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Articles 1 - 30 of 80
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Marijuana Use Among Adults In The United States: Comparing Correlates Of Use, Assessing Impact Of Education, And Evaluating Use And Health Amid Justice-Involved Populations, Corey Pomykacz
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Over the past two decades, there have been significant changes in state-level policies (i.e., decriminalization, medicalization, legalization) in the U.S. regarding marijuana use. Prior research has found a relationship between marijuana policies and decreased perceived risk as well as increased prevalence of use. In light of these historical shifts, the public health implications of marijuana use deserve increased attention by researchers so that we can discern patterns of use, evaluate risk, and inform intervention. This dissertation has three aims: (1) investigate how correlates of use prevalence versus use frequency vary; (2) offer a theoretical explanation as to why more education …
Pixelated Scapegoat: False Connections Between Video Games And Violent Crime In America's Largest Cities, Matthew Segal
Pixelated Scapegoat: False Connections Between Video Games And Violent Crime In America's Largest Cities, Matthew Segal
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
For too many years, the public perception of violent crime has been viewed through the warped lens of media representations and reporting of mass killings, the likes of Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Parkland, while ignoring the body counts that rack up year after year in America's own cities. Many pundits and politicians declare cultural decay and glorification of violence in video games as the main reason for mass shootings. However, these same voices fail to take the explanation any further to explain the eruptions of violence that rack up thousands of lives a year in large metropolitan areas. The question …
Rethinking Burnout In Informal Caregivers: Development And Validation Of The Informal Caregiver Burnout Inventory - 10 Item Form, Nicholas James
Rethinking Burnout In Informal Caregivers: Development And Validation Of The Informal Caregiver Burnout Inventory - 10 Item Form, Nicholas James
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Measurement of informal caregiver burnout is typically achieved by re-purposing scales of occupational burnout. Such approaches have several methodological and theoretical weaknesses. This paper proposes a new tool for measuring caregiver burnout: The Informal Caregiver Burnout Inventory (ICBI). In the first portion of this study, focused feedback was collected from within-field experts and caregivers. Following item revision, an online sample of informal US caregivers of an individual with dementia was collected. Item Response Theory analysis was used to prune low-information or low-consistency items from the scale. The finalized ICBI contained 10 items and showed strong convergent validity, adequately differentiated burnout …
In Sickness Or In Health: The Impact Of Disease Burdens On The Likelihood Of Violent Conflict, Devyn Escalanti
In Sickness Or In Health: The Impact Of Disease Burdens On The Likelihood Of Violent Conflict, Devyn Escalanti
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
This paper expands on the relationship between disease burdens and the onset of violent conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1990-2012. Most studies have focused on conflict as a cause of HIV transmission, while some suggest that HIV infection rates, by substantially reducing life-expectancy, increase the onset of violence by lowering the opportunity cost of rebelling for HIV-positive individuals. This paper argues that to the degree that life expectancy is important to opportunity costs, it is more likely driven by other factors. First, I argue preventable diseases that are less connected to individual decision-making, and the presence of poor health infrastructure …
Fruits In Dakhleh: Isotopic And Bayesian Mixed-Model Reconstruction Of Food Source Contributions And Diet At Kellis 2 Cemetery, Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, Melissa Gomez
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
This thesis applies a new methodology to dietary reconstructions of a unique population excavated from Kellis 2, a Romano-Christian era (c.50-450 AD) cemetery located in the ancient city of Kellis, Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt. Previously, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were conducted on bulk hair keratin from 216 individuals to examine their dietary practices and health status. Although this research identified the presence of specific dietary choices in the community, the researchers were not able to determine what fraction of the diet was composed of those resources. This is the first such study to use a priori dietary reconstruction data …
Determining And Assessing Fault Attribution In Collisions Involving Autonomous Vehicles, Alexandra Kaplan
Determining And Assessing Fault Attribution In Collisions Involving Autonomous Vehicles, Alexandra Kaplan
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
There exists considerable research concerning how humans attribute fault to each other, both in cases of accidents and those instances of intentional harm. There also exist studies involving blame attribution towards robots, when such robots have caused harm through operational failure or lack of safety features. However, relatively little work has, to date, examined the ways in which fault is attributed to self-driving vehicles involved in collisions, despite many newspaper and popular articles which both report past incidents and warn of future risk. This dissertation examined fault attribution in collisions involving autonomous vehicles by conducting three separate experiments. The first …
