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Title: OLD AND HOMELESS,A SECOND LOOK AT TWO SURVEYS.
Creator: Bigelow, Brian, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigated the comparison between the Rich et al (1995) study done in Tampa Bay, Fl and Burt et al (2001) national study. Rich et al conducted a study of elder homeless Americans and later, Burt et al conducted a replication study on a national level using a similar study. My secondary analysis of the data covered four aspects: Demographics between the two groups of respondents; current housing issues; current alcohol, drug and mental health issues; and finally homeless services...
Show moreThis study investigated the comparison between the Rich et al (1995) study done in Tampa Bay, Fl and Burt et al (2001) national study. Rich et al conducted a study of elder homeless Americans and later, Burt et al conducted a replication study on a national level using a similar study. My secondary analysis of the data covered four aspects: Demographics between the two groups of respondents; current housing issues; current alcohol, drug and mental health issues; and finally homeless services being used by both homeless, formally homeless and never homeless respondents. This was all compared to those that were 55 and older and those that were under 55. Recommendations were made concerning improvement of senior's health services by the government, and the need for more research into determining the overall seemingly underrepresented elderly homeless population.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000354, ucf:46297
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000354

Title: ENGAGEMENT, TRUST, AND RECIPROCITY: EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL CAPTIAL AND PARTICIPATION IN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
Creator: Feiler, Rebecca, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study examines the extent to which various forms of social capital impact participation in nonprofit organizations. Previous research has focused on the importance of trust and engagement among social and political networks to form strong community ties that can cultivate the growth of social capital and promote participation in nonprofit organizations. The data analyzed in this study were derived from the Central Florida Social Capital Benchmark survey, collected at the University of...
Show moreThis study examines the extent to which various forms of social capital impact participation in nonprofit organizations. Previous research has focused on the importance of trust and engagement among social and political networks to form strong community ties that can cultivate the growth of social capital and promote participation in nonprofit organizations. The data analyzed in this study were derived from the Central Florida Social Capital Benchmark survey, collected at the University of Central Florida's Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences. To represent social capital, related variables from the survey are combined to create indices that represent civic engagement and community trust. For the purposes of this study, participation in nonprofit organizations is defined by volunteerism and philanthropy. Results from this analysis provide evidence that (1) social capital assets are predictors of volunteerism and philanthropy and (2) higher levels of social capital are correlated with increased participation in nonprofit organizations. Although participation in nonprofit organizations can vary depending on a community's characteristics, social capital can be seen as an important element in the development of the nonprofit sector.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001382, ucf:47010
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001382

Title: WORKING HARD AND BARELY MAKING IT: IDEOLOGICAL CONTRADICTIONS AND THE WORKING POOR.
Creator: Kane, Wendi, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The existence of large, relatively comfortable, middle and working classes is what has set the advanced capitalist societies apart from most societies throughout history. These classes, while not quite "privileged," offer the hope of opportunity and upward social mobility for those who work hard. Yet in the last 30 years a growing class of "working poor" has emerged who invest many hours working but at wages that keep upward social mobility beyond their grasp. The existence of the working...
Show moreThe existence of large, relatively comfortable, middle and working classes is what has set the advanced capitalist societies apart from most societies throughout history. These classes, while not quite "privileged," offer the hope of opportunity and upward social mobility for those who work hard. Yet in the last 30 years a growing class of "working poor" has emerged who invest many hours working but at wages that keep upward social mobility beyond their grasp. The existence of the working poor, it seems, dispels a key element in the ideology of individualism; they work hard yet do not "get ahead." This study addresses the contradiction presented by the working poor; specifically, do the working poor support the ideology of individualism? Prior research finds that the disadvantaged justify the system that inhibits them from having a better quality of life (Jost, et al. 2003). This study, however, suggests that the working poor are more conscious of the ideology's failure to explain their lack of mobility in a system that promises opportunity to those who work hard. Research data were generated through the use of telephone surveys in five counties in Central Florida with approximately 1571 respondents. Several measures of "working poor" were created; moreover, respondents within these categories tended to disagree with the "work hard, get ahead" ideology. Respondents who viewed their financial situation as getting worse, unable to grasp the "upward mobility" promise of the American Dream, also significantly disagreed with the ideology.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002518, ucf:47665
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002518

