Department: Sociology (Arts and Sciences) ![[clear]](close-x.png "Remove this limiter")
49 matches in the database.
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1.
Austin, Mathew L.
“FARKLE” or Die: Edgework, Risk Control, and Impression Management among BMW Motorcycle Riders.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2010, Ohio University
► This research explores intersections of identity and voluntary risk taking, or edgework,…
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▼ This research explores intersections of identity and voluntary risk taking, or edgework, among BMW motorcycle riders. Drawing upon interviews, participant observation, and analytic autoethnographic methods the practices of this subculture are presented. These findings are analyzed through sociological and social psychological understandings of situational identities and an appreciation of the personal and social dynamics to risk taking. This research presents the safety practices of the BMW motorcycle community labeled as “sport-tourers” and the processes they engage in to find an acceptable level of personal risk. Furthermore, findings from this work explain how riders encounter both positive and negative perceptions from others and the actions they engage in when facing potentially damaging impressions from others. This research helps to expand understandings of risk taking, presentational identity, and the universality of these themes.
Advisors/Committee Members: Anderson, Leon.
Subjects: Recreation; Sociology
Keywords: Edgework; Perceptions of Risk; Identity; Aligning Actions; Analytic Autoethnography; Motorcycle
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2.
Brooks, Brandon A.
Socioeconomic Status Updates: College Students, Family SES, and Emergent Social Capital in Facebook Networks.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2010, Ohio University
► Family SES has the potential to shape the opportunities, resources and life…
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▼ Family SES has the potential to shape the opportunities, resources and life trajectory of college students. This study examines the effects of SES on college students‟ social capital through an online survey and innovative Facebook application measuring students‟ social networks. Participants were recruited through class visits and emails. Regression analyses measured the effects of SES on three measures of students‟ social capital, operationalized using online network data: general social capital (network size), bridging social capital (number of clusters), and bonding social capital (average degree). Students that had higher SES had larger networks with more ties per actor within the individual‟s network (average degree). Students from lower SES backgrounds had smaller networks with fewer ties per actor within ego‟s network. The effects of SES on social capital have never been studied in an online setting, and this study provides good evidence that more substantial research in the online environment can and should take place in the future.
Advisors/Committee Members: Welser, Howard T.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: SES; socioeconomic status; social capital; online social capital; social network sites; SNS; social networks
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3.
Brown, Toni O.L.
“If Someone Finds Out You're a Perv:” The Experience and Management of Stigma in the BDSM Subculture.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2010, Ohio University
► Apart from a few studies, relatively little sociological attention has been accorded…
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▼ Apart from a few studies, relatively little sociological attention has been accorded the BDSM subculture. Past literature on this subculture has been limited in focus and previous studies have implemented less than well rounded sampling. Drawing on data collected through an ethnographic approach across eleven states, this study examines the lived experiences of BDSM participants. Specifically, attention is focused on how BDSM participants experience stigma in four distinct manners, including negative public portrayal, value diminishment, mockery and shunning and discrimination or prejudice. Attention then turns to the stigma management strategies BDSM participants employ, including concealment, disclosure or collective action, reappropriation of negative labeling and disengagement from mainstream society. Consistent with previous research surrounding stigma management, this study reveals that BDSM participants, like other deviant groups, take an active role in defining their identity and controlling their social interactions.
Advisors/Committee Members: Anderson, Leon.
Subjects: Behaviorial sciences; Personal relationships; Social psychology; Social research; Sociology
Keywords: BDSM; Bondage; Discipline; Dominance; submission; slavery; Sadism; Masochism; Sadomasochism; Stigma; Sexuality; Subculture; Ethnography; Deviance; Kink; Pervert; Fetish; Poly; Dungeon; Reappropriation; Labeling; Paraphilia; DSM; Leather; Spank
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4.
Bukky, Molly B.
Move to the Head of the Class: Teacher Agency in Constructing Student Roles in a Rural Elementary School.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2008, Ohio University
► This ethnographic research studies the ways that teachers in a rural elementary…
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▼ This ethnographic research studies the ways that teachers in a rural elementary school use social class indicators to understand the social class of their students. It focuses upon the importance of face-to-face interaction, and teacher perception, in this process. This research indicates that the teachers in this rural elementary school use their understanding of student social class to categorize students into either "quality student" roles or "deficient student" roles. Once categorized into these roles, students receive differential socialization patterns, and therefore differential advantages, based upon those roles, which ultimately reproduces existing social inequalities.
