Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Sociological Study Of Atheism And Naturalism As Minority Identities In Appalachia., Kelly E. Church-Hearl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aims to provide a sociological understanding of people who hold minority beliefs about spirituality and religion and to improve our sociological and social-psychological understanding of a-religious and alternatively religious people. Data were collected through indepth interviews with 10 atheist and 11 naturalist respondents. The study examines the religious histories of the respondents, how they left mainstream religion, how they adopted a minority identity with regard to religion/spirituality, and their personal experiences living in a predominately Christian area. I hypothesized that atheists and naturalists would hold minority identities and feel subordinated or oppressed by the dominant group: Christians. …

Work-Family Conflict And Performance Evaluations: Who Gets A Break?, Kara Hickson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Forty percent of employed parents report that they experience work-family conflict (Galinsky, Bond, & Friedman, 1993). Work-family conflict (WFC) exists when role pressures from the work and family domains are mutually incompatible. WFC is associated with decreases in family, job, and life satisfaction and physical health; intention to quit one's job; and increases in workplace absenteeism. Women may be more impacted by WFC than men, as women report completing 65-80% of the child care (Sayer, 2001) and spend 80 hours per week fulfilling work and home responsibilities (Cowan, 1983). Research suggests that WFC can be reduced with social support, such …

Realities Of A Just Future For The Mayan Community In The Guatemalan State : The Implications Of Historically Discriminatory Rule Of Law And The Possiblity For A Pluri-Ethnic Nation Through Transitional Justice And Customary Law Reformation, Lauren Trinka

Senior Honors Projects, 2000-2009

Abstract not available

An Examination Of The Relationships Among Perceived Gender Discrimination, Work Motivation, And Performance, Jessica M. Cornejo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gender discrimination and work motivation are two important constructs for employers to consider. Changing workforce trends towards a more diverse workforce make understanding discrimination in the workplace more important than ever. And, established direct relationships between motivation and performance make understanding motivation key to organizational success. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among perceived gender discrimination at work, work motivation, and performance. Although much theory and research exists regarding motivation and performance, this study uses a new measure of motivation based on the Pritchard and Ashwood (2007) theory of work motivation. It was hypothesized that perceived …

Variables That Influence The Quantity Of In-Home Services For Children, Adrienne A. Bean

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

There are many reasons in-home services are being implemented and having success with young children. Part of this success may be due to the practitioners’ access to the family and home environment. Previous studies have addressed the quality of these services; however, few studies examine how the quantity of services is dispersed and/or how quantity of services is related to various characteristics of, or surrounding, the child. This dissertation attempts to examine factors that may influence the amount of time practitioners are willing to spend in homes when children have comparable concerns or delays. Parental qualities, environmental conditions, and other …

Politics And The Glass Ceiling In American Law Enforcement: Why Not More Women Chiefs Of Police?, Madeline G. Meistrich Edd

Dissertations

Law enforcement is one of the last male-dominated occupations. Out of 18,000 police departments in the United States, only 200 to 250 have women chiefs. Such under-representation reflects the "glass ceiling" effect of a gender-based metaphorical barrier that prevents women from rising to the top of an organization, regardless of qualifications. The research examined three questions: what are the issues and problems articulated by women officers attempting to move upwards; what strategies were employed as they attempted to advance; and what strategies could help other women reach the top? Nine female primary participants in law enforcement leadership were interviewed, as …

Discrimination Across The Sectors: A Comparison Of Discrimination Trends In Private And Public Organizations, Megan K. Leasher

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Differences and similarities between public and private sector organizations have been hypothesized and researched for several decades (Murray, 1975). This study investigated the differences in claims of employment discrimination reported for employees within the private and public sectors. A longitudinal database of statewide discrimination claims was analyzed to determine if differences in employment discrimination patterns or levels exist between the sectors. Theoretical and practical implications are presented in addition to propositions for future research.

Premium Risk And Healthcare Policy, Matthew Coffina

Honors Papers

In this paper, I analyze four alternative policies that address "premium risk": the risk that health insurance premiums will increase if an individual acquires a chronic condition. They are: premium risk insurance, community rating, anti-discrimination laws for large firms, and government subsidies. I show that community rating and anti-discrimination laws provide incomplete protection, and have the potential to create welfare-reducing distortions in incentives, while subsidies can be designed that mimic the efficiency of premium risk insurance. While the economic concepts behind these conclusions are well-documented and well-understood, I believe my own model adds value in the form of simplicity and …