Title: HOMELESS WOMEN IN THE ORLANDO SHELTER SYSTEM: A COMPARISON OF SINGLE WOMEN, FAMILIES, AND WOMEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR CHILDREN.
Creator: Dotson, Hilary, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Homeless women and families are among the most disenfranchised groups in society. Further, because of their homelessness and associated problems, many homeless women become separated from their children. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects on predictors of entering a shelter with or without children (shelter status) and whether or not one is separated from one or more children (child separation status) on various special need predictors. A second objective was to determine...
Show moreHomeless women and families are among the most disenfranchised groups in society. Further, because of their homelessness and associated problems, many homeless women become separated from their children. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects on predictors of entering a shelter with or without children (shelter status) and whether or not one is separated from one or more children (child separation status) on various special need predictors. A second objective was to determine the relationship between shelter status and child separation and to understand the unique experiences of homeless women who are separated from their children. These objectives were achieved via thematic analysis, quantitative methods and qualitative methods. Results suggest that shelter status significantly related to mental illness, drug abuse and domestic violence, but child separation status only significantly relates to drug abuse. The qualitative findings examined the origins of homelessness, child separation and the women's desires to be reunited with their children. Suggestions for further research and program changes are included.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002526, ucf:47643
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002526

Title: RISK FACTORS FOR ADULT VICTIMIZATION AMONG FLORIDA'S HOMELESS WOMEN.
Creator: Weichsel, Rebecca, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Much of the existing research on violence against homeless women has concluded that homeless women are particularly vulnerable to violence and experience victimization at rates often exceeding the rates of housed women. Little research, however, has focused upon the specific risk factors that expose homeless women to physical assault, rape, and stalking. Utilizing a sample of 737 homeless women from the Florida cities of Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami, this study investigated the...
Show moreMuch of the existing research on violence against homeless women has concluded that homeless women are particularly vulnerable to violence and experience victimization at rates often exceeding the rates of housed women. Little research, however, has focused upon the specific risk factors that expose homeless women to physical assault, rape, and stalking. Utilizing a sample of 737 homeless women from the Florida cities of Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami, this study investigated the risk factors for experiencing adult personal victimization. The characteristics of homelessness, demographics, drug and alcohol use, subsistence activities, childhood victimization, mental health status, and criminal activities were examined as predictors of violence. The results indicate that over three-quarters of the sample had experienced violence, physical, sexual, or stalking, as adults. Consistent with prior research, childhood sexual abuse and time spent in jail or prison were significant predictors of violence. However, contrary to prior research, severe childhood physical abuse did not predict adult violence. Rather, the key childhood predictors of adult violence appear to center upon abuse that is primarily emotional in nature. Also contrary to prior research, the excessive use of alcohol or illicit drugs and engaging in risky subsistence activities did not predict violence. The results also imply that the women's experiences of violence may precipitate their episodes of homelessness, indicating that the violence is a cause of their homelessness. Violence against women continues to be a significant social problem particularly among especially vulnerable populations such as homeless women. Such violence deserves the attention of service providers such as healthcare workers, social services, and criminal justice systems.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000678, ucf:46488
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000678

Title: GUN OWNERSHIP TRENDS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1973-2000.
Creator: Ruckert, Jason Michael, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In the last half century, gun ownership has been one of the most hotly debated topics in the United States. The right to bear arms was written into the U. S. Constitution and into the hearts and minds of its citizens. During the last half century, however, numerous gun control laws have been enacted at Federal, state and local levels, and it can be argued (plausibly or not) that part of the "legislative intent" has been to decrease the number of gun owning households in the United States. For...
Show moreIn the last half century, gun ownership has been one of the most hotly debated topics in the United States. The right to bear arms was written into the U. S. Constitution and into the hearts and minds of its citizens. During the last half century, however, numerous gun control laws have been enacted at Federal, state and local levels, and it can be argued (plausibly or not) that part of the "legislative intent" has been to decrease the number of gun owning households in the United States. For many decades, this number hovered at one half of all households (Wright, 1995). The possible success of these gun control efforts is suggested by an apparent and rather sharp decline in the ownership percentage beginning in the 1990s. In 2000, the household gun ownership rate had decreased to 32.5% (according to the General Social Survey). The question raised in this thesis is how to account for declining gun ownership. More specifically, I ask if there has in fact been a decline in ownership, or whether the apparent decline is an illusion resulting from changing demographics. A third possibility, that social norms have changed such that admitting gun ownership in surveys is now more problematic for many people, is also considered and seems, indeed, to be the most telling line of explanation.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000017, ucf:46133
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000017

