Sociology Commons^™

The Perspectives Of Former Csec On The Recruitment Process Through Online Platforms, Shawnte Beacham-Houston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is the sexual exploitation of children for financial gain and is a billion-dollar industry. The sexual exploitation of children is a serious form of sexual abuse and a violation of their human rights. Previous research has explored sex trafficking victimization but not pathways to sexual exploitation. Current research does not explain how online activities and specific internet platforms are involved in CSEC recruitment and entry into the commercial sex trade industry. In this study, the way in which social media platforms are used to recruit children into the sex trade industry was addressed. The …

The Need For Belonging For Previously Incarcerated Probationers, Alaina Elam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on offender rehabilitation has primarily focused on providing those who are incarcerated with programs and resources to mitigate the circumstances that would lead to recidivism. There is an absence of research on how the need for belonging could reduce recidivism in probationers. Recidivism remains a social problem for many U.S. communities, as those being released are not properly equipped for their transition. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of probationers regarding their transition into their community, recidivism, and their need for belonging. As individual fulfillment and human motivation were examined, Maslow’s self-actualization …

Social Capital And Food Insecurity In Two Counties In Wisconsin, Yvonne Denise Greer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hunger and food insecurity are public health issues with 38 million people in the US struggling with food hardship. This study examined if there was a relationship between four types of social capital (SC) (bonding, bridging, community structural-formal, and community structural-informal), income, and food insecurity risk (FIR), in two counties in Wisconsin. A quantitative descriptive correlational study design involving multiple linear regression analysis and the integral model framework was conducted with cross-sectional secondary data from the 2014-2016 Survey of the Health of Wisconsin. Participants were from Milwaukee (n = 335) and Dane County (n = 235). Results revealed that in …

Stigma Toward People With Opioid Use Disorder In Southwest Michigan, Kathy A. Carruthers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The opioid epidemic is one of the largest health problems in America. In one Southwest Michigan county, opioid overdose deaths increased from 36 deaths in 2008 to 104 deaths in 2017. In the same county, stigma was identified as the highest-ranked reason people do not seek opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine knowledge that social work practitioners have regarding stigma toward people who inject drugs with OUD in Southwest Michigan. The purpose aligned with social work values as people with OUD are marginalized and cannot advocate for themselves. The theoretical framework that guided …

Financial Aid Knowledge And Resources Among First-Generation College Students, Carmelitia J. Coleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFirst-generation, freshmen students struggle to complete the financial aid process at a 4-year private university in Louisiana, impacting their financial and academic well-being. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore first-generation, freshmen student perceptions of how they construct knowledge about the financial aid process and resources needed to help them complete the process. The conceptual framework of the study was comprised of Piaget’s theory of constructivism, which is grounded in the idea of learners constructing their own knowledge based on experience. The first research question addressed how first-generation, freshmen students constructed knowledge about the financial aid process. …

Effects Of Intervention And Prevention Programs On Youth Risk-Taking Behavior In Monroe County, Audrey D. Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Crime committed by adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 is a recurring issue in the United States. Research showed a number of contributing factors associated with youth risk-taking behaviors and juvenile delinquency. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to improve the understanding of the relationship between intervention and prevention programs and curbing risk-taking and delinquency among adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 in Monroe County, New York. This study addressed the connection between modern theories of deviance and programs of juvenile delinquency intervention as conceptualized by Chapman as the theoretical framework. Using intrinsic case …

The Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Young Adults Who Have Transitioned Out Of State Or Other Care, Linda Rose Ross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOver 20,000 young adults are released from state care annually and 100,000 young adults are released from justice centers. Past studies have revealed that young adults 18-24 years of age transitioning out of care are not prepared for independent living and may face many adversities. The problem is that young adults have difficulties finding permanent housing once emancipated from state care, their biological homes, or juvenile justice centers. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of young adults 18-24 years of age and how their experiences and life skills helped on their journey to acquire …

Analysis Of National Origin Discrimination Suits Filed With The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Arantxa N. Almodovar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace discrimination has been a focus of scholars for several decades. Previous research has uncovered the practice of implicit bias in the form of pre-employment discrimination against minority groups based on factors not reflective of their work ethic or qualifications. The purpose of this study was to analyze national origin discrimination suits filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to understand why pre-employment discrimination continues to be a recurring issue in the workforce. The analysis focused on 46 randomly selected national origin discrimination lawsuits—two suits for each year between 1997 and 2020—of public record, which included the type of organization …

