Sociology Commons^™

Psychosocial Motivators For Obstacle Course Racing: A Qualitative Case Study, Aracely Rodriguez

Master's Theses

This study explored the psychological and sociological motivations of adult female and male obstacle course racers. A qualitative case study approach was used to explore the views, experiences, and motivations of obstacle course racing (OCR) participants. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulation was used to interpret responses to the 297 online questionnaires. A content analysis approach was used to analyze the qualitative data gathered from three focus groups with a total of 20 obstacle course racers. Three theories formed the basis of the study: Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Achievement Goal Theory (AGT), and Social Leaning Theory (SLT). Overall, findings supported previous research …

Review Of Edison Bicudo, Pharmaceutical Research, Democracy And Conspiracy: International Clinical Trials In Local Medical Institutions, Roberto Abadie

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

The pharmaceutical industry is—along with the financial and weapons industries—one of the most globalized and profitable business domains. But they wouldn’t make any profits if they weren’t able to recruit research subjects to test an increasing number of drugs. This global trial economy creates its own assemblages of clinical trials, often run by hired contract research organizations (CROs), who fight among each other in a rat-race competition, promising quick and effective trials; at the same time, enterprising countries, hospitals, and doctors jump on the drug trial economy bandwagon by promising quick, endless access to a large pool of research subjects, …

Editor's Introduction, Michael D.; Pante

Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints

No abstract provided.

Diario De Perla Jimenez, Brenda Dorantes

World Languages and Cultures

The aim of this project is to present the effect of the immigration issue in the United States, with a direct focus in San Luis Obispo, and including a spread of intercultural knowledge between the Hispanic and the Caucasian community. Through a fictional short story, the manifestation of these ideas will relate to current events occurring in our society today. These events focus primarily on immigration in California, deportation issues, socioeconomic issues in Mexico, and the cultural barrier seen in Mexican and American cultures; expressed through the main character: a young college student named Perla.

My primary goal in completing …

Who Benefits From Income Inequality? An International Examinationof The Relationship Between Income Inequalityand Student Achievement, Christina Ruth Edmunds

Theses and Dissertations

This study directly tests the relationship between income inequality and student mathematics achievement. Furthermore, I examine the degree to which the relationship between income inequality and student achievement is moderated by student SES. To test these relationships, I created a database of national wealth measures and linked it with student achievement data from the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The results of multilevel models indicated that income inequality is negatively related to student achievement scores. Additionally, this relationship is not moderated by student SES, indicating that the relationship between income inequality and student achievement is the same for …

Factors Associated With Belief In Conspiracies About Hiv/Aids Among Hiv-Positive African-American Patients, Andrew A. Zekeri, Youssouf Diabate

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine factors associated with belief in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS among HIV-Positive African American patients. Survey data were collected from 256 African American patients living with HIV/AIDS attending two HIV clinics in Montgomery and Dothan, Alabama. The study used multiple regression analysis to examine how sociodemographic factors contribute to belief in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS. Education and age were significantly related to belief in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS among men and women. Beliefs in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS may be a barrier to HIV prevention among African Americans. Public health officials should work toward obtaining the …

Assessing Alabama Consumer Attitudes And Beliefs About Locally Or Regionally Produced Livestock And Products, Nii O. Tackie, Jannette R. Bartlett, Akua Adu-Gyamfi

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Abstract

Local and regional food production has gained increased interest of consumers in recent years. The study, therefore, focused on assessing consumer attitudes and beliefs on local or regional livestock products. Data were obtained from a convenience sample of 432 participants from South Central Alabama, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including chi-square tests. A majority of respondents thought using chemicals and additives in locally or regionally produced beef or goat meat was a serious hazard. Therefore, many were willing to pay more for meat certified as locally or regionally produced. Also, most agreed or strongly agreed with statements on …

Mother And Child Residential Treatment From An Adult Child Perspective: "The Forgotten Voices", April Eden Wilson

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

These days most everyone can say that they know someone who has been impacted by substance abuse and today’s society is very familiar with the fact that it can wreak havoc on families. There has been a significant amount of research devoted to finding not only the best practices to treat families who are impacted by the disease of addiction but there has also been a great deal of attention focused on the adult perspective on these services once they have been received. Where the research is definitely lacking is how the children involved with the services perceive their own …

Social Service Professionals Perspectives On Assessing Abuse Among The Developmentally Disabled, Shelita D. Majied

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

There are substantial amounts of research on risk factors that contribute to abuse among adults with developmental disabilities. There are also studies that explore preventative measures and safety factors to help reduce abuse among the population. These relevant studies and research has examined the relationship between developmental disabilities, types of abuse, risk factors, effectiveness of risk assessments, and prevention. The main purpose of this study is to explore the problem of high abuse rates amongst this population and discuss social service professional’s perspective on the current preventative measures used to protect adults with developmental disabilities from abuse. For this quantitative …

Preserving, Interpreting, And Displaying Mental Health History: Establishing The Patton State Hospital Museum And Archive, Shannon Rene Long

