Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Global Perspectives: Libraries And Natural Disasters, Anne Prestamo

Works of the FIU Libraries

The backdrop for this column was a spate of natural disasters around the world. The column examines the impact of disasters on libraries through multiple lenses: preparedness, recovery, and lessons learned. While the immediate and obvious emphasis may be on facilities and collections, libraries often face additional demands and take on additional roles in aiding their communities, employees, and partner institutions.

Spatial Prepositions In Arabic And English, Maha Alshammari

MA in Linguistics Final Projects

The acquisition of English prepositions is particularly challenging for students learning English as a second language. This project explores the acquisition of English spatial expressions by Arab ESL learners. This study examines several issues that may affect the processes of acquiring the English prepositions among Arab ESL learners such as the age of acquisition, learning transfer, and frequency. Furthermore, it considers the difficulties that Arab learners may encounter when learning English spatial locatives via transfer phenomena. These phenomena involve possible positive transfer and negative transfer in second language acquisition. This is especially problematic in the case of the lack of …

Statistical Evidence And The Problem Of Robust Litigation, Jesse Bull, Joel Watson

Economics Research Working Paper Series

We develop a model of statistical evidence with a sophisticated Bayesian fact-finder. The context is litigation, where a litigant (defendant or plaintiff) may disclose hard evidence and a jury (the fact-finder) interprets it. In addition to hard evidence, the litigant has private unverifiable information. We study the robustness of the parties’ reasoning regarding the legal fundamentals and the litigant’s strategic behavior. The litigant’s choice of whether to disclose hard evidence entails two channels of information: the face-value signal of the hard evidence disclosure (relating to the probabilities that the hard evidence exists in different states of the world) and as …

The Self Is Dead – Alienation And Nihilism In Rick And Morty, Lucas Miranda

Class, Race and Corporate Power

Drawing upon Erich Fromm’s psychoanalytical-diagnosis of man in capitalism, this essay reflects upon some of the most political and philosophical themes of Cartoon Network’s adult animated sitcom Rick and Morty. It focuses mainly in juxtaposing the nihilism and the alienation of the characters Rick and Jerry, respectively. Discussing the loss of agency due to the illusions and repressions of contemporary society, the essay concludes that capitalism benefits from both Jerry and Rick’s self-destructive worldviews.

Rediscovering The Future: What We Need From Star Trek: Discovery (Part One), Bryant W. Sculos

Class, Race and Corporate Power

In this first of two essays on CBS's Star Trek: Discovery, this essay describes what we should want from this newest contribution to the Star Trek universe. The essay argues that Discovery should takes sides on important contemporary politics issues, in the tradition of the best of previous Star Trek shows and films. Specifically, Discovery needs: 1. a complex treatment of identity politics, 2. a critical presentation of internal cultural diversity and imperialism, and 3. a more nuanced and specific vision of the political economy of the Federation.

Assertion And Repetition: A Review Of Gareth Stedman Jones, "Karl Marx: Greatness And Illusion” (Harvard University Press, 2016), Daniel Skidmore-Hess

Class, Race and Corporate Power

A review of Gareth Stedman Jones, "Karl Marx: Greatness and Illusion” published by Harvard University Press, 2016.

Who’S Afraid Of ‘Toxic Masculinity’?, Bryant W. Sculos

Class, Race and Corporate Power

Part autoethnography, part critique, this essay details the author's personal experience with the far-right media world and explores the universal opposition to "toxic masculinity" from the Left and the Right. The Left opposes the substance of toxic masculinity for the harms it creates in society. The Right fears toxic masculinity as a concept, because it is a threat to their identities and broader ideological acceptance of capitalism.

Introduction To Part Ii, “Us Labor And Social Justice,” By Section Editor Kim Scipes, Kim Scipes

Class, Race and Corporate Power

An introduction to this Special Issue of Class, Race and Corporate Power on "Labor and Social Justice" by its editor, Kim Scipes. This is the second part of a two-part series, with the first being available here.

Associations Of Hiv Risk Behaviors Among Older Latinas And Their Adult Daughters, Gira J. Ravelo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the associations between adult Latina daughters’ HIV risk behaviors and that of their older Latina mothers’ HIV risk behaviors. The central hypothesis of the study is that adult Latina daughters’ influence their older mothers’ behaviors and that such behaviors interact with the level of their attachment.