(Main)Streaming Hate: Analyzing White Supremacist Content And Framing Devices On Youtube, Christopher Charles
(Main)Streaming Hate: Analyzing White Supremacist Content And Framing Devices On Youtube, Christopher Charles
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
The emboldening of white supremacist groups, as well as their increased mainstream presence in online circles, necessitates the creation of studies that dissect their tactics and rhetoric, while offering platform-specific insights. This study seeks to address these needs by analyzing white supremacist content and framing devices on the video hosting website, YouTube. Data were collected through a multi-stage sampling technique, designed to capture a 'snapshot' of white supremacist content on the platform during a 45-day period in 2019. After line-by-line coding and qualitative thematic analysis, results showed that sampled channels varied between different levels of color-blindness and overt racialization in …
Under Pressure: Analysis Of An Undergraduate Intervention For Stem Students In Academic Decline, Dena Ford
Under Pressure: Analysis Of An Undergraduate Intervention For Stem Students In Academic Decline, Dena Ford
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Students who successfully persist in STEM majors often gain positive attention highlighting their preparation and ability, though far too often, students who struggle while persisting in the major go unnoticed. This research analyzed demographics and characteristics of select undergraduate STEM majors with a focus on biology and forensic science who were not reaching the major GPA benchmark requirements. These students were persisting while in academic decline. Characteristics of interest in this study include self-reported level of familial pressure to be in the major, anxiety level of current declared major, and course workload anxiety level as well as admit type (either …
Examining The Moderating Role Of Coping Strategies In The Relationship Between Team Role Alignment And Employee Well-Being Outcomes, Justine Moavero
Examining The Moderating Role Of Coping Strategies In The Relationship Between Team Role Alignment And Employee Well-Being Outcomes, Justine Moavero
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Individual well-being outcomes like engagement and burnout can have a major impact on employees and their performance. As a result, the organization itself may experience serious repercussions, financial and otherwise. Teams have become ubiquitous within modern organizations, with operations largely consisting of workers that engage in various levels of teamwork. As such, factors of team dynamics might influence well-being outcomes by either improving or exacerbating the occupational health of the employee. Research has demonstrated that team roles are foundational and enacted within every team; however, there is little existing literature assessing the impact of team role alignment on employee well-being. …
Food, Familiarity, And Forecasting: Modeling Coups With Computational Methods, Joshua Lambert
Food, Familiarity, And Forecasting: Modeling Coups With Computational Methods, Joshua Lambert
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Military coups are the most consequential breakdown of civil-military relations. This dissertation contributes to the explanation and prediction of coups through three independent quantitative analyses. First, I argue that food insecurity is an important determinant of coups. The presence of hunger can generate discontent in society and subsequently alter coup plotter opportunities. Furthermore, I show that the presence of chronic hunger can condition the effect of increasing development. While increasing levels of development have been shown to limit coup proclivity, a state experiencing chronic hunger will recognize the fundamental failure of basic needs provision. As development increases, the presence of …
Interactions Between Humans, Virtual Agent Characters And Virtual Avatars, Tamara Griffith
Interactions Between Humans, Virtual Agent Characters And Virtual Avatars, Tamara Griffith
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Simulations allow people to experience events as if they were happening in the real world in a way that is safer and less expensive than live training. Despite improvements in realism in simulated environments, one area that still presents a challenge is interpersonal interactions. The subtleties of what makes an interaction rich are difficult to define. We may never fully understand the complexity of human interchanges, however there is value in building on existing research into how individuals react to virtual characters to inform future investments. Virtual characters can either be automated through computational processes, referred to as agents, or …
An Exploratory Examination Of The Digital Marijuana Policy Messaging Of Liberal, Governmental, And Conservative Organizations Utilizing Websites, Kimberly Kampe
An Exploratory Examination Of The Digital Marijuana Policy Messaging Of Liberal, Governmental, And Conservative Organizations Utilizing Websites, Kimberly Kampe
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to examine whether differences exist between the digital media promotion of marijuana policies by organizations based on their type (liberal, federal government, or conservative ). Concerns about illicit drug use in America are apparent when looking at the current discourse on marijuana policy. This discourse has been impacted by the media's construction of the drug problem and how that problem is defined by different sources. This messaging has the potential to impact societal views on crime, justice, and related policies. In the process of media persuasion, there are various organizations conveying divergent marijuana …
