Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Drug Use Trajectory Patterns Among Older Drug Users, Miriam W. Boeri, Thor Whalen, Benjamin Tyndall, Ellen Ballard

Faculty Articles

To better understand patterns of drug use trajectories over time, it is essential to have standard measures of change. Our goal here is to introduce measures we developed to quantify change in drug use behaviors. A secondary goal is to provide effective visualizations of these trajectories for applied use. We analyzed data from a sample of 92 older drug users (ages 45 to 65) to identify transition patterns in drug use trajectories across the life course. Data were collected for every year since birth using a mixed methods design. The community-drawn sample of active and former users were 40% female, …

Self-Verification As A Mediator Of Mothers’ Self-Fulfilling Effects On Adolescents' Educational Attainment, Kyle C. Scherr, Stephanie Madon, Max Guyll, Jennifer Willard, Richard Spoth

Faculty Articles

This research examined whether self-verification acts as a general mediational process of self-fulfilling prophecies. The authors tested this hypothesis by examining whether self-verification processes mediated self-fulfilling prophecy effects within a different context and with a different belief and a different outcome than has been used in prior research. Results of longitudinal data obtained from mothers and their adolescents (N = 332) indicated that mothers’ beliefs about their adolescents’ educational outcomes had a significant indirect effect on adolescents’ academic attainment through adolescents’ educational aspirations. This effect, observed over a 6-year span, provided evidence that mothers’ self-fulfilling effects occurred, in part, …

2011 - The Sixteenth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Sixteenth Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 26, 2011. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Stress And Cataloging Paraprofessionals In Academic And Public Libraries In Florida, Edna Mcclellan

The Southeastern Librarian

Over the years and particularly with the advent of OCLC, more and more tasks once considered the realm of the professional cataloger area being completed by paraprofessionals. This article confines itself to the cataloging paraprofessional, the cataloging record, workload, and training. Who is creating the cataloging record, or, if not responsible for the record in its entirety, who is responsible for parts of it? Does the assuming these higher level tasks, such as creating the call number and subject headings, cause any undue stress for the paraprofessional? What is the stress from workload and pace?

From The Editor, Perry Bratcher

The Southeastern Librarian

Column from Perry Bratcher, editor of The Southeastern Librarian.

The Southeastern Librarian V. 59, No. 1 (Spring 2011) Complete Issue

The Southeastern Librarian

Complete issue of The Southeastern Librarian, volume 59, No. 1 (Spring 2011).

From Both Sides Now: A Recently-Hired Librarian And A Library Veteran Respond To The Loss Of A Favorite Database, Harry D. Nuttall, Carley Knight

The Southeastern Librarian

The last three decades, and especially the last fifteen years, have seen an expansion in the formats in which library materials are available, as electronic resources have joined the traditional print offerings produced by library suppliers. More and more, the electronic resource is becoming the first stop “go-to” information source, a predominance which can be confirmed by the number of reference and other sources which have shifted from print to electronic format or, not making the change, have simply ceased to exist.

This paradigm shift has affected acquisitions departments and collection development librarians, particularly in academic libraries, as they now …

Of Fairs And Festivals: Librarians Teach Thematic First-Year Seminars, Donna Braquet, Micheline Westfall

The Southeastern Librarian

For almost a century, library skills instruction by academic librarians has been a vital component of university programs created to help first-year students adapt to the social and academic environment of college life (Walter, 2004). Asretention of first-year students has become a strategic goal for universities, a variety of firstyear experience (FYE) programs have been developed over the last decade to address this goal. For many academic librarians, the FYE programs have resulted in an increased collaboration with faculty (Walter, 2004). This collaboration ranges from assisting faculty with incorporating information literacy skills within classroom instruction to embedding librarians within classes …

Attitudes Towards Library Patrons With Physical Challenges: A Survey Of Members Of The Public Library Division Of The Alabama Library Association, Jackie Brodsky, Muriel K. Wells

The Southeastern Librarian

By surveying members of the Public Library Division of the Alabama Library Association, this study sought to determine attitudes toward patrons with physical challenges. The continued growth in the population of persons over age 65, coupled with the fact that nearly one in five Americans report some level of physical challenge, suggests the need for libraries to provide resources and services to this growing constituency. The advent of new technologies and resources for libraries to provide access to information by persons with physical challenges, allows more users to fulfill a more participatory role within their information-seeking activities. The application of …

Housing And Human Services: Intergenerational Policy Considerations, Tony Carrizales, Andrew I.E. Ewoh

Faculty Articles

The Journal of Public Management and Social Policy begins its seventeenth volume by examining various issues that not only impact people today, but have policy implications for future generations. Intergenerational social policy is a critical discussion for academic and practitioners to continually have and we hope this particular issue of JPMSP furthers those discussions. Some underscoring themes found in this issue's articles include housing and human services. Overall, the issue brings together five general articles in the first issue of this seventeenth volume of JPMSP.

Counting The Impossible: Sampling And Modeling To Achieve A Large State Homeless Count, Jennifer L. Priestley, Jane Massey

Faculty Articles

Objective: Using inferential statistics, we develop estimates of the homeless population of a geographically large and economically diverse state -- Georgia.

