Sociology Commons^™

Feasibility And Acceptability Of The Mazi Umntanakho Digital Tool In South African Settings: A Qualitative Evaluation, Catherine E. Draper, Caylee J. Cook, Elizabeth A. Ankrah, Jesus A. Beltran, Franceli L. Cibrian, Kimberley D. Lakes, Hanna Mofid, Lucretia Williams, Gillian R. Hayes

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

To address the need for interventions targeting social emotional development and mental health of young children in South Africa, the Mazi Umntanakho (‘know your child’) digital tool was co-designed, and piloted with caregivers and 3–5-year-old children involved in home visiting programmes promoting early childhood development. The aim of this study was to qualitatively evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this tool in four urban and four rural low-income communities, from the perspective of home visitors and caregivers. Focus groups were conducted with home visitors (n = 117) and caregivers (n = 72). Issues relating to the feasibility of …

Examining Nationality, First Generation Status And Academic Identity Status As A Lens Into Student Achievement, Jennette Allen-Mccombs

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This study investigates the relationship between academic identity statuses and academic achievement at a U.S. northeastern college where 55% of the population is first-generation students. Using Was and Isaacson’s (2008) Academic Identity Measure, I assessed four identity statuses (achieved, foreclosed, diffused, and moratorium) among 424 students. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that achieved identity status had the strongest positive effect on grade-point average (GPA), while diffused identity status showed the most significant negative impact. Additionally, birthplace and mother’s educational status emerged as significant demographic predictors of academic achievement. The findings suggest that students with foreclosed or diffused identities struggle with …

Enhancing Citizen Capacity Through Optimising Village-Owned Enterprises (Bumdes) Role In Strengthening Community Participation For Sustainable Development, Supandi Supandi, Saliman Saliman

Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan

Sustainable development at the local level necessitates active community participation, bolstered by educational innovation and the optimisation of empowering institutions such as Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes). This research investigates the impact of the Social Studies Outdoor Laboratory and BUMDes on development in the Bokoharjo, Prambanan, Sleman Regency. Specifically, the study examines three key areas: (1) the influence of the Social Studies Outdoor Laboratory on development, (2) the role of BUMDes in facilitating development, and (3) the collaborative effect between the Social Studies Outdoor Laboratory and BUMDes on regional growth. A quantitative approach was employed, sampling nine individuals from Bokoharjo Village from …

“K-Pop In Public”: Vietnamese Youth Using Dance To Queer The Public Space, Ha Bich Dong, Thuy Bich Dong

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

In Vietnam, where public protests are criminalized (Kerkvliet, 2022), young people continue finding creative ways to advocate for their rights through different venues, particularly the arts. This research combines digital ethnography and duoethnography to examine K-pop dance covers in Vietnamese public spaces as a platform for youth to explore their gender identities, connect, and visibilize queerness.

K-pop is a music genre, pop culture, and cultural phenomenon that emerged in South Korea and has gained significant popularity and influence around the world (Aini, 2020). We, two researchers (one is a K-pop dancer), began the research by using digital ethnography (Zorn, & …

Exploring The Contribution Of Transformational Leadership In Non-Formal Peace Education Initiatives In Sri Lanka, Janith Prabashwara Perera

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

The transformative power of Peace Education cannot be undermined in the volatile era in which we live. Through cultivating knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values, Peace Education aims to shift the mindsets and behaviours of individuals and groups away from violence toward peace. In recent times, many youth have stepped up to lead Peace Education programmes, particularly targeting youth in their local communities. Their leadership often aligns with the 'Transformational Leadership' model, which fosters change in followers and society.

This research examines youth leaders in Non-Formal Peace Education in Post-War Sri Lanka, focusing on their adoption of the Transformational Leadership Model …

Shifting Perspectives: Valuing Art For Its Usefulness, Not Just Its Aesthetics, Morgan Hatfield

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Art is everywhere. From paintings, to entertainment, even to gardening and architecture, art is an essential part of society and culture. However, art can frequently be trapped in its own bubble, seen as something of not much use to “real” professionals such as physicians, therapists, or scientists. This line of thinking discredits the flexibility of art. It is only through the analysis of art’s impact on society that one can see the broad array of disciplines that art can affect and thus see the true value of art. Focusing primarily on visual art, I seek to place a value on …

The Mcdonaldization Of Academic Sociology, J. Michael Ryan, George Ritzer, Hermann Strasser

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.