Two Pink Lines: Exploring Florida's Pregnancy-Associated Intimate Partner Homicides, Sonya Spence
Two Pink Lines: Exploring Florida's Pregnancy-Associated Intimate Partner Homicides, Sonya Spence
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Pregnancy-associated Homicides (PAHs) are homicides committed while a woman is pregnant, and recent reports from Florida's Pregnancy-associated Mortality Review (PAMR) suggest that it is a leading cause of unnatural deaths for pregnant women. However, a study has not examined the motives, characteristics, and underlying factors behind these homicides. Therefore, this study explored Florida's Pregnancy-associated Intimate Partner Homicides (PAIPHs) using a sample of women that were reportedly pregnant at the time of their mortality (n=33), as well as a comparison group of not-pregnant women (n=33). To conduct the study, reported homicide data from news sources, police reports, and other public records …
Sex, Gender, Sexual Assault, And Rape On The Red Pill: A Thematic And Linguistic Analysis, Walker Talton
Sex, Gender, Sexual Assault, And Rape On The Red Pill: A Thematic And Linguistic Analysis, Walker Talton
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
The digital space has offered fertile new territory to connect with like-minded individuals and discuss anything and everything. This has resulted in the creation of the Manosphere, a collection of men concerned about the state of men and masculinity and how society views and treats men. One of the places online this community has found a home is the popular website Reddit, which offers the ability to create individual pages in which communities can form around and discuss and share information on almost any topic they desire. This study aimed to investigate the ways in which one community on Reddit, …
Identifying Suicidality Correlates Among People Incarcerated In Jail, Frances Abderhalden
Identifying Suicidality Correlates Among People Incarcerated In Jail, Frances Abderhalden
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
The rate of suicidality in jail is estimated to be eight times greater than that of the general population, yet the identification of risk factors for suicidality among people incarcerated in jail has not been explored by researchers (Fazel, Grann, Kling & Hawton, 2011; Hayes, 1999; Noonan & Ginder, 2013). To date, the breadth of the literature on suicidology almost exclusively deals with the prison population or general public, and official data of completed suicides. However, when analyzing suicidality in jail and prison populations, it is evident they are not interchangeable and suicidal behaviors include more than just completed suicides. …
Stage Dives And Shared Mics: Ethnographic Perspectives On Community And Networking In The Central Florida Punk Rock Scene, Lauren Friedman
Stage Dives And Shared Mics: Ethnographic Perspectives On Community And Networking In The Central Florida Punk Rock Scene, Lauren Friedman
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Music remains an important aspect of culture and society, proven by copious academic studies exploring how humans create, experience, and utilize it. The emergence of punk rock as a music genre and scene of interconnected individuals in the mid-to-late 1970s provides significant insight into social and political attitudes of the time. Punk rock's continued existence in the present day reflects similar themes to its first incarnation besides forging new directions for the genre and the scene. In this study I examine social factors within the current Central Florida punk rock scene that contribute to its evolution and longevity. I used …
Applications Of Close-Range Photogrammetry For Documenting Human Skeletal Remains In Obstructed Wooded Environments, Morgan Ferrell
Applications Of Close-Range Photogrammetry For Documenting Human Skeletal Remains In Obstructed Wooded Environments, Morgan Ferrell
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Crime scenes involving human skeletal remains in obstructed wooded environments are challenging to document. One potential option to include with the crime scene processing protocol is 3D documentation utilizing close-range photogrammetry (CRP). This method results in the generation of realistic 3D models and accurate plan-view maps of the crime scene. The purpose of this research was to explore the use of CRP to preserve contextual information of simulated scenes involving scattered human remains in obstructed wooded environments. The main goal was to improve CRP methodology as well as demonstrate how to incorporate this method into the forensic archaeology documentation protocol. …
Prescription Drug Abuse Amongst The Elderly, Michael O'Blenis
Prescription Drug Abuse Amongst The Elderly, Michael O'Blenis
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
This thesis attempts to document and illuminate the growing issue of prescription drug abuse among the elderly population. The average elder in the U.S. takes at least one prescription drug per day, depending upon their health status. Likewise, elders that suffer from multiple chronic conditions are more likely to take multiple prescription drugs. As the lifespan of humankind grows well into their 90's and older, even more elders will be placed on prescription drugs. As part of this study, a narrative literature review was conducted to summarize the topic of prescription drug abuse amongst the elderly. The findings suggest that …
