Sociology Commons^™

Healing Communities With Police Divestment: Seeking Abolition Through Transformative Reform And Community-Government Collaboration, Jessica E. Gillson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Concerns about the efficacy and sustainability of the U.S. carceral system have persisted throughout the country’s history, recently fueling renewed activism and bipartisan calls for reform. However, proposed solutions remain divisive. This thesis first defines the current status of our prison systems, then explores collaborative alternatives to incarceration and policing that support communities and break cycles of incarceration.

Focusing on partnerships among local governments, community organizations, justice-involved individuals, and law enforcement, this study examines holistic approaches to crime prevention, reentry, and reintegration. Using an interdisciplinary framework incorporating restorative justice, community resilience, and systems theory, it investigates how community-based strategies can …

The Effect Of Need For Closure, Gender Essentialism, And Contact On Transphobia, Jacob E. Vargas

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Using a motivated social cognition framework, this study explores whether there is an indirect effect of need for closure on transphobia via gender essentialism and whether this relationship is moderated by transgender contact. Data were collected from an undergraduate sample of 405 cisgender participants (n_men = 159, n_women = 246). A simple mediation and a moderated mediation were used to examine the hypothesized relationships, controlling for participant gender. Results reinforced the positive correlation between gender essentialism and transphobia and the negative correlation between transgender contact and transphobia. However, the mediation and moderation hypotheses were not supported. Need …

The Role Of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners: Addressing The Shortage And Its Implications For Healthcare, Isabel Mary Mccarthy

Nursing | Student Research Posters

The increasing prevalence of sexual assault cases has highlighted the crucial need for trained healthcare professionals who can effectively provide sensitive care for survivors. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) are registered nurses specifically trained to perform forensic examinations and provide medical and emotional support to sexual assault victims. However, many nursing programs lack formal education on SANE practices, which can hinder students' preparedness to address such cases in their future careers. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a specialized Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training module integrated into an undergraduate nursing curriculum at Dominican University of California. By …

The Impact Of Class Size On Students’ Learning Outcome And Educational Experience: A Comprehensive Examination Of Students At Msu, Mankato, Yakubu Ali

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The topic of class size and its relationship to students' learning outcomes and educational experiences has been extensively examined in the field of education. While prior research has explored associations between class size and academic performance, less is known about how class size shapes professor-student and student-peer interactions and how these interactions relate to students' perceived learning outcomes and overall educational experiences. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study conducted a comprehensive examination of undergraduate students at MSU, Mankato, combining quantitative survey responses with qualitative reflections. Findings suggest that class size is closely tied to patterns of engagement, with smaller classes …

Community Engagement Newsletter, January 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Community Engagement.

Community Engagement Newsletter

Contents:

--- Happy New Year
--- Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement
--- Cedar Valley Young Professionals
--- Service-Learning Course Designation
--- Engaged Department Institute: Save the Date, May 27-28
--- Spring Syllabus Consideration
--- Nonprofit Explore-A-Ganza
--- Certified Nonprofit Professional Credential
--- Community Engagement Celebration Day
--- UNI Engaged Podcast

Exploring Belongingness, Loneliness, And Distinctiveness On A College Of Agriculture Campus, Sophia Jaramillo-Vasconez

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

The purpose of this study was to explore how sense of belonging, loneliness, and distinctiveness affect students in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (M-G CAFE). By examining the intersection of student demographics and their experiences, this research aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the dynamics that shape students’ agricultural experiences at the postsecondary level. This study investigates the relationship between student characteristics and their reported levels of belonging and loneliness, and how these factors influence perceptions of their representation and distinctiveness within the M-G CAFE program. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed, beginning with …

Impact Of High School Racial Composition On Intercultural Competence Of Undergraduate Students, Ryuto Hashimoto

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Since the US population continues to become more diverse, it is important to foster students' intercultural competence (ICC) so that they can work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds. The existing studies have examined the impact of socialization at school on youths' development in their attitudes and behaviors in the context of classroom. However, we know little about whether or not the organizational and individual characteristics have an impact on students' ICC development. This study explored the impact of high school racial composition and individual factors such as gender on the ICC of undergraduate students. The study used the course …