Older Latinas are a vulnerable population that face cultural risk factors, health care provider bias, and engage in low rates of HIV testing. The primary mode of HIV infection for Latinas is through heterosexual contact. Yet, traditional gender norms such as marianismo belief place pressure on Latina women to be submissive …

Examining The Relationships Between Gender Role Congruity, Identity, And The Choice To Persist For Women In Undergraduate Physics Majors, Bronwen Bares Pelaez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Persistent gender disparity limits the available contributors to advancing some science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. While higher education can be an influential time-point for ensuring adequate participation, many physics programs across the U.S. have few women in classroom or lab settings. Prior research indicates that these women face considerable barriers. For university students, faculty, and administration to appropriately address these issues, it is important to understand the experiences of women as they navigate male-dominated STEM fields.

This explanatory sequential mixed methods study explored undergraduate female physics majors’ experiences with their male-dominated academic and research spaces in the U.S. …

The Syrian Refugee Crisis And The European Union: A Case Study Of Germany And Hungary, Simone-Ariane Schelb

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on the Common European Asylum System. It evaluates the extent to which the European Union was able to implement a common asylum system, identifies discrepancies between different European countries, primarily Germany and Hungary, and briefly examines the roots of these differences. To this end, the structure of the international refugee protection regime and the German and Hungarian asylum systems are analyzed. Furthermore, the thesis explores how the governments of the two countries perceive the rights of refugees and how their views have affected their handling of the crisis. The case …

Evaluating The Successes Of Land Trust Conservation: Social Effects Of Incentive-Based Efforts In Northern Michigan, Kathryn Nicole Braddock

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Little Traverse Conservancy (LTC) of Michigan is a contemporary land trust organization. A case study of LTC identified the accomplishments and challenges of LTC as well as criteria for successful land conservation. Research emphasizes knowledge gaps in effective conservation efforts. An applied research protocol to improve ecological and socio-political knowledge about the workings of LTC and, by corollary, other similar land trusts is recommended.

Key informant interviews (n=33) were conducted with LTC stakeholders. The objective of these interviews was to understand the perceptions and motivations of LTC stakeholders and more broadly, of small-scale land conservation. Findings show …

"I Am A Teacher, A Woman's Activist, And A Mother": Political Consciousness And Embodied Resistance In Antakya's Arab Alawite Community, Defne Sarsilmaz

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Often pointed to as the region’s model secular state, Turkey provides an instructive case study in how nationalism, in the name of conjuring ‘unity’, often produces the opposite effect. Indeed, the production of nationalism can create fractures amongst, as well as politicize, certain segments of a population, such as minority groups and women. This dissertation examines the long-term and present-day impacts on nationalist unity of a largely understudied event, the annexation of the border-city of Antakya from Syria in 1939, and its implications on the Arab Alawite population. In doing so, it deconstructs the dominant Turkish narrative on the annexation, …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Community-Based De-Addiction Camps Among Adults With Alcohol Problems In Rural India, Meenal J. Sawant

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

India has reported higher alcohol per capita consumption and problem use in the past. Per the 2005-06 NFHS-3, problem use has been disproportionately high among men, less educated people, those living in rural areas and lower socioeconomic groups. Despite the growing problem, the data available on the effectiveness alcohol treatment services is very limited. The proposed study intends to address this gap by analyzing the treatment outcome (i.e., complete abstinence) among adult users participating in de-addiction camps and the impact of various individual and environmental factors on alcohol use and treatment outcome. Data (N=176) was collected on adult alcohol users …

Using Social Science To Create A Better Survey, Kelley F. Rowan

Works of the FIU Libraries

This presentation is a summary of concepts related to survey creation that were originally presented in a 6 week course at the University of Michigan on creating surveys in the social sciences. It includes references and links to the course.

Exploring The Efficacy Of Social Media Based Hiv Prevention Strategies For Hispanic College Students, Sofia B. Fernandez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hispanics now constitute the largest ethnic minority group in the U.S. As the country’s fastest growing demographic, social welfare and public health professionals should focus on ameliorating health issues affecting this population. However, Hispanics continue to experience health disparities including high rates of HIV infection. Moreover, South Florida, is home to two counties with the highest per capita incidence of HIV in the U.S. Risks for HIV are heightened in college settings where individuals may have multiple partners and inconsistent condom use. As such, Hispanic college students in a minority serving institution in Miami, FL comprise an ideal group for …

Larissa Macfarquhar: Journalist, Author, Raymond Elman, Lee Skye, Nicole Zummar

ArtSpeak

No abstract provided.

Believer: David Axelrod’S Improbable Journey, Raymond Elman, Manuel Perez-Trujillo, Lee Skye, Nicole Zummar

ArtSpeak

No abstract provided.

A Lifetime Of Reporting: Video Chatting With Kerry Sanders, Nbc News, Raymond Elman, Manuel Perez-Trujillo, Nicole Zummar

ArtSpeak

No abstract provided.

