Community-Based Research Commons^™

Patient Preference For The Management Of Mildly Abnormal Papanicolau Smears, Marta Meana, Donna E. Stewart, Gordon M. Lickrish, Joan Murphy, Barry Rosen

Psychology Faculty Research

The article provides information on a study that investigated management preference and desire for decision-making involvement in women who have received a first mildly abnormal Papanicolaou smear. The majority of women in this highly educated sample preferred active management of their mildly abnormal Pap smears, although a substantial minority either opted for the surveillance strategy or reported no strong preference. Furthermore, management preference in this sample was not related to knowledge but rather to level of state anxiety. This indicates that these decisions may be guided more by emotions than by facts. Research has shown repeatedly that abnormal Pap smears …

Sexual Difference And Black Communities, Barbara Smith

Center for LGBTQ Studies (CLAGS)

During my fellowship year I have had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of Black lesbians and gays' historical relationship to large Black communities through interviews with a variety of informants. I have especially made progress in my research concerning Black lesbians and gays in Cleveland, Ohio (which was the focus of my CLAGS colloquium) and in my documentation of Black educational institutions as identifiable locations of lesbian and gay life.

Inroads To Technology: Evening The Playing Field For The 21st Century - Prag Publication, Center For Urban Research And Learning, Policy Research Action Group, Derek Pasnick, Maureen Hellwig, Carol Hibler, Martin Mercado, Kent Unruh, Suzanne Whelden

Center for Urban Research and Learning: Publications and Other Works

Community access to technology has become a critical issue in the discussion of sustainable community development and the economic viability of communities in the 21st century. The Policy Research Action Group (PRAG), a now-retired portion of CURL, established the Community Access to Technology Working Group to explore community access and training with regards to technology in the context of universal access within the city of Chicago. Additionally, the group sought to find out how technology resources are distributed in Chicago with particular emphasis on access at community centers, schools and libraries. The group's final report outlines the numbers and findings …

A Study Of Community Satisfaction, Environmental Concern, And Attitudes Toward Development On Virginia's Eastern Shore, Tasha M. Brown

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This study assesses community satisfaction, prodevelopment attitudes, environmental concern and intent to move on Virginia's Eastern Shore, an area that is experiencing population decline, high poverty levels, and competing interests of economic development and environmental concern. Poverty levels on the Eastern Shore differ substantially by race with 35 percent of Blacks compared to 12 percent of Whites living in poverty in 1990. Human capital theory suggests that rural residents, and rural minorities in particular, have lower incomes and more unemployment because they are not increasing their human capital through education and training. A review of previous research led to four …

Supplemental Security Income - An Underused Resource For Disabled Tanf Recipients In Illinois, Center For Urban Research And Learning, Michael A. O'Connor

Center for Urban Research and Learning: Publications and Other Works

This paper reviews the literature that assesses the incidence of severe impairments among parents and children receiving AFDC and TANF, and projects that analysis to estimate the number of persons eligible for, but not receiving SSI in the Illinois TANF caseload. The paper also reviews current investment in screening for eligibility and pursuing SSI benefits for TANF recipients, and articulates a rationale for further investment. Prior research supports an estimate that between 8-12,000 children, and 4- 18,000 parents in the Illinois TANF caseload are SSI eligible but not enrolled. This paper describes strategies and costs necessary to promote full enrolment …

The Role Of Trust In The North Blackforest: An Evaluation Of A Citizen Panel Project, Ragnar E. Löfstedt

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Dr. Löfstedt explores the effectiveness of a public participation project conducted in Germany, designed to involve citizens in the siting of municipal waste disposal plants.

Transforming Experiences: The Benefits Of Intellectual Risk, John Strassburger

Publications

This is the fourth in a series of occasional papers about the challenges confronting students and what Ursinus is doing to help them enter adult life.

Rural Social Work Bibliography (1999), Roger A. Lohmann, Nancy Lohmann

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This bibliography was assembled in response to a request from OUP for a rural bibliography on their website prior to publication of our edited book on Rural Social Work Practice (Oxford University Press. 2005).

