Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Wellness And Prevention Program Sustainability Design For Clark University Athletics Department, Emily Corbett

Sustainability and Social Justice

The purpose of this work is to design a wellness based prevention program that is tailored to fit the campus community within Clark University, Worcester, MA, called the Peer Athletes Advocating for Wellness (PAAW) initiative. This paper first presents the current research on wellness related issues within a college campus, specifically surrounding sexual violence. It then outlines the current sexual violence prevention programming that takes place yearly for incoming first year students at Clark University, as well as a one-time initiative during which student athletes participated in the sexual violence prevention programming. There is a review of the current most …

Learner Persistence In English For Speakers Of Other Languages (Esol) Programs, Elyse Waksman

Sustainability and Social Justice

Persistence – or continued, intense study – is a common challenge for adults in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs because of various institutional, situational, and dispositional factors. The current state and federal funding standards for adult ESOL programs are driven by human capital theory, and therefore most funders require demonstrated employment outcomes for students. These top-down objectives do not always align with English learners’ own motivations and goals. ESOL organizations must consider the complexities of these interacting forces to develop effective persistence strategies for their constituents. This case study of an ESOL organization in central Massachusetts is …

Assessment Of Drinking Water/Aquifer Vulnerability To Contamination By Natural Manganese And Anthropogenic Chemicals In The U.S., Ryan Kelly

Sustainability and Social Justice

Aquifers in the U.S. store groundwater used by many Americans every day for drinking eating, bathing and cleaning. These underground sources of water are vital to life and may be subject to contamination from both natural and anthropogenic pollution, including manganese (Mn) – especially shallow aquifers (<100 feet to bedrock). Natural sources of Mn are found in soils, surficial deposits, and bedrock, while anthropogenic contamination derives from landfills, waste facilities, or industries that use toxic materials. Pollutants like Mn raise concern because there is no policy in place to enforce regulation of Mn levels in water supplies based on limited information about health effects. Yet studies have shown elevated levels of Mn intake can lead to adverse human health effects. This study uses ArcMap to identify potential sources of Mn and/or toxics contamination in shallow U.S. aquifers based on geologic characteristics of a given aquifer source and proximity to waste sites. The results show approximately 2 million Americans may be at risk of consuming water with natural Mn contamination, and of those 2 million, close to 1.7 million are also vulnerable to additional toxics from anthropogenic waste. …

Alam, S.M. Shamsul. Governmentality And Counter-Hegemony In Bangladesh. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016., Tarique Niazi Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

No. 18: Gender Inequality, Poverty And Urban Household Food Security In Cape Town, Mary Caesar, Liam Riley

Hungry Cities Partnership

This discussion paper aims to advance our understanding of the gendered nature of urban household food security and how it is shaped by the relationships between internal household gender dynamics and external social factors of gender- and race-based inequalities. The manifestation of the gender inequalityfood security nexus at the household level is most evident in the different food-related roles and responsibilities adopted by women and men. These differences typically centre on tasks such as growing, purchasing, and preparing food as well as household members who undertake none of these responsibilities. Other gender-based household food security determinants include the gender of …

Mechanism For Leadership Development And Effectiveness: The Relationship Between Followership, Leadership, And Psychological Capital, Saurabh Gupta

Dissertations

Research supports the strategic role of a leader in improving individual and organizational performance (Day et al., 2009; Kaiser & Curphy, 2013). Developing leadership and enhancing leadership effectiveness remains at the forefront of organizational strategic plans (Day et al., 2009; Kaiser & Curphy, 2013). However, a majority of leadership development efforts fail in their purpose, which causes a leadership crisis in many organizations (Fernández-Aráoz, Roscoe, & Aramaki, 2017; Gurdjian, Halbeisen, & Lane, 2014; Kaiser & Curphy, 2013; Madanchian, Hussein, Noordin, & Taherdoost, 2017; Pfeffer, 2015; Wakefield, Abbatiello, Agarwal, Pastakia, & van Berkel, 2016). Neglecting the role of followership and using …

A New Keynesian, Neo-Institutional Synthesis: Connecting And Explaining Under-Evaluated Risks In Consumption, Trade, And Finance, Todd Barry

Dissertations

The overall research questions addressed in this dissertation are twofold. First, what are the largest, under-evaluated (or unorthodox) factors that cause growth volatility in both the short and long terms? Second, how can one best determine how much risk is being taken across both of these periods, and how can states increase and/or diversify their risks? The principle hypotheses are that finicky consumerism and structural economic changes, undiversified trade, and under-financed investment contribute significantly to growth volatility. Above all, risk taking actions and policies in countries cause economies to fluctuate. Further, the dissertation suggests that the short-term risk characteristics of …

