Social Psychology and Interaction Commons^™

A Cross-Cultural Analysis Of Several Forms Of Parenting: Mother, Genitrix, And Mater, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Melissa Stern was born March 27, 1986, in New Jersey. For one so young, she has experienced or been the subject of interstate flight and fugitive hegira, legal battles involving her own court-appointed attorney, social controversy, the voracious attention of an insensitive media industry, and a place in history as the famous Baby "M". Judge Sorkow (1987: 26-27), in his opinion awarding custody of Melissa to her genetic father and terminating all parental rights of her genetic mother, notes professional evaluations indicating Melissa to be a "a mellow, alert, easy-to-care-for child who is blessed with a 'sunniness of disposition that …

Neighborhood Criminals And Outsiders In Two Communities: Indications That Criminal Localism Varies, Daniel Baker, Patrick G. Donnelly

Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Faculty Publications

Most research on the mobility of criminal offenders examines distance travelled. This paper examines instead whether neighborhood boundaries are crossed. Comparisons of two neighborhoods in Dayton, Ohio, indicate community variations in criminal mobility. Juveniles from poorer, more transient neighborhoods are surprisingly less likely to stay in the neighborhood to commit their offenses than were adults.

"Martha's Rules": An Alternative To Robert's Rules Of Order, Anne Minahan

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

For several years I have been teaching a social work course on how social workers can make their employing organization more responsive to consumers. We study how decisions are made in organizations. The students and I have become intrigued with the use of consensus decision-making in some organizations. Many—but by no means all—of these organizations are feminist organizations that wish to put feminist beliefs and philosophy into practice within organizations and to avoid structured administrative hierarchies for decision making. In their study of consensus decision-making organizations, students have reported that some participants are impatient with the time required by the …

A Descriptive Study Of The Elements Which Affect Mexican-American Children's Educational Opportunities For Social And Economic Advancement, Linda Flores Quiroz

Graduate Theses

No abstract was provided.

Romanticism And The Rise Of Sociological Hermeneutics, Dmitri N. Shalin

Sociology Faculty Research

Although biblical exegesis and rhetoric, from which modern hermeneutics derived its first principles, are ancient arts, an effort to establish hermeneutics as a universal science, and especially to extend its principles to the science of society, is of a decidedly recent origin. "There is little doubt," states Gouldner, "that hermeneutics' roots in the modern era are traceable to Romanticism." Why is this so, what makes romanticism fertile ground for hermeneutical speculations? Hans-Georg Gadamer, a leading authority on hermeneutics, makes this intriguing suggestion about its origins:

The hermeneutical problem only emerges clearly when there is no powerful tradition present to absorb …

Human/Farm Animal Relationships, Jack L. Albright

Agribusiness Collection

There are various combinations of human beings and farm animals. This paper attempts to evaluate those few studies of humans handling farm animals within a prescribed environment. Personality traits of dairy farmers and livestock people as determined by the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck 1977) need further study (Seabrook 1974; Arave and Brown 1979). Seabrook's sample size was small (20 herds) and these herds were criticized for having low yields while Arave and Brown's questionnaire did not go far enough.

Assembly Process To Collective Behavior Episodes, Karen M. Glumm

Masters Theses

There have been three major reviews of the field of collective behavior out of which have come a challenge for future research. In response to that challenge this thesis is the investigation of growth and dispersal patterns of one short-range non-periodic extemporaneous gathering from beginning to end.

A brief review of the literature will be presented to focus on what has been done with regard to collective behavior episodes. The research has been somewhat limited and has tended to focus on retrospective accounts rather than on-the-spot interviews and observation.

The research for this thesis was conducted on the day of …

Sexism In Space: The Freudian Formula In "Star Trek", Mary Jo Deegan

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

These words, spoken at the beginning of each televised "Star Trek" episode, set the stage for the fantastic future. Although the "Star Trek" series was cancelled in 1969 after only three years of production, it generated a large cult following that flourishes still today. One reason for the series' remarkable longevity is its depiction of the future as a Freudian fantasy. This Freudian vision draws on cultural myths embedded in the patriarchal dominance of men over women characteristic of Western civilization.

