Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Outside Income On Household Behavior: The Case Of Remittances In Jamaica, Andrew V. Stephenson

Economics Dissertations

Remittances significantly affect recipient households’ behavior. Using data from the Jamaican Survey of Living Conditions and the Jamaican Labor Force Survey ( 2001-2007), this dissertation explores the effects of remittances on labor market participation and household expenditures. Jamaica’s proximity to the United States and its diaspora of educated individuals shapes an economy largely dependent on remittances, thus providing an interesting case study.

First, we investigate whether remittances alter labor market behavior of married women in remittance-receiving households located in Jamaica. Remittances, the wife’s education, and wages are all treated as endogenous when estimating labor market participation and hours worked. Unlike …

Coming Out Narratives: Realities Of Intersectionality, Marni A. Brown

Sociology Dissertations

Coming out of the closet and sharing a disclosure narrative is considered an essential act to becoming gay (Jagose 1996; Meeks 2006). Although coming out experiences vary by time and place, sexuality scholars note the assumed difficulties when claiming a non-heteronormative identity, including stress, isolation, and rejection (Chauncey 1994; Faderman 1991; Herdt 1993; 1996; Savin-Williams and Ream 2003). In the late 1990s, a post-closet framework emerged arguing that coming out of the closet has become more common and less difficult; “American homosexuals have normalized and routinized their homosexuality to a degree where the closet plays a lesser role in their …

The Effect Of State Capacity On Democratic Transition And The Survival Of New Democracies, Daniel W. Kuthy

Political Science Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the effect of state capacity on the probability for democratic transition and the survival of democracies. I seek to answer these quesitons through the use of both quantitative and qualitative analysis. In my statistical models, I make use of Cox Proportional Hazard Models. These are supplemented by two case studies involving South Korea and the Philippines. My expectation, which is supported by the results presented in this study, is that higher levels of state capacity will make authoritarian regimes more stable and thus make democratic transitions less likely, but if democratic transitions take place, higher levels of …

Paradox Lost: Explaining Cross-National Variation In Case Volume At The European Court Of Human Rights, Veronica S. Armendariz

Political Science Theses

Existing research on states and human rights focuses primarily on international treaty ratification, post-treaty rating systems, and ad hoc reports on adherence in individual countries. Additionally, the literature is characterized by disproportionate attention to certain rights to the neglect of others, thereby painting an incomplete and potentially inaccurate picture of a state’s practice and implementation of human rights. Consequently, the extant literature too frequently disregards key domestic and international factors as determinants of cross-national variation in the implementation and protection of human rights, and it instead generates paradoxical claims about human rights and state behavior. With Europe as its empirical …

The Relationship Between Stress, Cortisol Reactivity And Memory Performance In Younger And Older Adults, Jessica L. Pruitt

Gerontology Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine age differences in cortisol reactivity and memory performance in younger and older adults exposed to cognitive stressors. The current study utilized data from the Anxiety, Memory, and Control study (ACME) conducted at Brandeis University. Stress was measured using a subjective assessment of anxiety and cortisol was measured using a saliva sample. Memory performance was measured using both declarative and working memory tasks. The final sample consisted of 28 younger adults (M = 19.8 years, SD = 1.5) and 29 older adults (M = 71.2 years, SD = 6.6). There were …

Fraudulent Elections, Political Protests, And Regime Transitions, Alla Manukyan

Political Science Dissertations

This research studies protests after fraudulent elections in a collective action framework, examining the impact of the potential cost, benefit and likelihood of success of protest on the occurrence and intensity of protests. Quantitative analysis of fraudulent elections in about 100 countries from 1990 to 2004 shows that the odds of protest after fraudulent elections are greater when the level of state repression is moderate with a possible backlash effect of high repression, when the opposition is united, and when international monitors denounce election results. The analysis only partially supports the benefit of protest argument. Also, the research uses case …

An Exploration Of Pathological Gambling Among Diverse Populations, Ayana N. Perkins

