Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Male Visual Dominance Continues: A Global Study Of Images Of Men And Women In 750 Online Newspapers In 74 Nations., Kelly Blake Price-Rankin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how women were represented globally in online newspapers. Depiction of men and women in online newspapers was investigated via cropping of photographs. The photograph was examined to determine if emphasis was placed on the face or body of the human image.

The researcher used the Body Index Scale coding instrument. A simple random sample of 1,969 published photographs in 750 global online newspapers was examined.

A major finding was that men dominate the front screens on global online newspaper Web sites. The data concluded men were cropped with an emphasis on the head, emphasizing intellect. Women were …

Physiological And Cognitive Factors In Asthma And Panic Disorder: Application Of The Cognitive And Dyspnensuffocation Fear Theories, Diana M. Dorhofer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently, the relationship of anxiety with asthma has been investigated in the psychological literature, revealing that individuals with asthma are more likely to develop panic disorder than are individuals without asthma (e.g., Carr, 1998). Two theories (dyspnedsuffocation fear theory and cognitive theory) have been used to explain how asthma symptoms are affected by panic attacks or panic disorder. The present study examines both theories, as well as a hypothesis developed by Carr (1 998) that suggests that the presence of panic disorder in individuals with asthma may lead to better lung functioning in response to stressful stimuli than for individuals …

Factors Affecting Consumer Valuation Of Environmentally Labeled Forest Products, Kelly Ann O'Brien

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The recognition and acknowledgement of how personal purchasing decisions affect the environment may increase the desire to buy products advertised as "environmentally-friendly." Effective and credible advertising and marketing of products deemed ecologically sound, as well as, the specific environmental qualities embodied by such products presumably weighs on the effectiveness of environmentally conscious shopping. To that end, consumers are unable to fully utilize purchase power as a means of protecting the environment if they are unaware that such options exist. The public's apparent willingness to use its purchasing power as a means to protect the environment provides an opportunity for manufacturers …

Nonmarket Valuation And Land Use: Two Essays, Robert W. Paterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research presented here consists of two essays that describe applications of non-market valuation techniques to current land use issues. The individual studies were designed to address important methodological and policy issues, respectively. In the first essay, Geographic Information System (GIs) data are used to develop variables representing the physical extent and visibility of surrounding land use/cover features in a hedonic model of a rural/suburban housing market. Three equations are estimated to determine if views affect property prices, and, further, if omission of visibility variables leads to omitted variable bias. Results indicate that the visibility measures are important determinants of …

Involvement In Sports And Engagement In Delinquency: An Examination Of Hirschi's Social Bond Theory., Randy Hass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sports have been proposed as a means of reducing participation in delinquency. One criminological theory that would support this hypothesis is Travis Hirschi's social bond theory. The involvement element of that theory proposes that engaging juveniles in non-delinquent activities reduces engagement in delinquency. However, the relationship between sports and delinquency has not been adequately tested. Data from the first wave of the National Youth Survey were examined by ordinary least squares regression to determine if there was evidence supporting school sponsored sports programs as a means of reducing delinquency. No evidence was found to support the research hypothesis. Involvement in …

Affectional Orientation, Sex Roles, And Reasons For Living., Shana Valere Hamilton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to research gender, affectional/sexual orientation, and sex roles to determine how people respond to the Expanded Reasons for Living Scale by Linehan, Goodstein, Nielsen, and Chiles (1983). This study used the Bem Sex Role Inventory, short form (Bem, 1981) to assess androgynous and nonandrogynous people.

Results from the statistical analysis revealed that bisexuals had the lowest reasons for living score followed by gay men/lesbians, and then heterosexuals on the Total RFL, as well as on the Responsiblility to Family and Moral Objections subscales. On the Child-Related Concerns subscale heterosexuals had a higher RFL score …

Emotional Expression Management And Social Acceptance In Childhood: Ability, Strategy, And Gender., Gregory S. Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study was designed to examine the relationship between children's ability to manage emotional expressions and peer acceptance. Specifically, using a mild mood induction paradigm, children between the ages of 8- to 10-years were instructed to neutralize and dissemble genuinely negative emotions. Children's ability to effectively manage their negative emotional expressions was then examined with respect to gender differences and in relation to peer acceptance ratings. Results indicated that girls were significantly better than boys at substituting positive expressions for genuine negative ones, were marginally worse than boys at neutralizing negative expressions, and overall were significantly more expressively positive …