Title: EXPLAINING CHURN: MASS SOCIETY, SOCIAL CAPITAL, & COMMUNITY CHURN.
Creator: Edelen, Delores, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Population churn--the population turnover experienced by a community--can have differential effects on a community. Mass society theory suggests that because the churn rate experienced by communities can contribute to their uprooting, fragmentation, and isolation, churn is a potent threat to the stability of our modern day communities. Social capital theory, to the contrary, suggests otherwise. Social capital theory suggests that churn can have positive effects on communities by bringing new...
Show morePopulation churn--the population turnover experienced by a community--can have differential effects on a community. Mass society theory suggests that because the churn rate experienced by communities can contribute to their uprooting, fragmentation, and isolation, churn is a potent threat to the stability of our modern day communities. Social capital theory, to the contrary, suggests otherwise. Social capital theory suggests that churn can have positive effects on communities by bringing new migrants with valuable human capital skills and experiences to communities. These migrants bring to their new communities the potential for creating new jobs, spurring economic development, and for initiating housing starts that expand housing options for the poor and minorities. In so doing, they help create and sustain vibrant, growing modern day communities. Yet in spite of the significant role churn may play in determining the health and viability of modern day communities, it has been overlooked in the migration literature, which is mostly dominated by individual-level research on the causes and effects of migration, particularly the pecuniary benefits to movers. Using county-level data and multivariate analyses, this research seeks to fill this gap in the literature by examining the relationship between the community and churn, from the perspectives provided by social capital and mass society theories.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000224, ucf:46257
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000224

Title: POPULATION CHURN: THE MIGRATION FLOW OF FLORIDA.
Creator: Cashen, Marguerite, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Recent research has focused attention on the concerns of migration in and out of Florida and within the counties themselves. In 1949, Cape Canaveral was established and the boom was on. The character of the state dramatically transformed after 1965, when plans were announced to convert twenty-seven thousand acres of swampland into Walt Disney World. Since then, Orlando's evolution is divided into two eras: before and after Walt Disney World. Orlando has changed from a quiet town whose...
Show moreRecent research has focused attention on the concerns of migration in and out of Florida and within the counties themselves. In 1949, Cape Canaveral was established and the boom was on. The character of the state dramatically transformed after 1965, when plans were announced to convert twenty-seven thousand acres of swampland into Walt Disney World. Since then, Orlando's evolution is divided into two eras: before and after Walt Disney World. Orlando has changed from a quiet town whose function was to service the surrounding citrus growing regions in a sparsely populated Orange County to a booming metropolis. Has the growth been for the best? While geographical mobility is frequently analyzed in terms of in-migration, out-migration, and net migration, this thesis will examine the population churn, the sum of in- and out-migration divided by population size. The simple descriptive questions in this thesis are, first, how do Orange County and the Orlando metro area "stack up" against other Florida cities, counties, and metro areas such as: Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami. Secondly, across 67 Florida counties, what county level characteristics predict the rate of churn? The sample will consist of intra-migration and intermigration movers from a dataset drawn from the 2000 U. S. Census, IRS data, and local data by county, such as, F Cat, Index Crime Rate, and Domestic Violence Rate. The U.S. Census data are compiled from the Census of 2000; most estimates come from data collected by the CPS (Current Population Survey), which the U.S. Census conducts. The Internal Revenue Service migration flow data shows migration patterns by county based on changes in the addresses entered on individual tax returns. Correlation analysis is used to show the strength of association between population churn and the other variables.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000294, ucf:46214
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000294

