Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

People And Pixels: Linking Remote Sensing And Social Science. Edited By Dianaliverman, Emilio F. Moran, Ronald R.Rindfuss, And Paul C. Stern, James D. Lowry, Jr.

The Geographical Bulletin

At the heart ofthe recent debate within the Association of American Geographers concerning the format an? cont~nt of its two journals is the eclectic and interdisciplinary nature of the field of geography. As long as geography has been a component of American academe geographers have wrestled with "The Nature of Geography" (Hartshorne 1939) and "The Circumference of Geography" (Fenneman 1919) (i.e., the definition of the discipline). Today the debate has largely returned to Fenneman's "Circumference" in that many, if not most, geographers feel more akin to academicians in other fields than to other geographers. Thus, the social geographer, for example, …

Geographic Information Systems: An Introduction By Tor Bernhardsen, John Wiley And Sons, Sharolyn Anderson

The Geographical Bulletin

Adopting the perspective of Jack Dan - germond that " . .. most of the problems with rea l GIS now have more to do with the people and the procedures they use ... than with computer hardware and software", Tor Bernhardsen continues with the philosophy that GIS is funda - mentally plagued not by technical but hu - man and organizational problems. In this, the second edition of h is Norweg ian text originally published in 1989, Bernhardsen presents an introductory text directed more toward those individuals who apply GIS technology, than those who would develop it. As such, …

A Comparison Of Clustering Techniques Using Biogeographical Data, Lisa M. Dechano

The Geographical Bulletin

Geographers and ecologists frequently employ clustering methods to achieve meaningful ecological groups based on similarity measures. Four popular clustering techniques, and resulting similarities and differences produced by each method when applied to biogeographical data are reviewed. Data were collected and classified within a riparian site on a mid-river island in a tornadodamaged area of northwestern Pennsylvania and on upland sites on either side of the river. Results illustrate that similar environmental clusters are produced by the four methods under investigation. However, more complex relationships between upland sites and the riparian sites also emerged that would not have been discovered had …

Inter-Country Child Adoptionand The World Wide Web, James A. Tyner, Erik V. Parker

The Geographical Bulletin

Communication technologies, and especially the advent of the World Wide Web, are changing the geographies of business activities. In this paper the usage of Web sites to facilitate intercountry child adoption are examined. Using a two-pronged strategy, the content of Web sites are qualitatively analyzed and, second, through a mail survey the impact of Internet technology on the conduct of business is examined. Findings suggest that exposure, competition, networking, and cost-considerations are dominant motives for agencies to go 'on-line.' Findings also suggest, however, that latent costs are associated with these factors and question whether increased exposure leads to increased demand. …

Illinois: Spatial Scales Of Poverty, Wendy Shaw

The Geographical Bulletin

Answers gleaned in any study of poverty are in some measure a result of the spatial scale of analysis selected. This paper views poverty in Illinois from three spatial scales; the state, county, and census tract. Mapping census data reveals several facets of Illinois poverty. Illinois as a whole, is average in terms of general poverty levels, although many ofthe poor are severely impoverished. County level analysis indicates that poor rural southern Illinois contrasts with affluent urban areas. Census tract level investigation reveals that seemingly affluent urban counties in reality have a distinct internal spatial structure. The urban poor are …

Environmental Ouality As A Post-Industrial Urban Growth Strategy: The Chattanooga Case, Ola Johansson

The Geographical Bulletin

As poorly planned concentrations of production and consumption, cities can have adverse effects on environmental quality. A poor local physical environment is considered a drawback for the future vitality and economic competitiveness of a city. A strategy of urban redevelopment employed by a wide variety of cities known as the "livable city movement" is analyzed. More specifically, the environmental implications of the post-industrial city are discussed within the context of the livable city movement. This paper analyzes how Chattanooga, Tennessee, and its local political and economic elites are improving the city's environmental quality and promoting the controlled growth of the …

Projections And Perceptions The Geographic Information System: A View Of Professional Surveyors, Roland F. Self

The Geographical Bulletin

Much has been written and continues to be written regarding " Geographic Information Systems" or as it is commonly known " GIS." The acronym is bantered about with a belief that everyone has an equal understanding and awareness of exactly what it is. To some it is a technology or sophisticated software or as some definitions indicate, a GIS can " contain major components including data input, data storage and retrieval, data manipulation and analysis and data reporting subsystems." It can be "a management system which can collect, store and retrieve spatial data, identify locations meeting specific criteria, explore re …

Validation Of A Culturally Adapted Neuropsychology Screening Measure Among Older American Indians, Katherine A. Edwards