An Armington Model Of The U.S. Demand For Scallops, Fuzhi Cheng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The supply of scallops in the United States in recent years has remained relatively stable and the supply source has shifted noticeably from domestic production to imports, especially from China and Japan, where aquaculture production of scallops has been successful. During the past decade, the market share of imported scallops has increased drastically. The scallop fishery in the U.S. is now facing potential competitions from imports. Continuing efforts to provide information on the effect of increasing imports on the U.S. scallop market is warranted. In addition, the impacts of supply increases on domestic scallop prices, either through wild stock enhancement …

Public Conservation Land And Economic Growth In The Northern Forest Region, David Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Environmental issues frequently revolve around a perceived tradeoff between the economy and the environment. In the Northern Forest region, one of the most important environmental policy issues of recent years has been the ownership of vast stretches of undeveloped forestland. Specifically, the possibility of increasing public conservation ownership on these lands has emerged. Opponents of conservation lands often argue that employment will decline significantly when land is diverted from commodity-oriented uses such as forest products production. Proponents of conservation lands frequently cite the amenity benefits of conservation lands and the potential to diversify and stimulate the economy by designating more …

The Emergence Of The Capacity For Guilt In Preschoolers: The Role Of Personal Responsibility In Differentiating Shame From Guilt, Jamie L. Walter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the development of guilt and shame in preschool children, as well as individual differences related to the expression of these emotions. Sixty-one children in three age groups were videotaped in a mishap paradigm in which an experimentally manipulated doll's arm fell off during play. Children were randomly assigned to either an ambiguous or a personal responsibility condition. Videotapes were coded for behavioral (e.g., latency to repair, avoidance) and affective (e.g., joy, tensionlwony) reactions. Individual differences were assessed through parental reports using the My Child (Kochanska, DeVet, Goldman, Murray, & Putman, 1994) and teacher ratings using the …

Graphical Perception Of Nonlinear Trends: Discrimination And Extrapolation, Lisa A. Best

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated several factors involved in the perception of nonlinear relationships in time series graphs. To model real-world data sets, the graphed data included different sample sizes and levels of variability, and represented different underlying trends. Graph format was also varied. The purpose of the experiments was to determine how these factors affect both trend discrimination and extrapolation accuracy, with the overall goal of determining what types of graphs are optimal in different situations. In Experiment 1, subjects viewed time series graphs on a computer screen and had to identify the type of trend that was present. Six trends …

Attitudes Toward Suicidal Women Based On Gender Of The Participant And Race Of The Target Figure., Carrie E. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of gender on attitudes toward Black and White suicidal females.

Participants included 37 Caucasian graduate students who completed demographic questionnaires, Suicide Behavior Questionnaires (SBQ) (Ellis & Jones, 1996), and one of two scenarios with a modified version of the Suicide Attitude Vignette Experience Scale (SAVE) (Stillion, White, Edwards, & McDowell, 1989). The research design was a 2 (sex of participant) x 2 (suicide ideation of participant) x 2 (race of target figure) independent groups factorial. Independent ANOVAS were performed to interpret the significance of main and interaction effects.

No main …

Attitudes And Behaviors Of Adolescents Toward Sunbathing And Sunscreen Use., Billie Hill Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the attitudes and behaviors of adolescents toward sunbathing and sunscreen use by employing the Theory of Alternative Behaviors (Jaccard, 1981) with adolescent participants and a respective parent co-participant.

Females were found to be more likely to engage in intentional suntanning efforts, to stay in the sun for a longer duration, and to be more likely to use sunscreen yet to report higher incidence of sunburns. Those with a healthy lifestyle attitude are as likely to engage in intentional tanning, although they are more likely to wear sunscreen. Self-report of tanning behavior was positively correlated to parent's observation …

Characteristics Of Recidivism Among Intensive And Regular Probationers., Jennifer Joseph

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined characteristics of 100 intensive probationers and 100 regular probationers to have a better understanding of why some probationers recidivate and others do not. Logistic analysis was used to analyze the following variables: age, race, gender, employment status, level of education, convicted offense, prior misdemeanor arrests, prior felony arrests, history of drug abuse, and type of probation. It was discovered that age, prior misdemeanor arrests, and offender category were significant variables correlated to recidivism. These findings are consistent with prior research and provide information that can be helpful to probation and parole officers in their supervision of offenders …

An Examination Of Juvenile Delinquency And Victimization Using An Integrated Model Approach., Kimberly Dawn Dodson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The theories of social bond, differential association and routine activities were synthesized into one theoretical model to determine its predictive utility in the explanation of juvenile delinquency and victimization. Using cross-sectional data obtained from the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) survey, a sample of 1,555 middle school students was examined. The results of the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions indicate that the integrated model explains between 33% and 37% of the variation in delinquent behavior (i.e., property crime, violent crime and alcohol and illegal drug use). The analysis also indicates that the integrated model explains between 15% and 27% …

