Department of Sociology

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/2104/4779

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 115

A bigger piece of the federal pie : politics and crime in the United States.
(May 2023) McGourty, Meagan L., 1999-; Mencken, Frederick Carson, 1964-
In the United States, the fear of crime has risen to an unprecedented level - higher than that of 1994; a time when violent crime reached a peak. However, with recent data, scholars can begin to understand where this fear disseminates from and how it can be curbed. Using the General Social Survey (GSS), I find significant values regarding various demographics and their fear of crime, particularly related to race and political affiliation. My research methods consist of secondary survey analysis, utilizing regression analysis and interaction effects within regression. My findings outline an established concept in other literature; that minorities and Republicans have a greater fear of crime than Whites and Democrats. However, I also find that Black Republicans are among those who feel the United States should spend less, indicating a lesser fear of crime. These findings contribute to the literature involving fear of crime, as well as introduce new speculations regarding who is necessarily more afraid.
A comprehensive understanding of racial attitudes for Muslims among whites.
(2020-07-10) Li, Ruiqian, 1990-; Andersson, Matthew.; Froese, Paul.
How do white racial attitudes shape anti-Muslim opinion in a racially diversifying American society where many whites are anxious about their race’s self-interest? Using ANES 2016, this study examines if the white anxiety informs anti-Muslim opinion independently to ethnocultural prejudice. Based on different statistical methodologies, findings illustrate that white anxiety independently predicts anti-Muslim sentiment, yet a lack of white anxiety does not result in warmness or even acceptance of Muslims. However, both pro- and anti-Muslim attitudes are significantly predicted by ethnocultural prejudice. It indicates that many whites do not need to embrace that whites are ethnoculturally superior to Muslims: they can also perceive Muslims as threat to the group self-interest. Last, this study implies that social scientists should adopt a new theoretical paradigm to understand interracial relationships between white Americans and non-white immigrants in the contemporary America.
A different kind of evangelical : an examination of the political diversity that exists within evangelical Protestantism.
(May 2023) DeDeyne, Jesse Lee, 1981-; Dougherty, Kevin D.
While anecdotally people understand that not all evangelicals are white, Republican, conservatives who only vote for Republicans little research has been done to support these anecdotes. In this dissertation, I analyze nationally representative samples of adults in the United States in order to: 1) describe the cross-pressures that people face when their political identity is not in line with the majority of political identities in their religious tradition; 2) examine how different groups of evangelicals, based on party identification and political ideology, report the most important problem facing the United States today; and 3) uncover diversity that exists within evangelicalism using their policy preferences (operational ideology) and not just their self-reported political ideology (symbolic ideology). The results from these analyses will allow researchers to better understand that diversity of thought exists within evangelicalism, and it will help add complexity and diversity to the study of evangelicals.
Accelerated and micro-longitudinal approaches to understanding depressive symptoms and human flourishing.
(2018-03-16) Kent, Blake Victor, 1980-; Bradshaw, Matt.
The three studies presented here assess self-reported depressive symptoms in two large samples of U.S. respondents. The first two examine the National Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), an ongoing nationally representative prospective study of adolescents, while the third examines SoulPulse, a non-representative, self-selected smartphone study of the adult population. The purpose of these inquiries is to apply group-based trajectory modeling and hierarchical linear modeling to enhance our understanding of depressive symptoms. These engage accelerated and micro-longitudinal designs, making it possible to map distinct etiological trajectories of symptom burden over a lengthy developmental period with Add Health, and to disentangle trait and state levels of psycho-social experience in assessment of depressive symptoms and flourishing with SoulPulse. Study one examines parental, educational, peer, and religious ecological clusters, finding that good parental relationships and positive family dynamics are strongly associated with decreased symptom burden. Peer support, teacher support, and educational achievement are also highly protective. Delinquent behavior, as well as Black and Asian ethnicity, are risk factors, while other ecological factors such as romantic relationships, number of sexual partners, and religious prayer and attendance have modest associations with depressive burden. Study two disaggregates the Add Health sample by gender, developing specific etiological trajectories for each. It then examines a range of religion and spirituality items, assessing subjective measures of religious experience not common in the depression literature. Results indicate that subjective forms of religion and spirituality are associated with increased depressive symptom burdens, and that these burdens are more strongly associated with depressive symptoms for men than for women. Study three examines daily stressors, daily spiritual experiences, depressive symptoms, and flourishing. The findings indicate robust direct associations between stressors, spiritual experiences, and the two measures of mental well-being, as well as substantial support for the moderating role of daily spiritual experiences on the relationships between stressful life events and well-being. This examination reveals that not only do higher average (trait) scores of spiritual experience associate with increased well-being, but that higher momentary (state) scores of spiritual experience are related to increased well-being above and beyond trait level.
