Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Land Is Life: A Policy Advocacy Case Study Of The Northern Thailand Land Reform Movement, Jason Lubanski

Capstone Collection

This case study provides an in-depth examination of the work of the Thailand Northern Land Reform Movement using the framework of Jeff Unsicker's "Policy Advocacy Circles". Due to increasing population pressures, the liberalization of land markets, and agribusiness pressures, Thailand has experienced an increase in land ownership inequality and a growing number of landless and nearly landless small-scale farmers. In order to address this situation, agricultural communities have joined together at local and national levels to fight for the legislation of land reform policies, including Community Land Titles, progressive land taxes, and a National Land Bank to assist with land …

Effects Of Leadership And Trauma On Grassroots Community Development In Post-Conflict/Genocide Societies: A Rwandan Case Study, Bryna C. Ramsey

Capstone Collection

This research paper is an analysis of a grassroots, agricultural project carried out from 2010 to 2011 in Gitarama Cell, a rural community in Rwanda, East Africa, during my United States Peace Corps Volunteer service (2009-2011). The project began as the Twizere Agriculture Club at Gitarama Primary School. The goal of the club was to increase food security among community members through rabbit and chicken husbandry, and the study of such agriculture techniques as composting, double digging, and the establishment of microgardens.

Despite the acknowledged need for this club, the Twizere Agriculture Club project met multiple constraints that affected its …

When Black Meets White In The Heart Of Worship: A Case-Study Of Musical Changes In A Multiracial Church, Serge Volpe

Masters Theses

The Worldwide Church of God began as a denomination relying on certain Jewish practices and other Euro-centric distinctions to define its' identity. In the New York City area, African-American churchgoers exceeded that of whites; yet church liturgy retained its European-American flavor. When the denomination underwent transformation in the 1990s, many congregants were unable to accept changes, including new musical styles, and reacted in a manner inconsistent with what church leaders had hoped for. This thesis examines what some African-Americans experienced during this period when liturgy changed to include music representative of their culture. Interviews were conducted with African-American churchgoers from …

The Role Of Case Complexity In Judicial Decision Making., Laura P. Moyer

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The literature on ideology and decision making offers conflicting expectations about how judges’ ideology should affect their votes in cases that raise many legal issues. Using cases from the U.S. Courts of Appeals, I examine the strength of ideology as a predictor of sincere voting in single and multi-issue cases and test whether the same effect for ideology can be seen for liberal and conservative judges. For all judges, ideology yields a larger effect as the number of issues increases; however, conservative judges are much more likely than liberal judges to cast sincere votes at all levels of complexity.

Risk And Marketing Behavior: Pricing Fed Cattle On A Grid, Scott Fausti, Zhiguang Wang, Beshir Qasmi, Matthew A. Diersen

Economics Staff Paper Series (1969 - 2017)

A seven year comparative study of grid pricing versus average pricing of slaughter cattle was conducted to evaluate carcass quality market signals. The primary objective of the study is to determine if market signals sent through the grid pricing system are encouraging producers to market on a grid and discouraging them to market by the pen. Two secondary objectives investigate: 1) if price risk associated with carcass quality uncertainty affects marketing decisions, and 2) if a change in price risk (volatility) affects producer marketing decisions. An EARCH-ln-Mean modeling procedure was adopted. Empirical results suggest that the grid premium and discount …

Review Of Turning Points: A Memoir. By George A. "Bud" Sinner And Bob Jansen. Foreword By Clay S. Jenkinson, Stephen W. King

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

Turning Points focuses on the political career of George Sinner from the 1960s to his two terms as a Democratic governor of North Dakota from 1984 to 1992. His legacy, however, is felt beyond North Dakota and was influential on the national scene as well. Many of the. governor's reflections on his early life provide insight into the seminal events that influenced him as an adult. Sinner's reflections on his experience after politics focus on his family and on what his life has taught him.

Review Of Clovis Lithic Technology: Investigation Of A Stratified Workshop At The Gault Site, Texas. By Michael R. Waters, Charlotte D. Pevny, David L. Carlson, Et Al. Foreword By Michael B. Collins., Heather M. Rockwell

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

This volume is a valuable contribution to the growing knowledge of Early Paleoindian behavior in the Southern Plains. It offers a thorough description of excavations and analyses conducted on collections from the Excavation Area 8 ofthe Gault Site in central Texas. The book is organized into ten chapters detailing the site setting, formation processes, Clovis tool manufacture patterns, microwear analyses, faunal analyses, and interpretations of the site's organization and purpose. ... Clovis Lithic Technology is a valuable contribution to researchers interested in the archaeology of the Great Plains, Paleoindian research, lithic analysis, and New World colonization research.