Rural, Gifted Student Experience In Appalachian Kentucky, Olivia G. Jarrell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Current literature shows that gifted students' experiences often differ from nongifted peers. Similarly, research shows that rural students’ experiences are unique compared to nonrural peers. This study hopes to address the gap in literature on experiences of students at the intersection of giftedness and rurality with the question: How do rural, gifted students in Appalachian Kentucky experience and perceive K-12 schooling? Rural, gifted students exist in the overlap between two unique groups. Using a multi-case study, participants came from three separate school districts in a region of Appalachian Kentucky, with each district being a separate case. Data collection included observations …

How To Become A Soldier In The Black Liberation Army: Sixteen Tomes, Tony Gaskew

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

From 1970 to 1983, it is estimated that the Black Liberation Army (BLA), by way of armed resistance in the name of revolutionary justice, was responsible for expropriating the lives of dozens of police officers across the United States of America. Yes, as unbelievable, and as extra-terrestrial as it might sound today, there was a very brief period in U.S. history when there were consequences for indiscriminate acts of police violence against the Black community. However, in the fields of conflict resolution and peace studies, the BLA is invisible. As a Black man who was born and raised in the …

The Police State Legacy, Security Sector Governance And Reform (Ssg&R) Within A P/Cve* Framing In Tunisia: Local Ownership At A Critical Juncture, Fatma Jabbari

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Applied Conflict Management: A Living Legacy Text, Landon E. Hancock, Ashley E. Nickels, Molly Merryman, Amanda D. Clark, Camille Tinnin

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

TITLE: Navigating Peace - Transforming Conflict: An Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies

CONVENERS: Landon Hancock, Kent State University; Ashley E. Nickels, Kent State University

ABSTRACT:

The proposed conference panel aims to showcase the development and practical application of the interdisciplinary fields of Peace and Conflict Studies (PCS) and Conflict Resolution (CR) through the lens of our forthcoming textbook, "Navigating Peace - Transforming Conflict: An Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies." This comprehensive textbook, authored by a diverse group of scholars and practitioners, offers an in-depth examination of the historical evolution, theoretical underpinnings, practical methodologies, and contemporary challenges within the …

The Role Of U.S. Leadership In Resolving Indo-Pak Ensuring Rivalry, Abdul Sadiq Khan

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

The partition of British India in 1947 and the subsequent events caused a great deal of mutual mistrust that has persisted in the bilateral ties between Pakistan and India for seven decades. Post-Partition India inherited the state infrastructure of the British. Pakistan, on the other hand, has to build its state apparatus from the ground up. Indian leadership was certain that the nascent state of Pakistan would not survive and eventually reunify with India. The two countries are marked by the history of wars like in 1948, 1965, and 1999 over Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan and India appear to be …

A Study Of The Intra-Government Conflictual Approach In The Management Of The Herdsmen-Farmers Conflict-Induced Internal Displacement In Benue State, Nigeria, Rita Iorbo

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

Abstract

The management of the herdsmen-farmers conflict-induced internal displacement in Benue State, Nigeria was characterized by the conflictual approach of the Benue State government and disagreement over displacement data by humanitarian agencies. The study explored the inter-connected relationship among stakeholders within the humanitarian eco-system and its effects on protection measures and durable solutions for the conflict-induced displacement crisis. The qualitative study was conducted among twenty-three adult females and males comprising internally displaced persons (IDPs), and humanitarian workers in the government and non-governmental humanitarian sectors. The study findings show that though the herdsmen-farmers conflict accounts for mass population displacement, loss of …

The United States Of America V. Darren Seals, Tony Gaskew

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

The United States of America has an insatiable appetite for the corpses of Black men. Although only a silent whisper in the field of conflict resolution, Black men and boys face unprecedented levels of state-sponsored direct, structural, and metaphysical violence. Empirical evidence regarding disparities within the nuanced constructs of police killings, stop-and-frisk searches, educational attainment, unemployment, mortality rates, mass incarceration, and all forms of covert counterinsurgency (COIN) operations shows that Black men are without question, enemies of the state and what Leonard Harris calls the ultimate “necro-being.” You see, on September 6, 2016, 29-year-old Black male anti-police activist Darren Seals …

Music Therapy In The Scope Of Psychology: From Asylums To Contemporary Practice, Rachel A. Mirsen

Psychology from the Margins

This paper explores the historical ties between music therapy and psychology, tracing its evolution from its origins in asylums to contemporary practice. By examining historical records and recent case studies, the dynamic interplay between music therapy, psychological practices, and sociocultural factors is highlighted. The paper compares the use of music therapy in the 20th century, particularly in psychiatric asylums, to its modern-day applications, focusing on two healthcare facilities in New Jersey: Overbrook Hospital and Bancroft NeuroRehab. Through this comparison, it becomes evident that music therapy has gained legitimacy and specialization over time, transitioning from recreational activities to evidence-based, individualized interventions …