Investing In Youth: Testing Community-Based Approaches For Improving Adolescent Sexual And Reproductive Health, Tamara Fetters, Fines Munkonze, Julie Solo

Reproductive Health

The world is now sustaining the largest number of youth in human history; today there are nearly 900 million 10–19-year-olds and their health and livelihood issues are becoming increasingly important to policymakers worldwide. In Zambia, as in many other countries, young people face severe problems, including limited access to jobs, secondary education, and health care. The social, economic, and peer pressures that youth face often lead to high levels of sexual activity, often with subsequent negative impacts on their sexual and reproductive health. In spite of the magnitude of the reproductive health problems facing youth, they still have limited access …

The Tostan Story: Breakthrough In Senegal Ending Female Genital Cutting, Population Council

Reproductive Health

In Senegal, elements of the Tostan education program were fundamental to the ending of the practice of female genital cutting (FGC) which has persisted for centuries, despite outside efforts to abolish such a dangerous and harmful operation. This paper is an attempt by those who lived through these events to share the experience with others. At a time when there has been little reduction in the numbers of women ending FGC in 28 African countries, when different programs and strategies have rarely succeeded in making an impact on the number of women still practicing FGC despite laws abolishing the tradition, …

Reproductive Health Indicators: Moving Forward, Kelly Blanchard, Batya Elul, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

This report is designed to help researchers, program managers, policymakers, and advocates sift through and evaluate which potential indicators might be useful in a particular programmatic context. It was initially prepared as a background manuscript for a Population Council meeting on reproductive health indicators held in Cairo in March 1998. The manuscript has since been modified to incorporate ideas and comments expressed at that meeting, as well as to include input from other Population Council colleagues.

The Tostan Story: Breakthrough In Senegal Ending Female Genital Cutting [Arabic], Population Council

Reproductive Health

In Senegal, elements of the Tostan education program were fundamental to the ending of the practice of female genital cutting (FGC) which has persisted for centuries, despite outside efforts to abolish such a dangerous and harmful operation. This paper is an attempt by those who lived through these events to share the experience with others. At a time when there has been little reduction in the numbers of women ending FGC in 28 African countries, when different programs and strategies have rarely succeeded in making an impact on the number of women still practicing FGC despite laws abolishing the tradition, …

Attitudes To Biotechnology And Genetically Modified Food : A Review, Juliana Rose Cannon

Theses : Honours

Debate surrounds the introduction of new biotechnological applications such as genetically modified food (GMF). With this in mind a critical review of the debate, it's emerging themes, and approaches to measurement was undertaken. The intention of this review was to argue that while existing empirical measures have advanced our understanding of attitudes to GMF, they are limited both conceptually and methodologically. Overall, the validity and reliability of research support was compromised. Conceptually, attitudes to GMF were composed of a number of potential dimensions that have yet to be measured. Adherence to sound scale construction techniques may facilitate more reliable and …

The Secure Program: Safety Enhanced Communities Utilizing Resident Endeavors - Final Report, Center For Urban Research And Learning, Richard Block, Adriana Gonzalez, Laura Herrin, David Katz

Center for Urban Research and Learning: Publications and Other Works

This report describes a collaborative project between the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL) at Loyola University Chicago. The project, entitled Safety Enhanced Communities Utilizing Resident Endeavors (SECURE), is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of physical security improvements in affordable housing developments. The project began in August of 1997 and was completed in December of 1998.

The focus of the SECURE program was to address the growing security needs and concerns among residents who live in transitional neighborhoods with relatively high crime rates. The SECURE project studied four affordable housing developments in …

The Meeting Of Pain And Depression: Comorbidity In Women, Marta Meana

Psychology Faculty Research

The higher prevalence of depression in women is coupled with a higher prevalence of pain complaints. Growing evidence suggests that the comorbidity of these conditions is also proportionately higher in women than men. This paper critically reviews the empirical findings relating to gender differences in comorbid pain and depression as well as findings in support of hypothesized etiologic factors that could explain why women may be more susceptible than men to comorbidity. The empirical evidence for biogenic, psychogenic, and sociogenic explanatory models is presented, and an integration of these models is proposed as a guideline to both research and clinical …

A Randomized Trial Of The Use Of Print Material And Personal Contact To Improve Mammography Uptake Among Screening Non-Attenders In Singapore, Paulin Tay Straughan, Paulin Tay Straughan, E. H. Ng, H. P. Lee

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The Singapore Breast Screening Project was a nationwide study inviting a random sample of women between the ages of 50 and 64 years for mammography at one of two hospital-based screening centres over two years. The current study was undertaken to determine if (1) mailed health educational material alone, or (2) the same material delivered during a home visit made to the subject and her family would increase the uptake among Singapore women who had not responded to two previous invitations for mammographic screening as part of the Project. This randomized trial employed a standard second reminder letter (R), the …

