Sociology Commons^™

Immigration And Farm Labor In The U.S., Philip Martin, Douglas B. Jackson-Smith

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Hired workers comprise 33 percent of people employed on farms but do an estimated 60 percent of the work performed on U.S. farms. Most hired farm workers were born abroad, usually in Mexico, and most are believed not to be authorized to work in the U.S. Changes in Mexico-US migration flows and more restrictive immigration laws and policies have increased the vulnerability of U.S. agriculture to labor supply shocks, which could increase costs and threaten the ability of some farmers to harvest laborintensive crops. Congress is considering major changes in immigration policies. Farm employers want access to a reliable supply …

Relationship Between Occupational Complexity And Dementia Risk In Late-Life: A Population Study, Daylee Rose Greene

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

According to cognitive reserve theory, challenging and/or stimulating cognitive activities can build a theoretical reserve, which may lead to a delay in the clinical expression of dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease. These cognitively stimulating activities are thought to build cognitive strategies and neural pathways that are more efficient, enabling the individual to live symptom-free for a longer period of time. One mechanism through which cognitive reserve can be built is by participating in an occupation high in cognitive complexity. When individuals hold an occupation that is high in complexity, they may build their cognitive reserve in such a manner as to …

Predictors Of Physical Activity Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis, Emily Jean Bennett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease with a wide range of symptoms that vary from fatigue to paralysis. People diagnosed with MS will have the disease for the rest of their lives because there is no cure. If there was a way to alleviate the severity of the symptoms or slow the progression of the disease then that would be something important of those with MS to know.

A health behavior that promises to slow the progression of the MS for people diagnosed with this disease is physical activity. Research has shown that an exercise program improves several measures …

Chinese People's Perceptions Of And Preparedness For Democracy, Xiangyun Lan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Democratization in China has been receiving attention from all over the world. In the US, a large percentage of media reports about China contribute to report democratization related political issues. And as a mainland Chinese citizen living under an undemocratic regime, I have always felt compelled to do research on democratization in China society. This thesis describes a research study conducted to understand how Chinese people understand the notion of democracy, and with this notion how they perceive to democratize their society. The result of this research's analysis shows that Chinese people view democracy similar to a western notion; and …

Race And Ethnic Differences In Parent Time Spent On Children's Education, Zurishaddai A. Garcia

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Academic success including high school completion is greatly important for today’s youth. Greater opportunities, such as college and work acceptance, are available to youth who graduate high school. For this reason, the differences that exist in high school completion rate across race and ethnicity as a nation are a major concern.

Research shows an association between parents being involved in their children’s education and students’ improved academic achievement. Parents can play a role in their children’s education and setting aside time to do so is a good place to start.

The present study used the American Time Use Survey to …

La-Icp-Ms Analysis Of Quartzite From The Upper Gunnison Basin, Colorado, Bonnie L. Pitblado, Molly Boeka Cannon, Hector Neff, Carol M. Dehler, Stephen T. Nelson

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

We report the results of LA-ICP-MS analysis of 402 quartzite samples representing 48 collection loci in the Upper Gunnison Basin (UGB), Colorado and determine the extent to which the sources can be geochemically discriminated from one another using this non-destructive technique. The ability to differentiate among the sources would open the door to provenance studies of the quartzite chipped-stone tools and debitage that constitute 95% or more of most of the 3000-plus prehistoric site assemblages documented in the UGB. Our samples represent prehistorically quarried and non-quarried quartzite sources, including outcrop (primary) and gravel (secondary) deposits. The results reveal spatial and …

Targeting And Local Health Promotion, Reed Geertsen

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Almost two-thirds of

our adult population is overweight, and more than one-third are obese. The

obesity rate is twice what it was in 1970. Most local health departments try to

address this problem with nutrition and weight control clinics, but these clinics are often

underutilized. This study examined the effects of nine independent variables on a person's

inclination to use a nutrition/weight control clinic at ·a local health department in one of Utah's

twelve health districts. It was undertaken to identify the types of individuals who were most

likely to use …

White Paper #3: Implementation Drivers, Alexander Fronk, Krista Gurko, Ann Berhout Austin

Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Publications

This paper summarizes the results from interviews with CCR&R and the Utah Office of Child Care (OCC) about the implementation of Care About Child Care (CAC) relative to implementation drivers. As was discussed in the first white paper, implementation drivers describe groups of behaviors that build and maintain the program. Drivers are split into three categories including competency drivers that support the capability of staff; organization drivers that support the infrastructure necessary to implement a program; and leadership drivers, or characteristics of those who successfully manage the program implementation.

