Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Solar Energy On The Farm, Kate Mccarty

Student Policy Briefs

Solar energy production accounts for less than one percent of energy produced in Maine, but nonetheless, the number of agricultural solar projects in the state is growing (ix, xi). While Maine currently lacks policies that encourage solar installations, such as tax credits and rebates, the next state administration could implement such policies, further resulting in an increase in the number of solar projects. The installation of commercial-scale solar projects is particularly attractive to farmers as it offers diversified income that protects against the unpredictable nature of farming. The Maine Legislature should consider adopting policies around the use of large-scale solar …

Solar Farms On Agricultural Land, Rebecca Pratt

Student Policy Briefs

With farmers today facing economic hardship, many are looking for alternative sources of income. A recent trend has farmers considering turning their agriculture fields into solar farms. While there is a global push for more renewal energy, using agricultural lands to accomplish this goal is being widely debated. The opposition argues that the solar farms may come with unintended consequences including economic, environmental and even social problems (Tromans and Jackson, 2015). One of the most pressing questions is who, if anyone, should regulate the development of solar farms. Currently, there is no legislation in Maine regulating the installation of solar …

Solar Farms & Agriculture – Mutually Beneficial Or Problematic?, Catherine Darragh

Student Policy Briefs

Solar Farming has become increasingly adopted by farmers to diversify their income. This has raised concerns regarding the loss of agricultural land, impact on the environment, and application of policies to land that may have shifted from an agricultural to energy production focus. The following brief examines the benefits and disadvantages of solar farming for farmers and the environment and how new policies might affect the situation.

Cornerstones Of Community: Segregated Public Libraries And Carnegie Philanthropy (Presentation For The African American Library At The Gregory School Speaker Series, Houston Public Library, April 2018), Matthew R. Griffis

Publications and Other Resources

Presentation made for a speaker series at the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library, April 2018.

Between The Columns Newsletter: Spring 2018, Eastern Kentucky University Libraries

Between the Columns Newsletter

Table of Contents

• From the Dean (p. 2)
• [Recent EKU Libraries Events: Student Artwork Exhibit -- Speaking from the Margins -- Student Employee Takeover] (p. 3)
• Library Words: a Glossary of Terms Frequently Used Around EKU Libraries (p. 4-5)
• Get to Know Your Librarian: Faculty Partnerships -- featuring Clay Howard (p. 6)
• A Public Domain Primer (p. 7)
• Archives After Dark (p. 8-9)
• Focus on Friends: Dr. John E. and Martha B. Davidson (p. 10)
• Honor Roll of Friends (p. 11)
• Scholars Week 2018 (blurb) and "50 Years Ago...An EKU student reading a newspaper on campus in 1968" …

Afterschool Matters Spring 2018, National Institute For Out-Of-School Time

Afterschool Matters

Welcome from the Managing Editor of Afterschool Matters, Spring 2018

Wellesley College, home of the National Institute on Out-of-School Time, has a significant connection to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, site of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. 1 page.

By Georgia Hall

Critical Friendship: Helping Youth Lift as They Climb Together

By Tanya G. Wiggins

Critical friendships can help youth build their own social capital and counteract negative messages from society and peers. 9 pages.

Youth-Led Participatory Action Research: Promoting Youth Voice and Adult Support in Afterschool Programs

By Yolanda Anyon, Heather Kennedy, Rebecca Durbahn, and Jeffrey M. Jenson

Participatory …

Indicators Of Civic Engagement Among Lower Secondary Students, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Eveline Gebhardt

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

Educational systems, school and teachers seek to prepare young people to understand the society they live in, to engage with its political and social issues and become actively involved as citizens in later adult life. There is a consensus that formal education influences the extent of adult civic engagement (Pancer, 2015). This is reflected in the fact that many countries include civic learning as a goal of school education either as a distinct subject or through several subjects (Ainley et al., 2013). More broadly, civic engagement of citizens is seen as a central characteristic of a democratic society and refers …

The International Civic And Citizenship Education Study: Extent And Variation Of Lower-Secondary Students’ Civic Knowledge, And Changes Since 2009, Julian Fraillon, Wolfram Schulz, Eveline Gebhardt