Advisors/Committee Members: Morris, Edward.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: Reproduction Theory; Hidden Curriculum; Rural Education; Sociology; symbolic construction of social class; parental involvement
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5.
Bunyak, Garrett M.
Legitimization of Environmental Problems in Newsmagazines: Power, Propaganda, and the Environment.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2010, Ohio University
► This paper explores the role of the mass media in providing the…
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▼ This paper explores the role of the mass media in providing the public with diverse solutions to the environmental problems facing society through an analysis of media documents. Findings reveal that two frames dominate media solutions to environmental problems: the free market and stimulus frames which reinforce the ecological modernization perspective of some environmental sociologists. The free market and stimulus frames both portray individuals as responsible for the problems facing the environment while they portray mechanisms that have degraded the environment, from elected leaders to free market economics, are part of the solution to the crisis. These frames simultaneously blame individuals for social problems and downplay the power of the people to create change. Furthermore, the lack of ideological diversity undermines the ability of the public to make informed decisions about their environment. The public is forced to search elsewhere for alternative solutions to the environmental crisis facing society. Ultimately these frames support Hermann and Chomsky’s propaganda model that argues that views and opinions that challenge the existing power structure will be left out of mass media coverage.
Advisors/Committee Members: Scanlan, Stephen.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: media; propaganda; environment
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6.
Campbell, Christopher M.
Student Perspectives on Procedural Justice and the University Judicial Process.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2009, Ohio University
► This paper reports the application of procedural justice theories to the setting…
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▼ This paper reports the application of procedural justice theories to the setting of higher education. In particular, the setting included Ohio University processes and its students ranging from freshmen to graduate students. This project used an email based survey to study the perceptions of college students toward a university judiciaries system. The study was influenced by the Tyler, Callahan, and Frost 2007 work on rule adherence among police officers and military personnel. My findings indicate that instrumental perspectives, such as in the deterrence literature, are not the primary reason as to why students obey university rules. Rather, normative perspectives, which are based on fairness and morality, are much closer in relation to voluntary deference of the law. It goes on to suggest that using a collective understanding of the influence of both instrumental and normative perspectives on the perceptions of people, instead of focusing on just one, is the best way to predict rule adherence.
Advisors/Committee Members: Brown, Michelle.
Subjects: Criminology; Education; Higher education; Social psychology; Social research; Sociology
Keywords: procedural; distributive; justice; student; perceptions; judiciaries; university
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7.
Carson, Rebecca M.
Black Masculinity and Crime: Towards A Theoretical Lens for Seeing the Connections between Race, Masculinity, and Crime.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2007, Ohio University
► This study examined eight ethnographies on African American males in an effort…
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▼ This study examined eight ethnographies on African American males in an effort to explore how current criminological theory must account for race, masculinity and crime. The theoretical works of James W. Messerschmidt and Patricia Hill-Collins were analyzed and compared with the data of the eight ethnographies. Findings show that there is a causal link among economic, family, education structures and experiences with the criminal justice system that influence the definition and performance of masculinity by African American males while also contributing to the criminal participation of some African American men. Therefore, current criminological theory must account for race, masculinity and crime, when looking at the incarceration and criminal behavior of African American males.
Advisors/Committee Members: Vander Ven, Thomas M.
Subjects: Sociology, Criminology and Penology
Keywords: Masculinity; Crime Theory; Race
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8.
Castle, Luke A.
The Civilizing Process of Male Physical Fitness Practices: An Application of Figurational Theory.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2009, Ohio University
► This work seeks to explain the civilization process of college‐aged male physical…
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▼ This work seeks to explain the civilization process of college‐aged male physical fitness participants from a sociological, particularly figurational perspective. Inspiration for the project stems from present literature, which has considered important variables such as culture, social status, and gender perceptions and how these affect the nature of male body image. Concerns over such developments cannot be adequately explained by studying either the person himself or the ideas surrounding body image concerns. Using qualitative methods which consisted of face‐to‐face interviews and an inductive coding scheme, this research examined the perceptions of male, non‐athletes, who were between the ages of eighteen and twenty‐five, and their motivations and influences regarding physical fitness practices. This study found that male participants engage in physical fitness activities through a civilizing process and the ideologies within, which accordingly, can only be fully understood when male physical fitness enthusiasts are located in the figurations they form with each other.