Barriers To Critical Thinking Across Domains, Reed Geertsen

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

The transfer of critical thinking across domains presents both a significant

challenge and meaningful opportunity for college education as well as

programs of continuing education and · efforts to encourage lifelong learning.

After examining different approaches to teaching critical thinking, this paper examines some of

the barriers to transfer across domains using an interactionist perspective. This perspective

underscores the fact that developing and using critical thinking is a lifelong endeavor due to the

tunnel-vision tendencies that naturally follow from situated learning in a particular domain. Two

case studies are presented to illustrate the potential blinding effects of situated learning

resulting …

“Babies Aren’T Persons”: A Survey Of Delayed Personhood, David F. Lancy

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

To better understand attachment from a cross-cultural and historical perspective, I have amassed over 200 cases from the ethnographic and archaeological records that reveal cultural models (D'Andrade and Strauss 1992) of infancy. The 200 cases represent all areas of the world, historical epochs from the Mesolithic to the present and all types of subsistence patterns (Appendix 1). The approach is inductive where cases with similar models of infancy are clustered into archetypes. My principal finding from this analysis is that, in the broadest overview, infants are, effectively, placed on probation and not immediately integrated into the society. Attachment failure is …

White Paper #4: Summary And Recommendations, Alexander Fronk, Krista Gurko, Ann Berhout Austin

Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Publications

This is the fourth and last white paper in the series describing an implementation science evaluation of Utah’s Care About Childcare (CAC) QRIS program. CAC is a voluntary, strengths-based program wherein providers report the quality criteria met by their child care program. CAC is administered by the Utah Office of Child Care (OCC) and the regional CCR&R offices. OCC staff and CCRR directors and staff involved in CAC were interviewed for this white paper series. Their responses are organized according to an implementation science framework. Methods are reported in the first white paper. In this paper we report on CAC’s …

White Paper #2: Structure Of Care About Childcare, Alexander Fronk, Krista Gurko, Ann Berhout Austin

Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Publications

In this white paper we describe interviewees’ perceptions of the implementation process for Utah’s Care About Childcare (CAC). White paper #1 outlined the research methods used and the components of implementation science that were under investigation. This white paper summarizes interviewees’ observations on the implementation components of source, destination, communication link, feedback loop, and sphere of influence.

White Paper #1: Implementation, Introduction, And Methods, Alexander Fronk, Krista Gurko, Ann Berhout Austin

Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Publications

The purpose of this series of white papers is to report on the findings of an initial evaluation of Utah’s Care About Childcare program (CAC) using an implementation science framework. Care About Childcare is Utah’s version of the federal Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for child care providers, but unlike other states’ QRISs, Utah’s QRIS is a Quality Recognition and Information System. CAC was developed by the Utah Office of Child Care (OCC). It is a strengths-based, voluntary program in which providers identify and report the quality that they have achieved beyond the basic licensing requirements.

First-Time Homebuyers' Perceived Preparedness: A Realtors' Perspective, Jordan Jerome Aaberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Realtors are usually homebuyers' first contact in buying a home. It is the realtor's goal to work in the best interest of the client. Agents provide all avenues of opportunity to first-time homebuyers (FTHBs) such as FTHB programs, mortgage options, and connections with inspectors, appraisers, and title companies. Realtors work with clients and other real estate agents in connecting sellers and buyers and creating real estate transactions. FTHBs have the option to trust their agents wholeheartedly and accept what they are saying to be true and in their best interest, or they can become educated about the home-buying process and …

The Role Of Educational Attainment In Migration Probability And Destination Selection For The Metropolitan Rust Belt, 1980-2000, Paul D. Jacobs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The metropolitan Rust Belt has long been recognized as the industrial center of the United States. By the year 2000 many Rust Belt residents were leaving these industrial metropolitan areas for other parts of the country. My research looks to examine how deindustrialization triggers out migration in selected industrial metropolitan areas as well as how migrants are selected by educational attainment. Following this analysis, I examine proximate measures of social capital compared to educational attainment to determine which factors are most important for interregional migration decisions.

