Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Alleviating Social Disadvantages Of Rapid Economic Growth: A Case For Conditional Cash Transfer (Cct) Application In Old Siam, Anastasia Kostioukova

CMC Senior Theses

The ongoing conflict between Thailand’s red shirt and yellow shirt parties is not purely political. This tension is rooted in a renewed awareness of regional economic and social inequality, a byproduct of rapid economic growth in the past. This thesis seeks to understand the overall consequences of unequal economic development in Thailand, as the rationale for asserting that a conditional cash transfer (CCT) program is an appropriate policy tool for the ongoing reconciliation efforts.

A Natural Resource Curse: Does It Exist Within The United States?, Bryce Gerard

CMC Senior Theses

In this paper, we examine data on U.S. GDP/Capita and natural resource share of GDP by state. We then run growth regressions and build on a previous model of dynamic equations to account for the spatial equilibrium that exists between U.S. states. Our results show that there exists evidence that overinvestment in oil and mining sectors has negative effects on state TFP growth, thus giving positive evidence for the existence of a natural resource curse between U.S. states.

The High Costs Of Small Loans: Understanding Interest Rates In Microfinance, Benjamin W. Hudgens

CMC Senior Theses

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000183 EndHTML:0000003190 StartFragment:0000002393 EndFragment:0000003154 SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/benjaminhudgens/Desktop/Final%20Thesis.docx This thesis will use data from 2009 to examine two questions about the Microfinance industry. First, why do firms charge interest rates well beyond their cost of funds and second, are there important differences at the national level that can help us to understand the high interest rates in Microfinance? I find that interest rates are primarily a result of operating expenses, but profit-status has large effects in developed Microfinance markets. I also find that the Economist Intelligence Unit’s measures of regulatory environment and industrial development explain a large portion of the variation in …

Express Yourself: The Effects Of Body Position On Non-Verbal Communication Of Emotions, Kathryn H. Mgrublian

CMC Senior Theses

Recent research has documented that we tend to use the face to express some emotions, but use the body to express other emotions. To understand the contributions of the body to non-verbal emotional communication, we compared the performance of able-bodied participants who were allowed to express emotions naturally (standing) to able-bodied participants who were confined to a wheelchair. Theories of embodied emotion would predict that restraining the use of the body should change emotion production and communication confidence, especially for body-related emotions. Participants expressed six different emotions in three conditions: 1) naturally, 2) face only, and 3) body only. After …

Credit Market Imperfections, Financial Crisis And The Transmission Of Monetary Policy, Brett Spencer

CMC Senior Theses

This paper uses U.S. macroeconomic data drawn from 2001 to 2010 in order to test for the operation of a credit channel of monetary transmission. Using a combination of a VAR and ADL time series frameworks, evidence is found for the impairment of the credit channel during the crisis period relative to the period which preceded it. Evidence is also found against the presence of a "credit crunch" during the crisis, and supporting evidence is found for the existence of a "credit trap." This analysis indicates a significant role for credit market imperfections in the transmission of monetary policy, and …

Performance Under Pressure: The Effect Of Explanatory Style On Sensory-Motor Performance Under Stereotype Threat, William R. Macphail

CMC Senior Theses

Do participants with external attribution styles outperform participants with internal explanatory styles in pressure-filled situations? Explicit-monitoring theory suggests that performance becomes impaired when conscious attention is devoted to performing a task normally carried out by automatic processes. Attributing potential failure to an external source (e.g., blaming a sudden gust of wind for a poor golf shot) can decrease the negative effects of stereotype threat, a social-psychological predicament known to engender feelings of stress similar to those experienced in pressure-filled situations, by preventing explicit monitoring from taking place. The current study examined whether individual differences in attribution style, as measured by …

Cross-Cultural Risk Behavior In Financial Decisions And The Cushion Hypothesis, Jin Tan

CMC Senior Theses

92 students from a Southern California liberal arts college and two Beijing universities participated in an online questionnaire. Their cultural tendencies (i.e. level of collectivism and perception of family support) and responses to hypothetical investment scenarios were observed. Participants were asked to provide the amount they would invest in each scenario as well as a risk safety rating. The Chinese respondents reported higher cushion and collectivism scores than the Americans. Furthermore, the Chinese sample offered more money for the three riskiest scenarios; they also rated three scenarios safer than the Americans did. The cushion and collectivism scores were not found …

The People’S Republic Of China’S Stance On Human Rights In Selected Crises, Brian T. Kopczynski

CMC Senior Theses

This paper examines China’s policy towards human rights internationally with the intent of discerning real support for human rights. It compares China’s responses to two cases of mass human rights violations (the Darfur and Israel-Palestine conflicts) in which it has a serious interest (energy in particular). It finds that China treats human rights self-interestedly, but also has some support for them when its interests are not at stake.