Advisors/Committee Members: Henderson, Debra A.
Subjects: Social psychology; Sociology
Keywords: Physical Fitness; Figurational Theory; Civilizing Process; Masculinity; Body Image
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9.
Dahl, Garrett Thomas.
Empowerment of Cyclist Collective Identity in the Social, Safe, and Celebratory Spaces of Critical Mass.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2009, Ohio University
► This study seeks to understand the formation of activist collective identities within…
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▼ This study seeks to understand the formation of activist collective identities within the temporary biketivist spaces of the Critical Mass cycling event. I collected data through participant observation in Critical Mass rides in Athens, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, and Minneapolis, Minnesota from June of 2008 through February of 2009 in addition to semi-structured interviews with cyclists. These methods elicited data that speaks to the relationship between police, automobiles, and Critical Mass cyclists. While the Critical Mass and automotive majority exhibit a contentious relationship that solidifies cyclist collective identity around a common opposition, police play a more complex role of enforcer, referee between automobile and cyclist, and fuel to the carnival of transgression. As Critical Mass expresses emergent collective identities within an auto-centric cultural environment, a social, safe, and celebratory space allows for actualization of social movement tactics and goals.
Advisors/Committee Members: Scanlan, Stephen.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: Critical Mass; Cycling; Collective Identity; Space; Social Movements
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10.
Deaton, Elizabeth Ann.
Gender under Construction: Volunteerism in a Women's Group in Rural Appalachia.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2008, Ohio University
► Participants in Habitat for Humanity International's Women Build program build homes for…
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▼ Participants in Habitat for Humanity International's Women Build program build homes for low-income families with minimal involvement of men. This is a case study of a Women Build group located in rural Appalachia. While previous studies have focused on contexts in which women's volunteer work is consistent with traditional notions of what constitutes women's work, this study examines what women's volunteer work means to them when participating in a traditionally male-dominated activity. Using qualitative methods including participant observation, interviews, and an inductive coding scheme, this study found that the volunteers frame their experiences in three main ways: in terms of interpersonal relationships, their participation in construction work, and as an important service to the community. In addition, while the group seems to alleviate gender and class-based inequality by involving women in the construction of a house for a low-income family, it also reproduces inequality in other, more subtle ways.
Advisors/Committee Members: Henderson, Debra A.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: volunteer work; gender; rural Appalachia; social class
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11.
Demyan, Ashley L.
Rethinking Rehabilitation: Examining Staff and Inmate Participation in Prison-Sponsored Dog Programs.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2007, Ohio University
► There are at least 38 dog programs across facilities which make up…
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▼ There are at least 38 dog programs across facilities which make up the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. This study is a case study of the dog program at one of these prisons located in north-central Ohio. To date, there is little research on dog programming components, objectives, curriculum, or effects. Through the use of interviews with prison staff and inmate dog handlers and observations of program operations, this study provides an in depth account of one specific dog program. This study has been situated within the two competing frameworks within the field of punishment today- discipline and rehabilitation, and illustrates how the dog program works within both frameworks to help bridge the contradictions between them.
Advisors/Committee Members: Brown, Michelle.
Subjects: Sociology, Criminology and Penology
Keywords: Prison; Discipline; Rehabilitation; Dog Programming
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12.
Dickard, Michael A.
Digital Inequality: Exploring the Potential of Online Learning Communities to Promote Digital Skills and Citizenship among College Students.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2012, Ohio University
► As a new generation of students enters college, they are often assumed…
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▼ As a new generation of students enters college, they are often assumed to be universally savvy with information and communication technologies and in navigating the Web. However, such assumptions are rarely founded in empirical research, and substantial inequalities in the capacity to use the Internet remain - even among the highly connected. As Internet use continues to become an increasingly important part of our daily lives, we must be cognizant of the potential for inequalities to be exacerbated as a result of the ways in which it is used, how and why these differences arise, and most importantly, the implications of such differentiated use for both individuals and the broader society. The concept of digital citizenship - the capability to participate in society online - not only highlights the important role the Internet has taken in people's daily lives, but it also emphasizes the potential for exclusion from participation in society. This study examines differences in digital citizenship among college students at a medium-sized, Midwestern university and explores some ways to mitigate resulting inequalities. Rather than focusing solely on individual capital accumulation as a means to overcoming inequality, however, this study emphasizes the potential of online community-building. As such, the focus of this study is threefold: first, I examine differences in participatory Internet use and perceived skills among students upon entering college - or what I call prior digital citizenship; second, I analyze students' self-reported changes in perceived online participatory skills - referred to as perceived changes in digital citizenship - and whether participation in an online learning community developed as part of this study has any positive impact on these changes; and lastly, I examine students' current digital citizenship, focusing on their digital immersion - which refers to engaging in a wide variety of activities online and doing so frequently. Results suggest that rural students tend to perceive themselves as less skilled in online participatory activities when entering college, that participants in the online learning community reported greater improvements in perceived skills, and that the ways in which students use social networking sites is gendered and reflects their broader use of the Internet. The social implications of these findings are discussed and policy suggestions are addressed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Welser, Howard T.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: Digital Inequality; Online Learning Communities; Participation; Citizenship; Digital Divide; Education
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13.
