Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Book Review Of Plains Earthlodges: Ethnographic And Archaeological Perspectives Edited By Donna C. Roper And Elizabeth P. Pauls, Thomas D. Thiessen

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Nomadic Plains peoples such as the Cheyenne and Sioux have become the stereotypical image of North American Indians in general. In contrast to the hunting and gathering lifestyle of these groups, however, many Plains tribes lived in settled villages and grew extensive garden crops through much of the past millennium. These groups developed a habitation distinctly characteristic of the Plains village way of life-sturdy, earth-covered timber structures known as earth lodges. The remains of thousands of these structures dot the landscape of the Central and Northern Plains. Lodges of various forms persisted from about 1000 CE into the twentieth century. …

Book Review Of Laud Humphreys: Prophet Of Homosexuality And Sociology By John F. Galliher, Wayne H. Brekhus, And David P. Keys, Stephen Valocchi

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

As an undergraduate sociology major, the only thing I learned about Oklahoman Laud Humphreys's classic, Tearoom Trade (1970) was how it violated standards of informed consent in social science research. As Galliher, Brekhus, and Keys recount in their biography, Laud Humphreys: Prophet of Homosexuality and Sociology, sociology graduate student Laud Humphreys needed to supplement his (quite likely, participant) observational research of men who had sex in public bathrooms (i.e., tearooms) in St. Louis in the mid-1960s with a formal questionnaire. Knowing that these men would never agree if they knew they were selected because of their participation in highly …

Book Review Of Entomology At The Land Grant University: Perspectives From The Texas A&M; University Department Centenary Edited By Kevin M. Heinz, Raymond Frisbie, And Carlos Bogran, Richard Berberet

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

This book offers the texts of twenty-four presentations given in a series of mini symposia organized to commemorate the centennial of Texas A&M's Department of Entomology. Although not stated explicitly by the editors, the central theme for these symposia seems to be the contributions of the discipline of entomology to modern society. The presentations cover a wide range of topics dealing with the importance of insects in both natural ecosystems and agricultural systems; insects as models for scientific research; challenges associated with effective management of those species that are pests in systems designed for food and fiber production; and the …

Book Review Of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?": Aboriginal Communities, Restorative Justice, And The Challenges Of Conflict And Change By Jane Dickson-Gilmore And Carol La Prairie, Tim Quigley

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Over the past decade or two, restorative justice has become a popular approach for the criminal justice system to take in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. In part, this is due in all three countries to an appalling disproportionality in the incarceration rates for racialized minorities. As the authors of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" point out, however, governments have been attracted to restorative justice for cost-cutting reasons as well. A burning question, therefore, is whether restorative justice works.

Book Review Of Venereal Disease And The Lewis And Clark Expedition By Thomas P. Lowry, Ronald V. Loge

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Although Lewis and Clark literature has proliferated in the last decade, few works have added scholarly discourse to this field of study. The highly focused Venereal Disease and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, however, will likely stand out on the Lewis and Clark bookshelf as an important contribution.

Book Review Of Portraits Of The Bison: An Illustrated Guide To Bison Society By Wes Olson, Greg Wilson

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Thundering herds of bison have become synonymous with the pre-European colonization of the Great Plains. As such, they have captured the imagination of countless people, including Wes Olson, a 20-year warden for Parks Canada. Throughout Portraits of the Bison, based on both existing literature and the author's extensive experience observing and managing these animals, Olson's bison fascination is not only obvious but infectious. A remarkably talented artist as well, Olson's line drawings appear throughout the book, accompanied by Johane Janelle's photographs.

Perceptions Of Well-Being Among Rural Nebraskans, Rebecca J. Vogt, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bruce B. Johnson, Alan J. Tomkins

Publications from the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI)

Nebraska’s economy has been relatively stable during the past year. However, some rural areas continue to be economically challenged. How do rural Nebraskans perceive their quality of life? Do their perceptions differ by community size, the region in which they live, or their occupation?