Demonstrating Deservingness In College Tuition Crowdfunding Campaigns, Siqi Han

Journal of Student Financial Aid

College tuition creates a substantial financial burden for students and families in the United States. Exhausting their own financial resources to pay for their college tuition, some students seek to crowdfund their tuition – a new channel for higher education finance that may become more prevalent in the future. Distinctively, crowdfunding campaigns are not reviewed or approved in the same way as traditional funding applications, leaving space for students’ own justification for deservingness. This paper identifies the embedded semantic features in online college tuition campaigns that raised more money than the rest on a major crowdfunding platform and derives the …

Intersections Of Inattention: A Qualitative Inquiry Into The Experiences Of Multiply Marginalized Students In Community College Settings, Jana N. Knibb

Open Access Dissertations

Educational research has examined the impact of expanded access to higher education for historically marginalized groups. However, research on the experiences of students who are both racially minoritized and dis/abled is limited. Findings suggest that, due to their intersectional identities, multiply marginalized dis/abled students (MMDS) navigate policies and practices related to racist ableism, which further marginalize them and create additional barriers in their higher education experiences. Expanding this research requires theoretical frameworks that account for students' identities, experiences, and barriers in higher educational spaces and contexts. This qualitative study, grounded in Dis/ability Studies and Critical Race Theory in Education (DisCrit), …

The Boston Metco Program: Recent Alumni Experiences And Educational Equity, Maya Hernandez

Honors Theses

This project focuses on contemporary school integration practices by examining, in particular, the Boston METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity Inc) program and the experiences of its recent alumni. The METCO program, the United States’ longest-running voluntary school desegregation program, was created in 1966 to give students of color from the city of Boston better educational opportunities by busing them to the surrounding suburbs for school. To this day, it is a program meant to expand educational opportunities, increase diversity, and reduce racial isolation, by permitting students from Boston to attend public schools beyond district lines, in the suburbs. My …

Addressing Economic Instability And Workforce Turnover In Early Childhood Education: The Role Of Stipends, Wage Supplements, And Professional Development, Lucinda J. Leffler

Endeavors: Mississippi State Undergraduate Research Journal

Child care workers are vital to early childhood education, yet they face persistent economic instability, low wages, and high turnover rates. To address these challenges, states and policymakers have implemented stipends, wage supplements, and professional development programs aimed at improving financial security, job satisfaction, and workforce retention. This literature review examines the effectiveness of these initiatives across the United States, drawing on theoretical frameworks such as Vroom’s Expectancy Theory and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory to contextualize their impact. Research indicates that financial incentives significantly reduce turnover, while professional development fosters job satisfaction and career advancement. However, sustainability concerns remain, particularly with …

Nothing Short Of Superheroic: A Quantitative Study Of Lifetime Exposure To Superhero Comic Book Media As A Predictor Of Attitudes Towards Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion, Michael Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This dissertation examined the relationship between lifetime exposure to superhero comic book media and attitudes toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Drawing on theories of identity formation—transitional objects, parasocial relationships, and cultivation theory—it investigated whether engagement with superhero narratives predicted DEI attitudes. Using quantitative methods, data from 499 U.S. adults were collected via Qualtrics. Two instruments were used: the Lifetime Superhero Comic Book Media Exposure Scale (LSES) and the Intolerant Schema Measure (ISM), which assessed prejudice across race, gender, sexuality, class, age, and religion. Multiple linear regression revealed that superhero media exposure significantly predicted ISM scores (B = 0.118, …

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (Wash) Education: Activity Booklet, Noor Ul Ain, Fozia Parveen

Books

This booklet has been designed as both of informative and interactive resource. it offers practical knowledge about clean water access, safe sanitation, and hygiene practices, along with hands on activities that can be used in classrooms, community meetings, or family discussions. Whether, you are a teacher, student, health worker, or community leader, this booklet aims to empowers you with the tools and knowledge to become a WASH ambassador in your home and neighborhood.
We believe that real change begins with education and collective actions. By creating awareness and encouraging simple, everyday practices, we hope this resource contributes to a cleaner, …

Understanding And Doing Research In Education & The Social Sciences, Phillip A. Olt, Yaprak Dalat Ward, Kevin Splichal, Reade L. Dowda, Elliot Isom

All Open Educational Resources

The purpose of this book is to provide an open-access, free textbook for initial learning about research for students in the social sciences and related professional fields (such as education, social work, business, or nursing).

