Sociology Commons^™

Deep Silences In The Long Night: Meditations On Zapatismo, Coloniality, And The Global Ecological Crisis, Burke Stanton 16

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

Forum Magazine, Spring 2016

Forum Magazine

No abstract provided.

Forum Magazine, Summer 2016

Forum Magazine

No abstract provided.

Routine Activities And Delinquency: The Significance Of Bonds To Society And Peer Context, Lizabeth A. Crawford, Katherine B. Novak, Amia K. Foston

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

This article extends prior research on routine activities and youth deviance by focusing on a broader range of routine activity patterns (RAPs) and on how their effects are conditioned by bonds to society and peer context. As hypothesized, the RAPs with the most consistent effects on delinquency were those lowest, or highest, in both structure and visibility. However, the relationship between school-related activities and delinquency was complex and varied across levels of the moderators in unexpected ways, given the structure and visibility of this RAP. Other RAPs, including unstructured peer interaction, affected delinquency independent of adolescents’ social relations, suggesting that …

Empirical Advances In The Study Of Revenue Diversification In The U.S. States, Cole E. Rakow

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

This dissertation seeks to make significant progress in the quantitative study of public revenue diversification. In the past, this phenomenon has been studied in various and disparate contexts, using a variety of empirical methods. In particular, two different hypotheses, from different subfields of public finance, have been advanced. One of these perspectives, coming from political economy, holds that revenue diversification is a tool for opportunistic policymakers to artificially expand public revenues (and thus expenditures) for electoral gain. The other, from a public financial management tradition, holds that revenue diversification is a constructive management tool which facilitates greater revenue stability for …

Preparing Future Child Welfare Professionals To Strengthen Couple Relations, Ted G. Futris, David G. Schramm, Jeneé Duncan

Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Publications

This study evaluates the potential value of integrating a family science-focused course on strengthening couple and coparenting relationships into the training of social work students and future child welfare professionals. The 15-week graduate course offered 30 MSW students an opportunity to learn and practice relationship and marriage education (RME) skills in order to teach relevant concepts to clients and to support future integration of these skills in their careers. Evaluation data showed that students demonstrated improvements in multiple domains of knowledge and self-efficacy and applied the concepts learned with clients within six months of completing the course. Implications for future …

The Impact Of Pornography On The Genital Body Image And Sexual Self-Efficacy Of Female College Students, Monica Elizondo

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Given its accessibility and growth in the past decade, internet pornography appears to be influencing the sexual scripts of young adults. That is, sexual expectations and behaviors are likely to be impacted by the consumption of online sexually explicit material. Pornography research documents more harmful effects (e.g., lower body image) in women viewing pornography compared to men (Albright, 2008). This experimental study aimed to explore the effects exposure to online sexually explicit material would have on the genital body image and sexual self-efficacy of 90 college women randomly assigned to three exposure conditions. Results indicated that group membership did not …

Constructing A Deconstruction: Reflections On Dismantling Racism, Bronwyn Cross-Denny, Ashleigh Betso, Emily Cusick, Caitlin Doyle, Mikaela Marbot, Shauna Santos-Dempsey

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

The article is a reflective narrative regarding the work I do as an ally for change and social justice as a white woman. In my class on Human Diversity and Social Justice, I often discuss how I can use my white privilege to advance social justice to address racism. Several students who have taken the class offer their own reflections on taking the class. Relevant information from the literature is provided to ground the discussion and includes cultural competence, racism, white privilege, and racial identity development. Strategies for deconstructing racism are discussed.

