Sociology Commons^™

Framing Red Power: The American Indian Movement, The Trail Of Broken Treaties, And The Politics Of Media, Jason A. Heppler

Department of History: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study explores the relationship between the American Indian Movement (AIM), national newspaper and television media, and the Trail of Broken Treaties caravan in November 1972 and the way media framed, or interpreted, AIM's motivations and objectives. The intellectual and political currents present in the 1960s, including the ideas of Vine Deloria, Jr., and the successes of the Civil Rights Movement, influenced the development of AIM's ideas about militant tactics and the role media played in social movements. AIM entered the national stage with the occupation of the Bureau oflndian Affairs in late 1972 and used television broadcasts and print …

Healers And Helpers, Unifying The People: A Qualitative Study Of Lakota Leadership, Kem M. Gambrell

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this critical grounded theory qualitative study was to explore Lakota Leadership from a Native perspective. Interviews were conducted with enrolled members of a Lakota tribe in an urban setting as well as on the Rosebud reservation to gain better awareness of leadership through a non-mainstream viewpoint. Previously, in order to understand leaders and followers, research limited its scope of discernment to dominant society, implying that non-mainstream individuals will acquiesce, or that differences found are inconsequential. Leadership scholars also have implied that leadership theory is “universal enough”, and can be applied globally regardless of influences such as race, …

Open-Ended Questions In Web Surveys: Can Increasing The Size Of Answer Boxes And Providing Extra Verbal Instructions Improve Response Quality?, Jolene D. Smyth, Don A. Dillman, Leah Melani Christian, Mallory Mcbride

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Previous research has revealed techniques to improve response quality in open-ended questions in both paper and interviewer-administered survey modes. The purpose of this paper is to test the effectiveness of similar techniques in web surveys. Using data from a series of three random sample web surveys of Washington State University undergraduates, we examine the effects of visual and verbal answer-box manipulations (i.e., altering the size of the answer box and including an explanation that answers could exceed the size of the box) and the inclusion of clarifying and motivating introductions in the question stem. We gauge response quality by the …

Too Many Friends: Social Integration, Network Cohesion And Adolescent Depressive Symptoms, Christina D. Falci, Clea Mcneely

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Using a nationally representative sample of adolescents, we examine associations among social integration (network size), network cohesion (alter-density), perceptions of social relationships (e.g., social support) and adolescent depressive symptoms. We find that adolescents with either too large or too small networks have higher levels of depressive symptoms. Among girls, however, the ill effects of over-integration only occur at low levels of network cohesion. For boys, in contrast, the ill effects of over-integration only occur at high levels of network cohesion. Large social networks tend not to compromise positive perceptions of friend support or belonging; whereas, small networks are associated with …

Bidirectional Partner Violence Among Homeless Young Adults: Risk Factors And Outcomes, Kimberly A. Tyler, Lisa A. Melander, Harmonijoie Noel

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

One of the most prevalent forms of violence in contemporary society is the victimization of intimate partners. Although it has been established that homeless young people experience high levels of victimization on the street, little is known about partner violence (PV) experiences among this group, especially bidirectional violence. As such, the purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of PV and bidirectional violence and to investigate risk factors and outcomes of this form of violence using a sample of homeless young adults. Overall, 59% of the sample experienced bidirectional violence. Multivariate results reveal that sexual abuse and neglect …

The Continuing Relevance Of Family Income For Religious Participation: U.S. White Catholic Church Attendance In The Late 20th Century, Philip Schwadel, John D. Mccarthy, Hart M. Nelsen

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

The relevance of family income for religious participation in the United States has been largely ignored in recent decades. Addressing this neglect, we focus our attention primarily upon white Catholics, the poorer of whom we reason have fewer options to participate in the context of an increasingly middle-class Church. Analyzing the 1972-2006 cumulative General Social Survey data, we show that net of all other factors low-income white Catholics attend church less often than other white Catholics, although social integration mechanisms significantly moderate the effects of income. Additional analyses suggest that the effects of income on church attendance are greatest for …

Hetero-Romantic Love And Heterosexiness In Children’S G-Rated Films, Karin A. Martin, Emily Kazyak