Diffusion, Adoption, And Network Constraint: Can Understanding Personal Networks Of Afghan Women Improve The Adoption 0f Agricultural Innovations, Clair Wilcox

Dissertations

A plethora of case studies conducted in myriad locations find that factors influencing the adoption of agricultural innovation are different, emphasizing the need for locality specific understanding (Waddingon 2014). The diffusion of agricultural innovations may be influenced by the structure of the social system in which that diffusion is taking place. This study investigates the social structure of rural Afghan women, in an effort to determine how they interact and exchange information, and how the personal network structure, and the nature of the women’s interaction influences adoption of innovations. With the objective of framing rural development programs targeting women in …

Refugee Resettlement And Perceptions Of Insecurity: A Comparative Study Of The United States And Canada, Erik Amundson

Dissertations

In the United States and Canada, refugee resettlement has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and political debate, particularly since the November 2015 terrorist attacks carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) against targets in Paris. While public opinion polls have shown increasingly negative attitudes toward refugees, existing survey questionnaires only provide a limited understanding of what shapes these views. As such, this study focuses on two important factors that influence attitude formation toward refugees, pre-existing levels of knowledge and contact with minority groups. Using a comparative case study approach, this research examines how refugee resettlement …

Social Capital In Indian Country: The Effects Of Bridging And Bonding On Job Acquisition, Stephanie Davison

Dissertations

Native Americans living in Indian Country continue to experience poverty due, in part, to a lack of sufficient employment opportunities. Indian reservations, often situated in rural areas, can be difficult to access and complicated land and political issues can make it difficult to attract outside investors. However, as is the case for most people, Native Americans living on or near their respective reservation communities do not necessarily want to leave home to find work. This study examined the social networks of a sample of Native Americans from two tribes in Montana. A social network analysis was conducted to understand how …

Tribal Governance In The United States: Adaptation And Change, Michelle Watts

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to contribute to the body of knowledge on indigenous governance, specifically that of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. This project examined how differing circumstances of Native Nations influence how Native Nations leaders perceive their ability to govern and their relationships with non-indigenous entities. It sought a greater understanding of the cultural adaptations of Native Nations, and how these adaptations influence governance and relationships with state and federal government entities. To gather information, surveys were sent out to all leaders of Native Nations in the United States, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) …

Shifting Agendas And Competing Interests Within Public Health, Science And Technology, And Medicine In Africa, David Baronov

Sociology Faculty/Staff Publications

In lieu of the abstract, here is the review's first paragraph:

Until recent times, the conventional history of public health, of science and technology, and of medicine has been presented in the West as a tale of out-migration from the advanced, developed world (principally Europe and the United States) to the less developed (or underdeveloped) world.¹ By this account, Africa emerges as a peculiar mix of charity case, experimental laboratory, and lucrative market. The four works considered here mark a significant turn in this curiously one-side and resilient story line. Each text begins from the premise—some more forcefully then …

Lessons From The State Of Nature: A Hobbesian Contribution To The Critical Debate On Liberal Peacebuilding, Maximilian Lakitsch Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Liberal Peacebuilding has failed to realize the ambitious agenda set after the end of the Cold War. This paper contributes to the critical debate about liberal peacebuilding by introducing some fundamental ideas from Thomas Hobbes’ state of nature. Within the state of nature, Hobbes’s state of fear resembles the deep-rooted mistrust that haunts most post-conflict societies. The paper describes human desires as the foundation of political power. As such, political authority must necessarily reflect social dynamics in order to be of relevance for its subjects and, ultimately, effective. In the volatile and rapidly changing environments of postconflict states, human desires …

Global Subcultures: The Case Of Spanish Corporate Expatriates, Antonio Martín-Cabello Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

In the not very extensive sociological and anthropological scientific literature dedicated to corporate expatriates, it is frequently argued that expatriates create a subculture of a global character. This article centers on researching the presence of such a subculture among Spanish corporate expatriates. The research undertaken here utilizes a qualitative methodology based on semi-structured interviews, gathered over a period of six months, the selection of which was based on strategic criteria derived from the available quantitative studies on corporate expatriates. The analysis of the interviews suggests the presence of common cultural patterns among the Spanish corporate expatriates and the corporate expatriates …

Foreign Policy Of Modern Persia (Iran) And The Middle East, Seyed Mohammad Houshisadat Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

The following article discusses modern Iranian foreign relations in the Middle East and North Africa from the rise of the Safavid dynasty up to the fall of the Pahlavi dynasty. It looks at the interplay of nationalist and ultra-nationalist variables. The nationalist factors include the beliefs system of the policymakers, interests related to political survival, the political economy, the geopolitics of modern Persia and also the geographical realm. The transnational variables consist of the global order, symmetrical and asymmetrical interdependence, and the regional systemic status. These major components are vital in modern Persia’s relationships with the regional and extra-regional players …

