Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Free Trade And Free Societies: The Effects Of Cafta On Democratic Institutions In Central America, David Nahmias

CMC Senior Theses

During the debate over the ratification of the United States-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the Bush Administration argued that implementation of a free trade agreement would help strengthen the nascent democracies in Central America. As a bilateral agreement, CAFTA would not only foment greater trade liberalization by expanding market access and eliminating trade barriers, but also help transform the entire commercial frameworks in Central America and promote economic development. These implications are not just economic – in particular, its provisions on intellectual property and investment rights, government procurement and labor standards affect the political institutions underpinning democracy and …

A False Sense Of Security: The Social Security Debate, Chris Shipman-Sercu

CMC Senior Theses

My motivation to write this thesis is based on the controversy surrounding the Social Security system that has recently infiltrated the media. Through my research, I have discovered the debate concerning Social Security is not a recent development but has existed since the 1930’s. Many sources are warning citizens to no longer count on Social Security as they most likely will not receive benefits until a extremely old age if they receive benefits at all. Current retirees are fearful of either a decrease in benefits or not receiving the money they contributed to the system through the years of employment …

The Development And Long-Term Influences Of Attachments As Seen Through Attachment Theory: The Influence Of Attachment On Homosexual Males, Christian Alvarez

CMC Senior Theses

This paper seeks to explore the development of attachments in humans as seen through Bowlby's (1980) attachment theory. Components of the theory which focus on how attachments are formed and how they influence future behavior are explored. These are used to then examine how attachment theory applies to the attachment patterns seen in homosexual males.

Latino Teens At Risk: The Effectiveness Of Dating Violence Prevention Programs, Ruth N. Calvillo

CMC Senior Theses

Teen dating violence is a serious problem that does not receive the attention it should. This paper examines the factors that contribute to teen dating violence and more specifically the factors that contribute to dating violence among Latino youth. After determining the factors that contribute to this problem, prevention programs are examined to assess how well they address those issues. Currently, multiple dating violence prevention programs are used across the country; however, most of them do not address the needs of Latino youth. Suggestions on how to make these programs more appropriate for Latinos are provided.

The Effects Of Communication Disorders On Social Development, Heather M. Back

CMC Senior Theses

This paper explores literature on the effects of communication disorders on the social development of children. The paper discusses such topics as the effects of communication disorders on personality development, the ability to make friends and resolve conflict with peers, and academic success. It also discusses the influences of multiculturalism and bilingualism on the diagnosis of communication disorders and reflects on the importance of awareness of cultural differences in communication style to avoid a misdiagnosis. Research shows that without intervention and treatment communication disorders can have irreversible detrimental effects on a child’s ability to develop effect social-communication, to make friends, …

Humanizing The Other, Cynthia A. Ortega

CMC Senior Theses

In this piece of literature, storytelling is used as a method towards understanding, knowing, and validating the experience of the “other”, in this case Mexican immigrants of all shapes and colors, sexual preferences, and diverse socioeconomic standing. I would like to shift the discourse from their potential as socioeconomic assets towards a recognition of their essence as participating members of our community. Immigrants are artists, they are intellectuals, they are leaders. They are simply not given the space in American society to develop their potential without being chained down to the “immigrant” label. I would like to stress the recognition …

War, Race, And Gender In American Presidential Elections In 1964 And 1972, Baxter Norcross

CMC Senior Theses

This paper examines the partisan shift that took place in American Presidential elections during the Vietnam War. Specifically, I examine the landslide elections of 1964 and 1972 and how race, gender, and American casualties played a part in the shift.

The Unintended Consequences Of Increased Transparency In American National Government, Abigail K. Woodruff

CMC Senior Theses

In the past century, there has been an increasing trend in American government toward opening government procedures to the general public. The intention of these reforms was to improve government accountability and responsiveness, increase public education and involvement in government, and prevent corruption and undue influence by special interests. Conventional wisdom about open government, however, does not take into consideration many of the repercussions of opening up congressional proceedings to the glare of public scrutiny. Reforms in the 1970’s opened the deliberative process and made members of Congress more vulnerable to constituent and interest group pressure. These effects have had …

Grasshoppers In The Outfield: An Examination Of The Effects Of Sports On Children, Chelsea R. Baker