Predictive Policing: A Review Of The Literature, Portland State University. Criminology And Criminal Justice Senior Capstone

Criminology and Criminal Justice Senior Capstone Project

Improving knowledge of crime and crime causation is an important focus for many law enforcement agencies. Many believe such knowledge can be used to predict crime and criminal behavior. Predictive policing is one of a variety of strategies developed by law enforcement personnel and researchers. The practice of law enforcement is frequently reactive, in nature, where police officers respond to crimes after they have been committed. In an effort to prevent future crimes, however, those with an interest in prevention have also added the strategy of proactive policing, where information and advanced analyses are added to their repertoire of approaches. …

In Memoriam: Marta G. Franco, John A. Drobnicki

Publications and Research

Marta Franco was the longtime Serials Librarian in the York College Library.

Southeastern Law Librarian Summer 2012, Seaall

Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Eastside/Westside.... The Changing Faces In Two Suburban School Districts, Kushlani De Soyza

Institute of Metropolitan Studies Publications

Suburban school were once homegeneous; now, they are increasingly ethnically diverse. Kushlani de Soyza examines the reasons for this change, and the ways in which two suburban districts--David Douglas and Beaverton--are meeting the challenges of a multicultural student population.

A Comparative Analysis Of California And German Renewable Energy Policy: Actors And Outcomes, Jesse M. Keppley

Josef Korbel Journal of Advanced International Studies

Policymakers have long been interested in promoting renewable energy development. Yet it is only over the last two decades that interest has fully bloomed, leading to new policy instruments designed to promote increased generation in an economically efficient manner. Two environmental leaders, California and Germany, are identified as models in this field. Both have shown remarkable growth in generating capacity. Yet a closer examination of policy developments reveals marked differences in the way actors have pursued their interests to shape policy outcomes. This paper discusses both models in detail, exploring the ways political interests became involved in the policymaking process. …

The Humanitarian Aid Regime In The Republic Of Ngos: The Fallacy Of ‘Building Back Better', Oliver Cunningham

Josef Korbel Journal of Advanced International Studies

In recent years, the international community has questioned the efficacy of international humanitarian aid based on the lack of results following the Haiti earthquake, leading to calls for reform and broader discussions of aid effectiveness. This paper proposes the contested existence of an international humanitarian aid regime consistent with broader definitions of regimes proposed by Stephen Krasner and Bruce Bueno de Mesquita. Delving into the manifold reasons for the ineffective response to the Haiti earthquake, the humanitarian aid regime itself proved its own worst enemy. The lack of efficacy is evident through examples drawn from key elements of the humanitarian …

Party Competition As A Driver Of Foreign Policy: Explaining Changes In The British Labour Party’S Immigration Policies And The Turkish Akp’S Approach To Cyprus, Gary Winslett

Josef Korbel Journal of Advanced International Studies

This paper explores how party competition influences states’ foreign policy choices. I argue that party competition has stronger explanatory power than it is often given credit for. To examine this dynamic, I discuss some alternative explanations of policy choices, then examine two cases studies and finally discuss implications that can be drawn from those case studies. The two case studies that will be analyzed are the British Labour government’s decision in 1999 to pass stricter immigration controls and the Turkish AKP government’s decision in 2006 to adopt a more hardline approach with regards to Cyprus. These two case studies have …

Effects Of Solution Ph And Ionic Strength For Removal Of Combined Natural Organic Matter And Copper (Ii) Ion By Membrane Nanofiltration, Pakasit Hongthong, Supatpong Mattaraj, Ratana Jiraratananon

Applied Environmental Research

Effects of solution pH and ionic strength for removal of combined natural organic matter (NOM) and copper (II) through a nanofiltration (NF) membrane were investigated. Experimental results revealed that the influence of NOM and copper (II) ion on NF performance was dependent on solution chemistry (i.e. solution pH and ionic strength). For copper (II) ion, increased solution pHs exhibited greater flux decline, while there was no significant difference in flux for solutions containing NOM. Solutions containing copper (II) ion alone showed less flux decline than those containing NOM and combined NOM with copper (II ) ions. The ion rejections (based …