Suburbanization As A Post-Industrial Essentiality: Revisiting Sweden's Miljonprogrammet, Colin Wood

Swarthmore Undergraduate History Journal

Definitively speaking, suburbanization does not equate to post-industrialism in the same limelight as would urbanization and industrialism. However, anomalous cases, such as the one being discussed in this paper, tangentially interlink on a socioeconomic basis. In 1965, Sweden began construction of the Miljonprogrammet (Million Programme), where over the next ten years, over one million domiciles were built in a suburban setting leading to a mass diaspora of ‘slum living’ Swedish industrial workers. The nation’s renowned welfare state, built on a collaborative system between public and private sectors as well as federal and municipal actors, overlooked housing in its social …

Critical (G)Race Theory: A Biblical Response To The Growing Secular Social Justice Movement, Tyler A. Keaton

Masters Theses

Critical Race Theory is a worldview that has taken the social justice world by storm in recent years and has even begun to present itself within the teachings of much of the Church. Oftentimes, secular social justice looks to scripture due to the commands for justice found therein to justify their goal of racial justice and equity. However, while the causes of secular social justice movements and CRT are noble, the ideologies and methods they employ are unbiblical and immoral in many instances. CRT itself is a worldview that promotes further injustices that are just as immoral, if not more …

Exploring The Influence Of Police Officers Lived Experiences On Implementing Community Oriented Policing Of Marginalized Populations, Herman "Tracy" Williams Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The oppositional relationship between the police and communities characterized as marginalized populations aptly describes an adversarial dynamic that hinders the effective implementation of guardian-focused, community-oriented policing. Fears of crime, claims of police bias, dehumanization, and perceptions of social disorder frequently breed socioeconomic decline in these communities. These conditions often contribute to citizens of marginalized communities viewing police officers as traditional policing warriors versus the roles of police as guardians who assist and protect the public. The problem is that the lack of cooperation and mutual distrust in interactions between the police and communities leads to external friction and internal organizational …

Meditation In Qualitative Research For Bracketing And Beyond, Katalin Grajzel

Research Methods and Statistics: Graduate Student Scholarship

In this study, I recounted my experience using mantra meditation during a phenomenological study for the purposes of bracketing. The efficacy and purpose of bracketing have been debated from Husserl (1931), whose aimed was to achieve objectivity, to Heidegger (1962) who advocated for immersion of the researcher, through the French school (Merleau-Ponty, 1964) of middle ground, by whom bracketing was seen as the process to unearth and suspend biases for the better understanding of participants’ experiences (Arsel, 2017; Creswell & Creswell, 2017; Creswell & Poth, 2016; Fischer & Guzel, 2023). In this study, however, I propose another approach to bracketing …

Visual Mindful Autoethnography In Practice: Integrating Visual Expressive Art And Self-Compassion Into The Research Process, Jennifer Bentley

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This thesis introduces the framework of Visual Mindful Autoethnography (VmAE) which integrates mindfulness, self-compassion, and creative visual expression as tools for reflexive self-inquiry within the research process. Grounded in the principles of autoethnography and mindfulness, VmAE fosters a deep engagement with personal narratives, biases, and cultural contexts while encouraging emotional resilience, self-awareness, and ethical integrity. By utilizing techniques such as expressive art and visual process journalling, this approach re-presents the inner emotional landscape while facilitating a balanced exploration of subjective experience. The framework is supported by the “P.A.C.E. Research with C.A.R.E.” model, which establishes mindfulness and self-compassion as foundational principles …

Surveillance Digitisation, Performativity, And Teacher-Student Relationships In A Blended Learning Setting, Sarah Julia Calderwood

All Works

This study investigates how digitized surveillance technologies impact teacher-student relationships in a blended learning environment at a UAE university. Using semi-structured faculty interviews, it examines the effects of tools such as plagiarism detection, class recordings, and learning analytics on trust and engagement. The findings reveal tensions between institutional goals of academic integrity and active participation and the unintended consequences of fostering performative behaviours and eroding relational trust. Teachers report that surveillance mechanisms promote compliance over genuine learning, reshaping their roles and interactions with students. Despite these challenges, educators employ strategies of resistance, prioritising human connection and relational pedagogy to counteract …

What Factors Influenced Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy? Evidence From Social Media, Huseyin Zeyd Koytak

Population Health Research Brief Series

Vaccine hesitancy is one of the most significant threats to global public health efforts. Despite the rapid development and deployment of effective vaccines, resistance to vaccination has persisted in many communities, undermining collective immunity and prolonging health crises, including most recently the COVID-19 pandemic. This brief summarizes findings from a study that used data from over 50 million tweets (later rebranded as X) from 2020 to 2022 to investigate the patterns, justifications, and socioeconomic roots of vaccine hesitancy in the United States. The authors find that Twitter users in states with lower levels of education, higher poverty and unemployment rates, …