Elder, Michelle N.
Therapeutic Practices and Strategies for Incarcerated Women.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2011, Ohio University
► This ethnographic study of a rehabilitation program focuses on treatment professionals' strategies…
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▼ This ethnographic study of a rehabilitation program focuses on treatment professionals' strategies for preparing female inmates for release from prison. Prerelease programs in correctional facilities are commonly staffed by counselors and mental health professionals to help prisoners to successfully integrate back into the community. Few studies, however, have focused on how staff persons achieve these goals in the context of a female prison population. Drawing on sociological theories of gender and therapeutic control, my findings demonstrate that program staffers utilize a number of general and gendered strategies to help female prisoners achieve emotional wellness. In addition, I report on a range of other tactics that treatment professionals employ to overcome the structural roadblocks to administering care to prisoners. I conclude that the differences between strategies utilized in the context of a male versus a female facility may differ and demand more sociological attention, and that specific staff tactics ought to be closely examined when determining the effectiveness of rehabilitative programming.
Advisors/Committee Members: Castellano, Ursula.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: Therapeutic Strategies, Therapeutic Practices, Incarcerated Women
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14.
Exline, Erica L.
A Stake in Conformity: Voluntary Running at a Juvenile Community Correctional Facility.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2007, Ohio University
► This project examines the perceived effects of a voluntary running program at…
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▼ This project examines the perceived effects of a voluntary running program at a juvenile community correctional facility. It fills a gap in sociological and criminological literature, and explores ways in which social bond theory and social bond theory through the life course can deepen our understanding of the effects of such programs. This project employs within-method data triangulation from a qualitative paradigm, making use of fieldnotes, in-depth interviews, and journal entries. The findings suggest that the running program has the potential to increase the four social bonds (attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief) of participants to society and may, in turn, lead to future desistance from criminal activities.
Advisors/Committee Members: Vander Ven, Thomas M.
Keywords: community corrections; program evaluations; social bond theory; life course theory; running
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15.
Fagen, Danielle M.
Perceptions of Collective Efficacy among Abused Women in Rural Appalachia.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2005, Ohio University
► This qualitative and exploratory study examines perceptions of collective efficacy from the…
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▼ This qualitative and exploratory study examines perceptions of collective efficacy from the perspective of survivors of domestic violence. The research draws upon a purposive sample of 43 abused women from rural Appalachian communities. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews. The survey taped respondents’ perceptions of community during periods of intimate violence. Findings showed a lack of collective efficacy for rural battered women as well as a web of obstacles that entraps them in cycles of violence.
Advisors/Committee Members: Schwartz, Martin.
Keywords: Domestic Violence; Collective efficacy; Rural
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16.
Grant, Stephanie.
An Exploration of Motivation Among Collegiate Runners.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2003, Ohio University
► This study aims to explore the types of motivation, social support, and…
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▼ This study aims to explore the types of motivation, social support, and self-talk involved in the social psychological nature of collegiate runners. An exploration of past research paired with a theoretical study will work to illustrate the areas of research that have already been touched on in this field of sport sociology, as well as work to illustrate the areas still untouched by scholarly work. A data analysis and discussion of results will give a new perspective on the role motivations as well as other factors play in the lives of the collegiate runner.
Advisors/Committee Members: Henderson, Debra A.
Subjects: Education, Sociology of
Keywords: Motivation; College Athletes; Sports; Athletes; Social Support; Intrinsic / Extrinsic Motivation
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17.