Title: DOES HOPE VI DEEP-SIX THE POOR? ANALYZING THE EFFECTS OF DISPLACEMENT FORMER RESIDENTS OF DISTRESSED PUBLIC HOUSING IN A MID-SIZED SOUTHERN CITY.
Creator: Zeller, David, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Do downtown revitalization efforts detrimentally affect people who are displaced? HUD's HOPE VI grant program provides local housing authorities with funds to leverage private investment to demolish blighted, severely distressed public housing units and replace them with mixed-use, mixed-income units. In 2002, the OHA secured an $18 million grant to redevelop a public housing project then known as Carver Court. 212 units of public housing were razed and former public housing residents were...
Show moreDo downtown revitalization efforts detrimentally affect people who are displaced? HUD's HOPE VI grant program provides local housing authorities with funds to leverage private investment to demolish blighted, severely distressed public housing units and replace them with mixed-use, mixed-income units. In 2002, the OHA secured an $18 million grant to redevelop a public housing project then known as Carver Court. 212 units of public housing were razed and former public housing residents were displaced to make way for redevelopment. Interviews with 55 former residents of Carver Court are analyzed to determine the self-reported effects of the local implementation of federal housing policy. Outcomes measured include satisfaction with occupation, housing costs, neighborhood quality, crime, social interactions, access to public transportation, and quality of life overall, among others. In addition, the analysis uses Census data to examine the extent to which poverty deconcentration, a major policy goal of HOPE VI, has been accomplished. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of HOPE VI's position in the history of American housing policy.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0000995, ucf:46701
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000995

Title: THE PERCEPTION OF HOMELESS PEOPLE: IMPORTANT FACTORS IN DETERMINING PERCEPTIONS OF THE HOMELESS AS DANGEROUS.
Creator: Donley, Amy, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study uses two quantitative and two qualitative data sources to determine if homeless people are viewed as dangerous and if they are what factors contribute to this perception. Areas examined are respondent's characteristics, media affects and the perceived rights of homeless people to urban space. Actual levels of perpetration among the homeless are examined to allow for comparisons between perception and reality to be made. Findings showed that race plays a major role in the...
Show moreThis study uses two quantitative and two qualitative data sources to determine if homeless people are viewed as dangerous and if they are what factors contribute to this perception. Areas examined are respondent's characteristics, media affects and the perceived rights of homeless people to urban space. Actual levels of perpetration among the homeless are examined to allow for comparisons between perception and reality to be made. Findings showed that race plays a major role in the perception of homeless peo-ple among whites, while gender is more influential among blacks. There was no rela-tionship between media and perceptions. A negative relationship was found between support of rights of the homeless and the perception that they are dangerous. While the homeless have higher incarceration rate as compared to the poor-but-never-homeless, the crimes for which they are sentenced appear to be non-violent in nature and are of-ten what are characterized as nuisance crimes. Recommendations were made to study actual perpetration rates among the homeless to allow for a more in-depth analysis of criminal involvement.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002261, ucf:47846
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002261

Title: "WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ADDICTIONS, BUT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR RECOVERY": A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE LIFE HISTORIES OF HOMELESS ALCOHOLICS IN RECOVERY.
Creator: Rayburn, Rachel, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This is an exploratory, qualitative study of homeless, recovering alcoholics and the problems they encounter maintaining sobriety. Using semi-structured interviews, I analyze the experiences of ten men in their forties, who are in a recovery program designed for homeless men. I ask them how they stay sober without a place to live. Three kinds of problems are inferred from their narrative histories. First, the men have difficulty identifying as alcoholics. They have trouble fully integrating...
Show moreThis is an exploratory, qualitative study of homeless, recovering alcoholics and the problems they encounter maintaining sobriety. Using semi-structured interviews, I analyze the experiences of ten men in their forties, who are in a recovery program designed for homeless men. I ask them how they stay sober without a place to live. Three kinds of problems are inferred from their narrative histories. First, the men have difficulty identifying as alcoholics. They have trouble fully integrating into the AA program. Second, the men struggle to form relationships with others, especially with a sponsor. Third, the process of "working the steps" is adapted complexly, more than in a normal twelve-step setting. The findings indicate that homeless men face special barriers to achieving and maintaining sobriety. I conclude by discussing the larger implications for sobriety, homelessness and social change within this community.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002226, ucf:47886
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002226