CMC Senior Theses

Many psychologists have studied the effects of sports on children because it is an issue that is important for children and parents alike. Athletic participation is a popular activity in the United States for children and many begin sports at young ages. Theokas (2009) claimed that the importance of athletics is that sports are more than physical activity—sports have an influence in many other areas of a child’s life. The goal of the current review was to examine how sports affect children in domains such as: friendships, self-esteem, family, and academics. Athletic involvement helps a child in more ways that …

Integrated Overview, Case-Studies And Analysis: Income Inequality In Latin America, Post-1980, Aaron R. Campbell

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis provides an integrated overview on the historical and contemporary literature dedicated to the study of within-country income inequality in Latin America.

The central hypothesis of this report is that there are underlying factors that drive the persistent levels of high within-country inequality experienced by Latin American countries. We study two countries, Brazil and Bolivia, through the process of reform and growth, and note the effects on the labor markets.

Using all available statistics and the wealth of knowledge compiled since the early 1980s, this study identifies those trends, and the factors that cause them to reappear in numerous …

Understanding The Female Conceptualization Of Sexual Addiction And The Role Of Addiction Treatment, Megan Douglass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Beginning with the diagnosis of nymphomania in the 19th Century, there has been widespread and continued interest across the mental health and bio-medical realm of what constitutes normality of female sexual behavior, and of the boundary at which sexual desire is deemed to be excessive, and thus abnormal. However, research questions that specifically investigate the subjective female voice and perspective in considerations of so-called hypersexuality or sex addiction remain understudied. This research project proposes to examine the cultural pathways and systemic foundations which have historically in the West problematized female sexuality by investigating women's own perceptions of sexual addiction and …

Growing Local: Anthropological Reflections On Current Challenges Facing Central Florida Organic Farmers, Cheney Swedlow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis considers Central Florida's emerging local food movement from an anthropological perspective. Area farmers and organizations spearheading this movement and the benefits of purchasing and consuming locally grown food are ethnographically explored. Interviews with natural and organic farmers highlight the challenges affected farmers face in creating a sustainable local food movement in the greater Orlando region. Their motivations for farming organically and the counter-hegemonic tendencies inherent in this mode of cultivating are critically analyzed. Taken as a whole, this work addresses the limitations and opportunities afforded to farmers amid the popularity of local food consumption as a social movement. …

Paleopathology In Ancient Eygpt: Evidence From The Sites Of Dayr Al-Barsha And Sheikh Said, Cindy Malnasi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For centuries, people have been fascinated with how the ancient Egyptians lived, and particularly how they died. Although Egyptologists in the past had a greater interest in the treasures that accompanied the dead, there has now been a shift in focus on the actual ancient Egyptians themselves and their ways of life. Recognizing the health and disease status of ancient Egyptians has become particularly important. The aim of this research project is to document the paleopathology of the individuals from the sites of Dayr al-Barsha and Sheikh Said encompassing the Old Kingdom (2686 - 2160 BC), the First Intermediate Period …

Have Nominating Conventions Lost Power?, Tyler Branz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Do conventions still have relevance in the modern political world? Some call them glorified television infomercials for presidential candidates while others refer to them as admired pillars of American political history. Whichever viewpoints one identifies with, presidential conventions are interesting to study historically, and can be studied analytically. The following case studies examine the institution of the nominating convention: what they do, how they form, what they have accomplished and how they affect the voters. This study finds that conventions are still meaningful in American politics, particularly for affecting party unity, candidate image and, to a lesser degree, party platform.

Jealousy And Attachment 2.0: The Role Of Attachment In The Expression And Experience Of Jealousy On Facebook, Megan Cole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this research was to investigate how people use Facebook within the context of their romantic relationships from an attachment theory perspective. In the present study, a convenience sample (n = 179) completed an online survey with questions about Facebook use, attachment style, uncertainty-related behaviors, jealousy, relationship satisfaction and commitment. Results indicate that 1) there is a positive correlation between jealousy and Facebook use; 2) also, there is a positive correlation between jealousy and the time an individual spends viewing their partner's profile; 3) further, jealousy is positively related to uncertainty-reducing behaviors. Taken together, these results support …