Assessing Levels Of Cooperation Between Pace And Patrol Officers In The City Of Norfolk Virginia Police Department, Michael G. Goldsmith

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to evaluate two facets of the Norfolk Police Department's Police Assisted Community Enforcement, or PACE, program. While there has been much research on how community policing affects officer and citizen attitudes, there has been very little that focuses on organizational aspects of implementing this philosophy. This research uses a survey instrument to examine how Norfolk's structuring of their community policing program may have an impact on the way the officers involved cooperate with one another. Levels of cooperation and training are measured, as well as the effects that years on the department and education …

Cardiac Rehabilitation: Gender Differences In Factors Influencing Participation, Lani Lieberman, Marta Meana, Donna E. Stewart

Psychology Faculty Research

This study investigates gender differences in the barriers and incentives that are most influential in the coronary patient's decision to participate in cardiac rehabilitation (CRPs) and suggests strategies to counter these barriers. Patient surveys were administered to consecutive English-speaking attenders and referred nonattenders to a cardiac rehabilitation center at a university healthcare system in Toronto, Canada. A survey questionnaire, constructed from a literature review and advice from key informants, examined potential factors affecting decisions to engage in CRPs. One129 attenders at a CRP and 61 referred nonattenders completed the questionnaire. Physician recommendation was reported to be the most important factor …

The Importance Of Cost And Effectiveness For Attitudes Towards Lifesaving Interventions, Joakim Ramsberg, Lennart Sjöberg

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Drs. Ramsberg & Sjöberg present the results of a study that evaluates Swedish attitudes about risks and corresponding lifesaving interventions.

Fatalism Reconceptualized: A Concept To Predict Health Screening Behavior, Paulin Tay Straughan, Adeline Seow

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Social norms governing health seeking behavior affect perceived self-efficacy which in turn determines if self-directed change is sustained. Using this argument, we contextualized the link between social background and preventive health behavior. We argued that fatalism influenced self-efficacy, which in turn affected acceptability of four screen tests: mammography, clinical breast examination, breast self-examination, and the Pap Smear Test. A seven-item index was developed to measure fatalism. From data obtained through a community survey of women between 50 to 65 years, the index was validated. Logistic regression was conducted to verify the empirical link between fatalism and the four screen tests. …

Affect And Marital Adjustment In Women’S Rating Of Dyspareunic Pain, Marta Meana, Irv Binik, Sainir Khalife, Deborah Cohen

Psychology Faculty Research

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent to which depressive symptomatology, anxiety, and marital adjustment mediate pain ratings in women suffering from dyspareunia.

METHOD: Seventy-six women with dyspareunia were administered the depression and anxiety scales of Derogatis's Brief Symptom Inventory and the McGill Pain Questionnaire. They also underwent a manual-visual gynecological examination, an ultrasound, and a colposcopy in an attempt to identify potential evidence and type of organicity.

RESULTS: Depressive symptomatology, anxiety, and marital adjustment together accounted for a significant amount of the variance in pain ratings, although only anxiety and marital adjustment were independent predictors of pain ratings in the entire …

Parents' And Teachers' Family Involvement Perceptions In Elementary Schools, Isabel S. Gutierrez

Graduate Theses

The perceptions of X.I.S.D.'s teachers and parents are studied to understand why a negative teacher attitude, concerning family involvement, seems to dominate the district. Participants perceived limited parents' support in special school activities, home tutoring, teacher-parent communications, preparing and organizing materials for teachers, and volunteering in committees that require parent representation. Parent participants that were experienced in the schools perceived parent involvement as assisting in the classrooms. Those individuals that perceived limited involvement probably get their attitudes in part from the concerns of administrators about parents' criticism as well as their belief that the district is financially able to provide …

Eastside Landmark: A History Of The East Los Angeles Community Union, 1968-1993, John Chávez

eBooks

"Established in 1968 to improve conditions in the barrio of East Los Angeles, the East Los Angeles Community Union has had a pronounced impact on the area, providing social services, helping increase political representation, and, most notably, promoting economic development, particularly through extensive real estate dealings. The history of TELACU is especially significant because it has provided a model for community development in other Mexican-American neighborhoods throughout the Southwest (including Oakland, California; San Antonio, Texas; Embudo, New Mexico; and Phoenix, Arizona).