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

The IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) investigated the preparedness and preparation of young people to ‘undertake their roles as citizens in a range of countries’ (Schulz et al., 2017, p xv). ICCS 2016 is the second cycle of ICCS with the first cycle of ICCS having been completed in 2009. In ICCS, the preparedness of young people to participate is operationalized through measures of ‘students’ knowledge and understanding of civics and citizenship as well as students’ attitudes, perceptions, and activities related to civics and citizenship (Schulz et al., 2017 p 1). Students’ knowledge and understanding of civics …

Students’ Attitudes Toward Equality Opportunities, Trust In Civic Institutions And Endorsement Of Religious Influence, Wolfram Schulz, John Ainley

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

This paper will discuss ICCS 2016 results regarding students’ beliefs about issues of relevance in society. This paper focuses on four attitudinal constructs: students’ endorsement of gender equality, students’ endorsement of equal rights for all ethnic and racial groups, students’ trust in civic institutions, and students’ endorsement of the influence of religion in society (which was measured as part of an international option in which most countries participated). It describes the extent of these beliefs, changes since 2009, and its associations with student characteristics, home background and engagement variables, and factors related to civic learning at school and social interactions …

Division I Female Student Athletes’ Self-Image Perceptions And The Association With Photo Centric Social Media Platforms, Logan Paul

Honors Projects in Applied Psychology

The purpose of this study is to describe self-image (body image) perceptions of female, Division I student athletes and discover how photo centric social media platforms and the frequency of their use may shape these perceptions. Body image is a complex phenomenon influenced by many factors including peers, parents, coaches, and social constructs. In the general population, data has shown that media messages play a powerful role in shaping perceived self-image and body satisfaction. Body image may not match the actual body and the athlete may strive more often to achieve a body ideal. It is hypothesized that female athletes …

Chasing Success: A Cultivated Reality, Anastasia Bevillard

Honors Projects in Communication

George Gerbner’s cultivation theory claims that people who consume heavy amounts of media are more likely to be influenced by those messages to believe the media reality as opposed to actual reality. Using cultivation theory as the basis for study, I performed a cultivation analysis examining the intersection of mass media and perceptions of success among college-aged young adults living in the United States. The analysis focused on three main points: (1) How mass media perceives and subsequently demonstrates success. (2) The impact of mass media on young adults living in America. (3) What reality of success is cultivated by …

13 Reasons Why Not: Examining Peer Networks And Barriers To Help Seeking, Katharine Comber

Social Work Theses

This paper examines mental health perceptions on a college campus, with an emphasis on the importance of peer networks, the barriers to help-seeking behaviors, and the persisting stigma against mental health treatment. The researcher hypothesized that students will report confiding in family, friends, and peers in times of emotional distress, rather than more formal support networks. The study utilized a 13-item survey that examined what barriers students face in seeking help, to whom students turn in times of distress, and if they feel that there is stigma on campus that is a deterrent to formal mental health treatment. The results …

Technology Supports For Individuals With Disabilities In New York State: A Survey Of Current Status, Margaret M. Laskowski, Dana R. Reinecke, Hsin-Liang Chen

University Libraries Faculty Research & Creative Works

This exploratory study examines the current use of instructional technology, and assistive technologies for support of individuals with learning disabilities as well as other disabilities in New York State.

The researchers used SurveyMonkey and postings on social media websites for various professional organizations to solicit responses to a questionnaire from individuals working with or caring for persons with disabilities. A small sample of responses (N=122) revealed barriers to the use of technology, as well as the preferred type and most convenient for persons with disabilities. School districts may want to use this survey with students, parents and community members.

An Exploration Into Archival Descriptions Of Lgbtq Materials, Erin Baucom

Mansfield Library Faculty Publications

While traditional archives have successfully diversified collecting scopes to include materials from marginalized communities, archivists have yet to examine whether the descriptions of these materials appropriately represent the communities of origin. In an effort to determine how discoverable LGBTQ collections are and if the terms used to describe LGBTQ individuals might be inaccurate and possibly harmful to the LGBTQ community, this article compares terms used by LGBTQ history project Web sites to describe gender and sexual identities to terms used in traditional archives to portray those same identities. This comparison reveals that the terms in finding aids are general and …

Rhode Island Current Conditions Index -- April 2018, Leonard Lardaro

The Rhode Island Current Conditions Index

No abstract provided.