Bullying In Senior Living Facilities: A Qualitative Study, Felicia Jo Vandenest

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Resident-to resident bullying has attracted some attention in the popular press and is well-known to many who work with seniors in long-term care facilities. However, this is very little empirical literature that has address the topic of "senior bullying". The aim of the proposed qualitative study is to better understand the phenomenon of resident-to-resident bullying from the perspective of staff who work in long-term care facilities. Staff members (n=45) responded to a combination of open- and close-ended interview questions regarding their observations of senior-to-senior bullying. Results indicate that the majority of staff members (98%) have observed resident-to-resident bullying within senior …

Parent Participation In Child Therapeutic Settings, Robert Doss

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Researchers agree that more caregiver participation and higher levels of engagement in child therapeutic settings lead to better outcomes. However, challenges arise in families of low socioeconomic status (SES) where resources are already spread thin. The current study evaluates the efficacy of implementing a single caregiver participation session during an eight-week physical activity and play group for kids aged 6 to 9 years old. Results indicate that the group as a whole is useful in improving some emotional and behavioral issues in children, but the participation session did not seem to have an impact on improvement. A discussion of results, …

Three Legs On The Stool: Service Learning Projects, Community, And Library, Karen Schmidt, Deborah Halperin

Scholarly Publications

Illinois Wesleyan University’s Action Research Center launches many different service learning projects in the Bloomington-Normal community. Often these projects originate from the community, and employ the action research model that imbeds the participant-researcher in the organization or program that is being studied. The IWU library has seized on opportunities to integrate library research and critical thinking skills into service learning projects. Some are obvious - working with faculty and students in senior seminar classes to assist with research papers and presentations - while others are more subtle. Using a service learning project as a case study, the authors discuss the …

Love And Marriage: A Narrative Exploration, Emily Hancock 16

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

Hiv Stigma In Prisons And Jails: Results From A Staff Survey, Steven Belenko, Richard Dembo, Michael Copenhaver, Matthew Hiller, Holly Swan, Carmen A. Garcia, Daniel O'Connell, Carrie Oser, Frank Pearson, Jennifer Pankow

Criminology Faculty Publications

With numerous HIV service gaps in prisons and jails, there has been little research on HIV stigma attitudes among correctional staff. Such attitudes may undermine HIV services for inmates at risk of or infected with HIV. This HIV stigma attitudes survey among 218 correctional staff in 32 US facilities (1) provides an overview of staff’s stigma attitudes, (2) reports psychometric analyses of domains in Earnshaw and Chaudoir’s HIV Stigma Framework (HSF), and (3) explores differences in stigma attitudes among different staff types. Overall, correctional and medical staff expressed non stigmatizing attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS, but perceived that stigma …

Vitamin D Clinical Relevance In The Recovery From Traumatic Brain Injury Among The Military Population, Yuisa M. Colón

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) still remains a difficult disorder to treat. TBI has been associated to chronic neuroinflammation and a high risk for neurodegenerative disorders. Since 2001 between ten to twenty percent of all deployed military members have suffered a combat-related TBI. Nearly twenty to thirty percent of those will experience chronic cognitive, behavioral and somatic symptoms after suffering a TBI.
Methods: The objective of this review is to evaluate current literature examining vitamin D as a neurosteroid with protective properties and its clinical relevance after traumatic brain injury. Vitamin D is known to participate in neurobiological …

Organizing For Women And Children: Advocating For The ‘Reach Every Mother And Child’ Campaign, Laura E. Leslie

Capstone Collection

Every day families are left without mothers and children. Not only does this affect the family but it can have ramifications on the community. There is a link between the wellbeing of moms and that of their children, yet we lose thousands of women to maternal complications each year. Moreover, each day, thousands of children die before reaching their fifth birthday. The most tragic part is that most of these deaths are preventable. While these deaths have been halved in the last 15 years, there is still a lot of work to be done. There have been several initiatives which …

The Green Classroom Initiative: Developing A Non-Formal Educational Resource To Promote Positive Youth Development In An Elementary School In The Central Valley Region Of Costa Rica., Marlee Cea

Capstone Collection

While Costa Rica is not the most under-developed country in Central America, it still experiences poverty and school drop outs on par with neighboring countries and some exceptional regions of the United States. The primary focus of this thesis is to discuss how the “Green Classroom” initiative, a Peace Corps Volunteer’s attempt to create sustainable change, is rooted in modern educational theories; and how they have influenced the organizations and practical methodologies used to engineer this project. A secondary focus is on the process the volunteer and vital project partners experienced to create a sustainable educational resource for a primary …