Using census data for 1980, 1990, and 2000, I find that higher levels of …

The Effects Of The Political Landscape On Social Movement Organization Tactical Choices, Jennifer Marie Swalboski

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis examines the tactics used by organizations in Minnesota and Utah pursuing rights and protections for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. Minnesota and Utah provided good examples of LGBT movements that are pursuing moderate goals such as anti-discrimination or anti-bullying legislation. Minnesota movement organizations operate in a political context that offers a relative balance of political party power and diverse religious, racial and ethnic groups. By contrast, Utah represents a very conservative political context in which Republicans have completely dominated both the legislative and executive branches for decades. Utah also has a very monolithic culture which …

Integrating Rural Livelihoods And Community Interaction Into Migration And Enviroment Research: A Conceptual Framework Of Rural Out-Migration And Environment In Developing Countries, Hua Qin, Courtney G. Flint

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

This article presents a conceptual framework linking perspectives from migration and environment with rural livelihoods and interactional community research in the context of rural out-migration and environmental changes in developing countries. Household livelihoods and community interaction comprise two core mediating factors between rural out-migration and rural environmental outcomes. Developing an interdisciplinary conceptual framework is an important way to advance migration and environment research that is built on knowledge from a variety of disciplines. By building linkages across different research fields, our conceptual framework provides an overall picture of the relevant mechanisms through which out-migration affects the rural environment. The framework …

Father-Child Interactions At 24 And 36 Months And Developmental Outcomes At Prekindergarten, Shareesa L. Mcmurdie

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study looked at father teaching interactions and singing in toddlerhood as predictors of child cognitive and language outcomes at prekindergarten in a low-income, ethnically diverse sample. Results found that, overall, father teaching interactions in toddlerhood predicted child cognitive and language outcomes at prekindergarten and father singing in toddlerhood predicted language outcomes. Fathers provided slightly more teaching interactions at child age 24 months than at 36 months, and sang more frequently at 36 months.

Within ethnic groups, father teaching interactions were statistically significant in predicting cognitive and language development outcomes for children of African American (approached significance for language outcomes) …

Ethnic Disparities In Prenatal Care Utilization In Vietnam, Ha Ngoc Trinh

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Prenatal care is credited with reducing neonatal, perinatal, and maternal mortality and morbidity. The main purpose of the thesis is to examine the ethnic disparities between majority and ethnic minority women in prenatal care usage. The thesis also analyzes the effects of age, education attainment, female employment, and region on prenatal care utilization in Vietnam. I employ the Demographic and Health Survey 2002 in Vietnam. Descriptive statistic and logistic regression are the two statistical tests employed in this research. Results exhibit evidence of ethnic disparities in type of prenatal care utilization. Although ethnic minority women are likely to enter prenatal …

Do Attitudes About Spoiling Children Affect Attitudes Regarding What Infants Need For Early Social-Emotional Development, Kathleen Westover

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Infants that are raised in a warm loving environment have an increased probability of growing into responsible loving adults. Infants have the ability to make their needs known through different cues such as crying. Many parents do not understand how to respond appropriately to their infant’s cues. For instance many parents believe that if you pick up an infant every time they cry they will become spoiled. Researchers have studied the effects of responding appropriately to an infant. Infants who have their needs met when they demonstrate signs of distress learn that the world is a safe place for exploration. …

Exploring A Stable Aspen Niche Within Aspen-Conifer Forests Of Utah, Cody M. Mittanck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study addresses a critical issue faced by resource managers confronting aspen restoration projects in the Intermountain West. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests have received a large amount of popular and academic attention over the last decade due to concerns over decline. As a result, both private and public forest resource managers have focused attention on actively restoring aspen communities through treatments such as prescribed burning, logging, and grazing exclosures to name a few. There is increasing evidence suggesting the existence of "stable" aspen communities. This community type undergoes processes entirely different from successional aspen communities and …

Assessment Of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition: Possible Effects On Alpine Ecosystems Above 9000 Feet In Grand Teton National Park, Jennifer Hansen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Certain forms of nitrogen (N) in the atmosphere are pollutants with effects that mimic fertilizer application. If there is too much N, it can become a stressor, and the ecosystem may undergo drastic changes (e.g. certain plant species may decline or disappear). The N load at which a system starts exhibiting negative effects is dependent on the type and location of the ecosystem. Alpine ecosystems (i.e. above 9000 feet in Wyoming) may be particularly sensitive to low levels of atmospheric N input because of short growing seasons, sparse plant cover, and shallow soils that limit their ability to absorb the …