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This article examines accounts of heterosexuality in media for children. The authors analyze all the G-rated films grossing $100 million dollars or more between 1990 and 2005 and find two main accounts of heterosexuality. First, heterosexuality is constructed through hetero-romantic love relationships as exceptional, powerful, magical, and transformative. Second, heterosexuality outside of relationships is constructed through portrayals of men gazing desirously at women’s bodies. Both of these findings have implications for our understanding of heteronormativity. The first is seemingly at odds with theories that claim that heterosexuality’s mundane, assumed, everyday ordinariness lends heteronormativity its power. In fact, the authors suggest …

Estimating The Extent Of Human Trafficking From Ukraine: Final Report, Dwayne Ball, Ronald Hampton

Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking: 1st (2009)

This report summarizes the results of three studies done to estimate the extent of human trafficking from Ukraine. The studies were designed and reported by Dr. Ronald Hampton, principal investigator, Dr. Dwayne Ball, and (for one study) Ms. Julie Pennington, all of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration Marketing Department.

Our intent in doing multiple survey studies was to attempt to converge on an estimate. Each method used has different and inevitable threats to validity, and there is no perfect method for estimating the extent of such a rare, hidden, and sometimes shameful event. Therefore, by using methods …

Australian Families, Cultures, And Environments: An Annotated Bibliography, Judi Geggie, John Defrain, Nikki Defrain, Greg Blyton, Leanne Holt

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

This annotated bibliography of books and other cultural resources is offered to readers interested in developing a broad and inclusive understanding of Australian families and the cultural, social, political, economic, historical, and geographic environment in which they live. The contributions of Indigenous Australians, which date back 40,000 to 60,000 years are especially emphasized here.

Predictors Of Educational Program Usage Within United States Prisons, Grant E. Tietjen

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study investigates factors that predict inmate participation in prison educational programs using the Bureau of Justice (BJS) 2004 Survey of State and Federal Inmates. I apply the theories of controlology, Marxist criminological theory, and critical education theory. I then review the literature on various types of prison educational programs. The potential predictors of educational program participation are ethnicity, age, children, marital status, class, prior education, sentence length, and type of crime. I hypothesize that people who have higher socio-economic status (SES), shorter sentence lengths, higher levels of pre-incarceration education, and inmates convicted of non-violent crimes are more likely to …

The University Of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study: Predictors Of Human Serum Dioxin Concentrations In Midland And Saginaw, Michigan, David H. Garabrant, Alfred Franzblau, James Lepkowski, Brenda W. Gillespie, Peter Adriaens, Avery Demond, Elizabeth Hedgeman, Kristine Knutson, Lynn Zwica, Kristen Olson, Timothy Towey, Qixuan Chen, Biling Hong, Chiung-Wen Chang, Shih-Yuan Lee, Barbara Ward, Kathy Ladronka, William Luksemburg, Martha Maier

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Background: We conducted a population-based human exposure study in response to concerns among the population of Midland and Saginaw counties, Michigan, that discharges by the Dow Chemical Company of dioxin-like compounds into the nearby river and air had led to an increase in residents’ body burdens of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), here collectively referred to as “dioxins.”

Objectives: We sought to identify factors that explained variation in serum dioxin concentrations among the residents of Midland and Saginaw counties. Exposures to dioxins in soil, river sediments, household dust, historic emissions, and contaminated fish and …

The University Of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study: Population Survey Results And Serum Concentrations For Polychlorinated Dioxins, Furans, And Biphenyls, Elizabeth Hedgeman, Qixuan Chen, Biling Hong, Chiung-Wen Chang, Kristen Olson, Kathleen Ladronka, Barbara Ward, Peter Adriaens, Avery Demond, Brenda W. Gillespie, James Lepkowski, Alfred Franzblau, David H. Garabrant

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Background: The University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study was undertaken to address concerns that the discharge of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) from the Dow Chemical Company in the Midland, Michigan, area had resulted in contamination of soils in the Tittabawassee River floodplain and the city of Midland, leading to an increase in residents’ body burdens of these compounds.

Objective: In this article we present descriptive statistics from the resident survey and sampling of human serum, household dust, and soil and compare them with other published values.