Psychology Dissertations

This study used an ecological perspective to identify pathological gambling (PG) risk and protective factors, nonclinical resources, and prevention strategies based on the perceptions of Georgia stakeholders. With an ecological perspective, human behavior is perceived as an outcome of the interaction between the individual and various factors in their social environment. The ecological perspective is especially suitable for examining the higher PG prevalence among ethnic minority groups since these populations have been documented as encountering greater exposure to PG social and environmental risk factors (Smedley & Syme, 2000). To assess prevention needs, data were obtained from a 2008 needs assessment …

The Development And Lived Experience Of African Centered Identity: A Qualitative Investigation, Obari Cartman

Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore cultural identity within African Americans. The primary construct of interest is African centered identity, which is comprised of two parts: 1) cultural values with origins in African cultures that have been unintentionally retained, and 2) a social and political ideology that intentionally incorporates elements of an African worldview. This study utilizes qualitative research methodology to investigate the lived experience of African centered identity, and incorporates a developmental perspective.

Semi-structured interviews of 14 adults are analyzed using a grounded theory approach. The results reveal many themes in the participants’ lived experience of their …

The Development Of Sense Of Agency, Shaun D. Duggins

Psychology Theses

Agency, a behavioral and psychological concept, is an individual’s sense of what they can do and what they think they can do. It is imperative to understand how a sense of agency in youths can be fostered and transformed into constructive action. This study builds on previous research to better identify predictors of agency, focusing on social and political involvement and opportunity structure. Additionally, it analyzes and proposes the use of a new measure of agency, the Community Leadership (CL) scale. Eighty-five teens (ages 13 to 18) were administered surveys. Involvement was found to be significantly related to agency. It …

Paths To Peacebuilding: Amnesty And The Niger Delta Violence, Benjamin A. Okonofua

Sociology Dissertations

This mixed-method analysis of three Nigerian states explores the ways in which a major policy shift has produced short-term peace outcomes in a vastly contested terrain entailing conflicting interests. The central argument of "Paths to Peacebuilding," is that disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration can create peace in resource-conflicted societies when there is governmental will and community and citizen involvement in both the design and implementation of the program. The overriding concern was whether the DDR process was capable of contributing to tangible improvements in real and perceived safety on the ground as well as destroying the structures that both contributed to …

Whole-Rock Lead-Lead Systematics And Major Element Analyses On The 1.85 Ga. Flin Flon Paleosol, Manitoba, Canada: Implications For Uranium Mobility., Federico Arturo Valencia

Geosciences Theses

The 1.85 Ga Flin Flon paleosol located in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada, is studied with the purpose of determining the timing and geochemical trend of uranium migration. Radiometric minimum ages of sediments and paleosols indicates the presence of a post-depositional event, these ages are bracketed by the Trans-Hudson orogeny event (2155–1750 Ma) which resulted in the alteration of κ(Th/U) and µ(U/Pb) ratios by exposing volcanics to the atmosphere and instigating the mobilization of U. The profile shows that the Missi sediments lost Uby 84% average relative to corrected average upper crust value. The upper paleosol gained U by 11% and …

Online Gaming And Teamwork, Lakshmi Jagad Ms.

Communication Theses

This thesis aims to find out the relationship, if any, between playing multi-player online games and developing teamwork qualities. Online multi-player games involve thousands of players who play in teams (or solo, as the preference may be) in sophisticated gaming environments. As gamers team together to complete missions within the game, teamwork concepts such as communication skills, leadership, coordination, negotiation and other similar qualities come to the fore. The research component of this thesis consists of a survey where respondents answered questions about their online gaming behavior. They also answered questions about their experience working in teams in the offline …

Men Feel It Too: An Examination Of Body Image And Disordered Eating Among Older Males, Amber S. Meadows

Gerontology Theses

This quantitative study examined body image and disordered eating in older males. Using a series of questionnaires and demographic questions, two research questions were explored: a) What are the characteristics of older males in terms of eating and body image? and b) Are disordered eating behaviors among older males related to dissatisfaction with body image, specifically physical appearance or physical functioning? Paired samples t-tests revealed that older males rated their ideal body figure as significantly smaller than their current figure, t(35) = -5.53, p < .01, which indicates the presence of body dissatisfaction. Twenty percent of participants were found to be at risk for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Furthermore, a correlation was found between disordered eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction particularly as it relates to physical appearance, (r(33) = -.486, p < .01).