Socioeconomic Status And Media Exposure As Factors In Empathic Development., David E. Cox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined the empathic attainment of young children (mean age 7 years) as a function of the child's socioeconomic status. Further, the potential intervening variable of violent media representations within product advertisements is assessed within and between the observed socioeconomic status groups. Three critical dimensions of empathy were assessed: cognitive, affective and behavioral. Participants were 200 volunteers recruited from public and private schools in a small region in southern Appalachia. Respondents were rated on their response to animated video clips depicting an individual in emotional distress. Results suggest that media exposure has significant effect on measures of affective …

Social Responses To Hiv Positive Suicide Ideators., Saborah Lee Bishop

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine responses to suicidal ideation by an HIV positive male described as heterosexual/homosexual in a promiscuous/monogamous relationship.

Men (101) and women (137) enrolled in introductory psychology courses participated in the study. Participants completed a short demographic questionnaire, read one of four scenarios, and completed the Attitudes and Helping Behavior Scale (AHBS) designed to measure the participantsÆ emotional responses, attributions, and willingness to help the target subject. Present research involved a 2 (sex of subject) x 4 (scenarios) independent groups factorial. Independent ANOVAS were performed to interpret the significance of the main and …

Ontology-Driven Geographic Information Systems, Frederico Torres Fonseca

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Information integration is the combination of different types of information in a framework so that it can be queried, retrieved, and manipulated. Integration of geographic data has gained in importance because of the new possibilities arising from the interconnected world and the increasing availability of geographic information. Many times the need for information is so pressing that it does not matter if some details are lost, as long as integration is achieved. To integrate information across computerized information systems it is necessary first to have explicit formalizations of the mental concepts that people have about the real world. Furthermore, these …

Strategies For Handling Spatial Uncertainty Due To Discretization, Thomas Windholz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Geographic information systems (GISs) allow users to analyze geographic phenomena within areas of interest that lead to an understanding of their relationships and thus provide a helpful tool in decision-making. Neglecting the inherent uncertainties in spatial representations may result in undesired misinterpretations. There are several sources of uncertainty contributing to the quality of spatial data within a GIS: imperfections (e.g., inaccuracy and imprecision) and effects of discretization. An example for discretization in the thematic domain is the chosen number of classes to represent a spatial phenomenon (e.g., air temperature). In order to improve the utility of a GIS an inclusion …

Gender Differences In Coping With Chronic Illness., Madhu Karnad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. Therefore, it is important to discover adaptive life-maintaining characteristics in high risk populations. Many patients with life-threatning illnesses have frequent suicidal thoughts. The difference in reasons for living between men and women with and without chronic illness was investigated. The suicide ideation was determined by ratings on a 48 item Reasons for Living questionnaire. Degree of chronocity of illness and illnes related issues were determined by a demographic questionnaire. Results showed that men commit suicide at a higher rate than women. Results of ANOVA'S indicated that individuals with …

Attitudes Toward Violence And Reasons For Living In Adolescents With High, Moderate, And Low Self-Esteem., Rhonda Marie Blevins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes toward violence and reasons for living in adolescents with high, moderate, and low self-esteem. An attitudes toward violence scale was devised for the purposes of this study. Self-Esteem was assessed using the shortened version of Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (SES). The Brief Reasons for Living in Adolescents (BRFL-A) was utilized to assess adaptive characteristics. The independent variables were gender and self-esteem. The dependent variables were total reasons for living score and attitudes toward violence score.

Participants included 138 males and 95 females, ages 11 to 15 years old (M = 13.3) from …

Black Folk Medicine In Southern Appalachia., Steve Crowder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is an exploration of existing informal health care beliefs and practices of blacks in Southern Appalachia and how they compare with the majority white population. How regional black folk belief systems compare to those documented in other parts of the country is also examined. Thirty-five blacks selected opportunistically were interviewed with a structural questionnaire. Topics addressed during the interviews included: illnesses from childhood, adulthood, and old age; folk illnesses; ideas on religiosity in healing and healthcare, and views on folk medicine in light of biomedicine.