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

There are few museums in the western half of the United States that provide an opportunity to educate the public about the history of mental health care. Recently, a mental health museum and archive of artifacts, photographs, and documents was established on the grounds of Patton State Hospital in Highland, California. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the establishment of this museum and archive and to provide an account of the 125 year history of Patton State Hospital. Understanding the history of Patton provides an opportunity to understand the history of mental health care in the United …

Does Video Game Content Matter? An Examination Of Two Competing Ideas, Nathan J. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The current paper addresses the associations between video game content (i.e., physically aggressive, relationally aggressive, and prosocial) and physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behavior in two distinct developmental periods. The purpose of the paper is to test whether playing video games with a particular type of content influences behaviors over time, or whether individuals who have higher levels of physical aggression, relational aggression, or prosocial behavior prefer to play games with similar content. Two theories will be simultaneously examined and tested in order to determine the relative merit in using each in research examining the relationships between video game …

Hooking Up, Sexual Attitudes, And Parental Repartnering Choices: Variations At The Intersection Of Race And Gender, Nathaniel Aaron Stoddard

Theses and Dissertations

Using a subsample of emerging adults from the Stepfamily Experiences Project (n = 989), we examine how parents' repartnering choices (nonmarital and premarital cohabitation) influence their emerging adult children's commitment-related relationship attitudes (attitudes about sex in committed relationships) and behaviors (hooking up). We further examine these processes at the intersection of race and gender. In this way, we expand the current emerging adult literature by exploring two understudied populations: emerging adults who grew up in stepfamilies, and emerging adults from diverse racial backgrounds. We divided our sample by race (black, Latino, American Indian, white, and multiracial) and gender, resulting in …

Latinos In Massachusetts Selected Areas: Boston, Phillip Granberry

Gastón Institute Publications

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Boston. As the largest city in the Commonwealth, Boston is home to an estimated 124,061 Latinos. This represents the largest Latino population in the state, though several other cities have greater concentrations of Latinos. They represent about one-fifth (19.2%) of the city’s population, a smaller share than for whites and blacks but greater than for Asians.

Latinos In Massachusetts Selected Areas: Chelsea, Phillip Granberry, Mayara Fontes

Gastón Institute Publications

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Chelsea. As one of the smallest municipalities of the Commonwealth in terms of land area, Chelsea is home to an estimated 22,484 Latinos. They represent about three fifths (60.9%) of the city’s population, the largest percentage of any ethno-racial group in the city.

Latinos In Massachusetts Selected Areas: Framingham, Phillip Granberry, Mayara Fontes

Gastón Institute Publications

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Framingham. With a total population of 70,448, Framingham is home to an estimated 12,037 Latinos. They represent about one sixth (17%) of the town’s population, a smaller share than for whites but greater than for blacks and Asians.

Latinos In Massachusetts Selected Areas: Everett, Phillip Granberry, Mayara Fontes

Gastón Institute Publications

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Everett. With a total population of 42,504, Everett is home to an estimated 9,232 Latinos. They represent about one-fifth (22%) of the city’s population, a smaller share than for whites but greater than for blacks and Asians.

Latinos In Massachusetts Selected Areas: Lynn, Phillip Granberry, Priyanka Kabir

Gastón Institute Publications

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Lynn. As the largest city in Essex County, Lynn is home to an estimated 32,217 Latinos. They represent slightly more than one-third (35%) of the city’s population, which is a smaller share than for whites but greater than for Asians and blacks.

Latinos In Massachusetts Selected Areas: Revere, Phillip Granberry, Mayara Fontes

Gastón Institute Publications

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Revere. In addition to having the oldest public beach in America, Revere is home to an estimated 13,547 Latinos. They represent slightly more than one-quarter (25%) of the city’s population, which is a smaller share than for whites but greater than for Asians and blacks.

Latinos In Massachusetts Selected Areas: Somerville, Phillip Granberry, Mayara Fontes

Gastón Institute Publications

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Somerville. As one of the most densely populated municipalities of the Commonwealth, Somerville is home to an estimated 7,742 Latinos. They represent about one-tenth (10.1%) of the city’s population, a smaller share than for whites and Asians but greater than for blacks.

Latinos In Massachusetts Selected Areas: Waltham, Phillip Granberry, Priyanka Kabir

Gastón Institute Publications

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Waltham. Waltham is home to an estimated 7,728 Latinos. They represent slightly more than one-tenth (12%) of the city’s population, which is a smaller share than for whites but greater than for Asians and blacks.

Latinos In Massachusetts Selected Areas: Salem, Phillip Granberry, Priyanka Kabir

Gastón Institute Publications

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Salem. As a historical seaport, Salem has long welcomed new arriving populations and is home to an estimated 6,149 Latinos. They represent 15% of the city’s population, which is a smaller share than for whites but greater than for Asians and blacks.