Methods: Multiple independent data sources (2000 U.S. Census, the 2006 Georgia County Guide, Georgia Chamber of Commerce) were used to develop Clusters of the 150 Georgia Counties. These clusters were used as "strata" to then execute traified sampling. Homeless counts were conducted within the sample counties, allowing for multiple regression models to be developed to generate predictions of homeless persons by county.

Results: In response to a mandate from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State …

Pursuing "Peace" In Israel/Palestine, Maia Hallward

Faculty Articles

Nine years after the outbreak of the second intifada (uprising) in September 2000 and sixteen years after the signing of the Oslo Accords in September 1993, Israelis and Palestinians seem as far as ever from a final status agreement. Diplomatic efforts by the George W. Bush administration - notably the Performance-Based Road Map to Peace and the 2007 Annapolis Conference - avoided the core conflict issues, and delayed such negotiations by emphasizing "provisional" borders. Not only do such tactics allow more time for consolidating "facts on the ground" that can prejudice final status negotiations, but the lack of a political …

An Exploration Of A First Year Experience Course To Meet The Needs Of Veteran And Other Non-Traditional College Students, Amy C. Wise

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

Over the last several years, the number of veterans returning to college campuses has steadily increased. Many veterans are taking advantage of education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and have been out of school for a number of years. A number of veterans are considered nontraditional students, and the responsibilities of being a parent, an employee, a husband or wife, and college student can be overwhelming. In recent years, the economic recession has also added financial hardships to the already full agenda of many of these students. Throughout the nation, colleges have created programs that will assist …

A Case Study Of Collegiate Alcohol Education: How Can Kennesaw State University Improve?, Tyler Pede

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

Alcohol consumption is often seen as a rite of passage for college students. Unfortunately, over 1,800 college students die and thousands more are injured each year as a result of inappropriate alcohol use. Alcohol abuse is also often linked to sexual assaults, fights, property damage, and numerous healthy issues. Students that abuse alcohol tend to struggle academically and have a higher likelihood of dropping out of college all together. Higher education administrators at universities and colleges across the country experience the negative effects of this behavior. To help combat and reduce these negative effects, it is critical that administrators develop …

Can Water Professionals Transform Pharmaceutical Disposal Practices Of Hospice Nurses?, Jennifer L. Mccoy, Kimberly P. Holland

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

This project is an explanatory case study that illustrates the problems associated with pharmaceutical disposal in regard to water quality. The purpose of the study is to investigate the current pharmaceutical disposal practices of hospice nurses, the attitudes of hospice nurses regarding current pharmaceutical disposal practices, and explore ways to educate the hospice community about the concerns associated with flushing pharmaceuticals. The study consisted of reviewing secondary research, completing a survey, forming a focus group, implementing a pilot study, and developing an education plan and outreach materials.

The researchers partnered with two local nonprofit organizations, Georgia Association of Water Professionals …

Middle School Academic Performance: An Exploratory Analysis Of The Fulton County School District, Martina Madison

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact that race and economic status have on middle school academic performance in the Fulton County School District. Descriptive statistics were used to critically analyze how these demographic variables affect middle school academic performance. The mean Criterion Reference Competency Test (CRCT) scores in mathematics and reading were recorded for each of the 22 middle schools in Fulton County from 2006 to 2009 and compared according to race and economic level. The results were grouped together by grade, year, and test subject in order to find trends that occurred over the past …

Volunteerism And Charitable Giving Among The Millennial Generation: How To Attract And Retain Millennials, Eniko Eva Baranyi

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

Nonprofit organizations play an important role in today’s society. These organizations provide support to many in need and fill voids left by the governmental services. For nonprofit organizations to work efficiently and effectively, these organizations need to be able to attract and retain volunteers and donors from all walks of life. A young generation, called the Millennials, is one group that can provide the needed support for these organizations. This group includes people born after 1980, with many of them currently in college. This upcoming generation will be great long term support for the nonprofit sector and it is important …

Pay-For-Performance For Missouri Public Schools: Are We Ready Yet?, Dustin K. Procter

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

Reform strategies in education have been administered far and wide all throughout history. Ideas such as longer school days, school choice, standardized testing, and changes to teachers’ salaries have all been studied and incorporated. Reform directives in education have been implemented from the national level all the way down to the individual teacher. The goal of these actions has been to improve the success of children in public education by way of increasing student test scores on standardized tests. However, these measures have all exhibited inconsistent results.

This paper focuses on the public education system of the State of Missouri …

Consortia Efforts: The Colonial Academic Alliance Undergraduate Research Journal, Laura Burtle

Giving Undergraduate Research a Worldwide Voice: Institutional Repositories as Publishers

A presentation on CAA Undergraduate Research Journal, housed at Georgia State's institutional repository.

More information at http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/caaurj

Georgia Knowledge Repository: Potential For The State, Marlee Givens

Giving Undergraduate Research a Worldwide Voice: Institutional Repositories as Publishers

A presentation on the Georgia Knowledge Repository, a search engine of Georgia-based institutional repositories.