Predicted Sexual Risk By Sexual Minority Emerging And Young Adults Who Had Sex Education In School, Jewel Marie Flitcraft

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The topic of abstinence-only sex education and comprehensive sex education in schools, as well as its effectiveness, have been a subject of conversation in the United States since the beginning of the 21st century. The lack of applicable sex education for sexual minorities has been missing from the conversation, and has led to STIs, HIV/AIDs, and pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to test whether sexual minority emerging, and young adults would score higher or lower on sexual risk scale, depending on the type of sex education they received in school. The research question concerned whether the type of …

Returning Home: The Reported Reintegration Experiences Of Parents/Guardians Of African American Female Youth, Jenay Garrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American, female youth remain overrepresented in juvenile detention centers. Parental involvement has been identified as a major factor in the success of a youth’s reintegration into the community post detention; however, there is limited information about the experiences of parents/guardians of African American female youth during reintegration. The purpose of this generic, qualitative study was to gain insight and understanding regarding the reported reintegration experiences of parents/guardians of African American teenage daughters returning, home post detention, regarding their role development as parents/guardians during that time. The theoretical framework for this study is parent development theory (PDT) developed by Dr. …

Experiences Of African American Female Offenders On Parole And Under Community Supervision, Shirley Lawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American female offenders on parole under community supervision reenter communities as convicted felons and face the challenges of intersectionality and collateral consequences. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the experiences of African American female offenders active on parole and under community supervision. General strain theory was used to explore the experiences of African American female offenders on parole and under community supervision. Data were collected through semi-structured telephone interviews with a purposive sample of 10 African American female offenders, ages 18 and above who were on parole and under community supervision. Colaizzi’s seven-step method …

Community Development Practitioner Methods To Support People With Disabilities, Allison E. Lourash

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are numerous programs in the United States (US) that provide services and supports for people with disabilities with significant monetary costs and poor outcomes. Current research lacked information regarding how use of strengths-based approaches by community development practitioners supports people with disabilities and builds social capital. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore community development practitioners’ use of strengths-based approaches to support people with disabilities in their communities. The conceptual framework of social capital was used for the study. The research question involved how community development practitioners identify and provide methods to support people with …

Relationship Dynamics, Sexual Practices, And Hiv Risk Of Black Behaviorally Bisexual Women, Dajaneil S. Mccree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk that exists among women who have sex with women and men (WSWM) is influenced by behavioral factors related to condom use and penetrative sex with sex toys and body parts. Although women represent a large percentage in HIV diagnoses, research has lacked in determining the sexual behaviors that exist behind health-related risks of young women who have sex with women (WSW) and HIV. This study fills the gap in literature in HIV prevention and testing interventions for WSWM by representing Black young adult WSWM in behavioral research, identifying how their lived experiences in relationships …

Impact Of Governance Policy On Socioeconomic Development In Nigeria, Oyebola Bejide Akande

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNigeria has many human and natural resources, but its citizens live in poverty because of a lack of sufficient policies in addition to mismanagement and misappropriation of resources. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the impact of government governance policies on socioeconomic development in Nigeria to provide strategic policy direction. The institutional analysis development framework served as the theoretical foundation. The research question focused on how diverse government governance policies have impacted socioeconomic development issues in Nigeria. The perspectives of 12 policy and development experts were sought through semistructured interviews. Data were triangulated with field notes, …

Lawyers’ Perspective: The Criminal Justice System’S Support Of Domestic Abuse Victims In Jamaica., Sonia Burrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence in Jamaica can be contextually understood through radical feminism and social learning theory used in this study to explain the patriarchal social structures, intergenerational transmission of intimate partner violence, and normalization of this behavior. This phenomenological study examined the criminal justice system's support of victims of intimate partner violence and results indicated reforms to improve initiatives to eradicate this violent conduct. The data collection method was semi-structured interviews of 12 lawyers in Jamaica, functioning in a legal capacity as prosecutors and family law practitioners, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results demonstrated that the criminal justice system reduces …