Conflict Resolution Behaviors And The Affect Of Identity Standards And Empowerment Needs On Individuals Using External Augmentative And Alternative Communication Devices, Amy R. Parker

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with communication impairments (CI) are at a distinct disadvantage when attempting to interact through more traditional conversational means. Although their intentions may be similar to peers, physical limitations make verbal articulation of thoughts and feelings a more laborious undertaking. For some, the use of external augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has offered an otherwise unavailable communicative opportunity. However, this type of communication requires more of the non-AAC using conversation partner and, unlike traditional forms of communication, may increase the likelihood of miscommunication. Although there is agreement as to the importance of understanding the experience of individuals using external AAC, …

Development Of A Definition And Measure For The Study Of Violent Mass Victimization, Mindy Weller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For decades there has been a growing body of literature and research on the topic of mass murder with no attention paid to incidents of mass violence whose death toll falls just short of the minimum three body requirement. The purpose of this study is to address this gap and develop a valid and reliable definitional measure for the future study of violent mass victimization events. A mixed methods approach was employed and consisted of assessing 1,118 news articles collected from 42 U.S. states for the years of 2009 through 2012. These articles were collapsed into a sample size of …

Social Work In Cadereyta, Mexico: Building The Future, Kellyn Cuevas Tovar

A with Honors Projects

During spring break, 2016, the author, a student of Parkland College, Champaign, IL, traveled to her hometown, Cadereyta, Neuvo, Leon, Mexico, where she interviewed a school social worker to discuss the impact economic and cultural factors have on educational success. The visit, in addition to reflection on her personal struggles growing up disadvantaged in the United States, have reinforced her commitment to becoming a social worker and returning to Mexico.

Parkland Pantry Produce Plot, Della Jacobs

A with Honors Projects

For this student service learning project, the author describes her efforts to establish a gardening plot to support the Wesley Food Pantry at Parkland College in Champaign, IL, and illustrates the first year's harvest.

Art Show For Parkland Metalwork And Jewelry, Olivia Dimangondayao

A with Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Chronic Pancreatitis, Pain, And Anxiety In An Alcohol And High Fat Mouse Model, Tiffanie Clinkinbeard

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

Homeodynamic space (HDS) shrinks as vulnerability increases with aging and repeated damage to the cells. HDS is lost in alcoholic pancreatitis patients due to overconsumption of alcohol, smoking, and high fat diets. Etiologically relevant animal models for study of chronic pancreatitis (CP) are needed. In order to begin filling this gap a central purpose of this dissertation research was to examine relationships between the alcohol and high fat diet (AHF) and pancreatitis with attention to hypersensitivity and anxiety-like behaviors. The AHF diet induced pancreatitis described here etiologically mimics human risk factors of AHF consumption for advancement to alcoholic CP.

In …

Effects Of Timing Of Parental Divorce On Children’S Romantic Relationships In Adulthood: A Review, Adrian Weldon

Lewis Honors College Capstone Collection

A literature review was conducted to determine what age children are most vulnerable to the impact of parental divorce on their romantic relationships in adulthood. Fourteen articles were included in this review. Results of the review showed different outcomes based on stage of life. Parental divorce in infancy, early childhood, late childhood, and adolescence resulted in the most negative long-term effects on the children’s intimate relationships later in life. Children in middle childhood and young adulthood at the time of their parents’ marital dissolution appeared to be most resilient to its impact on their romantic relationships in adulthood. Literature on …

The Effectiveness Of Specialized Legal Counsel And Case Management Services For Indigent Offenders With Mental Illness, Jeff Bouffard, Elizabeth Berger, Gaylene Armstrong

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Background: In recent years, jurisdictions have recognized the strain placed on limited existing resources by criminal offenders with mental illness who frequently cycle through local jail facilities. In response, many locales have developed and implemented specialized programs to more effectively and efficiently manage these offenders, particularly the process of assigning defense attorneys to these often indigent defendants.

