Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Ecological Niches Applied To Socioeconomic Phenomena: The Case Of The Colombian Internal Conflict, Alexander Alegría, Laura Jiménez, Jhon Jairo Alvarado-Quintero

Peace and Conflict Studies

Recent studies of the Colombian conflict have shown that struggle for resource accumulation and territorial control, in a very competitive and violent environment in which the illegal armed groups are involved, is crucial to their survival and development. Here, we applied a highly successful methodology from ecology (Ecological Niche Modelling) to the problem of identifying the ideal socioeconomic conditions for the presence of a Colombian illegal armed group, named the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). We analyzed some determining factors of FARC´s presence and permanence within the Colombian territory that reflect aspects of the socioeconomic dynamics and productive capacity …

Toxic Waste Dumps And Intersectionality, Kaitlyn Vasilko

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Beginning in 2023, I started conducting environmental sociology research in Northwest Indiana communities because I wanted to apply what I had been learning in my sociology and behavioral science courses to real community problems. I that found toxic waste dumps (waste dumps that contain waste that is hazardous and require mandates established environmental regulations to ensure public safety) are disproportionately located in Northwest Indiana communities of color and poor whites, and I uncovered severe negative health effects that result from toxic waste dumps, in addition to the inequality faced by the populations impacted. I then conducted interviews in the community …

Profile Interview With Dr. Nadine Dolby, Ian Heinig, Nikhil Gloyeske

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

No abstract provided.

Crafting The Wings Of Tomorrow's Leaders, Anushka Sharma

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

SOAR is a social impact initiative I founded in partnership with Big Brothers/Big Sisters Lafayette. We provide novel leadership and character development resources for local Lafayette youth. The motto—engage, uplift, and achieve—speaks to my aims for inspiring the next generation of leaders, within Purdue members and local youth. This reflection essay is an opportunity to express the aims of SOAR, the intentionality behind this initiative, and how I hope to contribute to the development of youth in Lafayette and beyond. Mr. Brennan’s visit is a milestone for SOAR, and having the opportunity to converse with a renowned youth development leader …

Jovial Family Farm Facilitates Intergenerational Learning Opportunities Through Urban Farming, Maera Williams

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Maera Williams is a sophomore in Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University. She joined the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) Urban Farming team as a freshman and now serves as project manager of ten undergraduate students collaborating with Jovial Family Farm to design and develop three indoor hydroponics systems for a laboratory space on their property in Broad Ripple, IN. Jovial Family Farm is a nonprofit organization founded by Drs. Bobbie and Brian Jellison with the mission to provide senior citizens, their families, and their communities with meaningful engagement opportunities on an intergenerational scale through urban agricultural activities. …

Empowering Tech Professionals: Mentorship And Interview Preparation In The Face Of Industry Layoffs, Sakhi Aggrawal

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In recent years, the Information Technology (IT) industry has witnessed significant turmoil, marked by waves of mass layoffs that have left numerous skilled professionals grappling with job loss and uncertainty. The year 2023 alone saw over 250,000 tech workers in U.S.-based companies lose their livelihoods due to corporate restructuring, with renowned giants like Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta being forced to trim their workforce. This unsettling trend highligts a pressing need to support those affected and empower them to regain stability in their careers.

Against this backdrop, I, an experienced technical program manager and software engineer with a background at …

Ceo General Ability And The Takeover Market, A. Can Inci, Leila Zbib

Finance Department Faculty Journal Articles

The purpose of this study is to examine the mechanisms behind the higher performance of generalist CEOs in the takeover market compared to their specialist counterparts as measured by the market reactions to the deal announcement. We study three non-inclusive mechanisms that could enhance the performance in the takeover market for the generalist CEOs: target complexity, deal structure, and the CEO’s past merger and acquisitions (M&A) activity. We proxy target complexity by the size of the target firm, the number of segments, and the level of R&D. For the deal structure, we study the effect of tender offer, horizontal acquisition, …

