Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Historical Loss Scale: Longitudinal Measurement Equivalence And Prospective Links To Anxiety Among North American Indigenous Adolescents, Brian E. Armenta, Les B. Whitbeck, Patrick Habecker

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Objectives—Thoughts of historical loss (i.e., the loss of culture, land, and people as a result of colonization) are conceptualized as a contributor to the contemporary distress experienced by North American Indigenous populations. Although discussions of historical loss and related constructs (e.g., historical trauma) are widespread within the Indigenous literature, empirical efforts to understand the consequence of historical loss are limited, partially because of the lack of valid assessments. In this study we evaluated the longitudinal measurement properties of the Historical Loss Scale (HLS)—a standardized measure that was developed to systematically examine the frequency with which Indigenous individuals think about …

God’S Case For Sex, Orit Avishai, Kelsy Burke

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

At least within western popular culture, “good sex” has seemingly won out over sexual shame and become a prerogative of modern adult life. From advice books like The Joy of Sex to TV shows like Sex in the City and popular podcasts like Savage Love, a fulfilling sex life is promoted as integral to happiness and personal fulfillment. But religious traditions are notorious for sexual rules and norms that seem to fly in the face of modern secular culture, with its emphasis on sexual expression, experimentation, and satisfaction. In fact, many observers associate the expansion of progressive sexual norms and …

Labrador Inuit Population Movements And Inequalities In The Land Claims Era, Kirk Dombrowski, Patrick Habecker, G. Robin Gauthier, Bilal Khan, Joshua Moses

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

The importance of community relocation experiences for aboriginal land claims movements is well documented; the role played by successful land claims in prompting ongoing out-migration is not. Data collected in 2011 on the lives of migrants are used to test three hypotheses: H₁, Inuit leaving the land claims area for a nearby nonaboriginal city show markedly different social outcomes based on the length of time since migration; H₂, these social outcomes map onto patterns of intergroup boundaries in their new communities; and H₃, both of these outcomes are better explained by migration patterns after …

Christians Under Covers: Evangelicals And Sexual Pleasure On The Internet, Kelsy Burke

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

American evangelicals have a rich history when it comes to promoting sexual pleasure within marriage, having drawn upon multiple mediumslike books, workshops, and radio shows-since the 1970s.4 Today, evangelicals encourage sexual expression through all of these channels, as well as through a wide range of digital media, including online sex toy stores, online message boards, blogs, podcasts, and virtual Bible studies that discuss a plethora of topics related to marital sex. The content of these digital resources reflects the ideas presented in print literature written by well-established and respected evangelical authorities, but unlike a book that is already written, the …

Tlos And Global Financial Markets: The Case Of Derivatives, Hannah L. Buxbaum

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

The Ethics And Evolution Of Library Information Sharing: Lessons From Interlibrary Loan Services For Library Open Access Publishing, Beth Posner

Publications and Research

One of the most essential missions of academic research libraries is to facilitate access to information. Librarians do this by sharing their print collections, as well as digital information, with members of their local communities. They also share this information, with each other, through interlibrary loan (ILL) services.

A fundamental belief in the mission of information access and the value of sharing information is why so many librarians also support the open access movement. In addition to this shared mission and value, there are also lessons the open access movement can learn by exploring how traditional ILL services – and …

Defining Biodiversity: A Local Assessment Of The Tahuayo River, Peru Using Self-Directed Photography, Rozsika D. Steele

All Master's Theses

The Área de Conservación Regional Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo (ACRCTT), located in Loreto, Peru, protects 420,000 hectares of the Amazon basin. In 2009, the ACRCTT received formal government recognition after three decades of advocacy and conservation work by resident communities. Local resource users who live a subsistence lifestyle possess sophisticated Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) that can be used to identify which constituents of biodiversity are culturally relevant. This information can help resource managers develop an operational definition of biodiversity. Self-directed photography is a research method that allows participants the opportunity to direct data collection and empowers them to visually communicate their …

Sustainable Safari Practices: Proximity To Wildlife, Educational Intervention And The Quality Of Experience, Ryan Devine Tarver

All Master's Theses

This research examines the perceived quality of experience for safari tourists in relation to wildlife viewing proximities and the potential of educational interventions as a management strategy to mitigate adverse impacts of safari participant crowding. Crowding emanates from the safari tourist preferences to obtain close proximity to animals, particularly large mammals. Recognizing these preferences and associated impacts to animal behavior defined in previous research, we develop and deliver a survey instrument designed to measure the perceived quality of experience of the safari tourist while controlling for the viewing proximity variable. The survey instrument involves responding to stock photos selected to …