Social Media Marketing Strategies For Improving Customer Relationships, Candel Cuffie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the potential benefits of social media marketing (SMM) to improve customer relationships, some small business leaders lack SMM strategies to improve customer relationships. Small business leaders who fail to improve customer relationships may observe a decline in their customer base, leading to decreased profitability. Grounded in Berry’s relationship marketing theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore SMM strategies small business leaders used to improve customer relationships. Data were collected via reviews of company documentation, participants’ social media pages, and online semistructured interviews with five small retail business leaders who used SMM strategies to improve …

Disenfranchised Residents’ Perceptions Of The Public Transportation Accessibility-Job Opportunity Mismatch In San Bernardino, California, Maggi Elgeziry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPeople access employment opportunities at a more affordable rate by using public transportation. In San Bernardino, California, poverty, minority populations, and low-skilled individuals all exceed national rates. This research explored how a cheap and reliable means of transportation would facilitate access to job opportunities that would otherwise be relatively expensive for this disadvantaged population to access. Research has documented the benefit of public transportation in communities where public transportation is pivotal in helping disadvantaged populations access job opportunities. Common good theory (CGT) was used to explain the shared benefit that communities reap when working together for a common socioeconomic purpose. …

Life In Hampton Roads Report: The 13th Annual Life In Hampton Roads Survey, Steve Parker, Randy R. Gainey, Jesse T. Richman, Tancy Vandecar-Burdin, Wensi Wilson-John, Cassandra Jagroop, Nana Boateng

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

[From the Executive Summary]

The Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at Old Dominion University is pleased to present the results from the 13th annual Life in Hampton Roads (LIHR) survey. The purpose of the survey was to gain insight into residents’ perceptions of the quality of life in Hampton Roads. This year, all survey data was collected via telephone interviews as was the case prior to the pandemic. More than two-thirds of respondents rated the quality of life in the region as excellent or good (69.3%). About 25% rated Hampton Roads’ quality of life as fair (24.7%) and 4.5% rated …

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #1: Quality Of Life, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

Life in Hampton Roads 2022 - Quality of Life

More than two-thirds of respondents rated the quality of life in the region as excellent or good (69.3%). This is slightly higher than last year (65.4%) during the pandemic and more closely reflects previous, non-COVID years (ranging from 68% to 71% between 2017-2019). About one-fourth rated Hampton Roads’ quality of life as fair (24.7%), and 4.5% rated it as poor.

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #3: Economy & Employment, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

Life in Hampton Roads 2022 - Economy & Employment

Hampton Roads residents had mixed perceptions of the economy but showed some optimism about their own financial situation. Less than half (42.4%) of those surveyed rated the economic conditions in Hampton Roads as excellent (3.1%) or good (39.3%). A similar percentage (42%) rated economic conditions as fair and 14.6% rated them as poor. Interestingly, despite the impacts of COVID-19, these ratings are not much different than in past years of the survey, during or prior to the pandemic. For example, in 2021, 47.5% rated economic conditions as excellent or good and …

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #2: Politics And Political Opinions, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

Life in Hampton Roads 2022 - Politics and Political Opinions

The Life in Hampton Roads survey always includes a few questions about political attitudes. In 2022 the questions included party affiliation, political ideology, job approval of President Biden, Gov. Youngkin and local mayors.

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #4: Health, Education & Welfare Of Hampton Roads, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

Life in Hampton Roads 2022 - Health, Education & Welfare of Hampton Roads

More than 81% of respondents rated the quality of their health as excellent (26.2%) or good (55.5%). This is about 9% higher than last year (72%), with most of the increase being in the excellent category (increasing from 17.9%). Thus, we are seeing an increase in self-reported good/excellent health close to levels reported pre-pandemic (e.g., from 82% in 2017).