The Abusive Effects Of Trauma On Leadership Styles And Performance, Robert Kraft

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

This Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Major Applied Project (MAP) investigates the relationship between toxic leadership in the military and trauma, particular how trauma can have negative, abusive effects on leadership style and performance. Most research in this area addresses trauma in postvention. This MAP addresses trauma’s potential effect on leadership style and explores the use of a pre-emptive, preventative training. Leadership theory is explored as well as trauma in the form of mental disorders, such as PTSD and narcissism. The author’s experience as an ordained pastor of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, serving as an Army Chaplain, revealed the value of …

Support For Gay Marriage In Italy And Spain: Public Perceptions In The Context Of Legalization, Dana Conley

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

In this paper factors that contribute to support for gay marriage are examined in two countries, Italy and Spain. Diffusion theory was applied to explore this idea. This research seeks to explore whether the legalization of gay marriage has an impact on the level of support for gay marriage in that country. Furthermore, this research is important to determine what factors contribute to shaping support for gay marriage. From there it may also be possible to identify where prejudices against gay marriage might come from. Personal attitudes towards support for gay marriage can vary due to a variety of factors. …

Michigan Academician, Volume 49, Issue 1

Michigan Academician

2024 Conference Abstracts

Book Review: Great Power Clashes Along The Maritime Silk Road: Lessons From History To Shape Current Strategy, Patrick C. Bratton

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Grant F. Rhode

Reviewed by Dr. Patrick C. Bratton, professor of national security and strategy studies and director of South Asian studies, US Army War College

Dr. Patrick C. Bratton, US Army War College director of South Asian Studies, reviews Grant F. Rhode’s “valuable contribution to [the] literature” that “[brings] attention to many of Eurasia’s often-forgotten maritime powers and conflicts.” Bratton highlights the particular value of Rhode’s “excellent” case studies “that deserve attention” and explains the book’s utility for policymakers while also providing a thoughtful critique of the book’s framing devices.

Firsthand Versus ‘Secondhand’ Perspectives Of Harm: Emphasising Teens’ Firsthand Perspectives Of Online Sexual Content, Harrison W. See, Giselle Woodley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article examines interview data from 24 Australian families, exploring how teens express perceived harms associated with online Sexually Explicit Material (SEM). For many teens, an encounter with SEM occurs prior to their first partnered sexual experience, often before their first kiss (Crabbe et al. 1; Power et al. 11; Woodley et al., Teen Perspectives 2). Of relevance was how teens expressed the potential harms of online SEM. Specifically, this article examines the difference between instances of teens expressing perceptions of SEM via the perspectives of others (secondhand perspectives) in contrast with instances of teens citing their own encounters with …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Employee Motivation Across Non-Profit And For-Profit Organizations, Kayla L. Lent

M.S. in Leadership

This project examines the impact of transformational leadership on employee motivation within both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Using a case study approach, the research was inspired by the author’s observations of transformational leadership in practice and its effects on employee engagement, morale, and alignment with organizational goals. A qualitative methodology was employed, featuring a semi-structured interview with a nonprofit leader to explore key components of transformational leadership: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. Findings reveal that transformational leadership fosters intrinsic motivation and strengthens organizational culture across sectors. The study concludes with practical recommendations for adopting transformational practices …

12.02.2024 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Email Address Matters

All of Us Researcher Symposium

Welcome Anya Goldman

Politics Of Peace: How Social Media Impacts Advocacy In Relation To International Conflict, Madeline Shonholtz, Christopher M. Jackson

Honors Thesis

Social Media is one of the great communicators with hundreds of platforms being used regularly to connect with others, share important life updates, and occasionally see news postings. This paper tackles the question of whether or not social media, with a focus on three platforms: Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), make an impact when it relates to an individual's opinion on International Conflict. Through data comparison and analysis, the answer will be uncovered as to whether or not social media has an impact and if so, how has that impact changed overtime with the comparison of data from 2016 …

Book Review: Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied The South, James "Andy" Nichols

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Elizabeth R. Varon

Reviewed by Lieutenant Colonel James “Andy” Nichols, US Army War College class of 2024

Lieutenant Colonel James “Andy” Nichols reviews Elizabeth R. Varon’s biography of James Longstreet, which Nichols calls “an engaging, well-researched account of [the general’s] journey through disunion, reconstruction, and reconciliation.” He writes that Varon “lifts Longstreet out of the Lost Cause mythology and, through careful archival work, enables readers understand a man who experienced personal and professional transformation and sought redemption.”