Pointless?, Jonah Yuen

CMC Senior Theses

A fundamental question in politics that has no conclusive answer to this day is whether or not campaign expenditures are pointless. Determining the role of campaign contributions and spending in elections is important for formulating campaign finance reform policy and also for understanding the public choice economics behind elections. Politicians seem convinced that money is an important component in any successful election as illustrated by numerous fundraisers and lofty goals of raising $1 billion for presidential campaigns, yet the empirical research on money’s role in elections has not reached a consensus. This project seeks to further explore the relationship between …

Latino Political Power In California, Gustavo Adolfo Cubias Ii

CMC Senior Theses

California has now become a majority-minority state. Latinos, currently the largest minority group in the Golden State, have made remarkable political gains in the past two decades, more recently since the the approval of Proposition 187 in 1994. How have Latinos used this new political power? This thesis provides an in-depth look into the dynamics of the Latino political entity in California, along with a quantifiable analysis of voting trends. Discussion of policy implictions since the Latino wave into the state Legislature is also provided, along with interviews with notable Latino figures, such as Senator Art Torres and Redistricting Commissioner …

Climate Change Displacement And Global Governance: A Case Study Of Three Intergovernmental Organizations And The Conflict Between The Member States And Bureaucracy, Andrea C. S. Berringer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Climate change is a topic most often broached by environmental scientists and activists and its effects are discussed in terms of animal populations and atmospheric events. However, its direct effect on human life is yet to garner such attention. A changing climate will affect how people are able to use their environment, if at all. Sea level rise and desertification will force a shift in human habitation. How the world seeks to deal with this shift is yet to be seen. The global governance of climate change-induced displacement is currently at the stage of ad hoc development. Legal and conceptual …

Cherokee Regional Works On Tandem Building Projects, Darla Chambliss

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article focuses on the renovation and expansion the Dade County Public Library and the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library in Georgia. The Dade County Public Library is in the construction phase while the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library is in the design development phase. Facilities that will be added in each library are community room, a YA department and a public computing area.

Energy Challenges In Latin America

Hemisphere

Co-edited by Peter Hakim, President Emeritus, Inter-American Dialogue and Genaro Arriagada, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Inter-American Dialogue, this issue examines energy as a priority issue for nearly all Latin American and Caribbean countries and considers its impact on regional integration and both foreign and domestic policy. Articles present opportunities and challenges facing the region, as well as recommendations for addressing the energy issue in Latin America in a strategic, constructive and effective manner.

The Path To Prosperity In Afghanistan And Central Asia: Obstacles At The Crossroads, Owen Lloyd

Global Tides

Despite America’s lengthy nation-building project in Afghanistan, many Afghans still lack the basic resources and security necessary for a viable nation. Furthermore, the insecurity in Afghanistan is increasingly spilling over into their neighbors, stressing an already fragile region. While we in the West have largely forgotten Afghanistan, its neighbors look on with trepidation as they prepare for potential unrest. With vast amounts of natural resources and increased competition between the Russians and Chinese over the region, Afghanistan and its insecurity could lead to continued Central Asian economic and political stagnation. Despite the dangers in failure, inconsistent action and a destabilizing …

Need For Content Reengineering Of The Medical Library And Information Science Curriculum In Iran, Vahideh Zarea Gavgani, Farhad Shokraneh, Ali Roshani Shiramin

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

New approaches in medical education and practice such as Evidence-Based Medicine, Information Therapy, and Patient-Centered Healthcare require more reliable, timely and specialized information services. At the same time, the provision of information services in the environment of Web 2.0, medicine 2.0, library 2.0, and mobile computer technology require new skills on the part of librarians. Library and Information Science (LIS) education curricula have to be changed to meet the professional needs and skills required for librarians. The aim of this study is to find out whether the content of LIS academic courses offered by Iranian Medical LIS schools meet the …

Use Of The Internet In Government First Grade College Libraries In Bidar District, D. B. Patil

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Internet has revolutionized the world of information. It is one of two technological innovations that have greatly influence the development of communication strategies and practices in both the general and the business communities of the world. The first was the invention of the printing press, Gutenberg’s invention served to democratize the possession and transmission of texts, made the production of books much easier and cheaper than the manuscript method it replaced. The Internet provides new horizons for the researcher. A potentially vast population of all kinds of individuals and groups may be more easily reached than ever before, across geographical …