According to Freud, both sexes are driven by three instincts --- sex, aggression, and the death wish---but men have …

Spatial Structure In Pedestrian Route Choice, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Aggregated pedestrian trip lengths typically follow gravity model predictions. Given this, the present research asks which route will a pedestrian choose when confronted by two or more distance-minimizing routes of equal length. Ethological, questionnaire, and interview data reveal the spatial structure of pedestrian route choices in terms of spatial complexity measures. Route complexity is found to vary by age and gender. The study is based on data collected in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Review Of Accommodating The Pedestrian By Richard Untermann, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Untermann undertakes to provide design professionals and other decision makers with a down-to-earth, practical guide for converting existing automobile-dominated urban areas into bicycle and pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods and cities. Based primarily on his personal observation, experience, and professional predilections, Untermann lists the presumed "needs" of pedestrians/bicyclists and presents a brief, uneven description of the "characteristics" of walking. A separate chapter, not well-integrated with the rest of the book, focuses specifically on bicyclists and bikeways. The second half of the book addresses specific improvements-primarily for pedestrians suggested by the author for older neighborhoods, downtowns, and suburban communities respectively.

The Effects Of Sex-Role Attitudes And Group Composition On Men And Women In Groups, Valerie P. Hans, Nancy Eisenberg

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

The dual impact of group gender composition and sex-role attitudes on self-perceptions and social behavior was explored. Androgynous and stereotyped men and women were placed in groups of skewed sex composition. Subjects' self-descriptions of masculine attributes shifted significantly in the group environment. In some instances, sex role-stereotyped subjects responded most stereotypically when their gender was in the minority in the group. Differences between men and women and between androgynous and stereotyped subjects in sex role-related preferences for group roles and discussion topics were also found.

A Survey Of Interdisciplinary Differences In Attitudes And Morale Within A Psychiatric Hospital, Brian F. Hoffman, Valerie P. Hans

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

It is clear from a number of research studies that staff attitudes and morale in psychiatric hospitals are influenced by diverse factors. Although staff morale has been studied in several health and human service organizations, there have been few systematic studies of the professional staff in a psychiatric hospital. In particular, little attention has been paid to the effect staff members’ disciplinary affiliations have on their morale and attitudes. The effects of staff members’ dual allegiances (to their discipline and to their interdisciplinary unit) have also not been examined. Conflict may develop in psychiatric hospitals because members of different disciplines …

Walking Straight Home From School: Pedestrian Route Choice By Young Children, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Unobtrusive observations of 50 randomly selected pedestrian youngsters were made after the children had been dismissed from elementary schoois in Lincoln, Nebraska. The results demonstrate that (a) 88 percent of the students walked directly to a residential dwelling: (b) 98 percent chose a least-distance path from their school to their residence or other destination: (c) the majority of students (62 percent), by choosing to minimize distance, found their route choices reduced to a single route option:' and (d) when faced with the choice between two or more distance-minimizing routes, the children in this study selected structurally more complex routes than …

Hegemonic Life-Worlds: A Discussion Of The Phenomenology Of Routes And Connectivity In Planning And Design, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

I. Introduction

II. The Social Context of Spatiality

I I I . Class-Ernbedded Descriptions of Routes: A Personal Example

IV. Designers and Hegemony

A. Life-World Hegemony

B. Hegemony and Opposition

E. An Example of Gender-Specific Hegemony

D. Access, Disability, Physical Design and Collective Responsibility

V. Positivist Hegemony and Destruction of Human Values

VI. Positivist Conceptions of Routes

A. Arithmetizing Paths

B. Geometrizing Paths

C. Discussion: The Maze at Hampton Court

VII. Toward the Phenomenology of Routes

A. A Program of Investigation

B. Discussion

On The Possibility And Realization Of Feminist Art, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

The focus of this paper is the possibility and realization of feminist art. I will move directly to the central arguments--outlining the case against and the case for the possibility of feminist art. I will argue that a sociological perspective leads one inexorably to the firm possibility of feminist art. Finally, I will open discussion toward the realization of feminist art and invite you to begin with me an exploration of sociology’s potential contributions to the realization of this feminist project.