The Satisfaction Of Participants In Utah's Mutual Self-Help Housing Program, Lucas D. Martin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many low-income households have difficulty finding affordable housing. Some may turn to government housing programs for assistance. This study looks at the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program, an affordable homeownership program offered by the USDA Rural Development and run by local nonprofit organizations. The program organizes groups of low-income families who help one another build their own homes. The loan payments are determined by the households’ income and the cost to build the home is usually less than if the family were to buy a comparable home new, helping them have some equity in the home. A survey was sent to …

Military As Welfare State: Conditions Leading To The Adoption Of The National Guard Youth Challenge Program, Madisen B. Drury

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Since its inception in 1993, nearly 90,000 high school dropouts have completed the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, a youth diversion program for unemployed high school dropouts. As of 2008, 27 states have partnered with the military to implement this residential program for at-risk youth. There is limited research on this new social welfare program despite its representing a dynamic military-state-welfare relationship. This study examines state-level conditions and looks to answer three research questions: 1) Under what conditions do states start a ChalleNGe program?; 2) What role do time-varying social and economic factors have in influencing states to initially adopt …

A Demographic Evaluation Of Increasing Rates Of Suicide Mortality In Japan And South Korea, Sun Young Jeon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

According to a World Health Organization report, about one million people die by suicide each year. Fortunately, rates of suicide mortality have been decreasing
among most of the OECD countries, but Japan and South Korea are the only two exceptions to this trend, which has shown increasing suicide rates over the last 25
years. A number of studies have focused on psychological motives and individual-level causes of suicide, such as depression, mental disorder, and disability. However,
as Durkheim pointed out, suicide in a society does not have any obvious relationship to the prevalence of mental disorder. With his theory indicating …

This Was The Place: Apostasy From The Lds Church, Traci K. Burnett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As with every religion, the LDS (Mormon) Church suffers from attrition of membership. This study looks at the experiences of 21 individuals who have left the LDS church, asking about the reasons for leaving the church and about the consequences of making such a decision.

Unlike many other studies concerning religious apostasy, this research takes a strictly qualitative approach to examining the causes and consequences for leaving the LDS Church. Instead of focusing on demographic characteristics such as race, class, or gender as indicators for apostasy, this research asks a small group of individuals in-depth questions to gain a deeper …

Breathe In, Breathe Out: Utilizing Mindfulness In The Social Work Practicum, Allison Leigh Leonard

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Mindfulness is defined as the ability to be aware of your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and actions – in the present moment – without judging or criticizing yourself or your experience (McKay, Wood, & Brantley, 2007). It has been used in a variety of settings and in a variety of ways. Within the context of social work, mindfulness can be used to prevent burnout and increase awareness. This paper reports research on teaching mindfulness techniques with the purpose of training students to use mindfulness and improve their professional development. Specifically, the paper presents the following: review of current literature on …

You’Re The Expert! A Participatory Approach Tonitrate Pollution Research In Central Montana, A. Armstrong, Douglas B. Jackson-Smith

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Participatory approaches to water resources research are intended to promote sustainable behaviors and management of complex problems. The goal of this research is to improve BMP adoption through producer participation in the research process.

Keeping Them In Their Place: Migrant Women Workers In Spain’S Strawberry Industry, Susan E. Mannon, Peggy Petrzelka, Arash Garrossian, Claudia Radel

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

The idea of guest-worker migration has resurfaced in recent decades as the global agri-food industry has confronted a shortage of workers willing to take low-wage and often seasonal jobs. To date, there have been very few cases studies of these twenty-first century guest-worker programs and their role in managing contemporary labor migration. This article examines guest-worker migration in the strawberry industry of southern Spain. In this case, guest-worker programs at- tempt to regulate and enforce the circular migration of foreign workers in Spain. By making future work contracts contingent on migrants’ return to their country of origin, by recruiting migrant …

“First You Must Master Pain:” The Nature And Purpose Of Apprenticeship, David F. Lancy

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

The goal of this study is to distill from a large body of literature on children learning crafts, such as pottery and weaving, the characteristics of apprenticeship as a distinct phenomenon. Currently apprenticeship is considered indistinguishable from other, more informal, means of skill transmission. From the literature survey, eleven attributes are identified as belonging to the archetypal apprenticeship. The analysis then advances to consider the genesis or raison d’etre for the apprenticeship. The argument is advanced that the apprenticeship is designed to simultaneously train novices in specific craft or trade skills while socializing them to join the social and cultural …