Towards A Globalization Of Conservation Models In Zoos: The Aza And The Case Of A Mexican Zoological Park In León, Dustin Kenneth Miller

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

The recent expansion of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to include culturally-foreign institutions, underscores the ever-increasing globalization of conservation ideas. This paper investigates the structural and cultural barriers faced by recent member, Zooleón, in Guanajuato, Mexico. Distinct structural differences - that underscore the level of corporatization present in U.S. institutions - and a lack of understanding these differences by the AZA has resulted in Zooleón finding itself unable to meet the demands of a polished AZA institution. A significant cultural difference that emerges from the structural differences encountered is paramount importance of family bonding by means of a …

Trabecular Bone Variation In Mid And Upper Craniofacial Regions Of Four Anthropoids, Leslie Claire Pryor Smith

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

Some posit that robust supraorbital tori seen in fossil hominin species are an adaptation to hard object feeding, while others believe that supraorbital morphology is overdesigned for mastication in robust species. Strain gage analysis of primate craniofacial regions finds that strain is much lower in the supraorbital region relative to the zygomatic region, however, the mechanisms behind bone adaptation to loads is not fully understood. While variations in cortical bone material properties in a few primate species have been determined, no one has explored the variation in cranial trabecular bone. This study used microcomputed tomography to assess the variation in …

Late And Terminal Classic Maya Subsistence: Stable Isotope Analysis At Chac Balam And San Juan On Northern Ambergris Caye, Belize, Dana Yvonne Ritchie Parker

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

Skeletal populations from several Maya sites during the Late and Terminal Classic periods exhibit pathologies indicative of poor health and malnutrition, while populations from other sites appear comparatively healthy. Chac Balam and San Juan from Ambergris Caye in Belize are examples of flourishing sites with skeletal populations that possess few indicators of nutritional stress. Analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes on bone collagen and carbon isotopes on bone apatite from 30 individuals was conducted to elucidate dietary intake of the populations from Chac Balam and San Juan. Results indicate dietary possibilities typical for an island population, with primary food …

State-Agents Vs. Citizen-Agents: How Parental Values And Socioeconomic Backgrounds Impact The Construction Of Work Related Identities In Street-Level Bureacracy, Jesse R. Booher

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

Scholarship on street-level policy implementation identifies two dominant approaches street-level bureaucrats use to describe their work: the "state-agent" and "citizen-agent" narratives. The former focuses on how street-level bureaucrats implement law and the latter on how bureaucrats interact with clients. To this point, scholarship only recognizes the above narratives as descriptors. I hypothesize that street-level bureaucrats actively construct identities as state-agents or citizen-agents depending on their backgrounds. Using semi-structured interviews with street-level bureaucrats in North Texas, this exploratory study finds that relationships exist between participants' socioeconomic background as children, the values stressed by their parents, and the narrative style they use …

First-Generation College Students: A Comparison Of Graduates And Drop-Outs, Lisa Hoyer

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

With an increase in the number of students who are considered at-risk, much research has been directed at understanding why these students fail to achieve at the same level of their White counterparts. To this end, this study will explore how the experiences of first-generation college graduates compare to first-generation college students who chose not to finish their degree. Three theoretical frameworks were employed as the basis of this examination: resiliency theory, Bourdieu's habitus differences, and Tinto's model of the drop-out process. Twenty first-generation college students were interviewed to obtain a description of their background and educational experiences from kindergarten …

Investigating Juvenile Supervisory Officers' Attitudes At A Texas Juvenile Detention Center, Justin Michael Patrick Regan

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

Punitive and rehabilitative ideologies have traditionally competed to influence correctional policy. The growing emphasis on prisoner rights however, has subtly transformed the mindset of the carceral institution. Juvenile detention officers, the frontline negotiators of these changes in the juvenile justice system, have been the focus of little ethnographical research concerning their ideological orientation or the pressures that shape that outlook. While sociological and criminal justice studies have quantitatively identified a number of individual and organizational factors that affect officers' attitudes, these studies give scant attention to the actual impact of those views on rehabilitative efforts. This paper extends the carceral …

Millennials And The Adoption Of New Technologies In Libraries Through The Diffusion Of Innovations Process, Heidi Blackburn

Criss Library Faculty Publications

Purpose – Literature on the features of new technology in libraries of every type and size is readily available, but looking at the factors playing a part in the process (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability) will bring an understanding of how Millennials integrate technology into libraries. This paper seeks to discuss some of the issues involved.