Grigsby, Alan V.
Men on the Edge: A Qualitative Investigation of Marginality, Stress, and Social Support among Black Male Student-Athletes at a Predominantly White University.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2012, Ohio University
► Drawing on data from thirteen qualitative interviews this thesis aims to understand…
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▼ Drawing on data from thirteen qualitative interviews this thesis aims to understand the experiences of Black male student-athletes at a predominantly white university. Robert Park's (1928) theory of the marginal man is the guiding framework for this study. Taking the marginal man theoretical framework into mind, Black male student athletes are an interesting group to study because they occupy a unique social location,one on the margins. Respondents expressed that they experience stress and are marginalized academically, athletically, and socially. Respondents' perceptions of social support have also been recorded and analyzed. Findings suggest that the respondents view stressful experiences and subsequent experiences with social support at the university to be a consequence of a combination of their race and role as student-athletes.
Advisors/Committee Members: Henderson, Debra.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: African American Athlete; Black athletes; collegiate athletics; marginality; marginal man; social support
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18.
Inaterama, Pamela.
AN EXPLORATION OF GENDER ROLE ATTITUDES AMONG AFRICAN STUDENTS AT OHIO UNIVERSITY.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2006, Ohio University
► This exploratory study examines the gender role attitudes of African students at…
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▼ This exploratory study examines the gender role attitudes of African students at Ohio University. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data. Western and nonwestern scholars have extensively examined gender and its many attributes and their advances have established that gender role attitudes are shaped by a variety of factors such as socialization, marital and professional status. The findings of this study confirm that gender role attitudes are shaped not only by socialization but they are also changed by cultural and contextual circumstances.
Advisors/Committee Members: Tickamyer, Ann R.
Subjects: Sociology, General
Keywords: Gender; Gender Inequality; Gender Role Attitudes
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19.
Ji, Kai.
Cultural Influence of Eating Disorders: A Study of College Students in China.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2008, Ohio University
► The issue of eating disorders has long been under-studied in mainland China,…
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▼ The issue of eating disorders has long been under-studied in mainland China, particularly among college students. This study examines eating disorder symptoms in a sample of Chinese students at Nanjing University in attempt to explore contributing factors and some social implications that may carry with these factors. In this study, I tested the relationship between the eating disorders and five explanatory variables – social value, self-control, self-consciousness, mass media, and family members. The test results indicate two important findings: (1) there is a weak correlation between eating disorders and mass media, family members, self-perception of illness and socio-economic status, and these variables however are conventionally believed to be the significant predictors of eating disorders; (2) the variable of self-control, which is considered an insignificant factor in most studies, turns out to be the most significant predictor of eating disorders. The findings also imply that there are different perceptions of eating disorders in Chinese society, and these perceptions have obviously affected the behavior of college student population in China.
Advisors/Committee Members: Li, Jieli.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: eating disorder; China; College students
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20.
Kassner, Katherine M.
Complicating Normal: How Trans People Simultaneously Challenge and Reproduce Heteronormativity.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2010, Ohio University
► This thesis examines the interactions between trans people and structural heteronormativity. Twenty-five…
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▼ This thesis examines the interactions between trans people and structural heteronormativity. Twenty-five in-depth interviews were conducted with self-identified trans people to assess how interviewees feel they've been affected by structural heteronormativity across the institutions of marriage, family, healthcare, education, and work. Interview questions further examined whether interviewees feel they challenge or reproduce structural heteronormativity. Analytic induction was used to analyze the interview data. Results demonstrate that all interviewees identify that they challenge structural heteronormativity and slightly more than half of interviewees identify that they reproduce structural heteronormativity. However, further analysis of the data suggests that some interviewees may challenge or reproduce heteronormativity at an individual level and had no effect or sometimes the opposite effect at the structural level. These findings were highly dependent on whether interviewees identify themselves as out or stealth as a trans person.
Advisors/Committee Members: Anderson, Cynthia D.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: trans people; trans identity; sexuality; heteronormativity; gender; LGBTQ
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21.
Kast, Chris J.