Intellectual Violence, Democratic Legitimation, And The War Over The Family, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This paper presents a view of democratically rationalized repression as a framework within which to discuss Brigitte Berger and Peter L. Berger's recent anti-feminist, bourgeois apologetic: The War over the Family: Capturing the Middle Ground. The Bergers' book is presented as an example of intellectual violence, a ruthless attempt to legitimate continuing patriarchal dominance through perverted appeals to "democracy" and democratic principles of fairness and consensus.

Review Of Aesthetics And The Sociology Of Art, By Janet Wolff, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

In this compactly written and generally accessible monograph, Janet Wolff outlines the contours of reductionism and ideology as central issues in the sociology of art. She provides a thorough critique of contemporary sociological practice, surgically identifying sloppy logic and intellectual imperialism in nearly every recent attempt to solve the "problem" of aesthetics sociologically. Upon completing the book, the reader will no doubt feel greatly informed about a wide range of epistemological, methodological, and ideological issues. At the same time, the reader may feel perplexed in his/her attempt to frame an answer to the question, "What's the next step?" Hence, the …

Client Success Or Failure In A Halfway House, Patrick G. Donnelly, Brian E. Forschner

Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Faculty Publications

Halfway houses today are diverse entities. Seiter, et al. (1977) found that almost 60 percent of the houses in the United States are private nonprofit organizations. One-third were state operations with the remainder being federal, local or private profit organizations. The programs in the houses varied from those providing supervision and custody to those providing a full range of intensive in-house treatments for particular client needs. Some halfway houses handle only particular types of offenders (e.g., drug addicts) while others handle a wide range of offenders.

Latessa and Allen (1982) suggest that the sociodemographic and criminal history backgrounds of clients …

Using Wiseman Documentaries For Social Problems Courses, Patrick G. Donnelly

Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Faculty Publications

This report describes the use of seven films produced by Frederick Wiseman in a lower course in Modern Social Problems. The goals of the project were: to increase the student awareness and understanding of the day-to-day operations of several basic institutions in American society; to offer a creative and interesting undergraduate course; and to enliven cIass discussion. Since this was a course in social problems, faculty and students focused on the problematic features of the institutions portrayed in the films and on the social problems these institutions are designed to handle.

American Attitudes Toward And Knowledge Of Animals: An Update, Stephen R. Kellert

Attitudes Towards Animals Collection

The distribution of a typology of basic attitudes toward animals in the American population is explored through personal interviews with 3,107 randomly selected persons in the 48 contiguous states and Alaska. Data is presented on the prevalence of these attitudes in the overall American population and among major social demographic and animal activity groups. In addition, results are presented on Americans' knowledge of animals as well as their species preferences. Finally, information is presented on perceptions of critical wildlife issues including endangered species, predator control, hunting, trapping, marine mammals and wildlife habitat protection.

Empathy, Humaneness And Animal Welfare, M. W. Fox

Human and Animal Bonding Collection

In relation to a person's emotional rapport with an animal, is empathy possible? Sympathetic concern for animals is often judged, sometimes correctly, as being a sentimental, anthropomorphic projection. Sheer subjective sympathy toward an animal, without objective understanding of its behavior and needs, can lead to erroneous assumptions as to its well-being, and to misjudgement of others' treatment of animals as being cruel. Empathy is possible when the "feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another" can be vicariously experienced: thus when there is objective knowledge about what an animal's overt behavior signifies, and what emotional states, intentions, and expectations such overt behavior …

Attitudes Toward Animals: Age-Related Development Among Children, Stephen R. Kellert

Attitudes Towards Animals Collection

This paper reviews the results of a study of 267 children in the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th grades. A battery of tests was used to examine children's knowledge and attitudes towards animals, and behavioral contacts with animals. A typology of basic attitudes towards animals and appropriate scales was employed. Children's knowledge and attitudes towards animals were also compared to those of adults 18 years of age and over. Major differences occurred among children distinguished by age, sex, ethnicity, and urban/rural residence. Additionally, significant knowledge and attitude variations occurred among diverse animal-related activity groups (e.g., among children who hunted, birdwatched, …