Methods: The current study examined the impact of an Indigent Defense Counsel (IDC) program designed to provide specially trained defense attorneys, and enhanced case management services to 257 indigent jail inmates with a qualifying, major mental health diagnosis (e.g., major depression). These …

Black And Blue: Media Attention In Red Vs. Blue States, An Analysis Of Violence Against Lgbt Between 2004 And 2015, Chelsea Green, Hasan T. Arslan

Student-Faculty Research Projects

Violence against any person is unacceptable; however, there seems to be a tacit collusion with perpetrators when the media non-reports or under-reports incidents of violence in which the victims are targeted because of their actual or perceived LGBT identity. One wonders if the political and religious broad brush strokes of a state influence the response of the media within that state. Close examination of this data will determine if there are discrepancies between the two types of states regarding their portrayal of anti-LGBT attacks. How does the governmental bias of a state influence the coverage of these attacks? All states …

Understanding The Effectiveness Of Incarceration On Juvenile Offending Through A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis: Do The "Get Tough" Policies Work?, Jacqueline Anita Black

School of Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations

The juvenile system is no longer perceived as a social welfare model, but has become more punitive approximating a crime control model. Juveniles are not responsible for the majority of crime in the United States and are not the most serious and violent demographic; however, they are incarcerated at a higher rate than adults. Incarceration is an element of deterrence currently used by the juvenile justice system without a clear conclusion of whether or not it works to reduce juvenile crime.

The goal of this research was to first conduct a systematic review of prior studies on the effectiveness of …

Veterans Treatment Courts: Pure Pretextualism Or A Venue For Veterans' Needs?, John William Erickson Jr.

School of Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations

The intended goals of Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) are consistent with what drove the establishment of Drug Courts and Mental Health Courts in the ‘90s. That is, a recognition that the traditional criminal justice system is geared toward punitive court dispositions; not the unique characteristics of addicts and/or mental health defendants (G. Lerner-Wren, personal communication, January 12, 2015). For example, In Dade County, Florida, a former U.S. Attorney, then the Dade County State Attorney, recognized that reform was necessary to avoid the criminalization of drug addiction; given the high prevalence of cocaine abuse. Today, U.S. Military Veterans returning from Iraq …

Undergraduates’ Awareness And Perceptions Of Globalization: A Comparison Of U.S. And Chinese Students, Brett Zollinger, Fu Runfeng, Keith Campbell

Sociology Faculty Publications

Assessing current awareness of and attitudes toward predominant globalization processes among undergraduate students is helpful for future course design, particularly courses about globalization or those with substantial globalization components. Such assessments also provide research opportunities for understanding changing levels of awareness and attitudes among undergraduate students over time. This paper reports research about the knowledge and perceptions of globalization concepts and trends among undergraduate students. The analysis compares findings among U.S. undergraduates at a Midwestern university (Midwest U.) with those among Chinese undergraduates at a university (China U.) in an east-central province of the country. Findings from two years of …

The Female Human Trafficker In The Criminal Justice System: A Test Of The Chivalry Hypothesis, Brielle Francis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The involvement of women in human trafficking within the United States has received limited research attention. Human trafficking encompasses labor, sex, and organ trafficking (Roberts, 2012). In 2009 the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that women play a significant role in human trafficking. Nagel and Johnson (1994) conclude that, historically, female offenders have stayed at the edge of the criminal justice system. Generally, theories about prosecution and conviction outcomes derive from the study of male offenders. Women can be involved in all aspects of the human trafficking organizations, from the recruitment, to the supervision of prostitutes …

Wildlife And Local Community Investigation In Trans-Boundary Area Between China-Mongolia Borders, Weikang Yang, Wenxuan Xu, Canjun Xia, Wei Liu, Xingyi Gao

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

During June 2008, and August and December 2010, we investigated both the status of wildlife and local human communities in the great Gobi trans-boundary area between China and Mongolia. We surveyed Baytik Mountain (called Baitag Bogdt on the Mongolian side of the border)( 44°59′ - 45°21′N，90°30′ - 90°53′E), which is located in the West of Great Gobi B strict protected area (GGB) and connected with Dzungarian Gobi. The Kazakh shepherds still maintain their nomadic life here in Baytik Mountains. The region was divided into summer, winter and transitional pasture, and most of the livestock were goats and sheep. We also …