Psychology ETDs

American Indian (AI) older adults are most at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in the United States. However, there are no cognitive screening tools validated or normed for AI populations, limiting the diagnostic accuracy of current tools. In this study, a culturally adapted screening tool was adapted for three different sites with older AI adults, and validated against widely used neurocognitive screening measures to determine convergent validity. Results found that adapted story memory scores were significantly higher than unadapted scores. Additionally, culturally salient story memory scores were more consistent with measures of crystalized intelligence, while unadapted story …

Social Contributors To Differences In Math Course Attainment Among Adolescents With And Without Learning Disabilities And Adhd, Dara Shifrer, Angela Frederick, Daniel Mackin Freeman, Hannah Sean Ellefritz, Rachel Springer

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Completing advanced high school math coursework relates to better adulthood outcomes. Our understanding of why youth with learning disabilities (LDs) and/or ADHD have less access to high math course attainment is limited. Using data on around 20,000 adolescents from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, results indicate that, regardless of disability status, structural inequities in family social position are more salient for youth's math course attainment than formal disability programming, universal supports, or structural inequities in how students are sorted across schools. Among youth with the same disability status, youth from higher SES families, or whose parents have a …

Holiday Chaos To Corporate Crisis: A Lesson From Christmas Vacation In Executive Protection, Rachael A. Zerr

Publications and Research

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) may be best known for its holiday humor, but it also inadvertently highlights critical issues in corporate security and executive protection. Through the kidnapping of Clark Griswold's boss, Frank Shirley, the film illustrates the vulnerabilities faced by high-net-worth individuals and executives. This paper draws parallels between the fictional events of the film and real-world cases of executive kidnapping and violence, emphasizing the need for robust security measures. It discusses modern executive protection strategies, including risk assessments, real-time monitoring, and cybersecurity, and highlights the role of technology in mitigating threats. Ultimately, this paper argues that as …

Kingdom Street : An Adventure In Applied Theatre, Community Engagment, And Life, Julien Allen

Undergraduate Theses

This thesis consists of an applied theatre project that was performed by international youth in Louisville, Kentucky. Applied theatre has been found to be a creative strategy for working with underprivileged groups and has been shown to possess many benefits including giving a voice to marginalized communities, highlighting the positive qualities as well as issues faced by vulnerable groups, empowering youth, creating a sense of community, increasing the self-confidence of individuals and changing their view of self-worth. This project which benefited the international children in the Louisville area capitalized on the methodologies of both applied and traditional theatre practices. The …

Examining The Implicit Association Between The ‘Caucasian’ Race And Scientific Ideals, Erin Cain, Tim Messer-Kruse, Anne K. Gordon Dr.

Honors Projects

This study examines the implicit associations between the term ‘Caucasian’ and scientific ideals. The racist and pseudoscientific history of the word ‘Caucasian’ invalidates its credibility and insinuates persistent racist ideologies that continue to manifest today. The term ‘Caucasian’ seems to be popularly thought of as a more exact, specific, and scientific term than that of ‘White’. This paper includes a review of the literature about the White race and the term ‘Caucasian’, how this term originated, and the pseudoscience that created it in the 18^th century. The experiment includes a control condition, and an experimental condition that primes the …

La Noción De Comunicación Transdisciplinaria, Nagib Callaos, Cristo Leon

STEM for Success Resources

La Comunicación Transdisciplinaria conecta disciplinas y sociedad. Aprende métodos innovadores para clarificar conceptos y fomentar el entendimiento. Accede a nuestro artículo publicado en la prestigiosa Revista Iberoamericana de Sistemas, Cibernética e Informática y explora cómo la interdisciplinariedad transforma el conocimiento.
#ComunicaciónTransdisciplinaria #Interdisciplinariedad #Innovación #Educación #CienciaYSociedad

Integrating Corpus Linguistics In Vietnamese English Education: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Scholarly Perspectives And Practices, Thi Thuy Tran, Trut Thuy Pham, Thanh Thao Le

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: Our qualitative study investigated the integration of corpus linguistics in English education research among Vietnamese scholars, focusing on the experiences and perceptions across different career stages.

Methods: Employing semi-structured interviews, we engaged nine linguistics scholars, including novices as well as those at mid-career and near-end career stages, from two prominent Vietnamese institutions.