Social Identity Similarity Effects on an Evaluation of Blame.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2007, Ohio University
► Work on the social construction of identity has emerged concurrently from different…
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▼ Work on the social construction of identity has emerged concurrently from different areas, each attempting to explain the plethora of identities present in society. Two such attempts, identity control theory and social identity theory, each attend to different portions of the social identity dynamic. Integration of these two approaches has the potential to increase understanding of interpersonal judgments. Traditionally, work utilizing social identity theory has been examined using a distribution of resources model. For this research evaluations of blame between subjects are examined in order to determine if in-group favoritism and out-group denigration as found in resource distribution studies are present in a post behavior evaluative framework.
Advisors/Committee Members: Shelly, Robert K.
Keywords: social identity theory; identity control theory; identity similarity; identity; evaluation; interpersonal behavior; social structure
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22.
Kehnel, Steven C.
The Commodification of Masculinity Within Men’s Magazine Advertisements: With what and how do we make the man?.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2003, Ohio University
► A large body of research on men and masculinity has emerged in…
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▼ A large body of research on men and masculinity has emerged in the past decade, paralleling the already vast writings on, and explorations of, women and feminism. Just as feminism has critiqued and examined the ways in which women and femininity are shaped and constructed by society, so too has recent research discussed social constructions of manhood. While such masculine examinations may seem contradictory to the aims of feminism on a superficial level, they actually support and further feminist work by deconstructing and analyzing the social and cultural expectations for men. In essence, such research uncovers what it means to be a man in contemporary US society (i.e., masculinity), which cannot occur without also understanding societal expectations for women. The category of masculine is itself a nebulous one, and is characterized by a range of behaviors, appearances, words, and presentations, that serve to organize social life by ascribing meaning to the sex category of man. Previous writings have discussed each of these gendered phenomena at some level and in various contexts, such as those focusing on sexuality (Kimmel, 1990: Dines, Jensen, and Russo, 1998; Stoltenberg, 1999), violence (Katz, 1999; Hatty, 2000) identity (Connell, 1995), embodiment (Edwards, 1997; Bordo, 1999), historical development (Kimmel, 1996), and social change (Kimmel, 1987; Stoltenberg, 1999; Connell, 2000; Pease, 2001), among others. Although these researchers have examined the methods through which various aspects of masculinity are shaped and reinforced socially, few have looked to these active constructions in relation to, and within a, consumer culture. In this work, masculinity is examined as it is constructed through advertisements; specifically, the ways in which masculinity is related to certain products, and the form and content of masculine identity that is conveyed through such goods. From the sampled advertisements, eight dominant themes emerged as central components of hegemonic masculinity, particularly in relation to consumer goods.
Advisors/Committee Members: Mattley, Christine.
Subjects: Sociology, Theory and Methods
Keywords: Consumer Culture; Identity; Masculinity; Feminism; Gender; Advertising
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23.
Kilgore, Elizabeth Ann.
A Study of the Work and Interactions of Exotic Dancers.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2002, Ohio University
► This is a study of the occupation of exotic dancing. Interaction is…
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▼ This is a study of the occupation of exotic dancing. Interaction is at the heart of the work of the exotic dancer and is explored in several ways in this study. First, the stage performance itself consists not only of physical actions, but of the dancer constantly interpreting the actions of customers and modifying her behavior accordingly. Second, in some clubs, dancers are expected to sit with customers and interact with them. In order to do this successfully, the dancer must correctly interpret the expectations and desires of her customer and act accordingly. She must balance this act with maintaining her own personal boundaries in regard to emotional and physical access to her body. Third, formal and informal rules are created in the club through interaction with customers, management and coworkers. Not only are these rules created and learned through interaction, but they exist to govern interaction in the club, with each part of the interactional equation having an interest in either following, enforcing or breaking the rules.
Advisors/Committee Members: Mattley, Christine.
Subjects: Sociology, General
Keywords: Emotional Labor, Sex Work, Exotic Dancer, Stripper, Rules, Interaction
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24.
Kilpatrick, Quentin K.
School Districts and Academic Achievement: Socio-Economic Structure and Social Reproduction in Ohio.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2012, Ohio University
► Despite ideologies of meritocracy in American education and culture more broadly, inequalities…
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▼ Despite ideologies of meritocracy in American education and culture more broadly, inequalities within the educational system have drawn the ire of critics and the attention of scholars. Historic and contemporary processes of uneven economic development have created geographic patterns of race, class, education, and occupational structure. Focusing on the state of Ohio, this study uses data from the 2007-2009 American Community Survey and the Ohio Department of Education to help explain between-district differences in standardized test proficiency. The results find that race and the concentration of family poverty are the most significant predictors of educational achievement. Students classified as economically disadvantaged have substantially higher proficiency levels in wealthier districts, compared to disadvantaged students attending poorer schools, and this gap is wider between third and seventh grade test takers, suggesting a reinforced disadvantage or a “disadvantaged student achievement gapâ€. Recent educational policies and suggestions are addressed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Scanlan, Stephen.