The Use Of A Visual Aid To Facilitate Transitional Periods For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Stevi Barrio

All Master's Theses

Transitioning is described as moving from one activity or place to another and has been often recognized as an event that can provoke problem behaviors in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (Sainato et al., 1987). Past research has concentrated on facilitating transitions by using both functional behavior assessments and visual aids. A type of functional behavior assessment is the Questions About Behavioral Function, which is a measurement system designed to determine the function of a given behavior and the environmental stimuli that surround that behavior. This questionnaire rates how often the individual engages in the behavior for situations …

Effect Of Prior Trauma Exposure On Alpha Amplitude, Heart Rate, And Self-Reported Negative Affect, Gina L. Denoble

All Master's Theses

This study was conducted to investigate whether the number of traumatic events an individual has previously experienced influences that individual’s physiological and psychological reactions when exposed to a negative affective stimulus followed by a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention. Twenty-eight participants were placed into intact quasi-experimental groups based on their scores on the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ). The negative affective stimulus consisted of a series of photos bearing negative affective valence. The photos were selected from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), and paralleled the areas of trauma exposure evaluated by the TLEQ. All participants were exposed to the …

Transfigured Treatment : A Comparative Needs And Specialized Services Assessment Of Transgender Youth And Gender Specialist Providers In The Bay Area, Lark E. Nierenberg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Transfigured Treatment is a mixed-methods study that aims to assess and improve multidisciplinary clinical care for transgender and gender expansive youth in the Bay Area. This trans-led research is a joint needs- and services-assessment of local gender-specialized care, including mental health support, access to medical care, and housing assistance. Transfigured Treatment is a tool with which to share histories of need and transform them into legacies of care. Participants were recruited via non-probability sampling and data were collected via an anonymous online survey. Adult participants must have/had a gender expansive identity while living in the Bay Area at some point …

Maintaining Community Roots : Understanding Gentrification Through The Eyes Of Long-Standing African American Residents In West Oakland, Karessa Irvin

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The study was undertaken to understand how long-standing African Americans residents of West Oakland believe they can maintain community roots during processes of gentrification. A second major question was: What are the implications for community based social workers.

Snowball sampling and convenience sampling were the methods used to recruit participants for the study. Thirteen in-person interviews were conducted, regarding study contributors’ perceptions of the West Oakland neighborhood, neighborhood changes, and understanding of community roots and how to maintain them.

The major findings of the study were congruent with some previous research of gentrification as participants defined gentrification in terms of …

The Integrationists : Exploring The Experiences Of Third Culture Kid Psychotherapists, Carly S. Inkpen

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to explore how being a third culture kid (TCK) impacts the experience of working as a psychotherapist. A TCK is a person who spent a significant part of their developmental years living outside their passport country, often moving between numerous countries. This study sought to understand the unique perspective that TCKs bring to psychotherapy work and to increase the visibility of transnational, multicultural therapists and clinicians of color in the clinical literature.

Sixteen TCK psychotherapists on five continents were interviewed, responding to a range of questions about how their TCK identities impact their experience of clinical …

It's Time To Talk About Sex And Social Work : Why Human Sexuality Education Matters For Social Work Practice, Sophia R. Glass

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This researched investigated human sexuality training received in social work programs and its impact on clinical practice. Specifically, it examined clinicians’ comfort and competency addressing sex and sexuality related topics with clients. 67 participants were recruited via a nonprobability snowball sampling technique, and data was gathered anonymously through a secure web-based survey instrument. The findings supported the author’s hypothesis that there is a substantial lack of human sexuality training in social work programs despite the finding that sexuality is highly relevant to clinical work. Barriers to social workers effectively addressing these topics with clients were identified as inadequate education and …

"You Are In A Better Position To Protect People When You Feel Like You're Protected Yourself" : To What Extent Does Union Membership And Ethical Clinical Social Work Practice Align? : An Exploratory Study, Robyn K. Douglass

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the question: “to what extent does union membership and ethical clinical social work practice align?” by interviewing Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) working within unionized environments. The study focused on the experience of these clinicians within their current working environment and how being a union member allowed them to be able to provide ethical clinical social work practice to their clients/patients. The most compelling findings from this research were that the clinicians felt that union membership did align with providing ethical clinical social work practice to their populations within their agencies or …

Trust, Jealousy And Communication In Long-Term Couples Practicing Consensual Non-Monogamy, Christina Wang