Effective Pedagogical Practices In Elementary School Libraries: An Appreciative Inquiry Approach, Maureen Scanlan
Effective Pedagogical Practices In Elementary School Libraries: An Appreciative Inquiry Approach, Maureen Scanlan
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
School libraries were designed to provide equitable access to reading and research materials for all students. Over the past few decades, staffing of school libraries has become a controversial topic as school leaders opt to eliminate school librarians due to budget constraints. Consequently, there is staffing variability in school libraries. Research indicates that a school librarian is a critical component of a successful school library program. Despite this, some schools with staffing variability in the school library are finding ways to implement an effective school library media program. This research study examined effective school library pedagogical practices in elementary school …
The Effect Of Economic Conditions On The Prevalence Of Abusive Supervisory Behaviors: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis, Xinyue Zhao
The Effect Of Economic Conditions On The Prevalence Of Abusive Supervisory Behaviors: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis, Xinyue Zhao
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
The antecedents of abusive supervisory behaviors have been largely examined at the individual and organizational level. Hardly any attempts have been made to investigate abusive supervisory behaviors in a context broader than the organization. I try to answer the question "does a recession really unleash abusive supervisory behaviors?" by conducting a cross-temporal meta-analysis to examine the effect of economic conditions on the prevalence of abusive supervisory behaviors. Considering economic conditions as an antecedent to abusive supervisory behaviors provides a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomena. I proposed four reasons to explain how economic conditions affect employee's perception of abusive supervisory …
It's A Small World After All: Exploring Mobile Dating Application Use And Sexual Partner Networks Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men (Bmsm), Donovan Williams
It's A Small World After All: Exploring Mobile Dating Application Use And Sexual Partner Networks Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men (Bmsm), Donovan Williams
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Research supports risky sexual behaviors are especially pervasive traits in high risk groups such as gay and bisexual men; and despite representing a mere 12% of the total LGBTQ population, Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) are at highest risk for transmitting and contracting HIV and other non-HIV sexually transmitted diseases. Even knowing this, the disparity of research coverage of BMSM compared to White MSM is staggering. Recent research has indicated MSM are at even greater risk than before since the advent of mobile dating apps. Online partnering via mobile apps has been linked to overlapping sexual partner …
Exploring The Cultural Identity And School Efficacy Of Students Through The Lens Of Digital Storytelling, Rachael Mack
Exploring The Cultural Identity And School Efficacy Of Students Through The Lens Of Digital Storytelling, Rachael Mack
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Digital storytelling is a modern storytelling method that uses videos, images, and audio to share knowledge, wisdom, values, and personal stories from the point of view of the creator in a 2-8-minute first person narrative. This study explored the cultural identity and school efficacy of students through the lens of digital storytelling. This mixed-methods study consisted of both qualitative and quantitative measures. A survey was conducted using the In-Group Identification Scale, the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity, and the School Efficacy Scale as the quantitative measures, and qualitative data was generated from the transcription and analysis of the digital storytelling …
Strategic Planning At The Local Level Of Government: Evidence From Florida, Faisal Mohamidi
Strategic Planning At The Local Level Of Government: Evidence From Florida, Faisal Mohamidi
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
This study's main question is as follows: What are the effects of internal and external environmental factors on public value expressions found within Florida county and municipal governments' strategic plans? This study uses Moore's (1995) Public Value Theory and its main propositions, as Dong (2015) described. This study also adheres to the tradition established by DiMaggio and Powell (1983) by focusing on homogeneity, not variation, between strategic plans under study. Data for this dissertation were obtained from 77 official strategic plans of Floridian counties and municipalities. Furthermore, the dissertation proceeded in two distinctive phases. The first phase relied on content …
Postcolonial Public Administration: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Esteban Santis
Postcolonial Public Administration: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Esteban Santis
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Four years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a group of Public Administration scholars met in New York's Adirondack Mountains to discuss the future of the field. At this gathering, the Minnowbrook I Conference, scholars acknowledged the need for social equity. Today, more than fifty years later, there is still a need for social equity. There is still a need to understand the history and role of oppression within Public Administration. Apropos, in this dissertation, I interrogate oppression, by way of postcolonialism and critical discourse analysis, to learn about the field's darkness and splendor. This project …