From Mau Mau To Raven, Lee Skye

ArtSpeak

No abstract provided.

Daring Gail Sheehy Journalist & Author, Raymond Elman, Manuel Perez-Trujillo

ArtSpeak

No abstract provided.

Eliciting A Perpetrator Description Using The Cognitive Interview: Influences On Investigative Utility, Geri Satin

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Cognitive Interview (CI) has been shown in over one hundred studies to enhance eyewitness recall. However, no study has explored whether the CI improves police job performance. The current study was the first to test the practical value of the CI in a criminal investigation, testing participants’ performance on key police tasks using either a perpetrator description elicited from a CI or from a standard police interview (SI).

In an earlier study, student witnesses were exposed to a simulated robbery and were then interviewed using either a CI or an SI to elicit a description of the robber (comprised …

Speaking Private Authority: The Construction Of Sustainability In Forests And Fisheries, Roberto Jose Flores

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation is to expand upon current understandings of the emergent global phenomenon that is private authority. Private authority is a process wherein private actors create, implement, and enforce rules aimed at managing global problems. As private authority is becoming increasingly important in the conduct of global governance, broadening our understanding of it will serve the field of International Relations. In this dissertation I argue that private actors are not simply outgrowths of structures or certain material conditions, rather they are purposive actors strategically pursuing an agenda. As such, explaining private authority requires an examination of the …

How To Make Gifs, Rebecca Bakker

Works of the FIU Libraries

This workshop was presented as part of the Digital Studio Workshop series to aide participants in creating a GIF for the Digital Public Library of America's annual GIF IT UP campaign.

Refugees Welcome: A Multilevel Analysis Of Refugee Labor Market Integration In The Swedish Welfare State, Jeffrey D. Maslanik

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To explore the complexities of refugee labor market integration in Sweden, the research performed a multi-level analysis of refugee labor market integration: from the perspective of civil society (meso-level) and from that of the refugee (micro-level). Sweden was ideal for this task because historically, it has been Europe’s most generous welfare state and during the height of the crisis, received the highest number of refugees of any European Member State (163,000 or 1,600 per 100,000 people).

The research was guided by two primary research questions: First, how have the roles of the state and civil society adjusted over time in …

Digital Activities: Florida International University Libraries Annual Report, Fy 2016-2017, Florida International University, Jamie Rogers, Jill V. Krefft, Rhia Rae, Veronica Gonzalez

FIU Digital Collections Center Annual Reports

This report provides information on the digital activities for the fiscal year 2016-2017.

Fiu Digital Commons Annual Report, Fy 2016-2017, Jill V. Krefft

FIU Digital Collections Center Annual Reports

The Digital Commons Annual Report is a document that interested parties may use as a means of monitoring the yearly progress of Florida International University Libraries’ institutional repository. The report includes download and page hit statistics for all collections held in FIU Digital Commons.

Impact Of Anonymity And Social Modeling: Online Aggression In Emerging Adults And Their Religious And Political Ideologies, Adam Zimmerman

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated online aggression in emerging adults to understand the contextual power of anonymity and social modeling. Emerging adults are characterized as undergoing a period of identity exploration, instability, self-focus, transition, and possibility (Arnett, 2004). Given the importance of identity development at this stage of the lifespan, this research explored religiosity/spirituality and political ideology; two pivotal belief systems that are introspectively evaluated and molded in emerging adults as they separate their identities from their world views (Barry & Nelson, 2004). Furthermore, this dissertation sought to apply religiosity/spirituality and political ideology to the previously established link of anonymity and social …

Corporate Profits And The Assault On Democracy: A Review Essay, Ronald W. Cox

Class, Race and Corporate Power

A critical review discussing Global Capitalism and the Crisis of Democracy by Jerry Harris (Clarity Press, 2016), The One Percent Solution by Gordon Lafer (Cornell University Press, 2017), Democracy in Chains by Nancy MacLean (Viking, 2017), The Long Depression by Michael Roberts (Haymarket Books, 2016), and Global Capitalism and the Crisis of Humanity by William Robinson (Cambridge University Press, 2014).

Essays On Women's Issues And Economic Development, Amy Ramnarine

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is composed of three essays under the recurring theme of women’s issues, child health and economic development. In the first chapter, I examine the effect of Child Marriage on the health outcomes of offspring in Bangladesh. I use an exogenous variation in drought and flood shocks as an instrument for Child Marriage and measure children’s health outcomes by stunting, from the height-for-age index. I develop a theoretical model to show that the decision to marry a daughter early is driven by the type of income shocks that a household is exposed to. From the empirical estimation, I find …