Book Review: Witness To Neptune’S Inferno: The Pacific War Diary Of Lieutenant Commander Lloyd M. Mustin, Uss Atlanta (Cl 51), Jonathan Klug

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: David F. Winkler

Reviewed by Colonel Jonathan Klug (US Army), PhD, associate dean, associate professor, and Admiral William F. Halsey Chair of Naval Studies, US Army War College

Colonel Jonathan Klug (PhD), the US Army War College’s Admiral William F. Halsey Chair of Naval Studies, identifies David F. Winkler’s contribution to the field with this book. Klug writes, “Winkler adds tremendous value to [Lloyd M.] Mustin’s comments by placing them into their proper historical context and providing insight into the development of a mid-career naval officer into a strategic leader.” Klug also notes that “this book would be especially …

Book Review: British Grand Strategy In The Age Of American Hegemony, Frank L. Jones

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: William D. James

Reviewed by Dr. Frank L. Jones, distinguished fellow, US Army War College

Dr. Frank L. Jones, a distinguished fellow of the US Army War College, provides a useful and comprehensive review of author William D. James’s first book, “an excellent study for members of the defense community who want to understand British grand strategy historically or aspire to policy-making or strategy-making positions and need a sound introduction.” Jones outlines James’s main arguments and the value of the case studies presented, including the “East of Suez” case study, a “vivid example of strategic adjustment where timing, domestic …

Women, Collective Creative Practice, And Community Health, Anne Hensley

Honors Theses

A growing body of research shows that art therapy yields positive outcomes for those experiencing stress and mood disorders. Creative arts therapies have been shown to lower cortisol, improve personal and universal outlook, decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase self-esteem and confidence, alleviate burnout, help individuals to cope with trauma, and support brain function through activity-dependent plasticity. However, little research has been done on collective and collaborative arts, and the enhanced benefits communal practice might bring. Additionally, art therapy is inaccessible to many, due to a dearth of practitioners and cultural and socioeconomic barriers to participation. Peri-, menopausal, and …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 10 - December 12, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 10 - December 12, 2024. 20 pages.

Book Review: Deterrence In The 21st Century: Statecraft In The Information Age, Timothy L. Thomas

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Authors: Eric Ouellet, Madeleine D’Agata, and Keith Stewart

Reviewed by Lieutenant Colonel Timothy L. Thomas (US Army, retired), analyst and Parameters editorial board member

Analyst Timothy L. Thomas provides a useful overview of “well-documented and thought-provoking compilation of Canadian perspectives on the interaction of modern-day deterrence postures affected by disinformation threats.” Thomas notes that “the book offers many new concepts for senior defense community experts to consider regarding deterrence and disinformation concepts and an expansive bibliography.” He also highlights the book’s treatment of China, Russia, and Hamas and writes that “[t]he numerous deterrence types . . . indicate that classical …

Book Review: Judgment At Tokyo: World War Ii On Trial And The Making Of Modern Asia, Peter M. Erickson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Gary J. Bass

Reviewed by Lieutenant Colonel Peter M. Erickson (US Army), PhD, Deputy G35, US Army Europe and Africa

Lieutenant Colonel Peter M. Erickson, PhD, provides a valuable overview of Gary J. Bass’s explanation of why the post–World War II Tokyo trials “were a relative failure.” He highlights how a lack of impartiality, the “legacy of empire,” and the judges’ backgrounds and motivations affected the trials. Erickson calls the book “a must-read for Defense community leaders who often wrestle with the strict legality of America’s tactical actions and the broader and deeper moral impacts of its strategic endeavors.”

