Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Rural America Is Still Technologically Behind: Why It Matters Now More Than Ever, Paul Force-Emery Mackie

Social Work Department Publications

No abstract provided.

'I Would Like To, But My World Wouldn’T End If I Didn’T’: Marital Attitudes And Aspirations Among Unmarried Young Adults In The Lgbtq Community, Aaron Hoy

Sociology Department Publications

No abstract provided.

Romantic And Sexual Intimacy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Brooke E. Weinmann

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Previous studies show that pandemics have an impact on individual’s health, social life, finances, livelihood, and overall well-being. But how do pandemics impact intimacy? Very little research has sought to examine the ways in which a pandemic impacts sexual and romantic intimacy, precisely the aim of this study. Through an online Qualtrics open-ended survey (n=229) and a convenience sample of three in-depth semi-structured interviews, this thesis seeks to answer, “How have people managed romantic and sexual intimacy during the COVID-19 pandemic?” The data collected shows that respondents reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened loneliness and difficulty to engage in …

An Exploratory Study Of Future Plans And Preferences For Long-Term Services And Support For Older Kenyan Immigrants, Lenah Chepngetich Langat

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Quality of life and client’s satisfaction with Long-term Services and Support (LTSS) in later life are influenced by care preference and timely plans. Ethnic, and racial disparities in the use of both informal formal and formal LTSS are reported. Consequently, the diversity in LTSS decision-making has gained attention in research and policy with a predominant focus on migration background, acculturation, and ethnicity. However, LTSS preference data for older Kenyan immigrants are homogenized into the African Americans block without the acknowledgment of their inherent cultural and ethnic diversity. The development of culturally competent, effective, and responsive policies across the LTSS continuum …

Accustomly Intermarried: Racial/National Intermarriages And Their Negotiation Of Family Celebrations, Jori Adrianna Nkwenti

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Previous quantitative works gives a decent account for the predictors of racial/national intermarriages, and qualitative research finds that intercultural couples negotiate their racial, national, religious, class, and cultural differences within the context of their intimate relationships and the broader stigma of the social world. However, no scholars, to my knowledge, have looked intently at this intersection of interracial and international intermarriages. Related, scholars have not dissected how these couples negotiate their family celebrations-despite research showing the importance of celebrations to family well-being. Through autoethnographic reflexivity, and in-depth interviews with a convenience sample of 4 individuals married to a spouse of …

An Unspoken Story Of Education: An Autoethnographic Exploration Of Racism In Education, Elisa A. Perez-Garcia

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Privilege is when one voice is the norm, but some children’s voices are underheard within research. Extensive research has demonstrated that Hispanic face multiple barriers within the education system. This study examines how whiteness within the education system can impact a Hispanic student’s perspective of the world. An autoethnographic approach is used to analyze five stories. A grounded theory approach identified emergent themes from the stories shared. The four themes that emerged among the stories were intersectionality, privilege, social construct, and microaggression. It demonstrated minority students’ experiences and interactions could profoundly affect how they view their identity. There are measures …

Important Aspects To Women’S Re-Integration: Positive Influences On Women’S Reentry Experience After Being Released From Prison, Sarah A. Benson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Researchers can analyze statistics of recidivism rates and decipher that they are at an alarming rate—specifically regarding women convicts. The population of women in prison has drastically increased, and with that, so have their recidivism rates. Analyzing statistical data of incarceration and recidivism can show us the numbers, but what is the reason? Why do some women struggle to stay out of prison? I argued that one reason is because women who are released from prison are severely underprepared to reintegrate back into society and, are therefore, set up for failure. Previous studies suggest that reentry programs, education programs, relationships …

Identity Dynamics Of Minority College Students, Nabil A. Mohamed

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Identity salience hierarchy is the idea that individuals hold their important identities on a metaphorical scale—activating them when the right situation calls for it. Moreover, the hierarchy is related to the notion of commitment, otherwise defined as the number of people and meaningful relationships associated with an identity. For most college students, their salience hierarchy shifts over time as their commitment to the student identity typically increases. When a shift in hierarchy occurs, there is a transformation in identity. However, for racial, ethnic, and religious minority students, their capacity to develop an identity independent of their minority background raises questions …

Impact Of Formative Childhood And Adolescent Experiences In Latinx Children Of Immigrants Adulthood: Analysis Of Educational, Health, And Social Implications, Alma P. Lopez

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

As the rates of immigration rise within the United States, it is essential to discuss and bring awareness to the neglect and discrimination that immigrants and subsequently the children of immigrants face within the nation. We know about the journey of immigrants and the effects of such but what about their children? Those who did not specifically make the travel to a foreign country but had the “privilege” to be born there? The aim of this study is to investigate the impacts of children of immigrants’ experience in their childhood with this identity and their potential effects into their adulthood …

“Seeing Everything About A Student”: Proactive Advising & Coaching As Intersectional Student Support Systems And Services, Corrin Helget

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Colleges and universities are struggling to retain their underrepresented students; some are searching for solutions and others are reluctant to update support services to better serve the students who require them the most. Underrepresented students are more likely to experience challenges and barriers that impact their ability to academically succeed and achieve their degrees. Many of these barriers are linked to their intersecting identities and are a result of systemic oppression. Underrepresented students deserve intersectional support systems and services that recognize their intersecting identities, work against interlocking oppressive systems and policies, and create a level playing field for underrepresented students. …