Rethinking Ritual, Peter Mclaren

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Recent works by students of contemporary ritual (or "ritologists," as Ronald Grimes calls them) supports the notion that ritual is an important variable not just in tribal culture but also in modern industrial culture. I'm referring to studies that have been undertaken by such ardent ritual exegetes as Roy Rappaport, Barbara Myerhoff, Ronald Grimes, Robert Bocock, Sally Falk Moore, and Richard Schechner. Grimes has begun the important work of consolidating research on ritual; he has taken a field of scholarship which was doggedly parochial and helped to expand it into a protoscience of its own. (1) The work of these …

Selected References On Walking, Crossing Streets, And Choosing Pedestrian Routes, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Studies on the behavior and experiences of pedestrians have continued unabated since the first major bibliography on the subject, was compiled by Dietrich Garbrecht (1971a). Numerous additions were noted in a supplement by this author (Hill, 1976a). The present bibliography summarizes and updates these earlier works. Further, it includes several related references from the environmental design research literature which significantly illuminate the general problem of understanding the pedestrian environment. References on route choice by automobile drivers have specifically been included to encourage comparisons between vehicular and pedestrian transportation modes.

This bibliography is presented without annotations. However, those seeking a summary …

Exploring Visual Sociology And The Sociology Of The Visual Arts: Introduction And Selected Bibliography, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Visual studies in the social sciences have recently begun to enjoy increased popularity. Like the interdisciplinary excitement which earlier linked. the behavioral and social sciences to problems in environmental design, this event points to yet greater potential for collaboration between the social sciences, on the one hand, and the design disciplines, on the other. Whereas the interdisciplinary environmental design movement tended to focus specifically on the relationship between humans and the built urban environment (although some landscape architects properly extended their investigations to rural and natural environments), the intersection of visual sociology and the sociology of the visual arts encompasses …

Stalking The Urban Pedestrian: A Comparison Of Questionnaire And Tracking Methodologies For Behavioral Mapping In Large-Scale Environments, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Behavioral mapping in unrestricted, outdoor environments raises methodological challenges which have led several environmental behavior researchers to employ questionnaires rather than behavioral observation as the usual method of data collection. This study provides an empirically-grounded comparison of both techniques for recovering data on routes selected by pedestrians as they engage in unrestricted travel from place to place in an urban environment. Mid-trip interception tracking provides expensive but accurate data on partial trips whereas questionnaires provide more easily obtainable data on complete trips but with a lesser degree of accuracy. The reduced level of accuracy for questionnaire data is mild, however, …

Walking, Crossing Streets And Choosing Pedestrian Routes: A Survey Of Recent Insights From The Social/Behavioral Sciences, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Walking at first appears to be a relatively simple, mundane behavior that should pose no great puzzle for the diligent researcher in the social and behavioral sciences. The review presented here of recent studies, however, demonstrates that the behavior and experiences of ordinary pedestrians are filled with opportunities for empirical investigation and intricate theory building. But, why bring these studies together for synthesis in this volume? I suggest here that there are, in fact, several reasons that argue in favor of a timely focus on the apparently simple behavior of the pedestrian.

First, the deceptive simplicity of the pedestrian experience …

Epistemology, Axiology, And Ideology In Sociology, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This paper (a) presents a systems framework for conceptualizing epistemological issues in sociology, (b) links this framework to axiological responsibilities, and then (c) locates both the epistemological and axiological discussions within the patriarchal ideology and hierarchical power structure of American sociology. I t is argued that adopting an activist, emancipatory ideological position obligates social scientists to critically review their axiological commitments and epistemological premises. Major arguments are set in italics to permit a quick scan of the paper. These arguments form an epistemological position paper for the closing of the Twentieth Century.

Masked Depression In Children: Is It A Useful Concept?, M. Russell Thomas

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Education at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Arts by M. Russell Thomas on September 15, 1983.

Achieving A Concensus On Dog Control Strategies: A Brief Primer, D. B. Wilkins

Pets Collection

The welfare arguments surrounding dog ownership may not stimulate the same passionate fervor as those relating to the use of animals in experiments, factory farming, or the hunting of live animals with hounds, but nevertheless, they are matters of real concern to most welfare organizations. The most serious problems are caused through irresponsible ownership, which leads to overbreeding and the inevitable consequence of large numbers