This report details 2,482 responses to the 2006 Nebraska Rural Poll, the eleventh annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions regarding their individual well-being. Trends for these questions are examined by comparing data from the ten previous polls to this year’s results. In addition, comparisons are made among different …

A Qualitative Study Of Early Family Histories And Transitions Of Homeless Youth, Kimberly A. Tyler

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Using intensive qualitative interviews with 40 homeless youth, this study examined their early family histories for abuse, neglect, and other family problems and the number and types of transitions that youth experienced. Multiple forms of child maltreatment, family alcoholism, drug use, and criminal activity characterized early family histories of many youth. Leaving home because of either running away or being removed by child protective services often resulted in multiple transitions, which regularly included moving from foster care homes to a group home, back to their parents, and then again returning to the streets. Although having experienced family disorganization set youth …

Outcomes From State Department Grants To Build A Stable Economy In Tajikistan, S. Kay Rockwell, Lee V. Rockwell, Julie Albrecht

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

Over a 10-year period, State Department grants were awarded to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to help build a stable economy in Tajikistan. The 2003-06 grants provided the Khujand Branch of the Technological University (KbTUT) faculty and students the opportunity to develop expertise in safe food production and viable textile/apparel production for international markets. Specific grant activities were to (a) develop an entrepreneur center at KbTUT to provide outreach programs for community members on small-scale business development, (b) develop a textile museum for University courses, and (c) train KbTUT faculty/upper level students/administrators at UNL to enhance their skills in food …

Book Review Of Stone By Stone: Exploring Ancient Sites On The Canadian Plains By Liz Bryan, David Meyer

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Liz Bryan begins her book with a description of the Canadian Plains:" . .. a voluptuous landscape of hills and valleys and plains, of lakes and tiny twinkling potholes, of flower-filled coulees and vast sand dunes." Her emphasis throughout on the landscape of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta is necessary since the ancient monuments she describes only truly resonate within this setting. Indeed, almost every page of this attractive book is adorned with at least two color images-of scenery, stone features, artifacts, and aboriginal events. She then proceeds to an eclectic overview of the archaeological record of the Plains of Saskatchewan …

Book Review Of Archaeological Theory And The Politics Of Cultural Heritage By Laurajane Smith, George P. Nicholaus

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

The passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) in 1991 significantly changed the way archaeology would be done in the United States. This act was presaged by growing complaints and resentment directed at the scientific community by Native Americans over the treatment of their ancestral remains. Many of the underlying issues came to a head with the discovery and subsequent court battles over the 9,200-year-old individual commonly known as Kennewick Man. This had a galvanizing effect on the discipline, not only perpetuating the sometimes adversarial relationship between archaeologists and Native Americans, but also creating a rift …

Book Review Of The Sauropods: Evolution And Paleobiology Edited By Kristina A. Curry Rogers And Jeffrey A. Wilson. Berkeley, Anthony Fiorillo

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

It is a truism that the study of dinosaurs is alive and well. In 2004 the second edition of The Dinosauria was published at 861 pages, an increase of almost 130 pages from the previous edition. The page increase is not overwhelming, but examination of the difference in density of the words on the pages of each edition shows the second to be much more robust. The joke among experts was to question whether the publisher would also be issuing magnifying glasses for readers. It seems that single volumes dedicated to dinosaurs are a thing of the past.

Book Review Of Oceans Of Kansas: A Natural History Of The Western Interior Sea By Michael J. Everhart, Jonathan Hendricks

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Just as there are seashells on Mt. Everest, there is an exceptional wealth of fossil remains of marine organisms preserved in the chalk of western Kansas. This Cretaceous-aged rock, and the fossils therein, were deposited at a time when a great sea cut northward across the interior of the continent around 85 million years ago, inspiring the provocative title of Everhart's book. The title is true to its subject: documentation of the Cretaceous fossils of western Kansas, their geographic and stratigraphic occurrences, and the inferences that paleontologists can make about how the organisms represented by these fossils may have once …

Seed Bank Viability Of Inland Saline Wetland Sites In Agro-Ecosystems, Paul D. Nabity, Kyle D. Hoagland

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Wetland restoration typically includes modifications to soils, flora, and hydrology. Will the return of wetland hydrology to former saline wetlands create conditions suitable for wetland taxa, especially saline wetland indicator species? To answer this question we evaluated the potential restoration efficacy of historical saline wetland soils by re-exposing them to wetland hydrological conditions simulated in a greenhouse. Agricultural lands contained no saline indicator plants and limited wetland species, likely due to significant and long-term land alteration. Restored wetlands showed only a few additional wetland taxa, and seeds of saline wetland plants emerged from soils of only one restored site. Because …

Are Anti-Spit Tobacco Campaigns Striking Out? A Survey Of Iowa And Nebraska College Baseball Players, David C. Ogden, Teresa A. Lamsam, Hugh J. Reilly, Michael L. Hilt

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Anti-spit tobacco information is replete with fear appeals, including firsthand accounts of death and debilitation, to make users aware of the health risks and dangers. Those dangers, however, are well known by baseball players whose association with spit tobacco is historic. A survey of 217 Iowa and Nebraska college players showed that despite their awareness of spit tobacco's dangers, the players use spit tobacco to relax and focus on the field. This study supports other research showing that fear appeals may not be the most appropriate approach for anti-tobacco advertising campaigns. The study suggests that campaigns should promote relaxation and …

River Size And Fish Assemblages In Southwestern South Dakota, Christopher Hoagstrom, Steven S. Wall, Jeremy P. Duehr, Charles R. Berry, Jr.