Making The Grade: Academic Achievement Among Latino Adolescents, Cathy Roche

Psychology Theses

Academic achievement among Latino adolescents was examined to determine what contextual factors contribute to school success. ANCOVA analyses indicated that lower levels of perceived discrimination and a higher sense of school belonging were associated with better grades. Neighborhood social capital was not associated with school grades. More adaptation stress was associated with lower grades for US-reared students, but it was not associated with grades for more recent Latino immigrants. The findings suggest that discrimination, school belonging, and adaptation stress play an important role in academic achievement among Latino youth. They also suggest that immigrants may be more academically resilient than …

10x The Talent = 1/3 Of The Credit: How Female Musicians Are Treated Differently In Music, Meggan Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This is an exploratory, qualitative study of female musicians and their experiences with discrimination in the music industry. Using semi-structured interviews, I analyze the experiences of nine women, ages 21 to 56, who are working as professional musicians, or who have worked professionally in the past. I ask them how they are treated differently based on their gender. Three forms of subtle discrimination are inferred from their narrative histories. First, female musicians are mistaken for non-musicians. They are encapsulated into inferior roles, like "the gimmick," "good for a girl," and "invisible accessory." Second, band mates and band managers control women's …

Registered Nurses' Attitudes Toward The Protection Of Gays And Lesbians In The Workplace: An Examination Of Homophobia And Discriminatory Beliefs, Christopher Wright Blackwell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Discrimination and inequality encountered by gays and lesbians in the United States is profuse. A cornerstone of the gay rights movement, equality in the workplace has been a pivotal struggle for gays and lesbians. This study examined the attitudes and opinions of registered nurses (RNs) regarding homosexuals in general and the protection of homosexuals in the workplace through a nondiscrimination policy. The author measured overall homophobic and discriminatory beliefs of the sample using the Attitudes Toward Lesbian and Gay Men (ATLG) Scale; the demographic questionnaire was infused with questions regarding a protective workplace policy. Using T-tests, one-way analysis of variance …

Does The Type Of Legal Representation Affect Sentencing Outcomes?, Lawren Elaine Hill

Honors Papers

This paper examines the potential differences in sentencing outcomes for public defenders compared with private attorneys. I explore the economic literature for explanations, implications, and results. There is a need for extensive research within the field of economics to provide empirical results to offset the mostly game-theoretically dominated discussion of the criminal justice system. The results are inconclusive due to a lack of statistical significance and potential selection bias in the data. Future research relating to this study is also discussed.

Under The Influence: Adolescent Girls' Compliance In Competitive Softball., Cory Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how and why young female athletes participate in the competitive organized sport of softball. Based on participant observation and interviews with coaches and players of Team Z, this study examines how parents and coaches influence females to participate in athletics through incentives and punishments. This thesis also examines the cultural assumptions about work that organized sports introduce to female athletes. Furthermore, the study discusses how parents and competitive sports organizations perpetuate the existence of male domination in sports and in society more generally.

Institutionalized Discrimination And Sectarianism In Northern Ireland, Darlene E. Hall

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research and subsequent thesis is to explore the issue of institutionalized discrimination, sectarian and political harassment, and victimization in the North of Ireland.

Understanding the situation in the North of Ireland will contribute to an understanding of how minority groups experience oppression and domination from the power elite groups. Extralegal, improper, or unwarranted force by police and security force members receives special attention. Conflict theorists such as Bailey (1996), Skolnick and Fyfe (1993), Quinney (1970) and Chambliss (1994) are reviewed regarding the misuse of force by police. A review of literature reveals that discrimination and sectarian …

The Influence Of Extra-Legal Factors On The Sentencing Of Drug Offenders In A Determinant Sentencing State, Ramonsa D. White

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate how extralegal factors such as race, gender, and age influence judicial sentencing decisions. This research utilizes data collected by the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission for the fiscal years of July 1989 to July 1992. For the purpose o~ this study, only data specifically relating to drug convictions were analyzed.

Multivariate analyses were conducted to see if extralegal factors were significantly related to sentence length, whether or not offenders receive a prison sanction, and whether or not offenders receive the first time offender waiver. Analysis was done using both legal and extra-legal …

Latin American Immigrants' Perceptions Of Discrimination And Acquisition Of English As A Second Language As A Result Of Using A Community Social Support Center, Holly Mcfarland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The associations between Latin American immigrants' use of a community social support center and perceived discrimination and language acquisition were investigated. All variables were measured by respondents' self-reports on a questionnaire designed to obtain demographic data as well as describe the needs of the Latin American community in rural Northern Utah. Chi-square analyses indicated a statistically significant association between use of the center and acquisition of English as a second language. No relationship was found between use of the center and perceived discrimination. The results of this study provide valuable demographic data as well as describe some of the experiences …