More information at http://www.library.gatech.edu/gkr/

Illuminating Undergraduate Scholarship And Creative Activity: The Illinois Wesleyan Experience, Stephanie Davis-Kahl

Giving Undergraduate Research a Worldwide Voice: Institutional Repositories as Publishers

A presentation on undergraduate research and its incorporation into the Illinois Wesleyan institutional repository.

More information at http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/

Underfunded And Understaffed: A Ground-Level View Of Ir Creation In Difficult Times, John Davison

Giving Undergraduate Research a Worldwide Voice: Institutional Repositories as Publishers

A discussion of the creation of OhioLINK, the institutional repository system for the Ohio University system.

More information at http://drc.ohiolink.edu/

The Social Production Of Knowledge In The 21st Century: Undergraduate Research In Scholarly Communication, Geri Bunker Ingram

Giving Undergraduate Research a Worldwide Voice: Institutional Repositories as Publishers

A presentation on undergraduate research at various universities, and its collection into OCLC.

http://www.oclc.org/gateway/

Student Scholarly Publishing: Obstacles And Opportunities, Tim Tamminga

Giving Undergraduate Research a Worldwide Voice: Institutional Repositories as Publishers

A presentation on the institutional repository system powered by Berkeley Electronic Press.

More information at http://www.bepress.com/ir/

Deadly Silence: An Assessment Of Emergency Alert Systems For Lincoln County, Georgia, Gretchen B. Keneson,

Georgia Journal of Public Policy

Rural counties have a predisposition to sustaining catastrophic losses during natural emergencies. These counties tend to have poorer economic conditions that exacerbate attempts at hazard mitigation.  Emergency Alerts Systems (EAS) are the most efficient and effective ways to provide information of impending danger.  This study will compare and contrast different EAS to determine which would accommodate the needs of a community. The most successful way for most counties to alert citizens is through the use of a combination of redundant systems. For pastoral Lincoln County, Georgia the optimal systems are an alert siren and auto call capabilities.  Both of these …

Impact Of The Economic Downturn On Local Governments In South Carolina, William Tomes

Georgia Journal of Public Policy

Across the country local government revenues have decreased while operating costs such as fuel, materials, equipment, and health insurance costs have significantly increased. In addition to reduced revenues, interest earnings for city and county government investments are low. These factors combined have created a difficult financial arena in which local governments must operate. While economists are reporting signs of economic recovery, many city and county budgets are just now feeling the full brunt of the economic downturn that began in 2008. On a daily basis, news media nationwide report local governments addressing budget deficits by cutting services, eliminating positions, or …

Proper Crime Recording As An Effective Feedback Tool In Articulating A Crime Policy, Kevin A. Unter

Georgia Journal of Public Policy

Crime policy is subject to the policy process just like other governmental policies.  An effective crime policy is one that reduces the amount of crime in a police department’s jurisdiction, e.g., the city.  Accordingly, crime policy consists of the same policy components – agenda setting, formulation, implementation, and feedback.  The implementation of any crime policy depends on the information collected by police departments, often through crimes reported to the department via 9-1-1 calls or brought to a police officer’s attention through proactive police work.  The success of that police work relative to the reported crime first depends on whether the …

Federal Earmarks In The State Of Georgia, Jeffrey Lazarus

Georgia Journal of Public Policy

Earmarks have been controversial ever since becoming a prominent part of the congressional spending process. Critics charge that earmarks fund projects with little or no economic value (for instance Ted Stevens’ “Bridge to Nowhere,”) but instead allow Congress members to direct government spending to campaign contributors (the charge leading to a federal investigation of the now-defunct lobbying firm PMA Group). On the other side of the controversy, congressional earmarks do fund a number of community improvements which are very valuable, at least locally. In Georgia, the fiscal 2010 appropriations bills included earmarks which allocated $450,000 to update College Park’s emergency …

Satisfaction With Local Conditions And The Intention To Move, Richard N. Engstrom, Nathan Dunkel

Faculty Articles

The recent economic downturn has presented many challenges to local communities and policy- makers. Foreclosed properties, job losses, and other challenges that local residents face can threaten the economic viability of local communities. Another consequence of the economic downturn is decreased government budgets, forcing policymakers to make decisions about how to allocate scarce resources effectively. When making decisions about local and regional policy, it would be useful to know how local characteristics contribute to the decisions residents make about whether to remain in a local community or to relocate. Exhibits 1 through 4 present maps created to investigate the relationship …

Exploring Touch As A Positive Workplace Behavior, Bryan Fuller, Marcia J. Simmering, Laura E. Marler, Susie S. Cox, Rebecca J. Bennett, Robin A. Cheramie

Faculty Articles

Whereas most research has focused on the negative aspects of touch in the workplace (i.e. sexual harassment), this study focuses upon the positive use of touch. In an effort to explain individual differences in the use of workplace touch, three sequential studies are used to introduce the concepts of workplace touch self-efficacy and workplace touch initiation anxiety. In Study 1 we develop scales to assess the constructs. Study 2 provides an initial examination of the construct validity of the measures developed in Study 1. Results of Study 3 indicate that supervisor reports of touch self-efficacy and physiological touch anxiety are …