Book categories

Grounded Theory

The Philosophy, Method, and Work of Barney Glaser

by Vivian B. Martin and Astrid Gynnild (editors)

2011

This anthology provides a unique collection of articles on classic grounded theory, as developed by sociologist Dr. Barney G. Glaser. Organized in four sections, teaching grounded theory, techniques, history and philosophy, and advanced approaches, the 19 chapters fill gaps and correct misunderstandings about the method. Chapters on the merits of classic grounded theory over other versions, the historical and philosophical influences on the method, and advice for Ph.D. students doing classic grounded theory dissertations will be useful to novice and experienced researchers. How-to chapters on the use of focus groups, online interviews, and video for data collection expand data possibilities, while articles on formal theory, software, and testing concepts with structural equation modeling w...

The Power and Paradox of Physical Attractiveness

by Gordon L. Patzer

2006

The Power and Paradox of Physical Attractiveness is a scholarly look into physical attractiveness. It articulates the great importance placed on this dimension of a person’s appearance. Analysis of the dynamics and consequences reveals a powerful, pervasive, and frequently unrecognized or denied physical attractiveness phenomenon. This phenomenon transcends time, geography, and culture, regardless of demographics and socioeconomics of individuals and populations. With penetrating vision, Dr. Patzer provides evidence that despite professed ideals, people do judge others by their looks. Physical attractiveness is a more powerful determinant of a person’s fortune and misfortune in life than people admit. No matter the words, thoughts, and ideals proclaimed by people, these same people judg...

The Knowledge-Based Economy

Modeled, Measured, Simulated

by Loet Leydesdorff

2006

How can an economy based on something as volatile as knowledge be sustained? The urgency of improving our understanding of a knowledge-based economy provides the context and necessity of this study. In a previous study entitled A Sociological Theory of Communications: The Self-Organization of the Knowledge-based Society (2001) the author specified knowledge-based systems from a sociological perspective. In this book, he takes this theory one step further and demonstrates how the knowledge base of an economic system can be operationalized, both in terms of measurement and by providing simulation models. The measurement instruments are applied to the German and Dutch economies and elaborated in terms of regional and sectorial differences. The knowledge base is specified in th...

Reassessing American Culture

A Rebel's Guide

by Gregory Shafer

2005

Social scientists are only beginning to question the idea of culture and the way it comes to be part of who we are as a people. While most would suggest that culture emanates from our values and traditions, this book wonders if it is given to us by corporations, media, and political institutions as a way to keep us docile and compliant. So much of what we do, how we dress, and what we value is actually a manifestation of government propaganda and advertising. And so, we embrace sentimental notions about our founding fathers, about marriage, our political system, and time honored rituals. While we think of ourselves as free, we are deluged with messages from powerful conglomerates who want us to dress and act a certain way and who have clear agendas for what they want us to believe about o...

America's Prisons

The Movement Toward Profit and Privatization

by Curtis R. Blakely

2005

This reader introduces the student to prison management. Particular interest is given the increased role of profit in the application of punishment. Profit and prison privatization are viewed within their larger context. As such, public and private prison operations are compared. Part of this comparison takes place through situating each sector upon an ideological continuum. This placement helps indicate the direction being taken by the contemporary prison. It further reveals that tomorrow's prisons may be less driven by traditional objectives and more driven by the notions of profit and efficiency.

Revolution as Development

The Karen Self-Determination Struggle Against Ethnocracy (1949 - 2004)

by Jack Fong, Ph.D.

2008

The Karen Revolution for self-determination has the distinction of being one of the world's longest-running struggles for freedom, having begun in 1949 and continuing to this very moment. This sociological work makes visible how ethnopolitical, petropolitical, geopolitical, and ecosystemic issues affect the political economy of a people experiencing ethnic cleansing. From the inception of its self-determination struggle in 1949, readers will be taken on a historical journey with the Karen, finally "arriving" in the 21st century. Along the way, the author exposes readers to the anatomy of how Karen revolutionary dynamics attempt to shield the Karen people against internal colonization committed by the various military regimes of Burma, and how these complex dynamics engaged by Karen revolut...

Midlife Mavericks

Women reinventing their lives in Mexico

by Karen Blue

2000

Midlife Mavericks chronicles a new trend--unmarried American and Canadian women building better lives for themselves in Mexico's beautiful colonial villages. Cozy up on a comfortable couch and share a margarita with successful women who have found an alternative to high-stress careers. Sip a glass of wine with empty-nesters seeking adventure and drink a glass of ice tea with retirees living in comfort on just their Social Security or disability income. You'll laugh and cry with these gutsy gringas as they journey from unfulfilled yearnings towards answers each woman must ultimately discover for herself. "Like the seafaring sirens, Midlife Mavericks, will lure reticent readers from their lukewarm existences into lives of discovery and purpose." Marilyn Davis, aut...