Source Representation And Framing In Childhood Immunization Communication, April Raneri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research has indicated a strong interest in knowing who is being represented and how information is being represented in the communication about childhood immunization. This study uses a two-part analysis to look at source representation and framing in childhood immunization communication. A quantitative analysis of articles from the New York Times and USA Today were examined for their source representation, their use of fear appeals, through the Extended Parallel Processing Model (EPPM), and the use of frames, through the application of Prospect Theory. A qualitative semiotic analysis was conducted on 36 images that appeared on www.yahoo.com and www.google.com to find …

Somos Negros Finos: Anglophone Caribbean Cultural Citizenship In Revolutionary Cuba, Andrea Jean Queeley

Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies

No abstract provided.

Maximizing Hospitality Learning Outcomes: An Integrated Experiential In-Class Approach, Robert J. Harrington, Godwin-Charles A. Ogbeide, Michael C. Ottenbacher

Hospitality Review

This study explored the influence of an experiential, in-class approach to the hospitality curriculum as a means of increasing its efficiency and effectiveness. Specifically, the study provides an example of how hospitality faculty might utilize an experiential, in-class approach to integrate additional hospitality-specific content along with process and content issues for working in teams and team decision-making. The results of this study support the efficient and effective use of an experiential inclass teaching method. The value of this study is twofold: (1) it provides an initial test of this approach’s usefulness and (2) it provides a forum for continued conversations …

Timeshare Owner Preferences - An Analysis Of Program And Service Relationships During Recessionary Times, Randall S. Upchurch Ph.D, Robin B. Dipietro, Brumby Mcleod

Hospitality Review

Since the 1970s various industry studies have indicated that the vacation ownership industry has enjoyed unprecedented growth in unit sales, resort growth, and the number of owners (American Resort Devleopment Association [ARDA], 2007; ARDA, 2009a; ARDA, 2009b). However, due to the recent economic downturn these growth metrics are no longer obtainable. This external impact has caused developers to retrench and therefore reflect upon their existing product and service offerings, financial metrics, and consumer markets (ARDA, 2010a; ARDA 2010b). The crux of these findings indicates that the industry has shifted to maintaining and enhancing product and service offerings as a reaction …

Religion In Latin America

Hemisphere

This issue, edited by LACC Director of Research and Colombian Studies Institute Director, Ana Maria Bidegain, presents today’s Latin American and Caribbean religious landscape through different lenses: country profiles (Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia); sub-regional monographs (River Plate and the Caribbean); vignettes on the evolution of particular religious denominations (Christian, Islamic, and Judaic), communities (indige- nous Pentecostals) and practices (New World African religion). The feature article, authored by leading US expert on Latin American religion, Daniel Levine, examines the relationship between religion and politics in the region after thirty years of democratic rule. Different perspectives are represented: from the North and …

The Role Of Ngos In The International Human Rights System: A Case Study—Ijm In Thailand, Tyler J. Bourke

Global Tides

International human rights have been codified in a number of declarations and conventions, but these rights are not always enforced. This paper will examine the right to citizenship and the other essential rights linked to it. When national governments are unable or refuse to grant citizenship to a group of people it results in a violation of international human rights norms. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a key role in enforcing human rights standards in three ways: first, NGOs with lawyers on staff can work through national legal systems to ensure that rights, such as citizenship, are granted. Second, NGOs can …

A Survey Of Attitudes And Utilization Of Counseling Services Among International Students At Minnesota State University, Mankato, Anna Marie Johnson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

considerable number of international students are represented within the Minnesota State University, Mankato student population. Research indicates that international students face unique and challenging experiences when attempting to adjust to life as a student in the United States. In addition to these unique stressors, research indicates that international student populations utilize campus and community-based counseling services at a lower rate than American students. There are numerous and complex reasons for this utilization trend. A survey of the use of and attitudes toward utilizing counseling services among international students at MSU, Mankato is useful in determining current trends and informs future …

Survey Of Author Name Disambiguation: 2004 To 2010, Sarah Elliott

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Author name disambiguation methods continue to evolve and grow more sophisticated. This paper surveys a variety of manual and automatic approaches that have developed between 2004 and the beginning of 2010.