Methods: From a multistage random sample of populations in …

Depressive Symptoms, Gender, And Growth In Cigarette Smoking Among Indigenous Adolescents, Les B. Whitbeck, Mansoo Yu, Dennis E. Mcchargue, Devan M. Crawford

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This study reports findings from two-level growth curve modeling of cigarette smoking and depressive symptoms based on the first three waves of data from a longitudinal study of Indigenous adolescents and their parents/caretakers in the northern Midwest and Canada. The 743 adolescents were aged 10–13 years at Wave 1 and 12–15 years at Wave 3. Over the three years of the study the overall retention rate was 93%. By Wave 3, 39% of the adolescent girls and 25% of the boys had smoked cigarettes in the past 12 months. The growth curve results indicated that smoking increased for both adolescent …

The University Of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study: Methods For An Environmental Exposure Study Of Polychlorinated Dioxins, Furans, And Biphenyls, David H. Garabrant, Alfred Franzblau, James Lepkowski, Brenda W. Gillespie, Peter Adriaens, Avery Demond, Barbara Ward, Kathy Ladronka, Elizabeth Hedgeman, Kristine Knutson, Lynn Zwica, Kristen Olson, Timothy Towey, Qixuan Chen, Biling Hong

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Background: The University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study (UMDES) was undertaken in response to concerns that the discharge of dioxin-like compounds from the Dow Chemical Company facilities in Midland, Michigan, resulted in contamination of soils in the Tittabawassee River floodplain and areas of the city of Midland, leading to an increase in residents’ body burdens of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans.

Objectives: The UMDES is a hypothesis-driven study designed to answer important questions about human exposure to dioxins in the environment of Midland, where the Dow Chemical Company has operated for > 100 years, and in neighboring Saginaw, Michigan. In addition, …

Engaging Latinos In Culturally Specific Educational Programming: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Paul R. Springer, Cody S. Hollist, Karen Buchfink

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

Results from the 2000 United States census highlighted that the Latino population had exceeded the African American population as the largest U.S. minority group. Furthermore, during the past 20 years, migration patterns for Latino families have spread throughout the West, Midwest, and South and not merely in the border states. To meet the rising educational and human service needs, professionals have sought to develop programs that are effective at helping the Latino populations. This article presents a theoretical model for engaging Latinos in family and consumer science education and outreach programs. The model was designed for family and consumer science …

Call For Papers And Presentations: First Annual Interdisciplinary Conference On Human Trafficking, Unl Human Trafficking Team

Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking: 1st (2009)

PAPER AND PRESENTATION TOPICS: We solicit papers from all academic disciplines, including all social sciences, economics and business, law, journalism, womens’ and gender studies, public health, math and statistics, education, etc. We solicit speakers and researchers from government, NGO, and foundations to present papers or talks.

Birth Weight, Math And Reading Achievement Growth: A Multilevel Between-Sibling, Between-Families Approach, Bridget J. Goosby, Jacob Cheadle

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

We used multilevel covariance structure analysis to study the relationship between birth weight, family context and youth math and reading comprehension growth from approximately ages 5 through 14 within and between families. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Child Sample, we examined the relationship between birth weight and subsequent academic achievement growth disparities, distinguishing between birth weight and other contextual social confounders. We found that smaller birth weight is associated with lower math and reading scores at age 5. Additional findings indicated that the home environment has important developmental consequences from early childhood and into adolescence. Overall, …

Seward Casa Board Development Workshop, Heartland Center For Leadership Development

Heartland Center for Leadership Development Materials

Agenda from the Seward CASA Board Development Workshop, February 21, 2009, presented by the Heartland Center for Leadership Development.