Title: LIVING AND THRIVING IN THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY: RELIGION AND THE SUCCESS OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS TO THE UNITED STATES.
Creator: Dodge, Jamie, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study examines the role of religion in promoting the success of Mexican immigrants, as measured by typical U.S. standards of success, including income, education, assets (such as homeownership), and health, including access to health insurance, controlling for age, education, gender, and ability to speak English. These measures are analyzed against various indicators of religiosity. The hypothesis driving the research is: religiosity increases an immigrant's success in the United...
Show moreThis study examines the role of religion in promoting the success of Mexican immigrants, as measured by typical U.S. standards of success, including income, education, assets (such as homeownership), and health, including access to health insurance, controlling for age, education, gender, and ability to speak English. These measures are analyzed against various indicators of religiosity. The hypothesis driving the research is: religiosity increases an immigrant's success in the United States. This hypothesis was informed by social capital theory, and a distinction is made between bridging and bonding forms of social capital. The results show only a very weak correlation between religion and success, as measured by the data. Also, immigrants attending churches where Spanish is spoken, and those with mainly Mexican immigrant populations are less likely to enjoy success, implying that bonding forms of social capital actually work against them.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002341, ucf:47817
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002341

Title: HOMICIDE IN THE HEADLINES: AN ANALYSIS OF THE NEWSPAPER REPORTING OF BALTIMORE HOMICIDES OF 2010.
Creator: Schildkraut, Jaclyn, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Baltimore is notorious for its recent and storied history of crime. The current study examines the treatment of homicide victims in Baltimore newspapers. In 2010, 222 homicides occurred in Baltimore, according to the city's homicide map. One hundred and sixty-five were discussed in The Baltimore Sun, the city's most-circulated paper. Based on the inclusion or exclusion of particular cases and the manner in which cases were discussed, conclusions can be drawn about the media's perception of a...
Show moreBaltimore is notorious for its recent and storied history of crime. The current study examines the treatment of homicide victims in Baltimore newspapers. In 2010, 222 homicides occurred in Baltimore, according to the city's homicide map. One hundred and sixty-five were discussed in The Baltimore Sun, the city's most-circulated paper. Based on the inclusion or exclusion of particular cases and the manner in which cases were discussed, conclusions can be drawn about the media's perception of a case's newsworthiness. Specifically, cases with particular details that varied significantly from a "normal" homicide were found to be most newsworthy, determined in part by analyzing the frequency of reporting, placement of coverage within the newspaper, and word count allocated to the discussion of crime.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003575, ucf:48901
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003575

Title: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE:AN EXAMINATION OF WHETHER MARITAL CONFLICT TRANSFORMS NEWLYWED RELATIONSHIPS.
Creator: Barr, Deborah, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This exploratory research responds to two primary questions: 1) what is marital conflict and, 2) does it transform newlywed relationships? Using three-wave panel data collected with the purpose of studying the participants of the Covenant Marriage Act in Louisiana, it examines the nature and effects of conflict on newlywed couples over the first five years of marriage. While the analysis contained in this dissertation answers the research questions, it also presents more questions than it...
Show moreThis exploratory research responds to two primary questions: 1) what is marital conflict and, 2) does it transform newlywed relationships? Using three-wave panel data collected with the purpose of studying the participants of the Covenant Marriage Act in Louisiana, it examines the nature and effects of conflict on newlywed couples over the first five years of marriage. While the analysis contained in this dissertation answers the research questions, it also presents more questions than it answers. This research examines six major themes regarding 1)the nature of marital conflict among these couples, 2) what couples disagree about, 3) how do couples behave when conflict is present, including managing thoughts of divorce, 4) how does conflict change over time, 5) how does conflict experienced in the family of origin manifest in current marriages, and 6) what effect does religiosity have on conflict? Findings support the conventional wisdom in marriage that conflict increases over time, and marital quality decreases over time. In addition, findings show that by wave three sex is the number one topic of disagreement, and that it had the largest increase over time.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003451, ucf:48405
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003451