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

We studied relations between river size, fish species diversity, and fish species composition along four major rivers in the Great Plains of southwestern South Dakota to assess patterns of species diversity and composition. We expected diversity to increase with river size and fish composition to change via species addition downstream. Previous surveys of 52 sampling stations provided fish assemblage data, and we used the Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine watershed area by station. Watershed area did not predict species richness or species diversity (Fisher's a), so species richness of 12 ± 3.5 SD species and Fisher's a of 2.3 …

Great Plains Research, Volume 16, Number 2: Editorial Matter

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

No abstract provided.

Arsenic In Groundwater And Rural Public Water Supplies In Nebraska, U.S.A., David C. Gosselin, Lynne Klawer, R. Matthew Joeckel, F. Edwin Harvey, Angela R. Reade, Kevin Mcvey

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

The highest concentrations of arsenic in groundwater are found in the Nebraska Panhandle, southwestern Nebraska, and the Republican River valley. Data from 33 public water supply wells indicate that significant variability in arsenic concentrations did not occur over a one-year study. The general absence of temporal variability in arsenic concentrations suggests that the collection of one sample per year from most wells will adequately characterize the arsenic concentrations to which the population drinking this water will be exposed. The collection of additional samples is strongly recommended if the reported arsenic concentrations are at, or slightly above, 10 μg/L in order …

Review Of Women And Sustainable Agriculture: Interviews With 14 Agents Of Change By Anna Anderson, Sarah Fogleman

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

It is important to say early and often that Women and Sustainable Agriculture is a compilation of interviews and oral histories written by and for people involved in sustainable agriculture. Anderson offers an engaging, well-written preface, but the book as a whole could perhaps be classified as more testimony than research, straying into political and social agendas that will hold great appeal for some readers and be deemed biased and controversial by others.

Book Review Of Raising Less Corn, More Hell: The Case For The Independent Farm And Against Industrial Food By George Pyle, Robert Gronski

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Raising Less Corn, More Hell may sound like a rallying cry for the nation's heartland farmers, but this well-written series of essays by George Pyle is meant for those who eat corn. Or rather, for those of us who eat the livestock fed on corn in confined animal feeding operations, then wash down those meals with drinks high in high-fructose corn syrups. Pyle, an editorial writer from Kansas now living in Utah, brings his journalist's skills to bear on what our industrial food system has brought us. It's not appetizing as he makes his case against a corporate-controlled system that …

Book Review Of Determining The Economic Value Of Water: Concepts And Methods By Robert A. Youngbook Review Of Determining The Economic Value Of Water: Concepts And Methods By Robert A. Young, David W. Yoskowitz

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Water has been and will continue to be a contentious issue for policy makers, landowners, municipalities, environmentalists, and citizens who feels they have an undeniable right to clean water delivered to their homes (at least in the United States). With so many groups coming into conflict over what, at least in the West and the Great Plains, continues to be a diminishing resource per capita, an understanding of the economic value of this resource is critical. It is important to note, as Robert Young does throughout his book, that the true economic value of water goes beyond what we pay …

Book Review Of The Limits Of Participation: Members And Leaders In Canada's Reform Party By Faron Ellis, David J. Hall

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

The Reform Party began as a populist party of regional protest in western Canada in 1987. Its policies were mostly on the right of the political spectrum, and from the early 1990s it developed ambitions to become a national party. In 2000 it amalgamated with some Progressive Conservatives (PC) to form the Canadian Alliance (CA), and in 2003 the CA and a rump of the PC Party united to form the Conservative Party of Canada; in January 2006 the Conservatives won a minority government. Although Faron Ellis's book was completed too early to include much about the denouement of this …

Digging Deeper Still: Coverage Of Archaeology From The United Kingdom, Ireland, And Select Commonwealth Nations From 1950 To 2000+ In Discipline-Specific And Subject-Oriented Online Indexes, David C. Tyler, Katharine C. Potter, Susan M. Leach, Jennifer M. Kreifels, Barbara Turner

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Faculty Publications

Librarians, faculty, professional researchers, and students often encounter difficulties in locating pertinent journal articles for the field of archaeology. This article examines the coverage given by 13 discipline-specific and subject-oriented indexes available online over a 50-year interval to 89 archaeology journals originating in the United Kingdom and in Ireland. The coverage provided by the individual indexes and several of the larger issues surrounding the coverage of the field are discussed, and a few recommendations are offered.