Theorizing Efl Teachers’ Perspectives And Rationales On Providing Corrective Feedback, Seyyed Ali Ostovar-Namaghi, Kamal Shakiba

The Qualitative Report

Researchers condemn teachers by saying that tradition, rather than research findings, derive their practice while teachers condemn researchers by saying that their research findings are universal generalizations that fail in practice. To turn mutual distrust to mutual trust, this data-driven study aims at theorizing practice, rather than enlighten practice through theory-driven research. The theoretical sampling of twenty EFL teachers’ perspectives concerning corrective feedback, together with the rigorous coding schemes of grounded theory yielded some context-sensitive corrective feedback techniques: direct feedback; indirect feedback such as recast, providing an alternative, asking other students, pausing before the error, providing the rule, using the …

“Third-Wave” Coffeehouses As Venues For Sociality: On Encounters Between Employees And Customers, John Manzo

The Qualitative Report

Contemporary social life is often depicted, in and out of the social sciences, as an ever-worsening subterfuge of alienation, ennui, and the systematic destruction of traditional, human-scaled, publicly-accessible, “organic” sociality that people once enjoyed. In this paper I do not contend that these trends in our social and commercial landscape are not happening. I will instead contend that conventional face-to-face sociability thrives even in the face of the loss of many traditional public meeting places. My focus in this piece is on social interaction in independent cafes that are known, and that self-identify, as what coffee connoisseurs term “third-wave” coffeehouses. …

Thinking With Thinking With Theory In Qualitative Research, Travis M. Marn

The Qualitative Report

Thinking with Theory in Qualitative Research is a direct challenge to long held traditional forms of qualitative data analysis. Defining analysis methods like coding and thematic analysis to be reductive and simplistic, Jackson and Mazzei offer an alternative account of data analysis by “plugging-in” six poststructural theorists to data. Through interviews of two first generation academic women, Jackson and Mazzei demonstrate how researchers can employ complex theories to analyze data without relying upon traditional methods. The insightful, clear, and, at times, profound, findings of Thinking with Theory in Qualitative Research demonstrates the need for researchers to reexamine the continued reign …

Got Hope? Measuring The Construct Of Relationship Hope With A Nationally Representative Sample Of Married Individuals, Sage Elizabeth Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores an emerging construct: relationship hope. I define relationship hope as when individuals feel that regardless of the current quality of the relationship, there is significant hope for the relationship in the future if they keep working on it. The Relationship Hope Scale (RHS) is a new five-item scale that measures this construct. I evaluated the psychometric properties of RHS with Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT). I used a nationally representative sample of married individuals, ages 25-50 years old, in the United States. I found that RHS performs well in both CTT and IRT …

Baby Boomers And The Vietnam War: A Life Course Approach To Aging Vietnam Veterans, Miles Steven Marsala

Theses and Dissertations

The sheer size of the baby boomer cohort has prompted a great deal of research on life outcomes and potential social strain or benefit of such a large cohort. A major contingency for the baby boomers was the experience of the Vietnam War. Many young men had their life course trajectories interrupted when they were drafted to military service or enrolled in college in an effort to evade the draft. This study uses the Life Family Legacies data to investigate how the Vietnam War may have affected later-life health outcomes of this cohort. Comparing physical health as captured by activities …

What Does Living Alone Really Mean For Older Persons? A Comparative Study Of Myanmar, Vietnam, And Thailand, Bussarawan Puk Teerawichitchainan, John Knodel, Wiraporn Pothisiri

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Background: Rapid development and social change in Asia have led many to assume that the proportion of elderly people living alone is rising and that they tend to live in destitute situations. These assumptions often lack empirical validation. Objective: We address the trends and correlates of solitary living among older persons in Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. We examine the extent to which this form of living arrangement equates with their financial stress, physical and social isolation, psychological distress, and met need for personal care. Methods: We analyze 2011-12 national surveys of older persons from the three countries. We employ descriptive …

Sexual Mixing In Shanghai: Are Heterosexual Contact Patterns Compatible With An Hiv/Aids Epidemic?, M. Giovanna Merli, James Moody, Joshua Mendelsohn, G. Robin Gauthier

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

China’s HIV prevalence is low, mainly concentrated among female sex workers (FSWs), their clients, men who have sex with men, and the stable partners of members of these high-risk groups. We evaluate the contribution to the spread of HIV of China’s regime of heterosexual relations, of the structure of heterosexual networks, and of the attributes of key population groups with simulations driven by data from a cross-sectional survey of egocentric sexual networks of the general population of Shanghai and from a concurrent respondent-driven sample of FSWs. We find that the heterosexual network generated by our empirically calibrated simulations has low …

Erratum To: Sexual Mixing In Shanghai: Are Heterosexual Contact Patterns Compatible With An Hiv/Aids Epidemic?, M. Giovanna Merli, James Moody, Joshua Mendelsohn, G. Robin Gauthier

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

In the middle of the paragraph just above Figure 6, there is the following sentence: “The range of the mean of the distribution of the proportion infected generated by the simulations is narrow, between 0.5 % and 0.2 % of all nodes.” This should read “between 0.05 % and 0.2 % of all nodes.”

Racial Disparities In Juvenile Drug Arrests, Jeffrey A. Butts

Publications and Research

Illegal drug use in the U.S. does not differ significantly by race (SAMHSA 2014). Data from the U.S. Department of Justice show notable racial disparities in youth drug arrests specifically arrests for possession. This databit looks at differences in juvenile drug arrests rates since the late 1980s.