Subjects: Educational Sociology; Educational Tests and Measurements; Education Policy; Public Policy; Social Research; Social Structure; Sociology
Keywords: sociology of education; spatial inequality; inequality; educational sociology; public schools; education; achievement; standardized tests; reinforced disadvantage; geographic stratification
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25.
Kinney, Shawn D.
THE ITELLECTUAL WORK OF FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE,GILLES DELEUZE,AND MICHEL FOUCAULT:KNOWLEDGE RECONSIDERED.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2007, Ohio University
► Is it possible that modern images of knowledge our bound to the…
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▼ Is it possible that modern images of knowledge our bound to the historical conditions in which they arise? If modern knowledge systems are grounded at this level, the value of various forms of knowledge is found not in the transcendental or “truthfulness of a claim, but rather in the practical effects which result from such an assumption. In order to gauge the value of modern conceptualizations of knowledge, it is vital that we examine the practical environments in which distinct forms of knowledge emerge. If we examine the practical implications of a given way of thinking and acting, it may be possible to expose various sources of power relations which legitimize modern knowledge as a body of transcendental “truths”. The work of Friedrich Nietzsche, Gilles Deleuze, and Michel Foucault offer us theoretical insight into modern images of knowledge and the structural components which have shaped this transcendental assumption. The three authors in question have attempted to critique the ways in which we conceptualize knowledge as a form of “reason”. This project serves as an examination of the primary means through which the authors in question locate the historical contingency of modern rationality. Through a genealogical investigation, this text functions as analysis of the primary concepts and links which bind the work of the three thinkers. Of particular importance is the direct impact of the work of Friedrich Nietzsche upon the work of Deleuze and Foucault. Central to this project are the ways in which the chosen authors reveal the practically constituted elements inherent in the dominant conceptualizations of knowledge. It is revealed through this analysis that our authors propose that modern images of knowledge may be based upon various fictive abstractions. These abstractions are manipulated and enforced in order to legitimize “objective” truths which are generally assumed to be a priori foundations. Modern knowledge therefore is practically shaped and historically constituted rather than logically deduced. The work of the three authors in question mandates that the value of modern thought be critiqued via a genealogical analysis. Important to this critique is the legitimatization of concrete images of language and the self. Through an examination of the work of Nietzsche, Deleuze, and Foucault it is revealed that these vital concepts are essentially dependent upon the construction of fictive continuities. Finally, this text is an attempt to locate the ways in which the chosen authors conceptualize power as the fundamental element upon which the social construction of reality is centered.
Advisors/Committee Members: Brown, Michelle.
Keywords: Knowledge; Sociology; Language; Power; Capitalism; History; Objectivity; Subjectivity; The Subject; Genealogy
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26.
Lawrence, Malinda S.
Drinking in the Backwoods: An Analytical Literature Review of Rural Youth Drinking.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2011, Ohio University
► The following is a literature review aiming to examine the use of…
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▼ The following is a literature review aiming to examine the use of alcohol by rural youth. The use of alcohol by American youth is prevalent with an abundance of literature concentrating on the generalized subject of youth alcohol use and urban youth use. In the subsequent paper I focus on the existing literature that describes the trends of youth alcohol use with the goal of concentrating mostly on those youths living in rural areas of the United States. Three national surveys were referenced as well as numerous publications on the subjects of youth drinking and rural areas. I combined the literature on rural areas and youth drinking to create a generalized understanding of youth drinking in rural areas.
Advisors/Committee Members: Vander Ven, Thomas.
Subjects: Criminology; Sociology
Keywords: Rural, Youth, Alcohol, Drinking, Ruralality, Opportunity
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27.
Livelsberger, Tara L.