Voices Against Discrimination And Exclusion: Latino School Leaders' Narratives For Change, Jaime J. Romo Edd

Dissertations

Many scholars, practitioners, and policy makers know very little about individual Latino administrators' cultural and professional experiences, responses to discrimination, and patterns or institutional conditions which relate to K-12 ethnic minority administrators' success. Moreover, many are also unaware that as ethnic diversity increases, the relative proportion of minority administrators, many of whom could be role models, shrinks. Once we can recognize this as seeds for inequity in society, we might be able to consider the ways in which our educational institution reinforces or counters societal inequities. By specifically exploring Latino administrators' experiences, because of the large Latino California presence, we …

African-American Males' Perception Of Law Enforcement: A Psychophysiological Perspective, Adolph Brown Iii

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study compared the psychophysiological reactivity of African American and European American males to authority. Nineteen African American males and 23 European American males were randomly assigned to either be interrogated by a police officer, or see a police officer interrogate that experimenter or view a videotape of police activity. Participants' physiological reactivity, acceptance of authority, fear of negative evaluation or social anxiety, and apprehension and anxiety in stressful situations as well as EMG, SCR, heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure were measured. African American males were hypothesized to show greater physiological response than European American males and participants who …

Hispanic Women's Views On Affirmative Action: Self-Interest, Fairness, Socio-Political Orientation, Past Discrimination, And Acculturation, Isabel Vargas-Machuca

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

From Discrimination: A Journey To Justice And Understanding, John J. Hamill

Theses

There have been milestones toward understanding in the Civil Rights journey . Do these milestones reflect an advance in understanding and respect, or have fears, ignorances, and outright bigotry forged a wall against acceptance of the Afro-American into mainstream America?

An area in the Northeast County of St. Louis, Missouri was selected for this study as it encompassed 1036 residential homes . The area integrated starting about 1978. From surveys conducted by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of this subdivision, in 1991 and 1992, it was determined that 63'l. of the families now are Afro-American, 37% are Caucasian …

Experience Of Stigmatization And Discrimination Of Former Psychiatric Inpatients, Amy Rappaport

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

In our culture as well as other cultures, there are social norms that are prescribed and expected to be followed. If an individual does not act in accordance with these social norms, there are often consequences. In Edgerton's (1971) article, "Anthropology, Psychiatry, and Man's Nature," he states, "Sometimes, of course, the sanctions against deviant behavior are supernatural, consisting of immediate and horrible punishment by gods, spirits, ancestors or the like" (p. 45). In present day culture in the United States, the researcher contends that there are both traditional and modern belief systems that serve to ostracize the stigmatized deviant.

Multiple-Stimulus Discrimination And Stimulus Overselectivity With Preschool Children, Maria C. Quintero

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Stimulus overselectivity is said to occur when behavior is under the control of a restricted set of stimuli from a stimulus complex. Three studies investigated the effects of specific multiple-stimulus training histories upon the overselective responding of normal preschool children.

In Experiment 1, eight children 3 to 5 years of age, were trained to discriminate forms presented on cards. Each form was labelled with a nonsense syllable, and each card (multiple stimulus) consisted of two forms. A time-delay training procedure was used. Four subjects were trained using Concurrent training in which two of the three S- response choices contained components …

Differential Effects Of Low-Frequency Filtering Of Speech On The Discriminatory Facility Of Sensorineural Hypacusis, David Jenkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A long-standing controversy concerning the pros and cons of selective amplification for the sensorineural hypacusic has been and is now being waged. There exists clinical evidence to the effect that some cases with high -frequency sensorineural hearing loss can receive benefit through selective amplification.

The purpose of this study was to examine several aspects of the speech signal that could be affecting intelligibility when speech is presented at high -intensity levels.

The Role Of Personal Experiences In The Formulation Of Social Attitudes Of Liberalism And Conservatism, Harry J. Older

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to discover if the following hypothesis, which was set up on the basis of clinical experience, is true. The social attitudes of an individual are as much the product of local personal incidents as of the bias of the education and training of that individual.

The Attitude Of The American People Toward War As Expressed In "The Saturday Evening Post" And "Atlantic Monthly" Magazines During The Years 1938 And 1939, Marion Franklin Coulson

Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this study to discover the attitude of the American people (including various classes from the common laborer to the President) toward war as expressed in a limited body of current literature. The materials concerning war published in the Saturday Evening Post and the Atlantic Monthly magazines during the years 1938 and 1939 have been chosen for this purpose.