Climbing The Not-For-Profit Leadership Ladder In Australia: Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion, Cheng Yen Loo, Shajimon Peter, Ian Moore, Michael Grove, Loretta Baldassar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This qualitative study examines equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the leadership roles of not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) where a significant number of social workers engage in professional practice. Two focus groups—one with members of the senior management of NPOs (n = 5) and another with emerging (aspiring and less experienced) leaders of NPOs (n = 6)—were conducted to gather perspectives and opinions on EDI in their organizations’ leadership roles. Four major themes emerged from the findings for promoting EDI, which include a whole of organization commitment, multilevel consideration with recruitment, mentorship, training, and advisory board as an untapped potential. Recommendations …

Sel For Well-Being And Equity In Higher Education, Colleen Conley, Deborah Donahue-Keegan

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The understood overarching purpose of higher education is to prepare students, typically young adults, with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate, thrive in, and be contributing members of society (Hurtado, 2019). In this time of unprecedented cross-sectoral complexity and volatility on a global scale, institutions of higher education must consider a more expansive set of learning and competency outcomes (Gopalan et al., 2022). This paradigm shift is essential given the alarming rise in mental health challenges on college and university campuses, deep polarization, and an increased demand for prosocial skills in workplaces across sectors (Dermody et al., 2022; Padurean …

Book Review: How The Army Made Britain A Global Power: 1688–1815, James D. Scudieri

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Jeremy Black

Reviewed by Dr. James D. Scudieri, senior research historian, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College

Senior research historian Dr. James D. Scudieri provides a detailed outline of Jeremy Black’s history of the British Army from 1688 to 1815, highlighting the author’s “theme that the British Army made the empire as much as the Royal Navy—through projecting Landpower.” Scudieri also notes the book’s value to American readers, writing, “American security professionals will see parallel insights from this small regular army within a parliamentary system” and that the “US Army’s evolution in a republic that centers the military …

Book Review: We Had To Get Out Of That Place: A Memoir Of Redemption And Betrayal In Vietnam, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Steven Grzesik

Reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College Class of 2010

Dr. Wylie W. Johnson reviews Vietnam War veteran Steven Grzesik’s memoir that, as Johnson explains, shows the effects of “the Army’s institutional policies” and how “[u]nit cohesiveness begins with senior leadership.” Grzesik’s personal experiences and the “isolation, abuse, and sacrifice of individual replacements” (which Johnson identifies as important themes in the book) provide a valuable perspective on “the imperative of caring for soldiers.”

New Employer Payroll Taxes And Entrepreneurship, Audrey Guo, Melanie Wallskog

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

How costly are taxes for young firms? In this paper, we demonstrate that even small payroll taxes significantly distort entry, growth, and hiring decisions. First, leveraging cross-sectional variation in the taxes faced by new employers, we find that higher taxes discourage new firms from hiring their first workers, with an elasticity of the number of new employers to taxes of −0.1. Second, studying changes in taxes after entry, we find that higher taxes lead more firms to exit, while also reducing employment for those who survive and leading some firms to avoid taxes by using non-taxable contract labor.

Aquatic Plant Threats To The Columbia River, Jacob Rose, Gabriel Campbell

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

These presentation slides provide an overview of some of the invasive aquatic plants that pose an emerging threat to Oregon waterways. It contains botanical notes and high-quality photographs of approximately nine different plant species. Additional slides emphasize the importance of early detection and rapid response, as well as existing resources for invasive species outreach. This presentation was given orally at the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Interagency Noxious Weed Symposium to an audience of natural resource practitioners.

Emerging Aquatic Plant Threats To Oregon Waterways, Jacob Rose, Gabriel Campbell

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

This brief presentation provides an overview some of two invasive aquatic plants that pose a threat to the Columbia River, where it borders Oregon and Washington. Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) and fragrant waterlily (Nymphaea odorata) threaten aquatic habitats up and down the Columbia River. Staff from the Center for Lakes & Reservoirs promoted a quick, picture-based key for flowering rush and lookalikes. This presentation was given orally at the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Interagency Noxious Weed Symposium to an audience of natural resource practitioners.

Adjustment To College Following The Covid-19 Pandemic, Neco Xyavier Johnson

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Adjustment to College following the COVID-19 Pandemic Objective: The present study examined the relationship between college adjustment and individual differences following the COVID-19 pandemic. It compared the adjustment of students who attended college pre-pandemic (2019) and post-pandemic (2022) and investigated the role of individual difference variables in this adjustment. Method: The study involved 118 pre-pandemic and 250 post-pandemic first-time college students. Both cohorts’ adjustment was assessed at the end of their first semester. The post-pandemic cohort was also evaluated on individual difference measures like loneliness, personality, and emotion regulation. Results: Post-pandemic students exhibited poorer adjustment compared …