Interposition Of Alien Structure In Aesthetic Value Of Ayuthaya Historical And Archaeological Ruin, Bundit Pradabsook, Kasem Chunkao, Surat Bualert

Applied Environmental Research

Aesthetic value damage evaluation on archaeological ruins was a difficult issue to address due to the public perception that it was a subjective issue. Interposition of alien structures at archaeological sites was commonly seen and caused adverse visual impacts and affected the conservation of arts and cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Thailand. There were currently no means to determine the damage of archaeological sites by interposed alien structures, thus, it was difficult to identify criteria which was needed to protect the aesthetic beauty of historical, architectural, and archaeological sites. In order to establish a method of measuring aesthetic damage …

Quality Of Life In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Perceptions Of Well-Being And Church Life: 2012 Nebraska Rural Poll Results: A Research Report, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, Philip Schwadel

Publications from the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI)

Nebraska’s unemployment rate has been one of the lowest in the nation in recent years. The agricultural economy has also been strong with record levels of farm income in 2011. Given the challenges and uncertainties of recent years, how do rural Nebraskans believe they are doing and how do they view their future? Have these views changed over the past seventeen years? How satisfied are they with various items that influence their well-being? Most rural Nebraskans have also reported high satisfaction levels with their religion/spirituality in previous polls. How often do they attend church? How do they view their church? …

Integration Of Multiple Stakeholders In Scientific Research: A Sensemaking-Sensegiving Approach, Nicolas Battard, Paul F. Donnelly, Vincent Mangematin

Conference papers

This paper argues that senior scientists in the area of nanoscience and nanotechnology build a new vision of their research activity in order to encompass multiple stakeholders such as policy makers, funding agencies and PhD students. Through a qualitative and inductive study and the lens of sensemaking and sensegiving, we show that senior scientists shape new boundaries in order to make the new vision visible to both internal and external stakeholders. Finally, they engage in sensemaking and sensegiving on a daily basis in order to adapt and sustain their activity over time.

Deception Detection: Using Eye-Tracking Technology To Measure Faking In A Simulated Applicant Setting, Luke Simmering

Doctoral Dissertations

The impact of faking on selection assessments and the need for methods to detect such behavior has drawn increased attention of researchers in the selection field over the last quarter century. The overarching purpose of this study was to assess the validity of utilizing eye-tracking technology in the detection of applicant faking on personality measures. Specifically, this study examined the physiological cues of response latency, eye fixation, and pupil dilation and their association with deception in the context of personality assessment in a job seeking scenario. The results indicated that individuals engaged in faking behavior had significantly more eye fixations …

The Impact Of Psychological Reactance And Approach/Avoidance Motivation On The Effectiveness Of Sleep Interventions, Barbara Calvert

Doctoral Dissertations

Research has shown that college students experience sleep difficulties at a higher rate than the general population. Many factors contribute to the sleep difficulties of college students including lifestyle, stimulant use, alcohol use, physiological arousal, and cognitive factors. Sleep difficulties have been shown to have a significant negative impact on numerous aspects of an individual's life including cognitive/academic performance, physical health, and psychological functioning. College administrators and counselors need effective interventions for students experiencing sleep difficulties. It is also essential that individuals working with college students be aware of personal factors that may impact how an individual responds to a …

The Effects Of Genetic Ancestry And Sociocultural Factors On Pulmonary Tuberculosis Susceptibility In Northeastern Mexico, Bonnie Nadyne Young

Anthropology ETDs

Genetic and environmental factors contribute to variation in tuberculosis (TB) disease risk among individuals in the Americas, although the relative contribution of each of these factors remains unclear. Genetic ancestry may serve as a proxy for underlying genetic differences in TB risk between the European, Native American, and African groups that formed many populations in the Americas, but this has never been tested. Such tests are complicated by the fact that genetic ancestry and important potential social predictors of TB are usually confounded. The urban center of Nuevo León, the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA), presents a unique setting to tease …

Women Living Islam In Post-War And Post-Socialist Bosnia And Herzegovina, Emira Ibrahimpašić

Anthropology ETDs

This is an ethnographic study of what it means to be a Muslim woman in post-war and post-socialist Bosnia and Herzegovina. Almost two decades after the end of inter-ethnic wars that led to the dissolution of socialist Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Bosnias inhabitants are undergoing radical social, economic, political, and particularly religious transformations. This transformation, visible in both community and individual lives, can be discerned in all aspects of daily life. In this dissertation I examine the underlying reasons and motivations concerning the different ways in which one can practice and live Islam in Sarajevo and Zenica, two of the …

Shamanism In Cross-Cultural Perspective, Michael Winkelman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This article reviews the origins of the concept of the shaman and the principal sources of

controversy regarding the existence and nature of shamanism. Confusion regarding the

nature of shamanism is clarified with a review of research providing empirical support for a

cross-cultural concept of shamans that distinguishes them from related shamanistic healers.