Results: Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (1) challenges in incorporating corpus linguistics into teaching practices, (2) perceived benefits in enhancing language proficiency, and (3) the importance of institutional support for corpus linguistics research. The findings indicated that despite recognizing the pedagogical benefits of corpus linguistics, scholars …

China’S Strategic Use Of Digital Media, Sarah Beddingfield

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

In modern U.S. culture, digital media has become the single greatest influencer of public opinion and is the primary source of information distribution. The discourse that once was done at town meetings is now conducted in comment sections and the hand-pressed newspaper sold on the street corner has evolved into social platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. The Chinese Communist Party, in its attempt to meet its long-held strategic goals, has leveraged this public forum for the purposes of propaganda, misleading, and distraction to support its aims. Its manipulation of this vital component of American culture and community places the …

U.S. Foreign Policy In The Sahel And The Case For A Revitalized “3r” Approach, Rodney Ford

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

This article analyzes U.S. foreign policy in the African Sahel with respect to security engagement and the emerging trilemma of democratic decline, rising violent extremism, and expanded Chinese and Russian influence. Post-9/11 security policy in the region can be historically divided into two eras of engagement: an indirect approach pursued prior to 2012, and a direct, interventionist strategy that has been carried out since 2012. Such evolution in strategy and its attendant consequences has only served to harm U.S. legitimacy and enable instability in the region. To bolster U.S. credibility in the region and enhance the resilience of Sahelian states, …

The National Defense Authorization Act V. The Bill Of Rights, David W. Bolton

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual renewal of authorization for the Pentagon to spend money separately appropriated in an appropriations bill. Authorizations contained within this controversial document have grown from permission to spend funding on military munitions to allowing the use of indefinite detention and certain ‘advanced interrogation’ techniques by the members of the armed forces against those actively or perceived to be seeking to dismantle the integrity of the American governmental structure. In 2011, it was signed into law in the middle of the night on New Year's Eve by President Barack Obama. For the purposes …

The Cost Of Happiness: The Implications Of Utilitarianism On Economics, Adam Opp

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

Bentham and Mill proposed the utilitarian theory, which has moral and economic applications. Bentham and Mill differed slightly in their ideologies, as Mill critiqued Bentham and argued that man is in a separate category from beasts. To assess this, one must study human nature and if man really is different from the beasts. To this end, utilitarianism will be discussed, but also Aristotle’s discussion on virtue, the magnanimous man, and generosity. The next critical area to discuss is what differentiates humans from beasts, and if humans are distinct. Several characteristics that differentiate men from beasts include mental, psychological, moral, and …

Eugenics Not Eradication: How People With Disabilities Have Lost The Right To Life, Ava M. Standish

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

Disability-selective abortion stems from a philosophy of eugenics, not a hope of eradication. Disabilities cannot be eradicated because they are not diseases. Eugenics seeks to purify society from those who are considered “inferior” and to encourage the rate of births considered “superior.” Eugenics continues today through selective abortion of children with disabilities. These children deserve the right to life guaranteed by natural rights, human rights, and the laws of the United States. Children with disabilities, particularly Down Syndrome, have lost this right to life in the United States and abroad. In the United States, 67% of children with Down Syndrome …

Integrating Diverse Perspectives In Graduate Statistics Education Through Academic And Library Faculty Collaboration, Christina Jones, Ethan Fridmanski, Julie A. Lorah

Journal of Graduate Librarianship

Graduate-level statistics education is often narrowly focused on the mathematical aspect of modeling. While this aspect is important, this focus results in a gap in the student’s understanding regarding the context of the development and use of statistical models. This article provides a description and initial evaluation of a program designed to address this gap. Specifically, the authors collaborated to create a reading list related to the topic of social justice in statistics and integrated the resources on this list into a graduate-level statistics class on the topic of multilevel modeling. The article describes this integration, preliminary evaluation, and future …

Creating A Road Map For Librarians To Teach Statistical Literacy, Giovanna Badia

Journal of Graduate Librarianship

This article offers a case study of the development of a workshop on reading regression results. It also provides a practical overview of how librarians, guided by their own experiences working with data, can teach others how to read descriptive statistics and regression results. The broader aim of the article is to help librarians move toward teaching a workshop on any statistical literacy topic or expand their teaching activities in this area. It includes tips for preparing to develop a statistical literacy workshop, as well as a bibliography of learning and teaching resources on statistical analysis.

Ai, American Politics, And Modern Warfare, Madisen Campbell

Space and Defense

As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms modern warfare, it will pose profound ethical challenges for America’s constitutional democracy.

Technological advancements in the world today, particularly the field of artificial intelligence (AI), impact the current political system in the United States. The importance of understanding and addressing the complex challenges and opportunities of incorporating AI into American politics is key to developing a profound understanding of AI in modern warfare and the implications it has for policy making in America. The need for policy makers and military leaders to receive insight on the development of AI and to develop strategic approaches for …

U.S. 5g Technology Policy: Competition Or Boycott?, Wes Ferguson, Kyle Vargus

Space and Defense

Rather than corral allies and partners across the globe into boycotting Chinese 5G telecommunication systems, U.S. officials should embrace free-and-fair trade competition against China, even in products and services where China may enjoy a technological lead.