A Geochemical Analysis: Application Of A Chelating Agent On Potential Asr Reactive Aggregates, Jennifer N. Garcia

Geosciences Theses

Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) is a deleterious, expansive reaction in concrete. Several ASTM methods test potential aggregates for ASR risk. One method uses NaOH digestion, followed by spectroscopic methods, to estimate the amount of reactive silica present in an aggregate. NaOH, however, can digest both crystalline (i.e. quartz) and non-crystalline (e.g. opal), or poorly crystalline silica, potentially yielding falsely high estimates of reactive silica. Studies in soil and plant sciences have used Tiron, an alkaline chelating agent (C₆H₄S₂O₈Na₂), as a method of digesting opaline silica for spectroscopic analysis. Here we …

After-School Programs: Do Parents Matter?, Michelle A. Dimeo

Psychology Dissertations

Previous research suggests that parents can benefit from youth participation in after-school programs. However, little research has explored parent involvement in after-school programs as an important program characteristic leading to youth development. Bioecological Systems Theory suggests that individuals are influenced by the interactions of others within their environment. Building from this theory, it was posited that parent benefits resulting from involvement in after-school programs can facilitate positive youth development. Surveys were completed by 117 parents whose daughters participated in the Cool Girls, Inc. after-school program, a program serving primarily low-income, African American, urban youth. Using Exploratory Factor Analysis, a three …

Hov To The Md? A Multilevel Analysis Of Urban Sprawl And The Risk For Negative Health Outcomes, William Mark Sweatman Ph.D.

Sociology Dissertations

Urban sprawl often has a negative connotation, used as a derogatory label for certain forms and consequences of land development that are seen as environmentally and socially unpleasant. Although sprawl may be seen as offensive, there may be other, far greater and more harmful consequences of sprawl. The literature indicates that rates of negative health outcomes, such as obesity, tend to be higher in more developed areas. However, aside from a few studies, little empirical research looks specifically at the influence of sprawl when it comes to individual health. This research project focuses on sprawl and examines the relationships it …

Identification Is Persuasion: Eisenhower’S Call For Unity And The Founding Of Nato’S Military Headquarters, Debra N. Fossum

Communication Theses

Historians of the founding years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) acknowledge General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s role as the first Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), yet they ignore the effect Eisenhower’s rhetoric had in the creation of a sense of unity among Western European nations. Rhetorical analysis of Eisenhower’s time as SACEUR offers scholars a unique look into the founding years of NATO and the beginning of European unification. Using Kenneth Burke’s theory of the four master tropes, I analyze how Eisenhower’s role in the development of NATO was important to the eventual development of a unified Europe.

Assessment On The Go: Surveying Students With An Ipad, Jennifer Link Jones, Bryan Sinclair

University Library Faculty Publications

Ongoing assessment in academic libraries, particularly the measurement of student perceptions, preferences, and satisfaction, can be a challenge to schedule and execute. This paper describes a pilot project at Georgia State University Library that combined assessment with the portability of the tablet computer. A tablet computer--in this case, Apple’s iPad--loaded with survey software became a digital clipboard with the added benefit of automatic data compilation. Subjects were surveyed quickly in the library buildings, maximizing convenience for both subjects and researchers alike. The result was a model that other libraries, as well as campus student services divisions and classroom instructors, can …

Moving Around Town In Downtown: Gsu’S Earliest Locations (1914-1955), Laurel Bowen

Selections from the University Library Blog

No abstract provided.

Make Googling Yourself More Fun, Georgia State University Library

ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Documents and Forms

Promotional Flyer for the Georgia State University Institutional Repository.