“Lost” in Conversations: Complex Social Behavior in Online Environments.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2009, Ohio University
► This study involves a sociological analysis of complex group behavior within an…
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▼ This study involves a sociological analysis of complex group behavior within an emergent computer-mediated community. This examination focuses on interpersonal relations and interactions within the context of a message board forum devoted to the television program Lost. Implementing qualitative methods including an extended case approach, netnography, as well as a grounded-based coding scheme, the findings of this study indicate that interpersonal relationships in online communities are structured by several characteristics. More specifically, behavior within this community is shaped by the norms, barriers, and conflicts that are distinct to this environment. Outcomes of this study include the identification of a clear link between the process of knowledge construction and the development of social ties in relation to a popular culturally-shared text.
Advisors/Committee Members: Brown, Michelle.
Subjects: Communication; Sociology
Keywords: social interaction; online communication; television series lost; online communities; virtual social worlds; online identity construction
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28.
Li, Zhong-Wen.
College Students and Credit Card Use in the Twenty-first Century.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2011, Ohio University
► The issue of college credit card use has been studied in the…
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▼ The issue of college credit card use has been studied in the United States for decades. This work explores the differences of credit card use between American and Taiwanese college students sampled at Ohio University and National Hsinchu University of Education in Taiwan. Based on sociological theories and Chinese culture, three variables—stigma of debt, fear of financial risks, and distrust of banks—are proposed to explain different credit card use results from culture. The connection between attitudes toward credit cards and five variables, which are credit card ownership, stigma of debt, fear of financial risks, distrust of banks, and parents‘ suggestions about credit card risks, were tested. The findings suggest that cultural factors—stigma of debt, distrust of banks, and fear of financial risks— and structural/institutional factors—credit card law, financial support from family members, and access to credit cards on campus—contribute to American and Taiwanese college students‘ different attitudes toward credit cards. The findings also imply that structural factors are powerful to affect consumer behaviors in different countries.
Advisors/Committee Members: Thorne, Deborah.
Subjects: Sociology
Keywords: college credit card use; financial management; Taiwanese college credit card use; rationalization; cultural habitus; stigma of debt; distrust of banks; fear of financial risks; credit card law; financial institutions
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29.
Lockmer, Eric J.
Street-Level Bureaucrats Defining, Responding to, and Negotiating Trouble: CIT Officers’ and Mental Health Professionals’ Experiences in Defining and Responding to Crisis Situations with the Mentally Ill.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2011, Ohio University
► Drawing on data collected through a qualitative approach, this study explores the…
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▼ Drawing on data collected through a qualitative approach, this study explores the interactional processes involved in informing definitions of mental illness and mental distress between CIT officers and mental health professionals. CIT officers build empathy towards individuals in mental distress while mental health professionals assign individual responsibility for criminal acts. Subsequently, particular responsive strategies are imposed to mitigate the crisis. Lastly, attention is then turned to how these public service professionals negotiate definitions of severity and mental illness in attempt to impose a one-sided mitigating response to the crisis. Consistent with other previous research surrounding public service professionals and social problems, this study reveals the contextual, interactional and structural processes involved in how CIT officers and mental health professionals define, respond to, and negotiate mental illness.
Advisors/Committee Members: Castellano, Ursula A.
Subjects: Criminology; Mental Health; Public Administration; Sociology
Keywords: mental illness; street-level bureaucrats; micropolitics; crisis intervention team; therapeutic jurisprudence
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30.
Meckes, Jessica L.
Telling My Truth: A Frame Analysis of Blame in Prisoner Accounts.
Degree: MA, Sociology (Arts and Sciences), 2009, Ohio University
► In analyzing the causes of crime, one source of data has been…
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▼ In analyzing the causes of crime, one source of data has been often overlooked: the life-course narratives of criminals themselves. In an attempt to uncover the criminal perspective on causes of crime, I have read twelve first-person narrative texts and identified instances of blame within them. In coding for blame, I discovered four basic Blame Frames differentiated by their implication of responsibility taken by the author and by the source of control, as seen by the author. Separating the texts by time period with the 1950s as an experimental group, I compared the frames as they were found in each time period grouping. Within this small sample size, I nevertheless was able to discern a trend between the time period separations and the frames predominantly referenced. I found that the Blame Frame referenced most frequently in the 1950s was External in nature while in the Post1950s period, the blame shifted towards being Internal in nature.
Advisors/Committee Members: Vander Ven, Thomas M.
Subjects: Criminology; Cultural anthropology; Families and family life; Social psychology; Sociology
Keywords: blame; accounts; prisoner; frame analysis; crime
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