The collected data suggest that black folk medicine in the study region is …

Academic Stress And Father Involvement Among University Student Fathers, Brian Masciadrelli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship of school-related stress with the degree and type of involvement fathers have with their children under age 12 while enrolled as a student at the university level. Thirty-eight fathers responded to self-administered surveys measuring the degree of academic stress they experience and the frequency of involvement with their children in terms of direct interaction with child, accessibility to child, and responsibility assumed for child. The degree of psychological presence of the child to the father and marital satisfaction were also measured. Hypothesis 1 stated that student fathers experiencing high academic stress will have low father …

"The Little City In Itself": Middle-Class Aspirations In Bangor, Maine, 1880-1920, Sara K. Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the inception and growth of "the Little City in Itself," a residential neighborhood in Bangor, Maine, as a case study of middle-class suburbanization and domestic life in small cities around the turn of the twentieth century. The development of Little City is the story of builders' and residents' efforts to shape a middle-class neighborhood in a small American city, a place distinct from the crowded downtown neighborhoods of immigrants and the elegant mansions of the wealthy. The purpose of this study is to explore builders' response to the aspirations of the neighborhood's residents for home and neighborhood …

Fishing The Borderlands: Government Policy And Fishermen On The North Atlantic, Brian J. Payne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The North Atlantic's nineteenth-century fishing industry covered a vast geographic and socioeconomic unit. It extended from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Atlantic Ocean, around the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, and south to the George's Banks off the coast of Massachusetts. Those who participated in the industry, both merchants and workers, operated within a global economy. Markets for fish products were not always domestic; in fact the majority of fish caught was shipped to foreign markets in the Mediterranean and the West Indies. The capital that was invested in the industry came from London, Halifax, Boston, and other economic …

Selling America: The Boy Scouts Of America In The Progressive Era, 1910-1921, John Phillips

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Created in 1910 during the Progressive Era the Boy Scouts of America was a civic reform, middle-class, professional organization intent on building the characters of America's juvenile boys, believing that America's transformation from a rural and small town culture to an ban society had removed some of the traditional character building opportunities from the boy's normal daily routine. The BSA was mass-oriented and commercial in nature, utilizing a sophisticated advertising program through which it sold itself as the nation's premiere patriotic character building organization and communicated a nationalistic political mythology. The BSA's emphasis on advertising, not just as a method …

Late Maritime Woodland (Ceramic) And Paleoindian End Scrapers: Stone Tool Technology, Pamela J. Dickinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Archaeologists tend to view lithic assemblages from a predominately morphological perspective, stressing the importance of the fluted point as the defining characteristic of the Paleoindian culture period (ca. 10,000 years B.P.). In applying such a characteristic, Paleoindian sites have been identified throughout the Northeast. However, there are no identified Paleoindian sites in New Brunswick. It is possible that some sites are largely ignored or thought to lack a Paleoindian component if a fluted point is absent. If such sites are being overlooked, then the database may under represent the Paleoindian culture period. Spurred end scrapers commonly occur in known Paleoindian …

Attachment Style, Trust, And Exchange Orientation: A Mediational Model, Minzette Peterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trust has been related to both attachment theory and exchange orientation. However, the research has not yet addressed whether or not attachment styles are related to exchange orientation, and if they are related, in what way. Attachment theory is divided into two concepts: view of self and view of others. This research was' designed to test whether trust was a mediating variable between view of others and exchange orientation. The measurements were distributed to college students at The University of Maine including the Adult Style Questionnaire, The Trust Scale, and The Revised Exchange Orientation Scale. In all, 94 students returned …

Lithic Analysis Of Chipped Stone Artifacts Recovered From Quebrada Jaguay, Peru, Benjamin R. Tanner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Quebrada Jaguay, a Terminal Pleistocene to Early Holocene archaeological site in Southern Peru, is recognized as one of the few sites in the Americas that features evidence of a Paleoindian maritime adaptation. Faunal remains from this multicomponent shell midden include shellfish, fish, crustaceans, and shorebirds. Lithic remains recovered from the site over the course of two field seasons (1996 and 1999) provide information about the technology of the site's inhabitants and afford comparisons with other contemporary sites. These lithic materials provide answers to questions dealing with lithic procurement and production strategies and questions about relationships with other groups along the …

Maine Hospice Volunteers: A Study Of Motivations, Death Awareness And Religious Beliefs, Anne F. Donovan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Volunteers are an essential part of the hospice movement, which is designed to provide services to the terminally ill, their families, and friends, in a manner that allows death to be as dignified and peaceful as possible. Motivations for volunteering, attitudes about death and dying, and demographic characteristics were assessed in this survey study of Maine hospice volunteers (573 females, 128 males). The extent to which religious and spiritual beliefs were associated with volunteers’ ability to cope with the many aspects of death and dying that they confront were also examined. Based on responses to a standardized instrument, the Collett-Lester …