Climate Conversations: An Intergenerational Artistic Exploration With Family, Julia A. Craven

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

This cross-generational study explores perceptions of climate change through interviews and visual art from three generations: the author, their grandparents, and their aunt. Guided by questions such as “Whose responsibility is it to address climate change?” and “How has climate change affected you?,” the interviews were used to create three art pieces that explore different aspects of climate change. The first art piece, titled “Eco-Anxiety,” visually represents the author's anxiety about climate change through the detangling of hair in their hands that "pull" at relevant climate news articles in the background. The second piece, “Beauty’s in the Eye of the …

Not My Daughter: The Symbolic American Child And Cinematic Potential, Jacob Campbell

CLAMANTIS: The MALS Journal

No abstract provided.

Parallel Punishments: The School-To-Prison Transgender Pipeline, Rayna Momen, Lindsay K. Semprevivo, Cris Mayo

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

With increasing criminalization of transgender people, especially legislation targeting youth, researchers need to consider more closely the historical and continuing criminalization of gender non-normativity. We suggest in this article that closer attention to queer criminology in relationship to transgender and gender-related social justice education can help shape research agendas and school practices and disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline for transgender youth. Our focus is specifically on how disciplinary practices requiring identification as well as those that ignore identification both contribute to the growth of punitive responses to gender diversity, especially in relationship to race and ethnicity.

Examining The Creative Process Of Visual Artists: A Phenomenological Study, Filiberto Vargas

Dissertations

Creativity fuels problem solving and innovation, driving both economic growth and individual success. Yet, many schools and organizations fail to nurture it. Today, there is a decline in creativity scores among U.S. students. This is concerning since many of these students will be the future leaders of organizations and communities. For this reason, this dissertation explores the creative process of visual artists to better understand how creativity can be cultivated. Visual artists' perspectives and sense-and-meaning-making processes offer a unique view of innovation and creativity. However, there is limited research on the creative processes of contemporary visual artists from culturally diverse …

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Shared And Distinct Genetic Architecture Of Fatty Acids And Oxylipins In The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Carolina G Downie, Heather M Highland, Mona Alotaibi, Barrett M Welch, Annie Green Howard, Susan Cheng, Nick Miller, Mohit Jain, Robert C Kaplan, Adam G Lilly, Tao Long, Tamar Sofer, Bharat Thyagarajan, Bing Yu, Kari E North, Christy L Avery

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Bioactive fatty acid-derived oxylipin molecules play key roles mediating inflammation and oxidative stress. Circulating levels of fatty acids and oxylipins are influenced by environmental and genetic factors; characterizing the genetic architecture of bioactive lipids could yield new insights into underlying biology. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 81 fatty acids and oxylipins in 11,584 Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) participants with genetic and lipidomic data measured at study baseline (58.6% female, mean age = 46.1 years (standard deviation 13.8)). Additionally, given the effects of central obesity on inflammation, we examined interactions with waist circumference using two-degree-of-freedom …

Camp Research Forum Book Of Abstracts - 2025, American Camp Association

ACA National Camp Research Forum Abstracts

This book includes 30 abstracts that will be presented at the 2025 American Camp Association (ACA) Research Forum to be held during the ACA annual conference from February 18-21 in Dallas, TX. Abstracts have been grouped into similar areas and will be presented across five verbal sessions and one poster session.

From Land Reform To Landfare: Land Claims And The Welfare State In Kerala, India, Sudheesh R.C

Articles

While large-scale land reform may still be underway in many countries, other contexts have states responding to land claims through scattered land provision measures. This article puts forward “landfare” as a lens to capture such measures and unpacks its features in one location. The article first explains this term, outlining its location in and departure from the land reform scholarship. It next shows how Kerala, India, widely cited in the scholarship for its 20th century land reform, addresses the land claims of its Adivasi citizens in the 21st century through landfare. Through an exploration of Adivasi land claims and an …

Disrupted Relatedness And Shifting Perceptions Of Others: Changing Moods Over Time For People Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder, Joanna Farr, Jonathan A. Smith, John E. Rhodes

The Qualitative Report

For people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the relationship between mood episodes and interpersonal life is critical. Yet little is known about how their experience of other people changes during and between episodes of depression and mania. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the experience of interpersonal change during depression, mania and euthymia (stability). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three women at two time points and were analysed using longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis. One longitudinal theme, “Changing sense of others impacts relatedness,” demonstrates profound changes in participants’ experiences of other people within and between episodes. During depression, participants experienced other people …