The race for technological supremacy has emerged as a defining characteristic of the newest era of great power competition. China and the United States compete to become the dominant world power. Each side is racing to create the latest and most elite technologies to catapult themselves into the lead and give them the edge over their adversary. The fifth generation of wireless technology, called …

Atomic Assurance: Funding A Modern U.S. Test Readiness Program, Mark Tang

Space and Defense

To address intensified strategic competition with Russia and China, the United States should reinstate funding for a modern nuclear Test Readiness Program.

The U.S. has never faced the threat of two adversarial powers with nuclear arsenals that equal our own. With the emphasis on great power competition and mounting aggression by both China and Russia, the risk of conflict with either or both powers is growing. Currently, the U.S. is ill prepared for the possible existential challenge that is deterring conflict with two major nuclear peer adversaries. America’s defense strategy and approach towards the international order must change to protect …

Earth To Orbit: Three Models For Strengthening Space Deterrence, Anton Dahm

Space and Defense

Nuclear, cyber, and integrated deterrence models hold lessons for space deterrence strategy, including declared thresholds, resilient space architecture, and the embrace of international competition in technological innovation.

The United States depends heavily on space capabilities, significantly more than any other country. Not only does space enable navigation, communications, environmental monitoring, and other vital capabilities, but space has also been described as the most essential warfighting domain. However, the U.S. space architecture mirrors its early days: relying on important, expensive payloads on a limited number of satellites. While providing important capabilities to U.S. decision-makers, kinetic and non-kinetic weapons can easily target …

The German Zeitenwende: Turning Point Or Blind Alley?, Savannah Hollen

Space and Defense

The Zeitenwende, or turning point, announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, may end up leaving Germany with few good defense policy options.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany vowed to change course, to expand and modernize its military, which for decades has been weak relative to the size of Europe’s leading economy. As bold as Germany’s declarations have been, German leaders may well have walked into a blind alley, unsure of exactly how Zeitenwende will happen, what the final results will be, or the consequences if they never come close to …

Strategic Space Cooperation: U.S. Space Command And The National Guard’S State Partnership Program, David Moore, Jesse Morehouse, Patrick Mitchell

Space and Defense

In 2022, the U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) and the National Guard's State Partnership Program (SPP) began pursuing security cooperation objectives while integrating the space domain into greater deterrence efforts. As the newest combatant command (CCMD) with space as its Area of Responsibility (AOR), USSPACECOM has global strategic partnership interests and recognizes the value of the enduring relationships inherent in SPP. This cooperation allows the National Guard to offer its strong relationships, space expertise, and industry knowledge to USSPACECOM. This provides a foundation for USSPACECOM's security cooperation efforts. This article discusses the SPP's role in supporting USSPACECOM's engagement strategy and the …

Arms Control Optimism And Great Power Competition, Damon Coletta

Space and Defense

In its unjust war, Russia rakes at Ukrainian civilian targets using dual-capable missiles. China meanwhile tightens the screws on Taiwan as it cements its friendship with Russia and continues its buildup of strategic nuclear warheads.1 Conventional wisdom and U.S. policy under such tense conditions unduly discount expectations for arms control.2 Arms control, in the popular mind, centers on bans in testing or deployment, and is therefore terminally associated with disarmament. Trepidation about disarmament fuels assumptions in polarized democracy, and the United States in particular, about the narrow political conditions under which arms control can succeed during great power competition. Conventional …

Drone-Based, Boost-Phase Intercept Of North Korean Icbms, James D. Wells, William Priedhorsky, Frederick Lamb, Laura Grego

Space and Defense

North Korea currently has an adversarial relationship with the United States and has successfully tested both nuclear weapons and intercontinental-range ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking the continental United States.1 There are several ways the United States could attempt to address the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear-armed ICBMs. Historically, the United States has relied on a policy of projecting military strength, fostering strong alliances, and maintaining a credible threat of retaliation to deter adversaries, including those with nuclear weapons, from initiating hostilities. Some have argued that this approach has been instrumental in preventing conflict between nuclear-armed nations, including North …

A Premature Obituary For Conventional Deterrence, Jeffery S. Lehmkuhl

Space and Defense

As the United States (US) continues to shift its weight of effort towards great power competition, some scholars and practitioners have questioned the relevance of conventional forces and their ability to deter. Chief among them is Sean McFate, who asserts that “conventional war is unicorn hunting” and that “no one fights that way anymore.”1 Jim Sciutto echoes McFate’s claims in his book The Shadow War and states that the US is losing to Russia and China in a new way of warfare that is conducted below the threshold of conventional warfare.2 Leading Russian General Valery Gerasimov furthered this claim when …