The Politics of Crystal Meth

Gay Men Share Stories of Addiction and Recovery

by Kenneth Cimino

2005

A non-profit executive, governmental employee, financial advisor, travel agent, student, fashion designer - what these gay men have in common is a knowledge of pain, obsession, despair, degradation, and finally freedom from the one element that connects their stories: crystal meth use. Dr. Ken Cimino reveals the intimate and horrifying nature of meth abuse and presents ten inspiring true life dramas of meth use and recovery in The Politics of Crystal Meth: Gay Men Share Personal Stories of Addiction and Recovery. In part one he illustrates the varied reasons why gay men use methamphetamines, from gay oppression to homophobia to building self esteem to HIV issues. In the second part of the book he shares ten personal and motivating stories of meth use and recovery. In The Politics of...

Currents of Thought in African Sociology and the Global Community

How to Understand Research Findings in the Context of Sociological Perspectives

by Joshua Adekunle Awosan

2009

Currents of Thought in African Sociology and the Global Community focuses on research findings further enriched in the realm of the emergent, indigenous African sociology within a global context. An authentic guide, it has potential to expose readers to the intricacy of research in its various ramifications. Its uniqueness consists in casting, in an explanatory framework, what each of the subdisciplines of sociology is all about, while simultaneously discussing the theoretical and methodological orientations in which the accompanying research findings are situated. The transition of sociology in Africa, inextricably tied in with global dimension, is its major theme. And discussion questions/exercises and essays at the end of each chapter constitute a stimulating teaching tool. Its theore...

Living under Liberalism

The Politics of Depression in Western Democracies

by Pam Stavropoulos

2008

Depression is prevalent throughout western society. But while identifying "risk factors," we rarely make the link to the liberal value system which so shapes the society in which we live. Freedom; equality; progress; respect for the "individual." What's wrong with liberalism? As residents of western liberal democracies, aren't we living in the type of society most conducive to happiness? Intellectually, we like to think so. We intone the liberal mantra "rationality defines a person," "my life is up to me," "liberalism is the best there is." But there are parts of ourselves that suspect otherwise, and that remain unconvinced. We become symptomatic. This book challenges individualist readings of depression which are still so dominant in western societies. This is in professional circles an...

Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection

Social, Emotional, and Educational Contexts

by Elias Kourkoutas and Fatos Erkman (editors)

2011

Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection: Social, Emotional, and Educational Contexts draws on research to offer a global perspective on issues of fundamental importance to family functioning, childhood development, and adult intimate relationships, as well as to policy and practice for children, adolescents, couples, and families at risk. It draws on the perspectives of major social science disciplines such as clinical and educational psychology, anthropology, psychology, special education, and sociology, thus ensuring topics are discussed within broad theoretical frameworks. The authors cover a wide spectrum of questions and topics in relation to perceived acceptance and rejection by significant others. Chapters are set in the context of worldwide trends in the area of interpersonal accept...

The Lunisolar Calendar

A Sociology of Japanese Time

by Jessica Kennett Cork

2011

This study shall explore the social and political significance of the so-called kyureki, the Japanese lunisolar calendar that was abolished by the Meiji government in 1872. This calendar was the principal method of timekeeping in Japan from 604 to 1872, but has received little attention from English speaking scholars. This study argues that the study of the lunisolar calendar is essential to gaining a comprehensive understanding of pre-Meiji society and political history. Chapter 1 uses a detailed analysis of an actual lunisolar calendar coupled with passages from pre-Meiji historical and literary texts to show that the lunisolar calendar reflects the value pre-Meiji society placed on minute seasonal changes, the phases of the moon, and divination controlled by various directional deities...

The Coordinated Management of a Culturally Diffused Identity

Internationally Adopted People and the Narrative Burden of Self

by Jeffrey J. Leinaweaver

2011

Internationally adopted persons confront multiple challenges in constructing their identities. This study of the narrative burden of self looks at and interprets the dynamic process in which internationally adopted people develop, coordinate and manage their sense of self, identity and cultural/racial personhood. Drawing on the theory of the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM), the study focuses on their use of orphaning and adoption stories to most skillfully position and tell one's origin story in concert with one's internal sense of self, and the pressures and forces found in interpersonal and intercultural dialogue. The research reveals how internationally adopted people develop and demonstrate varying levels of game mastery in managing societal scripts and oppressive frames of st...

An Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for Wireless Communications, Societal Concerns and Risk

The Case of Radio Frequency (RF) Allocation and Licensing

by Haim Mazar

2009

This thesis analyses how and why culture and geography influence the allocation and licensing of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum in different nations. Based on a broad comparative study of 235 countries, an inter-disciplinary approach is used to explore regulatory frameworks and attitudes toward risk. In addition, detailed case studies of the UK, France, the US and Ecuador provide deeper insights into the main contrasting regulatory styles. Three alternative sociological theories are used to analyse and explain the results for both the in-depth and broad brush studies. The Cultural Theory of Mary Douglas and co-workers is first used to categorise countries in terms of perceptual filters. The empirical findings indicate some countries to be apparently exceptional in their behaviour. Th...

Supersizing Science

On Building Large-Scale Research Projects in Biology

by Niki Vermeulen

2010

In recent years there has been a clear rise in scientific collaboration, as well as in studies on the subject. While most scholars examine disciplines traditionally known to be collaborative, such as physics and space research, this book focuses on biology. It investigates the growing collaboration in the life sciences, or the emergence of what is called 'big biology'. While the Human Genome Project is often presented as the first large-scale research project in biology, cooperation in the life sciences has a longer history. A comparison between centralised 'big physics' and 'big biology' reveals how the latter has a networked structure, which evolved in interaction with the integration of information and communication technologies. By concentrating on the construction of these networks, t...

The Challenge of Scientometrics

The Development, Measurement, and Self-Organization of Scientific Communications

by Loet Leydesdorff

2001

Scientometrics--the quantitative study of scientific communication--challenges science and technology studies by demonstrating that organized knowledge production and control is amenable to measurement. First, the various dimensions of the empirical study of the sciences are clarified in a methodological analysis of theoretical traditions, including the sociology of scientific knowledge and neo-conventionalism in the philosophy of science. Second, the author argues why the mathematical theory of communication enables us to address crucial problems in science and technology studies, both on the qualitative side (e.g., the significance of a reconstruction) and on the quantitative side (e.g., the prediction of indicators). A comprehensive set of probabilistic entropy measures for stu...

The State of Emergency Management 2000

The Process of Emergency Management Professionalization in the United States and Florida

by Jennifer L. Wilson

2001

This dissertation analyzes the current status of emergency management professionalization in the United States and Florida using a qualitative case study. I investigate the efforts of various organizations at the national and state levels in the private and public sectors to organize emergency management as a profession. I conceptualize emergency management professionalization as occurring in two phases: the indirect institutionalization of the occupation of emergency management and the formal advancement toward an emergency management profession. The legislative, organizational, and procedural developments that occurred between approximately 1900 and the late 1970s became the indirect institutionalization of the occupation of emergency management. Over time, as our society developed a...

Towards the Formation of a Sustainable South Florida

An Analysis of Conflict Resolution and Consensus Building in the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Initiative

by Arthur Oyola-Yemaiel

2000

This dissertation examines the sociological process of conflict resolution and consensus building in South Florida Everglades Ecosystem Restoration through what I define as a Network Management Coordinative Interstitial Group (NetMIG). The process of conflict resolution can be summarized as the participation of interested and affected parties (stakeholders) in a forum of negotiation. I study the case of the Governor's Commission for a Sustainable South Florida (GCSSF) that was established to reduce social conflict. Such conflict originated from environmental disputes about the Everglades and was manifested in the form of gridlock among regulatory (government) agencies, Indian tribes, as well as agricultural, environmental conservationist and urban development interests. The purpose of t...

The Politics of Death

A Sociological Analysis of Revolutionary Communication

by Michael J. Blain,

2001

This dissertation reports the results of a sociological analysis of the narrative form and functions of revolutionary discourse. Chapter I poses two questions: How do representations of death function in political processes? How do signifiers of violent death function in the structure of revolutionary statements? Chapter II reviews relevant sociological concepts and articulates a dramatistic political-sociology of death, concepts mainly derived from Emile Durkheim, Robert Hertz, and Arnold van Gennep on death and the sacred, Max Weber on violence and politics, and Burke, Duncan, and Edelman's view of politics as symbolic action. Chapter III presents the results of a formal, narrative, and semiotic analysis of a large sample of revolutionary statements ( Saussure, Levi-Strauss, Foucault...