Design/methodology/approach – This research focuses on Millennials and their adoption of new technologies in libraries through the process of diffusion and the stages of adoption as outlined by Everett Rogers: communication through certain channels; over time; and among members of a social …

Identity And Behavior: Exploring An Understanding Of “Being” And “Doing” For Catholic Priests Accused Of The Sexual Abuse Of Minors In The United States, Brenda K. Vollman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The problem of the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests in the United States has been problematized as a phenomenon that is, in part, a distinction of the priesthood. Although it is known that there are sex offenders in the world who are not, nor were they ever, priests, this study sets forth to uncover whether or not the priests in the sample are, in fact, different on typical psychological risk factors than the at-large sex offender. More importantly, in the absence of notable differences on risk factor characteristics, this study explores the ways in which narrative structures are …

Call Of Duty: A Question Of Police Integrity, Albert O. Gamarra

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Policing is a profession linked to ideals of integrity and honor. In spite of this, the profession has not been immune to corruption within its ranks. Most research in policing has concentrated on police corruption rather than police integrity. Research studies have examined the issue of corruption but they have encountered a multitude of measurement issues, making the direct study of corruption difficult.

The goal of this research study was to replicate the seminal Klockars, Ivkovich, Harver & Haberfeld (2000) study examining police integrity within the United States. There has been a lack of research dedicated to the study of …

Faunal Analysis Of The Early Modern Bishop's Farm At Skalholt, Arnessysla Iceland, George Hambrecht

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation presents the analysis of faunal material recovered from middens outside the main complex of the Bishop of Southern Iceland's Cathedral farm at Skáholt, Arnessysla, Iceland. Issues of diet, deposition patterns, as well as participation in larger trade and intellectual networks addressed. All of these issues are examined in order to investigate larger issues centered around the early modern Atlantic world. The Skáholt material is also compared with the larger body of existing early modern Icelandic archaeofaunal data in order to investigate issues of adaptation and resilience in the face of harsh climatic as well as social and economic …

The Impact Of Trial Consultants On Perceptions Of Procedural Justice And Juror Verdicts: An Empirical Investigation, Jennifer Burke Katz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Despite the proliferation of the trial consulting industry in recent years, we know virtually nothing about the impact that the use of a trial consultant may have on a jury. This laboratory study seeks to fill some of the gaps in the trial consulting literature by using the principles of procedural justice to explore what, if any, impact the use of a trial consultant can have on the outcome of a criminal jury trial, as well as the possibility that perceptions of fairness mediate the relationship between the balance of trial consultants and juror verdicts in cases where the evidence …

The Segments And Tones Of Soyaltepec Mazatec, Heather D. Beal

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations

This dissertation describes the segments and tones of Soyaltepec Mazatec, an Oto-Manguean language of southern Mexico virtually undescribed in the literature with the exception of Pike (1956). The preliminary work done by Pike and subsequent analyses by Goldsmith (1990) and Pizer (1994) are reviewed giving evidence that the system is complex and not easily explained. Documentation of the segments of the language as well as a more complete documentation of the tonal system has significance for language preservation, comparative Oto-Manguean studies, and for phonological theories of tone. This paper presents original field data gathered by the author during visits to …

American Sign Language Verb Categories In Constructed Action, K. Larry Rogers

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations

The American Sign Language construction commonly known as "role-shift" superficially resembles mimic forms, however unlike mime, role-shift is a type of depicting construction in ASL discourse (Roy 1989). The signer may use eye gaze, head shift, facial expression, stylistic variation, and use of signing space to convey information (Lee 1997). While this construction may involve a level of gesture, it is linguistic in nature (Padden 1990). "Role-shift may be used to recreate the action in a narrative, thus the term: constructed action” (Metzger 1995). This aspect to depict action is the particular focus of this study. Participants were videotaped telling …

Icts And Information Needs Of Rural Female Farmers In Delta State, Nigeria, Edwin I. Achugbue, Sylvester O. Anie

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Female farmers in Delta State play an important role in crop production, poultry farming, and socioeconomic development of the communities. This research work investigates ICTs and information needs of rural female farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. It also ascertains the level of their ICT-compliance in the management of agricultural information for increased productivity. The paper uses descriptive survey method to determine the information needs of rural female farmers and the impact of ICTs on rural female farmers. It was discovered that female farmers in Delta State, Nigeria, are very keen to know more about treatments of animals, application of fertilizers, …