This OER was updated in 2026 to include accessibility updates.

Seizing The Moment: Post-Covid-19 Enrollment Trends Among Nontraditional Honors Students, Solomon Aleph

Anthós

This article investigates the motivations behind the rising enrollment of nontraditional students at Portland State University’s Honors College, which nearly doubled from 2019 to 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic. Aleph argues that nontraditional students viewed education as a means of reclaiming agency and reshaping their futures. Through interviews and a focus group with four nontraditional students, Aleph explores how the pandemic created disruption and opportunities. The study finds that while economic instability and isolation were factors, intrinsic motivations—especially a desire for self-improvement, intellectual challenge, and rewriting personal narratives—were more prominent factors shaping enrollment decisions. Drawing from this qualitative analysis, Aleph …

The Role Of Cooperative Extension In Community Development: A Study Of Success Stories And Leadership Practices, George Grant

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

The Cooperative Extension System (CES) plays a vital role in community education and development across the United States. CES agents and specialists work directly with community members to identify needs, mobilize existing assets, and empower action. Despite the overlap in the fields of CES and community development, few studies have systematically analyzed the specific practices used by extension personnel who act as facilitators of change within communities. To address this gap in knowledge, a qualitative study was conducted using directed content analysis of CES success stories published through the University of Kentucky to identify practices used among two integral positions …

Social Determinants Of Mental Health Outcomes, Ariana Fein

Honors Theses

Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, are a growing global concern with profound consequences on individuals' well-being and societal functioning. The burden of these disorders is not only psychological but also economic, affecting quality of life. Mental health outcomes are heavily influenced by a range of social determinants, such as financial status, education, and access to healthcare. While extensive research has focused on WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) countries, there remains a significant gap in understanding how these determinants affect mental health in low-resource settings or non-WEIRD countries. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring the …

Build Your Capacity For Aging Research: A Research Readiness Curriculum, Carrie Leach, Mikayla Harrison, Zachary Rowe, Dell Stubblefield, Deborah Beard, Winona Bynum, Sandra Turner-Handy, Faith Hopp, Rodlescia Sneed, Deborah Charbonneau, Rochelle Chapman, Hayley S. Thompson

Institute of Gerontology

This curriculum was developed with and for older adults in order to provide a basic understanding of the academic research process and to familiarize them with research terms and concepts to increase thier overall level of confidence engaging with researchers.

Age-Friendly Technology Toolkit, Carrie Leach, Mikayla Harrison, Deborah Beard, Dell Stubblefield, Zachary Rowe, Winona Bynum, Sandra Turner-Handy, Faith Hopp, Rodlescia Sneed, Deborah Charbonneau, Rochelle Chapman, Hayley S. Thompson

Institute of Gerontology

A toolkit created for older people who are interested in connecting through technology. Content is based on recommendations from older adults who partnered on a project to increase digital inclusion.

Boys Build, Girls Glam: An Examination Of Adult Language Use In Informal Steam Education Settings, Alexandra Horton

Theses and Dissertations

Research on STEAM education has primarily focused on formal education settings such as schools, with more research needed in informal or non-traditional education settings. As children frequently engage with informal and non-traditional education settings, it is important to understand how we can transmit information in these settings to bolster and further the learning process and increase engagement. STEAM fields have been plagued by racial and gender inequities that have led to these groups being marginalized and excluded (Blair et al., 2017; Eaton et al., 2020; Martin, 2018; Martin & Phillips, 2019; Miller et al., 2018; Newall et al., 2018, Sheffield …

Meme Wars As Socially Situated Learning: Learning In Online Communities Of Hate, Conspiracy, And Insurgency, Kevin M. Clark

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Learning is important in a pluralistic democracy, to enable citizens to make informed decisions. However, with the rise of the internet and social media, we need more than ever to understand how learning is shaped by social context and intertwined with issues of identity and belonging. One theoretical framework that addresses these social aspects of learning comes from the work of Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger on socially situated learning in communities of practice. This article focuses on what many would consider to be the darker side of learning—the rise of hate, disinformation/conspiracy, and insurgency in online communities. Specifically, it …

The Munster Statement Om Principerna För Forskningsetik Och Forskningsintegritet (Swedish), Ingenium

Dissemination

INGENIUM är en allians av tio lärosäten från tio europeiska länder. Europauniversitetet strävar efter att göra det möjligt för varje medlem i nätverket att erbjuda högkvalitativa studie- och kvalifikationsprogram med digitala komponenter som delas inom INGENIUM Alliance.