TELACU and other ethnic community development corporations also offer a successfully tested general model of cooperative economic development for …

Perceptions Of Local Businesses Toward Customers With Physical Disabilities And Mental Retardation, Shannon M. Blackburn

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the overall perceptions held by businesses toward people with physical disabilities and mental retardation. Subjects (SS) were employees of businesses in the Richmond area (N=50). A self-developed questionnaire with 3 parts containing a Likert scale and open-ended questions was used for data collection. One hundred percent of the questionnaires were returned. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Chi-square (X²) was used to test the relationship between business type and promotion of service, emergency plans, and wheelchair accessibility. A limitation of this study was that the SS were selected …

El Triunfo Del Amor: Selecciones De Poesia Amorosa De-Y Para-La Comunidad, Sara Soledad Garcia

Teacher Education

Este epigrafe, mas algunas otras ideas de la autora, me han inspirado para la breve presentación interpretativa de la siguiente selección de poemas, anticipo del libro sobre este tema, Eclipse and Umbras Love Poems by Chicanas and Friends, que preparo en colaboración con Bernice Zamora. Varios de las/ os poetas representados somos autores no profesionales a quien la poesia se nos impuso en una circunstancia concreta de nuestras vidas. De aqui que el contenido, en muchos de estos poemas, desborda a la forma pues presupone una intertextualidad basada en la interacción de contenidos, y no de formas, de un fondo …

Rural Education And Rural Community Viability, Patricia Cahape Hammer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This thesis addresses the following research question:

In what ways do rural schools support or undermine rural community viability in the United States?

Following a methodology first recommended by C. W. Mills, the study was organized to include historical, cultural, social, and economic dimensions, which are explained in the first chapter. Chapter 2 looks back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to explore how such a diverse people--originating from Asia, Africa, North American, and Europe--all came under the power of a single ideology of progress and the superiority of urban, modified English culture. The chapter then investigates the …

The Challenge Of Adolescent Health: Views From Catholic Social Teaching And The Social And Medical Sciences, Brenda Wixson Donnelly, Dennis M. Doyle, Una M. Cadegan, Teresa L. Thompson, Patricia Voydanoff, Joan Mcguinness Wagner

History Faculty Publications

This book provides a multidisciplinary examination of the complex social issues surrounding adolescent health and health care delivery. It draws specifically on the resources of Catholic social teaching, presents an overview of the medical problems common among young people, and explores the social and familial contexts in which these problems arise. It provides a framework within which to view the conditions limiting the health and well-being of adolescents and to understand the resultant deterioration of the physical and mental health of adolescents in this country.

The insights gained from Catholic moral teaching are included with those of social science and …

Participatory Research And Community Organizing, Sung Sil Lee Sohng

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The paper summarizes the political economy of knowledge production in an increasingly privatized, postindustrial world of knowledge society. This analysis is linked to the emergence of participatory research movements. It argues that the participatory approach to community research offers epistemology and methodology that address people, power and praxis in our postmodern, information society. The paper then describes howa participatory research project is carried out in community practice, articulating key moments and the roles of the researcher and participants. In order to develop this understanding further, it examines the efforts of two specific projects and shows how knowledge production can serve …

Implementation And Evaluation Of Parental Involvement Programs, Cindy Tucker Harbour

Graduate Theses

This report examines many recent cultural and family unit changes that have affected the home-school relationship. It addresses reasons for implementing parental involvement, the different programs available and assessment procedures. There are several key components in a parental involvement program: promoting parents as educators, training teachers to cooperate with families, promoting cooperation among families, involving the larger community and presenting family learning activities. These aspects have shown significant benefits to school staff members, students, and parents. How these relate to each other, identifies the positive expectation of the responsibility of education for all concerned. There are a variety of ways …

Review Of Planting The Future: Developing An Agriculture That Sustains Land And Community Edited By Elizabeth A. R. Bird, Gordon L. Bultena, And John C. Gardner, Charles A. Francis

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Why should you care about agriculture? Planting the Future provides an eloquent description of the current state of this' most basic human endeavor so critical to survival. Based on a series of surveys and on-farm studies in the North Central and Western states, the book recognizes the bounty of our conventional agricultural industry. More importantly for the future, it details a series of critical problems in the environment, the distribution of economic benefits, and the social dislocation resulting from the consolidation of lands and heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Today's productivity and cheap food in the market have hidden expenses …