Title: HUNGRY AND TAKING THE BUS? ASSESSING FOOD OUTLET ACCESSIBILITY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.
Creator: Smith, Katelan, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Little academic research has been conducted examining access to transportation by those in need. The small amount of research that has been done focuses primarily on mobility issues of the elderly and the disabled, despite findings that income level is an important determinant in access to transportation. The few studies that have examined access to transportation in relation to income simply cite the difficulties that those in poverty face when attempting to access vital resources as...
Show moreLittle academic research has been conducted examining access to transportation by those in need. The small amount of research that has been done focuses primarily on mobility issues of the elderly and the disabled, despite findings that income level is an important determinant in access to transportation. The few studies that have examined access to transportation in relation to income simply cite the difficulties that those in poverty face when attempting to access vital resources as problematic, yet very few focus specifically on this issue. This thesis examines how free food recipients commute to and from local pantries, and whether public transportation in the Orlando metropolitan area adequately services food bank resources utilized by low income individuals. Physical location data as well as survey questionnaires were used to determine commuting patterns as well as the overall availability and utilization of transit options of Orlando's low income population. Findings from this study show that even though nearly 50% of respondents do not own a car, public transportation remains a last option, making the Orlando area heavily dependent on cars, even for those with no direct access to one. Despite low public transit ridership, it was found that the majority of food pantries in Orange County are adequately serviced by LYNX, while pantries in Seminole County suffer from a severe lack of services.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003913, ucf:48757
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003913

Title: DEAD, IMPRISONED, RELAPSED: THE FATE OF HOMELESS SUBSTANCE ABUSERS TWO DECADES LATER.
Creator: Rayburn, Rachel, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Guided and influenced by a famous follow-up study in criminology focused on desistance from crime, this dissertation studies desistance from crime, homelessness, and substance abuse. In the early 1990s, The New Orleans Homeless Substance Abusers Project (NOHSAP) was founded as an experiment funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to uncover optimal treatment strategies for homeless alcoholics and drug addicts. The program ran for three years (1991-1993) and in...
Show moreGuided and influenced by a famous follow-up study in criminology focused on desistance from crime, this dissertation studies desistance from crime, homelessness, and substance abuse. In the early 1990s, The New Orleans Homeless Substance Abusers Project (NOHSAP) was founded as an experiment funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to uncover optimal treatment strategies for homeless alcoholics and drug addicts. The program ran for three years (1991-1993) and in those years, 670 homeless New Orleans men and women were admitted into treatment. Some of the original clients were followed for as long as 18 months, but none of them had been re-contacted since the mid-1990s. This dissertation involves finding these individuals and re-interviewing them, to discover what life trajectories they have taken some 17-19 years later. Guided by social bonding theory, this project shows what baseline factors and conditions explain variability in life outcomes. The methodology for this study consists of three main parts: 1) a quantitative analysis of mortality data; 2) a historical analysis of criminal histories and 3) in-depth interviews. Nested logistic regression models explained differences among those who have died (n = 91) and those still living. The same method was used to explain differences among those currently incarcerated (n = 56). Follow-up interviews were conducted with 32 individuals in a variety of settings including at their homes and in prisons. Findings from the quantitative results show that social bonding theory seems to be a weak explanation scheme among this population. Results from the qualitative data, however, are contrary and show social bonds to be crucial in the desistance process. Like Laub and Sampson's study, marriage and employment were strong predictors of desistance. Individuals interviewed tended to be sober, but disaffiliated with twelve-step meetings. Other themes from the interviews involve presentation of self, the importance of religion, and a process of aging out of crime. Policy implications from these results focus on the importance of choosing a good life partner, the reduction of alcohol and drug use among abusers, and emphasizing stable employment.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003896, ucf:48730
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003896