A Comparison of Two Approaches of Symbolic Modeling and Self-Efficacy

by Roy Hamilton

1999

The effect of video and written modeling on self-efficacy of 70 master's degree students enrolled in their first techniques course was investigated. The ability to understand and use reflection of content, feeling, and meaning was presented to the experimental group through videotaped instruction and examples and the control group through written instruction and examples. Facts about reflecting skills, which included information and three vignettes, demonstrated the use of the skills. Through two pilot studies, the Reflecting Skills Questionnaire (RSQ) developed for this study showed convergent validity with the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE). Participants' indication of self-efficacy for the reflection of content, feeling, and meaning was assessed by the RSQ. A t - test wa...

Ethics and Sustainable Community Design

by Veronica D. de Raadt

2002

Sustainable communities depend on ethical people. This book explains how multi-modal systems thinking can be applied to ethical and normative issues of community life. It also provides a practical way forward by using the methodology and SmCube software for social systems analysis and design. These are presented in an extensive case study of life in Rosvik, a village in northern Sweden, where a group of villagers struggle to sustain their village against the loss of people and economic resources to large industrial centres of the south. The book examines the predicament which villagers are struggling with and provides a design of activities to revitalise the village, challenge its leadership and retain the next generation. Ethics and Sustainable Community Design will be of interest to ...

Cultural Values and the Family beyond Year 2000

Principles, Policies and Reality

by Jacob K. Hevi

2002

Culture is dynamic. But in cultural (ethnic) groups certain elements of culture such as cultural values relating to the family are regarded indispensable for social order, and therefore for the survival of the society. Accordingly those concerned strive to maintain social order by rediscovering what they regard as traditional cultural values. The thesis of this study is: the process of the development of cultural values relating to the family can be defined as "Spiral Involution"; namely a development through interparticipative stages, each stage (past or present) participating in the other, as impulse to further development. Therefore the proposition of this study is: dialogal-value-system-concordance, a conscious intervention by those concerned through dialogue towards optimal social ord...

Reframing the Attitude-Behavior Debate

The Case of Meat-Abstinence in Vegetarian Student Cooperatives

by James A. Kitts

1997

This thesis proposes a reconceptualization of the "attitude" as a multidimensional latent process, which may be unstable across situations, individuals, and time. A review of the literature in light of this reconceptualization reveals aspects of the survey situation that may systematically influence measures of attitudes, behaviors, and social norms. This suggests that contradictory findings regarding attitude-behavior consistency may be partly due to specific inadequacies of conventional measures. A reflexive research strategy is proposed, which supplements survey methods with both quantitative and qualitative assessments of measurement validity. This strategy is applied in a case study of attitudes, norms, and diet in five vegetarian student cooperative houses. Analyses test the suf...

The Early Conservation Movement in Argentina and the National Park Service

A Brief History of Conservation, Development, Tourism and Sovereignty

by Arthur Oyola-Yemaiel

2000

This study explores the emergence and development of the conservation movement in Argentina during the twentieth century. I argue that the development of the conservation movement has been linked to shifts in the broader spectrum of Argentina's political arena as well as the international political situation as nations competed for the sovereignty of newly acquired territories after the Indian Wars. This book explores the development of Argentina as a nation in relation to conservation of its natural resources as a counter measure to resource extraction. Thus, I establish the relationship between the need for national sovereignty and socio-economic development via the formulation of nature based tourism industry. This strategy was developed by Excequiel Bustillo and spearheaded by the fo...

Eglise catholique et transactions politiques: l'Etat dans le discours social de l'Eglise au XXe siecle

(Catholic Church and Political Transactions: the State in 20th Century's Social Teaching of the the Church)

by Dariusz Góra

2001

The thesis examines the Catholic social teaching, as it is expressed in papal encyclicals, in wide context of contemporary political doctrines and major events of 20th century. The author proposes a method of following political messages of the Catholic Church during the last century. He challenges a standard Church's claim of immutability of its teaching. He shows, on the contrary, firm contextualisation both of Church's action and of its official message. From classical confrontational strategy face to modernity, through the attitude of "dialogue" during the Second Vatican Council, the Church insists on remaining a recognized participant of significant contemporary debates even in conditions of postmodernity.

Sex differences in rape reporting

by Nathan W. Pino

1998

The analysis reported here compares male and female rape reporting behavior. Results from an analysis of National Crime Survey data indicate that the characteristics of rape, and factors that influence a rape reporting decision, differ by sex, and that sex role socialization may largely influence the rape reporting decision for both males and females. Both men and women were more likely to report victimization when there was physical evidence, but only women were affected by such variables as the victim/offender relationship, the age of the offender, and whether or not the victimization was perceived to be completed. The analysis also found that women reported victimization more frequently than men, and that there were differences between male and female victims with respect to the char...