Activism as community : how political engagement styles vary by religiosity.
(2017-03-22) Davidson, James Clark, 1978-; Pieper, Christopher M.
The significance of religion in shaping political and civic activity has received great attention over the years. Existing literature suggests that religious organizations provide institutional resources and civic skills that facilitate collective action. This study expands this effort by investigating the role of specific religious practices on forms of political engagement. Using the Wave IV of the Baylor Religion Survey (2013) I examine how religion and non-religion shapes political activity. Results indicate participation in community based religious activities, such as prayer groups or bible studies, is a robust predictor of traditional means of political participation such as participating in a voter registration drive. Religious Nones are more likely to engage in protest or use the Internet for political activities. Together these indicate a deep divide in the ways that Americans participate in the political process and a mechanism by which this division is maintained.
Age differences in links between social media use and mental health : results from a national sample of U.S. adults.
(2021-04-21) Zhu, Xi, 1992-; Andersson, Matthew.
Now more than ever, American adults are using social networking sites (SNS). While many studies have examined associations between SNS use and mental health among children and adolescents, few studies have considered potential age differences in SNS use effects. Drawing on nationally representative data collected by Gallup in 2017 (N=1501), I examined associations between time spent on SNS and users’ depression and anxiety as well as perceptions of how the Internet affects their social relationships. I also assessed the potential moderating role of age for these associations. Results show that SNS use is unrelated to users’ depression or anxiety once adjusting for demographic background, but is related to perceived positive effects on one’s social relationships. Meanwhile, I find no significant age differences in these associations, suggesting that while older adults use SNS less often, they are influenced by SNS in ways similar to younger individuals.
Age, period, and cohort effects on trust of government in rural America.
(2018-04-16) Lotspeich-Yadao, Michael C., II, 1994-; Tolbert, Charles M.
After the Presidential Election of 2016, natural surprise was offered as to the impact of rural communities and working-class voters on the outcome. While much research has been done on racial, gender, and individual economic-based tensions, little research has addressed the underlying macro-level economic shifts in rural communities that influence both former conditions. Using hierarchical age-period-cohort with cross-classified random effect modeling (HAPC-CCREM) and a span of thirty-five years of empirical data, I address the linkage between macro-level socioeconomic conditions and institutional trust. I hypothesize that rural communities have experienced significant period forces that have influenced their levels of institutional trust. The statistical model reveals that while there was little difference between cohorts, statistical significance was achieved in many periods that overlay shocks to the less-diverse base of economic capital in rural America. Future models will introduce additional random, level 2 covariates to directly address community socioeconomic contexts.
Angry conservatives? : levels of incivility across conservative ideology.
(2021-08-09) Ryan, Michael John Paul, 1992-; Yancey, George A., 1962-
Past research examining incivility within media discourse has consistently found conservative discourse to have elevated levels of incivility in comparison to liberals. The present study provides more nuance on this understanding, by looking at differences within conservative media. Using 330 articles from across the conservative media landscape, the following research examines the presence of differences between more traditional republicans, populists, and libertarians. Differences across these three ideologies are found, as well as differences based on topics covered. This research indicates that a deeper dive into political differences within groups may provide insights in norms of incivility.
Are we happy now? : assessing the role of electronic technology in family ritual and parental well-being.