Title: We Live This Shit: Rap as a Reflection of Reality for Inner City Youth.
Creator: Patel, Parag, Wright, James, Carter, Shannon, Carter, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Rap is an extremely popular form of modern music that is notorious for incorporating themes of guns and violence into the lyrics. Early rap was mainly party or dance music until the mid-80s when structural shifts in social conditions brought feelings of hopelessness and frustration into black inner city communities and youth culture. These feelings now find expression in rap lyrics. This thesis uses rap lyrics as qualitative data to understand the plight of urban black youth. Rap music can be...
Show moreRap is an extremely popular form of modern music that is notorious for incorporating themes of guns and violence into the lyrics. Early rap was mainly party or dance music until the mid-80s when structural shifts in social conditions brought feelings of hopelessness and frustration into black inner city communities and youth culture. These feelings now find expression in rap lyrics. This thesis uses rap lyrics as qualitative data to understand the plight of urban black youth. Rap music can be seen as a form of resistance for young African Americans who have historically never had such a medium to express their lived experiences and frustrations with society. The rap performance becomes a stage where the powerless become powerful by using the microphone as a symbolic AK-47 and words as weapons in the form of symbolic hollow point cartridges. This Thesis examines the contemporary African American experience, its reflection in the lyrics of rap music, and its fascination with guns, violence and death. A key theme is while rap lyrics sometimes seem radical and frightening to the mainstream, they often express lines of analysis and understanding that have been widely discussed in conventional sociological literature.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0004151, ucf:49047
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004151

Title: Affective Response of African American and European American Students to Portrayals of Cross-racial Relationships on Television.
Creator: Mowatt, Earl, Wright, James, Carter, James, Rivera, Fernando, Kinnally, William, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Race is a potent discourse within the world of pop culture, particularly in television where viewers are witnessing more racial diversity in scripted shows. However, show creators must maintain standards that emphasize distinct social roles among characters in order to appeal to large heterogeneous audiences. These roles tend to be characterizations of racial stereotypes that often lead to biased opinions and inaccurate perceptions of minority groups. Previous studies detail that racial...
Show moreRace is a potent discourse within the world of pop culture, particularly in television where viewers are witnessing more racial diversity in scripted shows. However, show creators must maintain standards that emphasize distinct social roles among characters in order to appeal to large heterogeneous audiences. These roles tend to be characterizations of racial stereotypes that often lead to biased opinions and inaccurate perceptions of minority groups. Previous studies detail that racial biases in media adversely shape public opinions about African Americans and depress the desire for racial integration. This seems somewhat confounding since the shift in programming towards racial diversity presumes increased affirmation, importance, and validity of African Americans and other minority groups. This study investigates the affective response of Black and White college students to cross-race relationships on TV and the perceived realism of these media depictions. Since these relationship forms are now becoming part of television's pop culture, and pop culture reflects co-existing attitudes and values in society, it is important that they be examined. Additionally, examining cross-racial relationships may help in understanding larger race relations in the United States.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004268, ucf:49539
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004268

Title: The Dimensions of Social Capital.
Creator: Webster, Richard, Wright, James, Grauerholz, Elizabeth, Carter, James, Gay, David, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study called into question the rationale and methods used by researchers used to measure levels of social capital, particularly Putnam (1995), Paxton (1999), and Park (2006). A central purpose to this study was to partially replicate and extend the work of Park, who theoretically derived four dimensions of social capital. I develop measures of each dimension and then regress each on the variables of age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education, income, and religiosity. This...
Show moreThis study called into question the rationale and methods used by researchers used to measure levels of social capital, particularly Putnam (1995), Paxton (1999), and Park (2006). A central purpose to this study was to partially replicate and extend the work of Park, who theoretically derived four dimensions of social capital. I develop measures of each dimension and then regress each on the variables of age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education, income, and religiosity. This created four sets of outcomes from which I drew conclusions about the dimensionality of the social capital concept. Based on the low percentage of variance explained by the models and the fact that many coefficients reverse signs from one model to the next, I conclude that these dimensions do not represent four parts of a single, underlying construct. This was counter to both Paxton and Park's conclusions. The results of this study also offer a way to examine the effects of subgroups on each dimension. In addition, Park's hypothesis of (")coffeeing together(") was tested and found to be inconsistent with the descriptive results. Recommendations were made for future applications of social capital research and an alternative hypothesis was cited as a promising way to conduct subsequent studies.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004771, ucf:49793
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004771