Privatizing

A Social Milestone or Millstone?

by Herbert B. Siegel

2003

When politicians redistribute public wealth by privatizing State-Owned Enterprises ( SOE ), they divest themselves of public accountability, and profoundly affect laws, economics, and social behavior. Data gathered from respondents in twenty-eight countries including lawyers, investment bankers, bureaucrats, and educators, identify beneficiaries and victims of privatizing processes. Results are then explained by statistical analysis, concluding with compensatory arrangements that can humanize privatizing.

Crime and Punishment in Twentieth Century Ireland

Volume 2: A Description of The Criminal Justice System, 1950-1980

by Seamus Breathnach

2005

This book was written as part of a much wider criminological enterprise, designed at creating a real and critical basis for criminological enquiry in Ireland. Properly understood the Criminal Justice System (CJS) is every bit as important to society as the circular flow of money. No government would dream of conducting its business without the advice of an economist or, indeed, providing an econometric model of the economy. Yet when it comes to the CJS, governments take the opposite view and legislate in the dark, hardly reconnoitering for a moment to see what effect proposed legislation will have on the several institutions it invariably affects. Maybe this was okay when those effects could not be calculated. But such is no longer the case. In 1967 a President’s Comm...

Tantra and Kama Sutra Sex Positions

by Al Link and Pala Copeland

2004

Adult content, beautifully erotic, tastefully explicit. * 131 pages * 100 large format erotic photographs and illustrations * 183 internal document links * 120 external product and information links * Get free updates in electronic format for one year after date of purchase. Expand your lovemaking repertoire and increase your pleasure with this photo manual of Tantra and Kama Sutra sex positions. In this modern interpretation of classic love postures each of the color photos appears in large format on a single page. They capture the emotional and energetic connection of sacred lovemaking as well as illustrating sexual positions and techniques. Each photo is accompanied by comments on how and why the position is used. We also include useful information ...

Crime

Computer Viruses to Twin Towers

by H. Thomas Milhorn, M.D., Ph.D.

2005

Crime: Computer Viruses to Twin Towers is an overview of the United States legal system, with a brief introduction to Islamic and International law. The book is divided into six parts. Part I (The Legal System and Crime) introduces the U.S. legal system and the classification of crime. Part II (White Collar Crime) covers cybercrime, crime the old fashioned way, and healthcare fraud. Part III (Homicide) deals with simple murder, serial murder, mass and spree murder; and assassination. Part IV (Special Groups) covers the mafia; the family; the medical, legal, and teaching professions; the religion profession; celebrities; and stupid criminals. Part V (On the Edge) deals with topics I consider to be a bit strange; that is, quackery, innovative defenses, and dangerous cults. And finally, Part ...

NHS Complaints Managers

A Study of the Conflicts and Tensions in their Role

by Clare Xanthos

2005

This thesis is an interdisciplinary study of the conflicts and tensions in the role of NHS complaints managers. The thesis sets out to explore the contradictions inherent in the role of complaints managers and the ways complaints managers deal with these contradictions. The interdisciplinary theoretical underpinning of the research is informed by conceptualizations of the complaints manager in the specific socio-legal sense of ‘complaints handler’/ third-party dispute handler;’ a broader public administration framework, of ‘administrator’/ bureaucrat, and finally a wide-ranging sociological/ social psychological framework, as ‘social actor’. Thus the thesis draws on an eclectic range of literature from socio-legal studies, public administration, sociology, and social psychology. It a...

Outcry

American Voices of Conscience, Post-9/11

by Marie Spike, Charles Reskin, & David Reskin, editors

2005

Outcry: American Voices of Conscience, Post-9/11 is an anthology of letters, op-eds, speeches and short essays drawn from a broad spectrum of Americans, which eloquently expresses their outrage, betrayal and frustration over the corrupt and misguided actions and policies of the Bush/Cheney administration since the tragedies of 9/11. Within its pages, you’ll find stirring monologues, passionate rants, laser-guided satire, and proposals for sane, nonviolent solutions to our problems. From soldiers to seniors, from Zen monks to Christian ministers, from librarians to libertarians, these are the true patriots - those who really care what is happening to our society and have had the courage to speak out against dishonesty and deception in our cherished institutions. With...