The Divorce Decree, Communication, And The Structuration Of Coparenting Relationships In Stepfamilies, Paul Schrodt, Leslie A. Baxter, M. Chad Mcbride, Dawn O. Braithwaite, Mark A. Fine

Department of Communication Studies: Faculty Publications

Using Giddens’s (1984) structuration theory, this study explored the communicative processes surrounding the divorce decree in coparenting relationships in stepfamilies. Participants included 21 adults who were coparenting children in stepfamilies who completed diary entries of all interactions with coparents over a 2-week period, and who completed follow-up interviews. Results revealed two structures of signification with respect to the divorce decree that enabled and constrained coparenting interactions. The first signification structure was one in which the decree was framed as a legal document, dictating the rights and responsibilities of parenting, especially with respect to child access and financial issues. The second …

“Sweeping The Heavens For A Comet”: Women, The Language Of Political Economy, And Higher Education In The United States, Ann Mari May

Department of Economics: Faculty Publications

The importance of increased levels of education in improving the status of women throughout the world is well established. Higher levels of education are associated with lower birth rates, higher incomes, and greater autonomy for women. Yet, women’s struggle to have a voice in higher education has been fraught with difficulties in the US and worldwide, particularly in overcoming widely held perceptions that limit their entrance into certain academic fields, tenured positions, and elite universities. This essay examines the role political economy has played in providing narratives that rationalize women’s limited participation in higher education. By examining the representation of …

Intsormil Crsp: Sorghum, Millet And Other Grains Collaborative Research Support Program: Leader With Associates Cooperative Agreement No. Eep-A-00-06-0016-00; Award From The U.S. Agency For International Development To The University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Joseph Schmidt

INTSORMIL Scientific Publications

Pursuant to the authority contained in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) hereby awards to University of Nebraska - Lincoln (hereinafter referred to as the "Recipient"), the sum of $9,000,000.00 to provide support for a program in Sorghum, Millet, and Other Grains Collaborative Research Support Program as described in the Schedule of this award and in Attachment B, entitled "Program Description."

This Leader with Associates Cooperative Agreement is effective and obligation is made as of 09-30-2006 and shall apply to expenditures made by the Recipient in furtherance of program objectives during …

What Are The Market And Regulatory Conditions Under Which Livestock Mandatory Reporting Would Benefit Livestock Producers?, Azzeddine Azzam, Konstantinos Giannakas, Kenneth Njoroge, Amalia Yiannaka

Cornhusker Economics

On Wednesday, September 20, 2006, Senator Chuck Hagel’s office announced the re-authorization of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act. Enacted in 2001, the Act provides market participants with information on all cash and non-cash transactions reported by packers to the Marketing Service on a daily basis. The information is aggregated under specific confidentiality guidelines to preserve anonymity of the source, and published in the Mandatory Livestock and Meat Market News Reports.

Report Discusses Farm Policy Preferences, Bradley Lubben

Cornhusker Economics

The development of the next farm bill is a complex, comprehensive process that involves numerous issues. The process will, in part, be driven by the economic climate, the budget situation, the trade arena and the political setting at the time of the debate. The economic setting and the political setting invite a significant debate on the shape of the farm bill and the potential for new directions or alternatives. The budget setting and the trade setting both present challenges for this farm bill debate in terms of program priorities and potential program trade-offs.

Building A Better Board: Springboard Into Action, Milan Wall

Heartland Center for Leadership Development Materials

Building a Better Board: Springboard into Action

Roles and responsibilities

Time devoted to six basic elements

Obstacles

Strategies

Ethics

Recruitment

Agricultural Earnings Highly Variable Over Time And By Sub-State Region, Bruce Johnson, Gibson Nene, Anneke Gustafson

Cornhusker Economics

For anyone close to production agriculture it is obvious that income and earnings levels are highly fickle from one year to the next. This can be clearly seen in Nebraska’s year-to-year total net farm income levels over the past decade, which have ranged from a low of $813 million in 2002 to nearly $3.4 billion in 1996 and again in 2004. But what about variation across the sub-state regions? And what economic impacts might these variations have for these regional economies?