …

Gaps In Teacher Professional Development For Technology-Supported Learning: Implications For School Leaders And Policymakers, Steven Bingham

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to develop an understanding of mobile technology integration in K-12 classrooms from the teacher’s perspective. This research was intended to help understand how mobile devices are being integrated into the classroom, including recommendations for teachers, school administrators, policymakers, and future researchers

Modeling Land Use Change Using Spatial Statistics And Spatial Panel Data Regression In Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area (1990 - 2020), Ali Behseresht

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

In this dissertation research, we explored land use change for Activity and Residential land uses in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area (DFW) from 1990 to 2020 in association with spatial and socioeconomic factors. It aims to study three aspects of land use change: dynamics, drivers, and impacts. The research started with three hypotheses, all proven and accepted by the research findings. We reviewed the relevant literature from five aspects of land use change: theories, models, methods, drivers, and impacts. Based on the reviewed literature, the land use change model we discussed is an economics-based spatiotemporal modeling approach in which the …

Investigating The Effects Of An Island, And A Speed Sign Gateway To Decrease Driver Speeding, Louai Al Shomaly

Masters Theses

There are thousands of motor vehicle crashes every year, and the yearly cost of crashes is estimated to be $430 billion dollars (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Twenty-eight percent of fatal related crashes in 2020 involve at least one driver speeding (CDC 2020). The application of a behavior analysis approach can be employed to reduce speeding and thereby decrease crashes. One way to reduce driver speeding behavior is the use of prompts. Van Houten and Van Houten (1987) and Van Houten et al. (2018) demonstrated the cost effectiveness approach of using prompts to decrease driver speeding at speed zones and …

Western Maine Recovery Rally Feedback Survey, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

The 7th Annual Western Maine Recovery Rally was hosted on September 17th, 2023 from 11am to 3pm in downtown Norway, Maine; several hundred people attended the event. The local evaluation team developed a survey with the goal of understanding how participants felt about the rally and how future events could be improved. The survey was deployed via QR code on paper materials distributed at the rally, and through social media after the event. For more information, please contact Lindsey Smith at [email protected]

The Radical Power Of Education—Brief, Arindam Nandi, Nicole Haberland, Thoai Ngo

Gender, Education, Justice, and Equity (GEJE)

This research brief summarizes the findings of GEJE’s recent report on the impact of education across society.

The Radical Power Of Education, Arindam Nandi, Nicole Haberland, Thoai Ngo

Gender, Education, Justice, and Equity (GEJE)

When education works, people thrive and societies flourish alongside economies. We have made real progress on primary enrollment on the global scale, with 90% of children enrolling in school. However, completion rates lag far behind—only 77% of children complete lower secondary school and 58% complete upper secondary. Those numbers decline sharply for those living in poverty, for girls, and for Indigenous communities, with 44% of adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) either dropping out of primary school or never attending at all.

Low educational attainment and illiteracy exclude children from the freedoms that come with learning and also …

Scooting To A Brighter Tomorrow: Shared E-Scooters And Their Use In Lincoln, Nebraska, Tanner J. Hiemer

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

As a recent addition to our transportation systems, shared e-scooters have the potential to improve how people travel in the urban environment. While there is a lot to be hopeful about, the relative novelty of e-scooters calls for closer examination of how they interact with the built environment and other modes of transportation. Additionally, the equity of shared e-scooters must be at the forefront of discussion when considering their utility in the future. Given their flexibility in use, e-scooters could fill spatial gaps in transportation systems and provide improved mobility to those who are most transportation disadvantaged. This research aims …

Impact Management Discipline: The Key To Effective Impact Investing And Grantmaking, Sarah Gelfand, Carli Roth, Mya Stanislas, Alexandra Zoueva

The Foundation Review

Foundations have a long history of putting impact at the center of their decision-making when allocating resources for grantmaking. Effective grantmaking follows clear processes that have similarities to the best practices employed by the impact investing community for effectively deploying and managing an impact investing portfolio. This is exemplified by the Operating Principles for Impact Management, a leading market standard for how to integrate impact considerations throughout the investment life cycle.

As a growing number of foundations embrace impact investing, understanding and comparing the impact management approach for grants (where it is enabled through monitoring, evaluation, and learning) versus that …

A Framework For Creating Systems Change, William Brown, Wynn Rosser

The Foundation Review

This article draws on a system-change framework developed by the Nicholson Foundation as part of a 20-year initiative to substantively change the state of New Jersey’s health and social welfare systems, and modifies and expands a single case study on system change to align with related ideas and concepts. A results-based accountability approach is integrated into the model to draw attention to the importance of monitoring and evaluation of population-based outcomes.