Identifying Factors in Human Trafficking

by Patrice M. Broderick

2005

This thesis reviews the transnational problem of human trafficking, a form of slavery. Women and children are trafficked within and between countries at an alarming rate and it has become a prime agenda for the Bush Administration and the Department of State to call for action and solutions to. This thesis opens with a defining of this problem and overview of the scope of the problem on a global scale. It reviews social, political and economic factors which play a role. It describes laws enacted and police responses and describes what research has been conducted to get a grasp of what is involved and what might be done. This author decided to explore factors that other researchers have suggested are “compelling factors” in victimization. This research hypothesis for this thesis explores t...

African American Decision Makers in Healthcare

Exploring the Impact of Mentoring on Professional Advancement

by Deon L. Wolliston

2008

This qualitative case study explored the impact of mentoring on professional advancement among African Americans healthcare professionals. A nonrandom purposeful sample was used to identify 21 African American hospital decision makers employed in the specialty areas of nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and administration. Two central research questions were used to explore the role of mentoring on professional advancement and the participants’ perception of the importance of mentorship and empowerment on their professional advancement. Data was analyzed using Moustakas (1994) modified van Kaam method of analysis. Results of the study showed that mentoring plays an important role in the professional advancement of African American hospital professionals. Additionally, the study participants beli...

Fighting Gays; Finding Freedom

The Christian Right Battle Against Same-Sex Marriage

by Peter Strandby

2008

Christian Right groups’ recent campaigns to ban same-sex marriage hide more than an antigay agenda, encompassing a much greater discussion on the meaning of American freedom. This thesis takes starting point in a conundrum formed by conservative Christian claims, defining personal freedom in a restriction of individual liberties. This authoritarian concept of freedom has not gone uncontested, and a current field for this semantic struggle lies within the national debate on same-sex marriage. Concordantly, the purpose is to analyse how the Christian Right justifies its opposition. The current terrain is laid out by tracing the historical roots of two contradictory American traditions; one profoundly religious, holding roots in colonial Puritanism and one equally secularised, exemplified in...

Between Ideals and Realities

Elucidating the Role of the Media in Promoting Human Rights

by Gitanjali Wolfermann

2010

The presence and influence of the media in modern times has increased to a point where they have seamlessly permeated every aspect of contemporary life, a situation that has led some to attribute them ideal qualities to promote and strengthen human rights values, while others perceive their commercial interests as an obstacle to perform such a task. This dissertation analyses the role of the media in promoting human rights, based primarily on a theoretical discussion which examines the problem from four different angles: the idealistic perception mainly promoted by the United Nations; the realistic notion defended by media theories; the challenges to the traditional media structure posed by the spread use of ICTs; and the analysis of the main contributions and limitations of the theory of ...

Altruism and Social Capital

by Armida Salvati

2008

This book discusses altruism as a sociological category similar to the concept of social capital. The author explains why pro-social action is the basis for social capital, and analyzes sociological literature through authors in the field, including Elster, Axelrod, and Williams.

Altruism and Social Capital should be read by researchers in sociology as well as students of general sociology and economic sociology. The author simply explains the relationship between altruism and rationality, particularly the kind of rationality produced by game theory. This volume discusses the most recent theories of pro-social action and social capital, and considers their economic consequences.

The Sociology of Terrorism

Studies in Power, Subjection, and Victimage Ritual

by Michael Blain

2009

This book is a compilation of previously published studies on the role of culture and language in political violence and terrorism. These studies have contributed to a paradigmatic shift in sociological thinking about language and culture in politics, particularly in regard to the genesis and dynamics of violence and terrorism. Blending ideas derived from Michel Foucault and Kenneth Burke, this book is unique in its range of focus from detailed studies of specific cases of violence and terrorism to peace movements in resistence of violence, war, and terrorism.

Religiosity and Work in the Lives of Mortuary College Students

by Charles Lynn Gibson

2009

The study investigated the failure to integrate faith in daily work--a multifaceted problem important for interdisciplinary studies in religion and society. The Purpose in Life (PIL) test and the Engagement in Meaningful Work Scale (EMWS) were used to research how religious faith impacted work perceptions of mortuary college students. Students from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia and John A. Gupton College in Nashville, Tennessee were chosen as the respondents. The following research question was examined: What were the effects of religiosity on mortuary college student perceptions of purpose in life and the engagement in meaningful work? The study identified four facets of religiosity for observation: (1) belief, (2) attitude, (3) practice, and (4) group exper...