Kansas Governor’S Race Poll Spring 2018, Jian Sun Ph.D., Luis Montelongo

Docking Institute of Public Affairs

The Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University surveyed a random sample of adult residents of Kansas, age 18 and older, to assess their rating of the candidates of the 2018 Kansas gubernatorial election. The survey sample consists of random Kansas landline telephone numbers and cellphone numbers. From March 19 to April 2nd, a total of 1,405 Kansas residents were contacted by telephone, and 367 of them completed the survey, resulting in a 26.12% response rate (367/1,405). At a 95% confidence level, the margin of error for the full sample of 367 is 5.12%. A margin of …

Surveying Digital Collections Stewardship In Nebraska [Original Survey Form], Jennifer L. Thoegersen, Blake Graham

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Data Repository

No abstract provided.

Communo Magazine, Spring 2018, School Of Communication

CommUNO Magazine

CommUNO magazine is produced by Capstone Communication and published annually by the UNO School of Communication: 6001 Dodge Street, ASH 140, Omaha, NE 68182: Phone: 402.554.2600. Fax: 402.554.3836. For more information, follow us on Twitter@ CommUNO, join the “UNO School of Communication” page on Facebook or visit communication.unomaha.edu.

Institute For Public Policy National Poll - April 2018, Institute For Public Policy

Public Policy Poll Results

The Sacred Heart University Institute for Public Policy leveraged quantitative research through a dual-methodology to address the following areas of investigation:

• Thoughts on the quality of life in Connecticut
• Quality of public education in the State of Connecticut
• Adequacy of public school funding in the State
• Perceptions of school safety in public schools
• Awareness of and support for the "Common Core State Standards Initiative"
• Support or opposition for the formation of charter schools and increased funds for charter schools in Connecticut
• Demographic profiles of respondents

“Older Adults And Their Experiences With Home Care And Assisted Living”, Faith Robinson

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

As the state of Maine and the U.S. population at large continues to age, discussion about future care and living arrangements for older adults has become an increasingly relevant issue. Older adults are often faced with a range of options for housing, including staying in their home in their community while receiving home care services, or moving to an assisted living facility.

Currently a gap in the research exists as to the attitudes, perceptions, and lived experiences of the older adults themselves around these decisions, experiences, and the meaning of “home” in our older years. This study aims to provide …

The Y Can’T Do It All: Examining The Decline Of Participation In Youth Athletics, Ian Allen

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Nationally, since 2008, participation in youth sports (ages 6-17) has dropped significantly. The declining trend--from 45% down to 37%-- can be attributed to many factors

• The rising cost associated with general participation in programs, especially at the middle and high school levels
• Early specialization in one sport along with the introduction of hypercompetitiveness in younger age groups
• The need for coaches to have much more training and certification to get a foot in the door at schools and recreation programs around the country.

These factors cause a significant divide between underprivileged and privileged youth, creating a situation of haves and …

A Qualitative Study Of Asylum Seekers Experience As Mentees With The Welcoming The Stranger Program, Deborah H. W. Hamilton

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Asylum seekers are foreign nationals who enter the United States legally fleeing danger in their home country. Over 26,000 individuals were granted asylum in 2015, with 3.4% of the State of Maine’s population identifying as immigrants. Portland Maine’s General Assistance (GA) office reports nearly 40% of GA recipients were visa holders seeking asylum during fiscal year 2016. Asylum seekers arrive with psychological and physical burdens and then face hurdles trying to gain legal status while attempting to get their basic needs met in the social service systems. Organizations have been created on a grassroots level to provide support and bypass …

A Closer Look At The Determinants Of International Migration: Decomposing Cultural Distance, Roger White