Drawing on extensive literature from systems change and performance management, the discussion provides insight and perspective on contemporary frameworks in systems change and the role of grantmaking foundations. The …

Leading With Shared Values: Developing A Charter Of Principles For Philanthropic Partnerships, Cheryl A. Maurana, John R. Raymond, Christopher Stawski, Joseph E. Kerschner, James C. Rahn

The Foundation Review

The rise of greater individuality in giving — in diversity of beliefs and donor preferences — has resulted in a need to ensure alignment of values and expectations between those entering into funding relationships, and therefore a need to return to giving that recognizes the importance of conditions and considerations that undergird the partnership between the philanthropic organization and awardee.

The Kern Family Foundation’s nearly $88 million investment in the Medical College of Wisconsin represents one example where creating a charter was pivotal to a partnership’s effectiveness. Their charter describes a commitment to shared values, including character, caring, and practical …

Stories Of Challenge In South Africa: Changes In The Enabling Environment For Nutrition Among Young Children (1994–2021), Scott Drimie, Mara Van Den Bold, Lisanne Du Plessis, Laura Casu

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Despite important nutrition-related policy and programmatic improvements in South Africa, rates of stunting among young children remain unacceptably high, while rates of overweight and obesity in this same population group are simultaneously on the rise. This study sought to examine the changes in the enabling environment for nutrition aimed at young children in South Africa by drawing on a literature review, policy mapping, and stakeholder interviews, for the time period from the end of apartheid in 1994 to 2021. The study focuses on changes and drivers of change at national level but also in three provinces: Western Cape, North West, …

Social Media And Mental Health: The Public Health Impact And Future Policy Directives, Renae A. Merrill

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between social media use among young people and the increasing concerns of mental health problems in the U.S. and globally is on systemic agendas. Furthermore, research on social media use and mental health indicate reasons to suspect a causal relationship, but more work needs to be done. Therefore, this three-article dissertation seeks to explore (1) associations between social media use, personality, and depression; (2) associations between social media emotional support, anxiety, and personality; and (3) the relationship between social media use and mental health using Deborah Stone’s causal stories framework. Findings from this study provide an improved understanding …

Human Dimensions Of Woody Encroachment Management In Nebraska, Emily Rowen

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Woody plant encroachment (WPE) is a social-ecological problem that will challenge conservation professionals and agricultural producers to adapt their management strategies. This research first examined WPE from the perspective of individual conservation professionals through an online survey. Conservation professionals’ attitudes about adaptation to vegetation transitions, such as WPE, were of interest because these attitudes are one measure of how prepared this group is to respond to WPE. Hypothesized predictors of adaptation attitude were tested through linear regression modeling. These predictors included ecological change, observation of WPE, or risk perception. It was found that risk perception was the strongest predictor of …

Understanding Avidities Of Recreational Activities For People Possessing Fishing Licenses And Residing In Urban Environments, Kyle F. Hansen

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Recreational fishing is one of the world's most popular pastimes, wherein participation is associated with sociodemographic factors. Even so, fishing license sales are declining in the USA in conjunction with a reduction in rural populations as people move to urban areas. Thus, urban areas are constantly growing in population size, population diversity, and geographic size suggesting a need to understand fishing participation in these growing areas. Natural resource managers often use participation to understand recreationists, yet avidity could provide a new way to understand recreationists. The goal of our study is to understand what sociodemographic factors influence the fishing avidity …

Neoliberal Philanthropic Community Development: Do Comprehensive Community Initiatives Improve Neighborhoods?, Joshua Newton

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

Neoliberal capitalism has produced increasingly poor outcomes for low-income communities of color in the U.S. due to uneven development between neighborhoods, public sphere retrenchment, and privatization of service provision and community development. Since the 1990s, one response to the issues of neoliberal governance and development has been Comprehensive Community Initiatives led by philanthropic foundations. While Comprehensive Community Initiatives have been praised by foundation leadership as an avenue for creation of neighborhood stability and increased public engagement in low-income neighborhoods, the academic literature is far less optimistic about the prospects of these initiatives. This dissertation project utilizes a neo-Marxist framework and …