Solving the Childcare and Flexibility Puzzle

How Working Parents Make the Best Feasible Choices and What That Means for Public Policy

by Arthur C. Emlen

2010

This book shines a light on the dynamics of parental decisions and discovers a remarkable ability. Disputing idealized professional measures as irrelevant to the everyday life of most families, Professor Emlen describes detailed evidence from his own research and arrives at a simple but profound conclusion: that parents have a propensity to make the best choices possible. It all depends on how much flexibility they can marshal from work schedules, shared family efforts, and helpful providers of childcare. Based on successful measurement of childcare quality from a parent's point of view, the findings show that as parents solve their flexibility puzzle, the more flexibility from any or all sources, the better the quality of care. Emlen gives the familiar concept of flexibility new scope an...

Sequencing and Prediction of Adolescent Soft Drug Initiation:

Systematic Review, Quantitative Investigation, and Dual Cross-Validation

by Rebecca J. Howell

2010

In providing a comprehensive investigation of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana initiation among adolescents, the overarching goals of the research were to build upon extant findings, address important gaps found in the literature, and contribute to the prevention science knowledge base. A four-fold purpose founded the study: 1) provide a systematic review of the soft drug initiation literature; 2) test a modified version of Kandel's (2002) drug sequencing hypothesis; 3) determine if predictors of soft drug initiation differ in kind or saliency by biological age and drug type; and 4) examine age- and drug- specific determinants of the timing at which soft drug initiation occurs. Supplemental attention also was directed at evaluating the utility of Petraitis et al.'s (1995) distal-proximal ...

Racial and Cultural Otherness

The Lived Experience of Americans of Korean Descent

by Angela Mullin-Jackson

2010

In the sociological literature, Otherness is conceptualized as a condition of difference that is imposed upon a group by another more powerful group. In this qualitative, phenomenological study, it was determined that Americans of Korean descent do, in fact, experience Otherness and it is an integral part of their identities. However, the experience of Otherness can be divided into two separate but interrelated components: racial Otherness and cultural Otherness. It was also determined that the severity of Otherness experiences was shaped by the contexts of phenotype, socio-geographical location, and childhood.

Working the Affect Shift

Latina Service Workers in U.S. Film

by Steve Nava

2011

Working the Affect Shift explores the changing U.S. racial and political economic context of Latina working-class film and media images, and how Ethnic, Cultural, Film, and Feminist Studies have contributed to sociologically understanding them. We can rethink our orientation to so-called “stereotypes” by focusing on our forward-looking, positive neoliberal ideology as related to our "national forgetting of collective racial injury." Each film and media image analyzed herein offers an example of how the fraught relational matrices of race, class, gender, and sexual identities continue to shape national politics despite our national commitment (on the political Right and Left) to "multiculturalism." Using Latina service workers as examples, this volume offers ways to think productively t...

International Journal of Human Development and Sustainability

Volume 4, Number 1

by Siddhartha Sarkar (series editor)

2011

CONTENTS: 1.Implications of the Influence of Traditional African Education on Technical Vocational and Agricultural Education in Ghana by K. G. Badu 2.The Role of Emotion in Life by Siddharth Jain and Dwarak Leelaram 3.Accounting for the Determinants Affecting the Rise of Rural Non-farm Sector in India by Sumona Ghosh 4.A Study of Hospitality Industry’s Gap Perception on Education and Training Provided in HMCT Institutes by Vandana Mahajani and Ritu Bhattacharyya 5. Teacher Shortages and Surpluses in Senior Secondary Schools in Ondo State, Nigeria: A Critical Review by T. O. Adeyemi 6. Eradication of Rural Poverty through Women Self-Help Groups in Karnataka by M.Madhumathi 7. Marginalization of Himalayan Pastoralists and Exclusion from their Traditional Habitat: A Case Stu...

International Journal of Development Research and Quantitative Techniques

Volume 1, Number 1

by Siddhartha Sarkar (Series Editor)

2011

CONTENTS: 1.Macroeconomic Convergence in Economic Community of West African States: Evidence from Cointegration Test by D.O. Olayungbo and D. O. Yinusa 2. Re-examining Export-led Growth Hypothesis: A Review of Literature by Rajwant Kaur and A.S.Sidhu 3. Corruption and the Size of the Government: A Panel Analysis by William R. DiPietro 4. Reliability Estimation for Summer Air Conditioner with Priority Repairs by D. N. Mishra and G. S. Sandhu 5. How Does the Processor’s Vertical Integration Impact the Ivorian Coffee Producer Price? by B. Benoit Malan 6. Indian Wine Industry: A Study by Radha Raghuramapatruni and V.R.Reddy 7. Implementation of Social Security and National Insurance Trust Student Loan Scheme in the University of Cape Coast by Luke A. Akaguri and John V. Mensah ...