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This cross-sectional exploratory quantitative study examined trust and communication patterns among adults practicing consensual non-monogamy (CNM). Previous relationship research in this area has primarily examined couples in demographically homogenous relationships (heterosexual, white, and married). A review of the literature suggested that adults engaging in consensual non-monogamy are more diverse. Our recruitment strategies and study design was successful in recruiting a more diverse group of participants. Twenty-eight adults in long-term CNM relationships completed a 56-item online questionnaire. Responses were examined to explore the relationship between communication patterns and relationship tenure. The relationship tenure of couples and the gender preference of participants …

Impact Of Support Groups On Kinship Care Providers : A Project Based On An Investigation At Community Coalition, Los Angeles, California, Judith Farber Weissman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore how peer support groups influence kinship care providers’ (KCPs’) sense of self-worth and empowerment, and how they impact KCPs’ ability to advocate on behalf of the children in their care. Few studies to date have examined self-worth in the realm of KCPs’ parenting issues of guilt and regret, nor have they explored whether support group participation encourages relearning parenting skills and therefore instills a sense of empowerment. Although the majority of KCPs in the United States are informal care providers, most prior research on this population focused on formal kinship care providers; …

"Resisting Disconnection" : An Exploratory Study Of Transgender Adults' Experiences Of Community Support And Resilience, Aj Metthe

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study collected narrative data from transgender adults about their experiences of community support from other transgender individuals and about their experience of their own resilience. Due to previous research findings about the marginalization of transgender populations, particular attention was paid to narrative data that explicitly suggest structural oppression. Narrative data were collected from two samples drawn from adult transgender populations. One sample (N=12) participated in hour-long semi-structured individual interviews (Interview Sample [IS]). Another sample (N=4) participated in a Focus Group [FGS]) conducted at a transgender conference in the northeast.

The major findings that emerged from participants’ reports of …

Servicenet Participatory Action Research Program Evaluation : A Project Based On An Independent Investigation At Servicenet In Northampton, Ma, Heather L. Crawford, Caroline W. Evans, Margot E. Reilly

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This research project sought to evaluate if program participants of ServiceNet’s Mental Health Recovery Services (MHRS) feel supported to meet their self defined needs and goals. These researchers were guided by the principles of Participatory Action Research (PAR) and facilitated three focus groups who designed a mixed methods survey tool to be distributed by ServiceNet Recovery Counselors. Twelve surveys were refused and returned unopened, 56 program participants received the survey envelopes and did not return them, and 34 surveys were returned completed (n=34).

Participants demonstrated high satisfaction around housing, transportation, personal growth, emotional support, feeling treated like a human being, …

No U-Turn Needed On The Elected Presidency, Tan K. B. Eugene

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan cited the commentary "Let's talk about policy failures and the elected presidency" by Professor Kishore Mahbubani, where the latter argued that Singapore’s policy of an elected presidency should be revisited, and perhaps "the time has come to do a U-turn", stop having direct elections and go back to the previous practice of having Parliament elect the president. While Associate Prof Tan noted that Prof Mahbubani's concern is legitimate, he emphasised that the way forward is not a U-turn, but rather, a collective effort to determine how we can reduce the likelihood of electing …

The Stress-Buffering Model Of Social Support In Post-Acute Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Emily Anna Pearce

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Currently, 3.2-5.3 million Americans (1.1-1.7%) live with long-term disability resulting from acquired brain injury (ABI). Despite two to three million more being treated yearly for milder injuries and released without further services, those with enduring problems often require ongoing rehabilitation and support. The immediate and long-term costs of ABI are substantial, as are the burdens associated with lifelong sequelae. A clear understanding of prognostic indicators—only some of which have been identified—could assist in reducing these costs and burdens. Social support, which has been linked with physical health and function in populations across the world, is one likely indicator. Family stress, …

“Error But Without Malice” In Defamation Of Public Officials: The Value Of Free Expression In International Human Rights Law, Edward L. Carter

Faculty Publications

Government officials in various parts of the world use defamation to silence critics, but defamation liability may curtail freedom of expression on topics of public interest and undermine human rights generally. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees freedom of expression unless a state can show need to protect individual reputation and acts proportionally. In its adjudication of complaints for violations of Article 19, and in its General Comment 34, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has crafted the principle that defamation liability may not be imposed if an erroneous statement about a public official …

Agricultural Communications: A National Portrait Of Undergraduate Courses, Karen J. Cannon, Annie R. Specht, Emily B. Buck