Digital Archive Trifold Brochure, Georgia State University Library

ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Documents and Forms

A promotional brochure outlining the benefits of the Georgia State University institutional repository.

The Impact Of Local Source Sediments On Bed Texture In The Fall River, Rocky Mountain National Park, Usa, Jordan A. Clayton, Kristopher N. Eby

Geosciences Faculty Publications

The bed texture of a gravel-bed river is related to the size distribution and quantity of source sediments, the routing of sediment through the reach, and the distribution of flow velocity. A reach morphology that is consistent in depth with little lateral topographic variation will typically have a bed texture that is characterized by a fairly uniform grain size distribution. However, spatial variations in source sediments within a given watershed may impact the distribution of gravel-bed river sediments, even at the reach scale, such that two proximal reaches of the same river having the same general morphology can exhibit contrasting …

Hiv In South African Youth: Relations With Parenting Quality And Executive Functioning, Christina H. Salama

Psychology Theses

Black South Africans account for a majority of HIV cases in South Africa, highlighting the need for greater understanding of risks specific to this group. Within the HIV prevention and risk literature, little information exists regarding the familial and neuropsychological contributions to HIV risk in youth. The current study addressed this gap. In a group of black South African parent-child dyads, the researchers investigated the independent and interactive contributions of parenting quality and executive functioning in the prediction of HIV risk. Child report of relationship quality was negatively associated with risky sexual attitudes and externalizing behaviors. Parent report of parental …

Provost's Open Access Week Letter, Risa Palm

ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Documents and Forms

Letter from Provost Palm encouraging participation in Open Access Week 2011 activities.

Jane (Journal/Author Name Estimator), Sharon L. Leslie

University Library Faculty Publications

Acceptance of a manuscript is a relief but often depends on submission to the appropriate journal. Jane is a Web-based resource to assess novelty or repetition of subject matter in MEDLINE. Researchers and scientists can use this Web site to help determine the best journal to approach for publishing a manuscript, discover who has done similar research in a specific field, and search for articles with related topics.

Syllabus - "Information - Power To The People" (Georgia State University, Honors Freshman Seminar), Mandy J. Swygart-Hobaugh M.L.S., Ph.D.

University Library Faculty Publications

Guided by this notion and the sociological frameworks of “critical theory” and “social justice,” we addressed specific situations in which access to, control of, and use of information is unequal, impeded, manipulated, and/or abused and thus can result in people’s disempowerment. We also explored efforts aimed at empowering those within these situations.

The Briefing, Fall-Winter 2011, Andrew Young School Of Policy Studies

The Briefing at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Voters In The 2000 Us Presidential Election, Gregory B. Lewis, Marc A. Rogers, Kenneth Sherrill

PMAP Publications

Lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGBs) in the United States are strikingly more likely to vote for Democratic presidential candidates than are heterosexuals. LGBs are one of the Democratic Party’s most loyal voting blocs, despite the absence of one of the most important mechanisms for creating party identification: inter-generational transmission. We use the 2000 Presidential election to examine whether LGB voters overwhelmingly chose Al Gore because they viewed him as superior to George W. Bush on LGB-related policy issues or because of their greater overall liberalism and Democratic Party identification. We also examine the impact of socialization within the LGB …

Fall Semester 2 - 2011, Stall Times

University Library Stall Times

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of Etds As Prior Publications: Findings From The 2011 Ndltd Publishers’ Survey, Gail Mcmillan, Marisa L. Ramirez, Joan Dalton, Max Read, Nancy H. Seamans

University Library Faculty Publications

Do publishers and editors of scholarly journals view theses and dissertations that are readily available on the Internet and through convenient Web browsers as prior publications? This has been a topic of discussion for well over a decade in the ETD community, not only of concern to graduate schools and libraries but also among research faculty and their graduate students. At the same time that a growing number of universities worldwide are requiring ETDs and making the research and scholarship of their graduate students publicly available, many faculty advise their students to restrict online access to their theses and dissertations …