A Socio-Historical Analysis Of The Dynamics Of Genocide In Bosnia 1992-1995: Forces Contributing To The Continuation Of Genocide, Lejla Alvarez

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Despite preventive and diagnostic instruments and mechanisms put in place by the international community, genocide - systematic destruction of social groups - persists as a major regional and global problem. Genocidal processes are multifaceted and involve multiple factors at all levels of analysis interacting to produce genocide. This study examines the most significant socio-historical factors in producing the genocidal war in Bosnia that started in the spring of 1992, carried out generally uninterrupted until late 1995, with some forms of violence continuing years after the official end of the war. The main goals of the research were to contextualize the …

Satanists’ Sexual Self-Concept, Samuel Danielson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The present study examines sexuality within an international sample (n = 908) of modern Satanists. Sociodemographic and religious data from this sample are provided. Frequencies of Satanists’ engagement in different sexual behaviors are also explored. Furthermore, two aspects of Satanists’ sexual self-concept, sexual self-esteem and sexual anxiety, are assessed along with these variables’ relationships with the strength of Satanists’ group identity and the length of time identifying as a Satanist. Results indicate that the strength of Satanists’ identity impacts both their sexual self-esteem and sexual anxiety. Limitations and directions for future research on Satanism and sexuality are discussed.

The Portrayal Of Female Athletes On The Covers Of The New Yorker 1925-2016, Olena Shchur

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

For decades sport has been a predominantly masculine area. And even though sport participation amongst women has undoubtedly progressed over time, female athletes still receive unequal mass media coverage. Thus, the question about the perception of women as athletes in media remains open. This thesis examines the patterns of female athletes’ portrayal on the front covers of The New Yorker magazine starting from the very beginning of The New Yorker’s publishing history in 1925 through December 2016. For this purpose I conducted a content analysis of covers of The New Yorker. I found that, despite some improvements, the messages that …

An Investigation Of The Perception Of Elderspeak Among Community Dwelling Older Adults, Abby L. Teply

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study aimed to expand the literature on the perception of elderspeak among community dwelling older adults with secondary purposes concerning how these perceptions vary across gender and region. Participants (n = 110) were presented a written vignette that depicted a nursing assistant in an assisted living facility waking a tenant from a nap and assisting the tenant to the bathroom before lunch. The nursing assistant uses elderspeak throughout the vignette. Following the vignette, participants’ reactions to the use of elderspeak and perceptions of the nursing assistant in the vignette were assessed using a series of open-ended questions, the Positive …

Perceptions Of Faculty And Administration On The Value Of Service-Learning In The Tenure And Promotion Process At A Public Midwestern University, Odbayar Batsaikhan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This qualitative study examines the perceptions of faculty and administration of the value of service-learning in the promotion and tenure process at Minnesota State University, Mankato, a midsized, Midwestern public university. The study aims to determine the answers to three main questions: what barriers and logistical issues do faculty face? Is the scholarship of community-engagement recognized and considered equal to other forms of traditional scholarship? Does MSU, Mankato value service-learning in the promotion and tenure process? The researcher employed a phenomenological study to answer the research questions. He used semi-structured interviews of ten participants – nine full-time tenure-track faculty who …

Age-Related Microaggressions: A Descriptive Study, Luke J. Gietzen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The aim of this study was to expand the literature on ageism and microaggressions by defining a novel concept called an age-related microaggression. Participants (n = 51) were presented with explanations of gender and racially charged microaggressions and then were asked whether they had ever had an experience like that but related to their age. Participants described experiences of age-related microaggressions and were further guided through a series of questions via an online survey to determine the topography of the age-related microaggressions, emotional and behavioral reactions to being victimized, perpetrators and settings of the attacks, and perceived intent. A thematic …

Dementia Care Among Somali Elders, Emmanuel Asante Opoku

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Caring for persons with dementia is demanding and complicated since there is “no one-size-fits all formula for dementia care. The care needs to be modified to fit the various stages of the condition and each family's unique situation. Racial and ethnic differences place unique demand on all the forms of dementia care; in-home care (IHC), long-term care (LTC), adult day centers(ADC), short term care (STC) and hospice care (HC).

This paper aimed to study how Somali elders think and interact with dementia care services, from in-home care to hospice care. Some recommendations to study this issue is to do a …

On Doing Non-Binary Gender: An Examination Of Perceived Discrimination And Geographic Location, Megan Ridler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis explores how non-binary people perceive and manage the threat of discrimination during their daily experiences. Participants (n=9) were interviewed with opened-ended questions about their gender presentation, experiences of discrimination, and use of tactics to navigate perceived discrimination in their communities. The difference of geographic location had the biggest impact on how participants responded to the set of interview questions. Non-binary people from rural areas perceived people to discriminate against them and actively engaged in avoidance tactics including keeping their gender identities closeted and engaging in presentation shifts. In sharp contrast, participants from urban or suburban areas used tactics …

Do They Make A Difference? Twin Cities Magnet Schools In The Heart Of Metropolitan Inequity And Segregation, Scott A. Thomas

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Magnet schools have served as one of the most important and widely-used desegregation tools throughout the United States. Each district, region, and state have varying degrees of implementation, policies, and goals for such schools; however, robust evidence of their effectiveness is needed. This study examines a single school district in Minnesota that uses magnet schools to meet a state desegregation order where five elementary magnet schools and five control schools were identified to understand the impact the magnet “treatment” has on achievement for students of color, English learners, and students receiving special education services. This multivariate comparative study uses the …