Using Internet-Derived Data To Measure Religion: Understanding How Google Can Provide Insight Into Cross-National Religious Differences, Amy Adamczyk, Jacqueline Scott, Steven Hitlin

Publications and Research

Internet and social media data provide new sources of information for examining social issues, but their potential for scholars interested in religion remains unclear. Focusing on cross-national religion data, we test the validity of measures drawn from Google and Twitter against well-known existing data. We find that Google Trend (GT) searches for the dominant religions’ major holidays, along with “Buddhism,” can be validated against traditional sources. We also find that GT and traditional measures account for similar amounts of variation, and the GT measures do not differ substantially from established ones for explaining several cross-national outcomes (e.g., fertility, circumcision, and …

Unpacking The Influence Of Islamic Religious Culture And Individual Religious Affiliation On Testing Hiv-Positive, Brittany Hayes, Amy Adamczyk

Publications and Research

The distribution of HIV cases varies cross-nationally. We separate the influences of Islam at the macro-and micro-levels to understand the role of religion in shaping the spread of HIV. Drawing on biomarker data from the Demographic and Health Surveys, we construct a multilevel database (Individual N= 568,476; Country N= 30). We examine a series of national-and individual-level predictors that may mediate the relationship between Islam and testing HIV-positive. Individual religious affiliation and proportion Muslim retained their risk-reducing effects even when accounting for a range of mediators and suppressors. Islam has a sui generis effect on testing HIV-positive.

Improving Programming Learners’ Experience Through Interactive Computer Tutor Based Moocs, Ruiqi Shen

Dissertations

With the large demand for technology workers all around the world, more people are learning programming. Studies show that human tutoring is the most effective way to learn for novice programmers. However, problems such as the inaccessibility to physical classes, prohibitive costs, and the lack of educators may limit students' opportunities to learn from these resources. Additionally, because programming is a skill requiring continuous practice and immediate feedback, simply listening to lectures may not be sufficient to learn effectively. This increases the inconvenience of learners who use online learning tools such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).

In recent years, …

Conceptualization, Implementation, And Management Of The New York City Mayor’S Action Plan For Neighborhood Safety, Wogod Alawlaqi, Nicole Alexander, Rebecca Balletto, Justice Banks, Jeffrey A. Butts, Patricia A. Cobar, Edda S. Fransdottir, Jason Szkola, Kathleen A. Tomberg, Anthony Vega

Publications and Research

This research report presents the findings from the implementation assessment of the NYC Mayor's Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP). Researchers from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice relied on an assortment of evaluation data to identify outcome differences between MAP communities and the matched set of comparison communities. Using administrative and survey data, researchers tested relationships between the various efforts of MAP and key outcomes expected to result from those efforts. Information obtained through interviews and observations provided context to understand the evolution and implementation of MAP. The investigation provided policymakers with important information about the possible effectiveness …

Manila’S Black Nazarene And The Reign Of Bathala, Antonio D. Sison

Journal of Global Catholicism

A consideration of how the dynamics surrounding Manila's Black Nazarene express crucial themes in the Filipino psyche. The article specifically addresses the importance of "felt-experience" (pagdama) in devotion to the Black Nazarene as well as its connections to indigenous Filipino religion.

Catholicism In Context: Religious Practice In Latin America, Gustavo Morello Sj

Journal of Global Catholicism

A critical problem to study Catholicism in the context of Latin American modernity, is that the conceptual tools we use to study religion were designed to understand the transformations that modernity provoked in European religiosity. Studies on the religion of Latin Americans have largely explored the religiosity of the population through surveys that measure attendance, adherence and affiliation. While some anthropologists have explored religious practices among particular groups, we do not know how ordinary, urban Latin Americans practice religion. To fill this gap, a group of researchers from Boston College, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Catholic University of Córdoba, and …

Fraternity, Martyrdom And Peace In Burundi: The Forty Servants Of God Of Buta, Jodi Mikalachki

Journal of Global Catholicism

During Burundi's 1993-2005 civil war, students at Buta Minor Seminary were ordered at gunpoint to separate by ethnicity—Hutus over here, Tutsis over there! They chose instead to join hands and affirm their common identity as children of God. The forty students killed were quickly proclaimed martyrs of fraternity. Their costly solidarity defused the cry for reprisals and continues to inspire Burundians and others on the path of reconciliation. Drawing on fifty interviews with survivors, parents of martyrs, neighbors, religious leaders and other Burundian intellectuals, this essay examines how Burundian Catholics understand the significance of the Buta martyrdom to their …

Editor's Introduction, Mathew N. Schmalz

Journal of Global Catholicism

No abstract provided.