Food For Thought: Food Insecurity And Academic Performance, Justen Rosenberg
Food For Thought: Food Insecurity And Academic Performance, Justen Rosenberg
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Objective: In 2018, 11.1% of American households were food insecure at least once. Annual reports on food insecurity conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture study the prevalence of household food insecurity; however, they fail to conceptualize the consequences that are associated with being food insecure. The objective of this study is to analyze the impacts of food insecurity on academic performance of children currently enrolled in an Orange County, Florida, K-12 public school. Methods: One focus group and 10 one-on-one interviews were conducted with parents who have at least one child currently enrolled in a K-12 public school …
Green Trust Perceptions Of Eco-Labels, Rebecca Dupont
Green Trust Perceptions Of Eco-Labels, Rebecca Dupont
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Sustainability in the United States trends a new marketing demand for eco-labels yet brands often skip regulation to obtain these labels and break consumer trust. The country currently has over 200 eco-labels, leaving consumers overwhelmed and confused. In the present study, 3 focus groups of 6-8 participants were interviewed about their opinions, perceptions and attitudes towards eco-labels. A thematic analysis of the focus group audio was completed. The results indicated that participants desire products with eco-labels yet paradoxically distrust eco-labeled products.
Forests And Farmers: A Landscape Approach To Settlement Pattern Analysis In The Bolivian Amazon, Thomas Lee
Forests And Farmers: A Landscape Approach To Settlement Pattern Analysis In The Bolivian Amazon, Thomas Lee
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
The Llanos de Mojos of the Bolivian Amazon is a domesticated landscape with a long history of management by pre-Columbian communities. This project uses a landscape approach to interpret the settlement patterns of pre-Columbian raised field farmers in west central Mojos. The pre-Columbian landscape was reconstructed by mapping the distribution of three types of landscape features: forest islands, raised agricultural fields and water systems (rivers, streams & wetlands). Previous research has identified four types of patterned clustering or 'constellations' of these landscape features in west central Mojos. These constellations and the immediate area of the landscape that surrounds them afforded …
The Level Of Creative Thinking Of Stem-Oriented Middle And High School Children Associated With The Level Of Self-Motivated Play And Success Within A Builder Game And Engagement In Builder Gaming Communities' Social Media Culture, John Aedo
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Literature indicates that the United States has fallen behind other countries in the world in terms of creativity. At the same, children's self-motivated gaming and involvement in gaming communities have grown as a major pass time. The literature is inconsistent on the relationship between games and creativity with some indicating benefit while others indicate harm. Might the observed level of creative thinking among children be associated with the level of a priori self-motivated engagement with creative games and associated social media? Given the wide spectrum of the kinds of games, this research considers the "builder" (e.g. Minecraft) genre and related …
Cute Panda Or Evil Dragon? Market Economy, Conflict Behavior And China's Peaceful Rise, Xiongwei Cao
Cute Panda Or Evil Dragon? Market Economy, Conflict Behavior And China's Peaceful Rise, Xiongwei Cao
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
China has two contrasting images in the West: a cute panda and an evil dragon. In recent years, a near-consensus seems to be forming among policy makers in Washington that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is more of an evil dragon than a cute panda, using "sharp power" to threaten U.S. interests and world peace. The PRC is regarded by the current U.S. administration as a "strategic competitor," and a new Cold War seems to be looming between the world's two largest economies. Is the rise of China destined to cause conflicts or even war? After analyzing the conflict …
Sexual Assault Acknowledgment And Psychological Symptoms: The Indirect Effect Of Social Reactions To Disclosures, Emily Bernstein
Sexual Assault Acknowledgment And Psychological Symptoms: The Indirect Effect Of Social Reactions To Disclosures, Emily Bernstein
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
Sexual assault is a prevalent problem for women. As a result of sexual assault, women experience a host of negative psychological consequences such as posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety. While some survivors label their sexual assault experience as such (i.e., are acknowledged survivors), other survivors do not and use other terms (e.g., a miscommunication). The effect of acknowledgement of sexual assault on post-assault outcomes has yielded mixed findings: some find that unacknowledged survivors report better psychological functioning, while others find that acknowledged survivors have better outcomes. This study sought to better understand acknowledgment status and psychological outcomes by examining the …