Snyder, Scott A. South Korea At The Crossroads: Autonomy And Alliance In An Era Of Rival Powers. New York: Columbia University Press, 2018., Brian Arendt Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Huddleston, Vicki. Our Woman In Havana. New York: The Overlook Press, 2018, ỌLáyọKù Philip AdémóḷÁ Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Gordon Mathews With Linessa Dan Lin And Yang Yang. The World In Guangzhou: Africans And Other Foreigners In South China’S Global Marketplace. Chicago: The University Of Chicago Press, 2017., Jiangnan Li

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Mira Lee Manickam. Just Enough: A Journey Into Thailand’S Troubled South. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, 2013., Amporn Marddent Ph.D., Thassanee Thasrabiab Ma

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Bucar, Elizabeth. Pious Fashion—How Muslim Women Dress. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2017., Christina Pomianek Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Akimoto, Daisuke. The Abe Doctrine: Japan’S Proactive Pacifism And Security Strategy. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018., Marta Mcclellan Ross

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Wang, Xiying. Gender, Dating, And Violence In Urban China. New York: Routledge, 2017., Emily Chao Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Miyagi, Taizo. Japan’S Quest For Stability In Southeast Asia: Navigating The Turning Points In Postwar Asia (Hanabusa Midora, Trans.). New York And London: Routledge, 2017., Ikedinachi Ayodele Power Wogu Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Beetz, Simone. External Democracy Promotion And Diversity Among International Agencies: Evaluating Variances In The Impact Of The Undp And Ec In Rwanda. Opladen, Berlin And Toronto: Budrich Unipress Ltd., 2017., Alfonso P. Castro Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Powers, John & Vikram Khanna. The Future Of The Economy. East-West Perspectives On Pathways Through Disruption. London And New York: Routledge, 2019., Michele Filippo Fontefrancesco

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Consumer Perceptions Of Labeling Claims On Poultry Products, Sarah Townley

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

An increasing number of consumers wants more knowledge of how the food they eat is produced, and specifically, how animals used in the production of their food are raised. One method consumers use to become more aware of production practices behind the food they purchase and consume is simply reading food labels. Labeling claims can be defined as textual, pictorial, graphic, or symbolic representation that either explicitly states or implies that a food product has a specific set of properties supported by a certification process. The purpose of this study is to gather data regarding consumer knowledge and understanding of …

Using Personality Traits To Predict Pectoral Fin Contact Initiation Role In Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus), Riley Paige Macgregor

Master's Theses

Contact with the pectoral fin facilitates formation and maintenance of social relationships between dolphins (Dudzinski & Ribic, 2017). Additionally, several studies have shown that bottlenose dolphins have distinct personalities that are consistent across time and situation (e.g., Highfill & Kuczaj, 2007; Kuczaj, Highfill, & Byerly, 2012), and it has been suggested that these individual differences (i.e., personality) may influence tactile behavior exchanges. The current study therefore aimed to determine if bottlenose dolphin personality traits predict whether and how dolphins initiate contact as a rubber or rubbee during pectoral fin contact exchanges, and to identify whether the effects of personality traits …

Informal Rulemaking And Democratic Participation Fda – Food Labeling, Fcc – Net Neutrality, A Text Mining Study, Casey Shannon

Public Administration Master’s Projects

The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) is supposed to make the rulemaking process at the administrative level democratic. This study will look at two examples of federal regulatory agencies – Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The topics are food labeling, and net neutrality respectively. The APA highlights the process of notice and comment rulemaking. The APA is evaluated in the literature review for effectiveness and shortcomings. Interest groups play a key role in the policy making process; interest groups inform and mobilize citizens, and then coordinate commenting on agency rule propositions. This can sometimes lead …

What's Up Newsletter, December 2018

What's Up Newsletter

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Milwaukee, WI

What's Up Newsletter Finding Aid

Pathways Of Psychopathic Traits To Aggression Through Affective Correlates, Olivia C. Preston

Master's Theses

This thesis project examines the roles of empathy facets and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between psychopathic personality traits and aggression within an undergraduate sample. The project addresses three gaps in research – how psychopathic personality traits relate to empathy facets from a recently developed measure of empathy (Affective and Cognitive Measure of Empathy [ACME]; Vachon & Lynam, 2016); how psychopathic traits indirectly affect aggression functions (i.e., reactive, proactive) through empathy facets; and how emotion regulation contributes to these relations, above and beyond empathy. The sample was comprised of 368 university students. Findings indicated that largely all psychopathic traits were …