International Journal of Cross-Cultural Studies

Volume 1, Number 1

by Siddhartha Sarkar (Series Editor)

2011

CONTENTS: 1. Action Intervention to Provide Health Care Services to the Rural Poor in India by V. B.Annigeri, N. S. Nayak, A.R. Kulkarni and D. R. Revankar 2. Computerization of Rural and Community in Southern Ghana: Clients’ Perception by James Atta Peprah and Camara Kwasi Obeng 3.Self-Financing Engineering Education in Tamil Nadu: Salient Characteristics and Major Issues by P. Geetha Rani 4.The Okonko Ethos in Igboland and Issue of Poverty: An Overview by Patrick Uchenna Nwosu 5.Urbanization and Loss of Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Lessons From Rumuodomaya Community in Rivers State by Raimi Lasisi and Alfred S. Ekpenyong Click here to download full PDF edition of this issue (free limited time open access) About the Journal: ISSN 0974-3480 The peer-reviewed biannual ...

International Journal of Mainstream Social Science

Volume 1, Number 1

by Siddhartha Sarkar (Series Editor)

2011

CONTENTS: 1.Credit in Mathematics in Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations as a Predictor of Success in Universities in Ondo and Ekiti by T.O. Adeyemi 2.Employee Engagement: A Canvas of Empirical Studies by D. Pradeep Kumar and G. Swetha 3.Re-Branding and Managing Conflicts among Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities: Sociological and Psychological Perspective by C.A. Akinfolarin and Jude M.Akomolafe 4.Low Skilled Labours in India and Role of Education Sector, Government and Corporate Sector by Vidya Gawali and Santosh Ghalage Click here to download full PDF edition of this issue (free limited time open access) About the Journal: ISSN 0974-3480 International Journal of Mainstream Social Science (IJMSS) is a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed biannual journal devoted to ...

International Journal of Afro-Asian Studies

Vol. 2, No. 2

by Siddhartha Sarkar

2012

CONTENTS: 1. Impact of Global Economic Crisis on African Countries: Policy Responses and Options by Falendra Kumar Sudan 2. The Role of Standards in Influencing Ghana's Access to Global Market for Cocoa by Gbadebo Olusegun Odularu 3. Empowerment of Rural Women, Decent Employment and Micro Enterprise Development Programs of NGOs in Bangladeshby Amir M. Nasrullah and Keith Dickson 4. Teachers' Job Satisfaction and Job Performance in Secondary Schools in Ekiti State, Nigeriaby T.O.Adeyemi Click here to download full PDF edition of this issue (free limited time open access) About the Journal: ISSN 0974-3537 A peer-reviewed International Journal of Afro-Asian Studies (IJAAS) presents a scholarly account of studies of individuals and societies in Africa and Asia. Its scope is to publ...

International Journal of Development Research and Quantitative Techniques

Vol.1, No.2

by Siddhartha Sarkar

2012

CONTENTS: 1. Financial Development, Bank Savings Mobilisation and Economic Performance in Ghana: Evidence from a Multivariate Structural VARby Deodat E. Adenutsi 2. Engendering Trafficking and Human Security: A Comparative Study of India and Hungaryby Siddhartha Sarkar 3. Green Net National Product for the Sustainability and Social Welfareby H.K. Mohajan 4. Is Inequality in Fiscal Performance Nonlinear Stationary in North Eastern States of India?by Ajit Kumar Dash and Aviral Kumar Tiwari Click here to download full PDF edition of this issue (free limited time open access) About the Journal: ISSN 0974-3472 The applicability of quantitative methods in social science research has gained much more attention to many researchers and policy makers, and there is much enduring discussion...

International Journal of Afro-Asian Studies

Vol. 2, No. 1

by Siddhartha Sarkar (series editor)

2011

CONTENTS: 1. Democratization and Corruption in a Religious Society: The Nigerian Experience by A. G. Alamu 2. Impacts of Social Capital on Household Consumption Expenditure in Rural Kenya: An Instrumental Variable Approach by Gabriel N. Kirori, Jane W. Kabubo Mariara and Tabitha W. Kiriti Nganga 3. Trafficking and Illegal Female Nepali Migration in India, by Pranati Datta 4. Sustainable Land Management in a Bid to Alleviate Poverty and Prevent Deforestation in Kenya, by Salome N. Wangalachi 5. Trafficking in Women and Children to India and Thailand: Characteristics, Trends and Policy Issues, by Siddhartha Sarkar Click here to download full PDF edition of this issue (free limited time open access) About the Journal: ISSN 0974-3537 A peer-reviewed International Journal of Afro-Asia...