Intervention Implementation Integrity Within Conjoint Behavioral Consultation: Strategies For Working With Families, Michelle S. Swanger-Gagne, Andrew Garbacz, Susan M. Sheridan

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools: Faculty Publications

Mental health services in school systems can take many forms. Behavioral consultation is one efficacious and commonly used form of indirect service delivery. Indirect service delivery models are unique in that an intermediate person, the consultee, provides treatment directly to a client. The effectiveness of the intervention depends in large part on the degree to which the consultee implements the intervention as designed. Families of children at-risk for school failure may experience challenges implementing an intervention developed through a consultation model. Some researchers have noted that the implementation of treatment plans is influenced by “events in the real world” including …

Trafficking And Extortion Of Burmese Migrants In Malaysia And Southern Thailand, U.S. Senate Committee On Foreign Relations

Human Trafficking: Data and Documents

In recent years, Malaysian print and television media, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), as well as international NGOs and media, have reported the alleged mistreatment of Burmese migrants in Malaysia, along the Malaysia-Thailand border, and in southern Thailand. While the allegations which led to the preparation of this report are not new, the report’s content is based on first person accounts of extortion and trafficking in Malaysia and along the Malaysia- Thailand border. Committee information comes from experiences of Burmese refugees resettled in the United States and other countries. Malaysian Government officials continually deny such allegations. As reported recently in the …

Trafficking And Sex Tourism Faqs, U.S. Department Of Justice

Human Trafficking: Data and Documents

Trafficking and Sex Tourism FAQs.

Effects Of Recent Television Signal Changes On Rural Nebraskans, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Adapting to the Current Economic Climate in Non-Metropolitan Nebraska

Well-Being In Non-Metropolitan Nebraska: Perceptions Of The Present And Views Of The Future, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Views of Community Life in Rural Nebraska

Working In Non–Metropolitan Nebraska, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Perceptions of Well-being and Personal Finance Among Rural Nebraskans

Satisfaction With Community Life In Non-Metropolitan Nebraska, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Working in Non–Metropolitan Nebraska

Adapting To The Current Economic Climate In Non-Metropolitan Nebraska, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Television Signal Changes and Rural Nebraskans

Women Librarians In Nigerian Universities: Their Status, Occupational Characteristics, And Development, Chinwe M. T. Nwezeh

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

This paper investigates the current status and occupational characteristics of professional academic women librarians in Nigeria. This paper also discusses the concept of gender participation in librarianship and the effects on the profession with respect to females. General obstacles faced by females in librarianship are examined. The findings reveal that despite some cultural traits that still affect the woman’s position, women academic librarians in Nigeria can still advance to any height in the profession. This study shows that they do not experience any form of discrimination from their male counterparts in terms of remuneration or career development.

Increasing Retention Rates In Minority Librarians Through Mentoring, Antonia Olivas, Richard Ma

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Thesis

Maintaining healthy mentoring relationships throughout librarians’ careers helps to increase retention rates among minority librarians and promotes diversity in upper-management.

Abstract

Recruitment of minority librarians has been at the forefront of library literature for decades. However, what happens to those librarians after they graduate from library school and get their first library jobs? Do they stay in the profession for long? Is there a support system to help them maintain the excitement and novelty of their career choice after they’ve been wooed by scholarships and residency programs? This article will discuss the results of a study conducted by librarians …

Stress, Status, And Sociability: Exploring Residential Satisfaction In The Rural Midwest Following Rapid Immigration, James Potter, Rodrigo Cantarero, Amy E. Boren

Architecture Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

This investigation examined predictors of residential satisfaction among newly arrived residents (NAR) and long-term residents (LTR) of a rural community following a rapid influx of immigrants into the community. The physical environment, social/cultural aspects of life, and resources and public services were hypothesized to affect perceptions of residential satisfaction. Both LTR and NAR were pleased with environmental attributes, sociocultural attributes, and public services. An inverse relationship was revealed between stress and residential satisfaction. The primary sources of stress for LTR related to economics and social status issues, whereas the primary sources of stress among NAR involved issues concerning family and …

Characteristics Of Suspected Human Trafficking Incidents, 2007-08, Tracey Kyckelhahn, Allen J. Beck, Thomas H. Cohen

Human Trafficking: Data and Documents

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and its 2003, 2005, and 2008 reauthorizations are the first comprehensive federal legislation to combat human trafficking and to assist trafficking victims. Under the TVPA, human trafficking has occurred if a person was induced to perform labor or a commercial sex act through force, fraud, or coercion. Any person under age 18 who performs a commercial sex act is considered a victim of human trafficking, regardless of whether force, fraud, or coercion were present.