Vid universitet och högskolor läggs allt större vikt vid att främja god forskningssed inom alla aspekter av forskning1,2, inräknat allt från grundforskning till tillämpad forskning och kommersialisering. Forskningsetik (FE) och forskningsintegritet (FI) stödjer forskningsverksamhet och excellens och anses utgöra en viktig grund för att forskare ska kunna lita på varandra och på forskningsresultaten3 samt stärka allmänhetens förtroende för vetenskap och vetenskapliga resultat4. Men …

Declarația Munster Referitor La Principiile Eticii Cercetării Și Integrității Cercetării (Romanian), Ingenium

Dissemination

INGENIUM este o alianță de zece instituții de învățământ superior din zece țări europene. Această universitate europeană urmărește să permită fiecărui membru al rețelei să ofere programe de studiu și calificare de înaltă calitate, cu componente digitale care sunt partajate în cadrul Alianței INGENIUM.

În instituțiile de învățământ superior se pune un accent din ce în ce mai mare pe promovarea bunelor practici de cercetare în toate aspectele cercetării1,2, de la cercetarea fundamentală la cercetarea aplicată la comercializare. Etica cercetării (EC) și integritatea cercetării (IC) stau la baza activității și excelenței în cercetare și sunt considerate o componentă critică a …

The Munster Statement On The Principles Of Research Ethics And Research Integrity (English), Ingenium

Dissemination

INGENIUM is an alliance of ten institutions of higher education from ten European countries. This European University seeks to enable each member of the network to offer high-quality study and qualification programmes with digital components that are shared within the INGENIUM Alliance.

In Higher Education Institutions there is a growing emphasis on promoting good research practices in all aspects of research1,2, including everything from fundamental research to applied research to commercialisation. Research ethics (RE) and research integrity (RI) underpin research activity and excellence and are considered a critical component of the basis for researchers to trust each other as well …

La Déclaration De Münster Sur Les Principes D'Éthique Et D'Intégrité De La Recherche (French), Ingenium

Dissemination

INGENIUM est une alliance de dix établissements d'enseignement supérieur de dix pays européens. Cette université européenne vise à permettre à chaque membre du réseau de proposer des programmes d'études et de qualification de haute qualité avec des composantes numériques partagées au sein de l'Alliance INGENIUM.

Dans les établissements d'enseignement supérieur, l'accent est de plus en plus mis sur la promotion de bonnes pratiques de recherche dans tous les aspects de la recherche12, y compris la recherche fondamentale, la recherche appliquée et la commercialisation. L'éthique de la recherche (ER) et l'intégrité de la recherche (IR) soutiennent l'activité et l'excellence de la …

Munster Statement Zu Den Grundsätzen Der Forschungsethik Und Forschungsintegrität (German), Ingenium

Dissemination

INGENIUM ist ein Zusammenschluss von zehn Hochschulen aus zehn europäischen Ländern. Ziel dieser Europäischen Universität ist es, jedem Mitglied des Netzwerks ein qualitativ hochwertiges Studien- und Qualifizierungsangebot mit digitalen Komponenten anzubieten, die in der INGENIUM Alliance geteilt werden.

In den Hochschuleinrichtungen wird zunehmend Wert auf die Förderung guter Forschungspraktiken in allen Bereichen der Forschung gelegt1, 2 von der Grundlagenforschung über die angewandte Forschung bis hin zur Kommerzialisierung. Forschungsethik (RE) und Forschungsintegrität (RI) bilden die Grundlage für Forschungstätigkeit und -exzellenz und gelten als wesentliche Voraussetzung für das Vertrauen der Forschenden untereinander sowie in die Forschungsergebnisse3 und stärken das Vertrauen der Öffentlichkeit …

Η Δήλωση Munster Για Τις Αρχές Δεοντολογίας Της Έρευνας Και Ακεραιότητας Της Έρευνας (Greek), Ingenium

Dissemination

Το INGENIUM είναι μια συμμαχία δέκα ιδρυμάτων τριτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης που εκτείνονται σε ισάριθμες ευρωπαϊκές χώρες. Αυτό το Ευρωπαϊκό Πανεπιστήμιο επιδιώκει να καταστήσει ικανό κάθε μέλος του δικτύου να προσφέρει υψηλής ποιότητας προγράμματα σπουδών και κατάρτισης με ψηφιακές συνιστώσες που είναι κοινά στο πλαίσιο της συμμαχίας INGENIUM.

Στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση σημειώνεται αυξανόμενη έμφαση στην προώθηση ορθών ερευνητικών πρακτικών σε όλες τις πτυχές της έρευνας1,2, συμπεριλαμβανομένων όλων των τομέων από τη βασική έως την εφαρμοσμένη έρευνα και την εμπορική εκμετάλλευσή της. Η δεοντολογία της έρευνας (ΔτΕ) και η ακεραιότητα της έρευνας (ΑτΕ) στηρίζουν την ερευνητική δραστηριότητα και την αριστεία και θεωρούνται κρίσιμες …

Munsterin Julkilausuma Tutkimusetiikan Ja Hyvän Tieteellisen Käytännön Periaatteista (Finnish), Ingenium

Dissemination

INGENIUM on kymmenen Eurooppalaisen korkeakoulun verkosto, joka antaa verkoston jäsenille mahdollisuuden tarjota korkealaatuista koulutusta, hyödyntäen INGENIUM-allianssin yhteisiä digitaalisia opintokokonaisuuksia.

Korkeakouluissa painotetaan yhä enemmän hyvien tutkimuskäytäntöjen edistämistä kaikilla tutkimuksen osa-alueilla1,2 perustutkimuksesta soveltavaan tutkimukseen ja kaupallistamiseen. Tutkimusetiikka ja hyvä tieteelinen käytäntö tukevat tutkimustoimintaa ja huippuosaamista, ja niitä pidetään tärkeänä osana tutkimuksen perustaa, jonka avulla tutkijat luottavat toisiinsa ja tutkimusansioihin 3ja vahvistavat yleisön luottamusta tieteeseen ja tieteellisiin tuloksiin4. Koska ohjeita on kuitenkin lukuisia, on välttämätöntä laatia lausunto, joka mahdollistaa johdonmukaisen lähestymistavan tutkimusetiikkaan ja hyvään tieteelliseen käytäntöön koko INGENIUMissa.

Koska tutkimusetiikka ja hyvä tieteellinen käytäntö ovat merkityksellisiä kaikkien tieteenalojen tutkimuksessa, on erityisen tärkeää, että …

Изявлението От Мюнстер Относно Принципите На Научноизследователската Етика И Почтеността На Научните Изследвания (Bulgarian), Ingenium

Dissemination

INGENIUM е алианс на десет висши учебни заведения от десет европейски държави. Този европейски университет се стреми да даде възможност на всеки член на мрежата да предлага висококачествени програми за обучение и квалификация с цифрови компоненти, които се споделят в рамките на INGENIUM Alliance.

Във висшите учебни заведения се поставя все по-голям акцент върху насърчаването на добри изследователски практики във всички аспекти на научните изследвания1, 2включително всичко - от фундаментални изследвания до приложни изследвания и комерсиализация. Изследователската етика (RE) и интегритет на научните изследвания (RI) са в основата на научноизследователската дейност и високите постижения и се считат за критичен компонент, …

Dichiarazione Di Munster Sui Principi Etici E Sull‘ Integrità Della Ricercar (Italian), Ingenium

Dissemination

INGENIUM è un'alleanza di dieci istituti di istruzione superiore di dieci paesi europei. Questa università europea cerca di facilitare ciascun membro della rete nell‘ offrire programmi di studio e titoli di alta qualità con componenti digitali che sono condivisi all'interno dell'Alleanza INGENIUM.

Negli istituti di istruzione superiore vi è una crescente enfasi sulla promozione di buone pratiche in tutti gli aspetti della ricerca12, da quella di base a quella applicata finanche alla commercializzazione. L'etica della ricerca (RE) e l'integrità della ricerca (RI) sono alla base dell'attività e dell'eccellenza della ricerca stessa e sono considerate una componente fondamentale della base affinché …