Ability, Assistance, And Collaboration In Academic Library Assessment, Gordon J. Hewitt, Rebecca Troendle Hewitt

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Assessment continues to grow in importance in academic libraries, yet no one has delineated what skills and resources are needed among librarians to carry out assessment activities. This study was a first attempt to describe how library leaders view the skills and resources they need to do assessment. Based on a survey of academic library directors, our findings show that directors rate themselves highly on conceptual skills, but are less confident on methodological skills. Directors also rely heavily on their staff members and campus institutional research and assessment offices to help them with assessment projects.

A Comparison Of Term Clusters For Tokenized Words Collected From Controlled Vocabularies, User Keyword Searches, And Online Documents, Elaine Maytag Nowick, Daryl Travnicek, Kent M. Eskridge, Stephen Stein

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Tokenized word terms were collected from three sources: controlled vocabulary headings, user keyword searches, and html documents all dealing with issues in water quality. Distances were calculated between word pairs using the Jacquard formula. Distances from the three sources were compared using Spearman rank correlations and clusters were calculated on distances transformed for non-normality using the SAS pseudo-centroid method. Word pair distances from controlled vocabularies were more closely correlated to keyword searches than document distances were to users’ keywords. The mean distance of controlled vocabularies was also closer to that of users. Clusters produced from the three sources were most …

Vietnamese Amerasians: A Study Of Identity Construction, Ky-Giao C. Nguyen

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

We define who we are by defining who we are not (Daniel 1996). What happens when we don't know who we are not, how can we determine who we are? What if the markers of family connections, community alliances and citizenship are missing and there are no peers with whom to make comparisons? "What are you? Where are you from?" Hispanic, Filipino, sometimes even Native American rather than Asian, are ethnicities often ascribed to Vietnamese Amerasians (children of Vietnamese and American parents). Curiously, for such a personal question, the reaction from others to the response "Vietnamese Amerasian" is often rejection …

The Relationship Between Science Literacy Levels And Religious Belief Among A Sample Of Community College Students, Wesley Philip Price

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively explore how beliefs regarding creation and evolution are related. To this end, attitude structures, cognitive sociology, creation, evolution, science, status politics and world view are defined and related issues are explored. A questionnaire was administered to 348 North Lake College students. It was found that the controversy regarding creationists negating evolution is educational and political in nature. Implications suggest that a person's religious beliefs, academic understanding of evolution and science, and opinions regarding what can and cannot be taught in the science classroom are indicative of the creation-evolution controversy. Ultimately, this research …

Ethnic Identity: The Cambodian Experience, Sastra Bour

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

This thesis research contributes to the literature of Cambodian Americans, and in particular the second generation, which has attracted limited scholarly attention. It examines how these individuals make sense of their Cambodian ethnic identity in North Texas. Individual interviews were conducted with twelve second generation Cambodian-Americans in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This study focused on the ethnic identity of second generation Cambodian-Americans by examining cultural practices, knowledge of one's family history, language and peers that may serve as significant factors. It was found that peers did not determine if their sense of identity heighten or lessen, while other factors did. …

Driving Force: An Exploration Of Texan Prius Drivers, Heather Champeau

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine what Prius owners use their vehicle to tell the world about themselves and to discover whether this varies by gender. This was explored through the lens of situational simulation, a blending of Baudrillard's (1983) theory concerning simulation and current literature concerning gendered consumption of environmental goods and awareness.In-depth interviews with fourteen participants were the main source of data. The interview schedule was loosely based on the work of previous researchers (Heffner, Kurani and Turrentine 2007), though a unique questionnaire was included after interviews were complete. Participants were gathered using snowball methodology in …

Media Framing And Social Movements: A Case Study Of The Red Shirt Movement In Taiwan, Wen-Hsin Ho

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

In my thesis, I use the social movement literature and framing theory to examine the rapid rise and fall of Taiwan's Red Shirt social movement in 2006. The movement was against President Chen Shui-bian, who was accused of corruption; its main goal was to oust President Chen from office. From its inception in August 2006 to its demise in October 2006, this social movement swelled to include several hundred thousand participants, but collapsed nearly as quickly as it rose to prominence. The Red Shirt movement and the surrounding events were extensively covered by television, print, and Internet media. Many scholars …