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

Considerable research has been conducted regarding competencies needed by agricultural communication program graduates during the past four decades. However, no studies have considered actual program offerings. This study used a qualitative approach to analyze courses offered in agricultural communication programs in the United States. Using content analysis methods, researchers analyzed published course descriptions and discovered 21 categories among 172 courses. Most popular were writing courses, followed by courses introducing students to the major, internship courses, and writing for publication and graphic design courses. Categories with the fewest offerings included research, study abroad, and international focused courses. Findings from this analysis …

Passive Unaccusatives In L2 English, Chad Tyler Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Passive unaccusativity refers to a phenomenon whereby L2 English speakers produce unaccusative verbs in passive constructions. Since unaccusative verbs are a subset of intransitive verbs and thus generally do not passivize, the question of how learners recognize unaccusatives without any overt input distinguishing subsets of intransitives has piqued the interest of many researchers since the late 1970's. Oshita's (2000) claim that passive unaccusatives are NP-movement markers is now a widely accepted claim; however, studies of more general characteristics of intransitivity have revealed close parallels between passive unaccusatives and other well-documented phenomena. The aim of this paper is to show that …

The Prototype Case Designed For Case-Based-Learning In Bio 201, Junli Diao

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

“Are There Any Girls There?” Empowering Excursions And Gender Role Subversion In Dungeons And Dragons, Rachel M. Just

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

In this article, the author examines the gendered experiences of twelve women who play Dungeons and Dragons, a popular roleplaying tabletop game. The author utilizes Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann’s concept of the excursion to analyze how participants use roleplay in Dungeons and Dragons to achieve empowerment. Many of the women interviewed described being subjected to gendered behavioral expectations both in their everyday life and during gameplay. With an empowering gaming group, however, roleplay allowed the participants to challenge, and subvert, those gendered expectations. The author concludes that roleplay provides an empowering excursion from everyday life that allows women participants …

To Walk The Earth In Safety 16th Edition (Cy2016), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

Even after a conflict ends and the fighters have gone home, the threats from landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and at-risk weapons and munitions remain. These threats foment instability; as long as men, women, and children fear to move about their communities due to the lingering threat of landmines and UXO, a society can never fully heal and rebuild.

The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) works with foreign governments and nongovernmental organizations to deliver programs and services aimed at reducing the harmful effects of at-risk, illicitly proliferated, and indiscriminately used …

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, Body Mass Index, And Dieting Behaviors Among Florida Middle And High School Youth, Corinne A. Labyak, Tammie M. Johnson, Claudia Sealey-Potts, Judy E. Perkin

Florida Public Health Review

The purpose of this study was to examine fruit and vegetable consumption reported by Florida middle school and high school students and to determine if consumption was associated with: (1) demographic characteristics; (2) body mass index (BMI); and/or (3) weight loss behaviors. Data from the 2009 Florida YRBS and the MSHBS were used. Both surveys used a two-stage cluster sample design, producing a representative sample of students. In addition to socio- demographic variables, independent variables included engaging in weight loss behaviors. Dependent variables were adequate fruit and adequate vegetable consumption. Descriptive, chi-square and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results indicated …

Fruit, Vegetable And Beverage Consumption In Duval County Middle School Students: Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2009-2013, Corinne A. Labyak, Alireza Jahan-Mihan, Richard Patterson, Judith Rodriguez, Janice J. Seabrooks-Blackmore, Karen Patterson, Zhiping Yu, Catherine Christie, Claudia Sealey-Potts

Florida Public Health Review

Public health professionals have the opportunity to impact middle school students’ dietary behaviors to combat childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary behavior results from the YRBS taken by middle school students in Duval County in 2009, 2011 and 2013. A two-stage cluster design was used and the survey was completed by 6th through 8th grade students following parent notification. Compared to other health zones, Health Zone 1 had the lowest intake of fruits and vegetables in 2009 (2.66 ±1.65) and 2011 (2.77 ± 1.60) and the second lowest intake in 2013 (2.92 ± 1.70). …

Childhood Obesity In Florida: A Narrative Review On Current Trends And Interventions, Corey Parliament, E Mckenzie Driscoll, Kristin Samuels, Laura Ward, Tammy M. Baranowski, Tara Kessinger, Alireza Jahan-Mihan

Florida Public Health Review

We examine current research on childhood obesity (CO) trends and intervention strategies in Florida. The fiscal, emotional, and health-related costs related to general obesity are staggering. Unfortunately, CO-related publicity, research, policy, and interventions have not been entirely successful in addressing the problem. Florida ranks 35thnationally in prevalence of CO. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2013 report a statistically significant decrease in Florida's rate of CO among 2-4 year-olds participating in Florida’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) from 2008-2011. Whereas Florida still has significant room for improvement on the issue of …