The common shamanistic universals involving altered states of consciousness are examined

from psychobiological perspectives to illustrate shamanism’s relationships to human nature.

Common biological aspects of altered states of consciousness help explain the origins of

shamanism while social influences on this aspect of human nature help to explain …

Exploring The Impact Of Knowledge And Social Environment On Influenza Prevention And Transmission In Midwestern United States High School Students, William L. Romine, Tanvi Banerjee, William S. Barrow, William R. Folk

Kno.e.sis Publications

We used data from a convenience sample of 410 Midwestern United States students from six secondary schools to develop parsimonious models for explaining and predicting precautions and illness related to influenza. Scores for knowledge and perceptions were obtained using two-parameter Item Response Theory (IRT) models. Relationships between outcome variables and predictors were verified using Pearson and Spearman correlations, and nested [student within school] fixed effects multinomial logistic regression models were specified from these using Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). Neural network models were then formulated as classifiers using 10-fold cross validation to predict precautions and illness. Perceived barriers against taking precautions …

At The Edge: University-Based Institutes And Their Communities, Ethan Seltzer

Institute of Metropolitan Studies Publications

Like other efforts at institutional restructuring or innovation, the full-flowering of the modern urban university is a work in progress. Whether we can identify a formula for success, or not, remains to be seen. Nonetheless, universities are moving ahead to design and implement a wide range of university-community linkages and, in the process, are generating new insights into the extent to which universities and communities can substantively join in common purpose. This paper reports on the experience at Portland State University with the creation and first six years of operation of the Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies.

Complementary And Adversarial Stances In State-Civil Society Relationships And Their Implications For Democratization And Development: The Case Of Ethiopia, Teshome Tadesse

International Conference on African Development Archives

State-society relations in Ethiopia have throughout history been one of cooperation rather than competition and destruction at least when it comes to the defense of the motherland. This short paper, attempts to examine the place of civil society vis-a-vis the all-powerful position of the state in Ethiopia and its behaviors in times of national danger or war where both complement each other and defeat the enemy. The states , during these times of national threats, go to a point where it literally begs national communities through traditional associations or civil societal groups and successfully repulses the aggressor. But once the …

2012 July, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for July of 2012.

Social Network Dynamics And Biographical Disruption: The Case Of “First-Timers” With Mental Illness, Brea Perry, Bernice A. Pescosolido

Sociology Faculty Publications

This study examines how dynamics surrounding biographical disruptions compare to more routine fluctuations in personal social networks. Using data from the Indianapolis Network Mental Health Study, the authors track changes in patients’ social networks over three years and compare them to a representative sample of persons with no self-reported mental illness. Overall, individuals at the onset of treatment report larger and more broadly functional social networks than individuals in the population at large. However, the number of network ties among the latter increases over time, whereas network size decreases slightly among people using mental health services. As individuals progress through …

Coalition For Prisoners' Rights Newsletter, Vol 36-R, No. 7, Coalition For Prisoners' Rights

Coalition for Prisoners' Rights Newsletters

Lower "Crime" Rates, But Some Prisons Grow

Racial Bias in Federal Clemency

Racial Bias in Youth Detention

México Elige Presidente

Crime of the Month

Save LWOP Beneficiaries Program

Accumulation Of Heavy Metals In Mangrove Sediments Of Chumphon Province, Thailand, Nathsuda Pumijumnong, Bussarin Uppadit

Applied Environmental Research

The objective of this study was two-fold: to examine the heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn) levels that have accumulated in mangrove forest sediments in Chumphon Province, Thailand, and to determine the relationship between heavy metals and the physiochemical properties of sediment. The sediment was digested with HNO3 and HCl using a milestone microwave digestion system (model MLS-1200 MEGA), followed by the addition of 50 ml distilled water. The concentrations of Cu, Cr, Ni, Mn, and Zn in the filtered and digested samples were determined by air-acetylene flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS, model Varian SpectrAA 220FS). …