Title: This is just temporary: A study of extended-stay motel residents in Central Florida.
Creator: Gonzalez Guittar, Stephanie, Wright, James, Carter, Shannon, Jasinski, Jana, Frumkin, Michael, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Motel life has existed in the United States for over 100 years. However, it was not until the HEARTH Act in 2009 changed the federal definition of homelessness that those who live in motels more or less permanently were considered homeless persons. This project utilizes qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 18 families with children who are living in motels to explore their experiences with motel life and social service providers, their housing identity, and identity management...
Show moreMotel life has existed in the United States for over 100 years. However, it was not until the HEARTH Act in 2009 changed the federal definition of homelessness that those who live in motels more or less permanently were considered homeless persons. This project utilizes qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 18 families with children who are living in motels to explore their experiences with motel life and social service providers, their housing identity, and identity management strategies. Interviews with social service providers were also conducted for context and to gain their perspective on families living in motels. Findings show that most of the motel residents did not identify with the conventional definition or image of homelessness and instead negotiated the term to fit their situation. Although they did not initially self-identify as homeless, when discussing policy recommendations all participants adopted a homeless social-identity (i.e., they identified as members of the homeless social category). As members of the homeless community, the participants agreed that homeless families in the area needed more attention and assistance. The identity management strategies employed by the participants were meant to show how they were good people who were just stuck in a motel because of circumstances outside of their control and how they were deserving of assistance to help their families move out of the motel and obtain adequate, permanent housing. Interviews with the social service providers showed that they often do exercise their power over clients by classifying them into a "deserving" group or a "not willing to work for it" group based on their own experiences and prejudices.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004540, ucf:49241
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004540

poverty (7)	+ -
homelessness (5)	+ -
social capital (4)	+ -
race (3)	+ -
Food Insecurity (2)	+ -

Homelessness (2)	+ -
community (2)	+ -
evaluation (2)	+ -
food security (2)	+ -
higher education (2)	+ -
homeless (2)	+ -
intimate partner abuse (2)	+ -
media (2)	+ -
migration (2)	+ -
population churn (2)	+ -
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (1)	+ -
Alcohol-Related Negative Consequences (1)	+ -
Alcoholics Anonymous (1)	+ -
Alcoholism (1)	+ -
American Dream (1)	+ -
Animal Abuse (1)	+ -
Baltimore (1)	+ -
Binge Drinking (1)	+ -
Capital Punishment (1)	+ -
Central Florida (1)	+ -
College (1)	+ -
College Student Alcohol Use (1)	+ -
Crime (1)	+ -
Current Population Survey (1)	+ -
Death Penalty (1)	+ -

University of Central Florida (45)	+ -
Wright, James (44)	+ -
Jasinski, Jana (12)	+ -
Gay, David (9)	+ -
Rivera, Fernando (7)	+ -

Carter, James (3)	+ -
Carter, Shannon (3)	+ -
Donley, Amy (3)	+ -
Pals, Heili (3)	+ -
Bares, Lindsey (2)	+ -
Corzine, Harold (2)	+ -
Grauerholz, Elizabeth (2)	+ -
Grauerholz, Liz (2)	+ -
Kane, Wendi (2)	+ -
Lynxwiler, John (2)	+ -
Malick, Abigail (2)	+ -
Rayburn, Rachel (2)	+ -
Strickhouser, Sara (2)	+ -
Abel, Eileen (1)	+ -
Barr, Deborah (1)	+ -
Bigelow, Brian (1)	+ -
Bohm, Robert (1)	+ -
Carter, J. Scott (1)	+ -
Cashen, Marguerite (1)	+ -
Chen, Jessie (1)	+ -
Childs, Kristina (1)	+ -
Colyer, Timothy (1)	+ -
Cook, Ida (1)	+ -
Crisafi, Denise (1)	+ -
Dodge, Jamie (1)	+ -

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