Economics

Using a modified gravity model and three measures of cultural distance, we employ the zeroinflated negative binomial estimation technique to examine the impact of cultural distance on international migration flows. We confirm the finding of prior studies that there exists a negative relationship between composite measures of cultural distance and immigrant flows. Extending the literature, we decompose our composite cultural distance measures into their component dimensions to examine potential variability in the influences of individual dimensions on international migration. We find the cultural dimensions that reflect individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and perceived gender roles are typically more influential in determining immigrant …

Violencia Obstétrica: Los Derechos De Autonomía Reproductiva, Tratamiento Justo Y Accesibilidad En El Ámbito De La Salud Maternal En San Carlos, Salta / Obstetric Violence: The Rights To Reproductive Autonomy, Fair Treatment, And Accessibility Of Maternal Health Services In San Carlos, Salta, Emily Gleason

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In Argentina, there exists a national legislature (Ley N° 25.929 and 26.485) that is intended to ensure women’s rights to maternal and reproductive healthcare services free from obstetric violence; that is, the right to autonomy, fair treatment, and accessibility of maternal healthcare services. Women have the inherent right to receive fair and equitable maternal healthcare and receive humanized births, or partos humanizados. Despite the existence of these laws, however, there is still a rampant amount of obstetric violence that women in Argentina experience. Their rights to autonomous, accessible, and just maternal health services are often ignored or outright denied. …

Department Of Psychology Newsletter, Department Of Psychology, Old Dominion University

Department of Psychology Newsletters

Spring 2018 issue of Old Dominion University's Department of Psychology Newsletter.

Geochemistry Of Archaeological And Marine Environments In Southwest Maine, Heather L. Bushie

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Two archaeological excavations for the University of Southern Maine collected sediment columns from select units for geological and chemical analysis. The Spiller Farms site is a Native American site located in Wells, Maine marking a transition period between the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs, 12,000 BP. The Malaga Island site was a historic mixed-race community at the north end of Casco Bay where sediment columns were obtained in near-shore and subtidal zones. The samples obtained from Malaga Island have been radiocarbon dated to 3800 +/- 30 BP at 23 meters below the low-tide line. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis is being conducted …

Animal Assisted Therapy For Adult Domestic Violence Survivors, Kaden Flynn

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The focus for my research project for my Women and Gender Studies, Capstone course has revolved around Domestic Violence and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). AAT has been around since the 18th century but the benefits of it, aren’t talked about enough; when looking at what it does for adult DV survivors. I will determine if AAT, in conjunction with other therapies, is beneficial for DV victims. To determine how beneficial AAT is, I will be reviewing current literature on AAT, the results of different types of therapy and how it effects the victim’s PTSD, trauma, stress, and anxiety levels. If …

Collegiate Leadership Competition: Deliberate Practice Leading To Expertise, Courtney Randall, Mark Graham, Irene O'Leary, Katia Fonseca, Salina Mallory, Matt Norris

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Deliberate practice (Ericsson & Pool, 2016), the scientific process often attributed to developing expertise, requires a well-developed field and a teacher who can design, provide, and facilitate purposeful activities that target specific goals related to performance in that field. Components of purposeful practice include (a) well-defined goals, often related to skills that others have figured out how to do; (b) timely, continuous, and specific feedback; (c) deliberate practice outside of one’s comfort zone; and (d) developing previously acquired skills through continuous improvement. USM students’ participation in Collegiate Leadership Competition (CLC) practice sessions include components of deliberate practice aimed toward the …

Impact Of An Extension Social Media Tool Kit On Audience Engagement, Aileen Garcia, Dipti A. Dev, Colin M. Mcginnis, Tyler Thomas

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Extension professionals can improve their use of social media as channels for extending programmatic efforts by maximizing target audience reach and engagement. We describe how implementation of a tool kit highlighting best practices for using social media improved Extension professionals' efforts to engage target audience members via social media. Specifically, we found that after having access to the tool kit, Extension professionals were able to prompt greater participation and engagement from the applicable target audience across three online platforms— Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Our findings indicate that Extension professionals can benefit from learning how to use social media more purposefully …

Icda-Us Mid-West Young Adult Newsletter, April 2018

ICDA-US Mid-West Young Adult Newsletter

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in USA