(2016-02-29) Nelson, Justin J., 1981-; Mencken, Frederick Carson, 1964-
The ubiquitous nature of electronic devices today has led to questioning of the unintended consequences of technology on our relationships. Meanwhile, it is widely argued that the family meal can provide a place for regular family interaction. This paper ties these research strands together by examining how the presence of such devices during family meals might be related to the quality of these interactions and, ultimately, affect measures of parental well-being. Using data from the Culture of American Families survey (2011), I find that daily family meals are positive in their relationship to parents reporting to be “very happy” across two measures of well-being. Based on Collins’ (2004) theory of interaction ritual, I argue that parents strongly desire the emotional energy that results from parent-child interactions during the family meal, while my findings suggest that these positive results may be inhibited by the mere presence of electronic devices if this ritual does not take place daily. Thus, in the presence of electronic devices, even regular family meals may not be enough to produce the meaningful interactions that promote well-being.
#AsiansforBlackLives? : Interracial coupling and Black Lives Matter support.
(2021-08-10) Chang, Joyce C., 1993-; Park, Jerry Z.
This study examines the relationship between racialized marital selection and support for Black Lives Matter. Nearly a third of Asian American newlyweds are interracially married. Previous research reports that interracial marriages are used as a marker for assimilation and can represent or reshape racial attitudes. With the growing awareness and support for the Black Lives Matter movement, we consider the possible relationship between interracial coupling and support for this social movement. Using the 2016 Collaborative Multiracial Post Survey, we find that Asian Americans with racially non-white spouses are significantly different from Asian Americans with white spouses in their support for Black Lives Matter, thus suggesting that interracially married Asian Americans vary in their cultural integration rather than just assimilating to the views of the dominant group. With Asian Americans as the fastest growing minority group, this study offers quantitative insights on the need for improving theorization of intergroup relations effects on racial attitudes.
Bad behavior? Understanding the correlation of racial mismatch and teachers' perceptions of student behavior.
(2012-08-08) Martinez, Matthew James.; Tolbert, Charles M.; Sociology.; Baylor University. Dept. of Sociology.
Research shows that teachers’ treatment and perceptions of students will vary based upon the race of the teacher and student. When teachers share the same race as the student, the student will benefit in the way of higher expectations, evaluations, and treatment from teachers. This study examines teachers’ perceptions of students’ behavior at varying levels of racial mismatch. Hierarchical OLS models are used to test for contextual affects in schools with varying percentages of minority composition. This study finds support for racial mismatch theory as white teachers perceive more student behavior problems in schools consisting of 50% or more minority students. The nonsymmetry hypothesis holds in this study as minority teachers do not think any more positively or negatively of student behavior at schools in which they are racially mismatched. The importance of these findings is discussed, reasons for the differences are theorized, and prescriptions for remedying these differences are presented and considered.
Belonging and participation in mixed-race congregations.
(2012-08-08) Martinez, Brandon C.; Dougherty, Kevin D.; Sociology.; Baylor University. Dept. of Sociology.
There has been a recent push towards racial diversity in congregations by many religious leaders. However, racially diverse congregations, which have been a popular subject amongst researchers, are both rare and seemingly difficult to sustain (Emerson, 2006). Testing an underlying assumption of organizational ecology theory, this study contributes to the discussion of race in congregations by examining belonging and participation in congregations with more than one racial group. Results of multilevel modeling using data from the 2001 U.S Congregational Life Survey indicate that those who are a part of the numerical racial majority in a congregation experience higher levels of belonging and participate at a deeper level than those who belong to a numerical minority racial group. Moreover, cross-level interactions between numerical majority status and the racial proportion of the congregation reveal that these differences increase as mixed-race congregations become more racially homogenous.
Better than I deserve : evangelical Protestantism's effect on subjective social status.
(2020-03-26) DeDeyne, Jesse L., 1981-; Uecker, Jeremy.
Subjective social status (SSS), a measure of a person’s self-perceived social ranking compared to a reference group on socioeconomic variables (income, occupation, and education), is an effective indicator of a person’s overall health. To date, studies of SSS’ determinants have focused on psychosocial factors, as well as the role of neighborhood satisfaction and cultural identity. However, nearly one in four people report turning to their spiritual beliefs or ethical values to determine their SSS (MacArthur Network 2008). This study examines differences in SSS across religious group affiliation and religiosity and how those religious differences vary across racial groups. Findings from the Baylor Religion Survey (Wave 5) show that when the referent is more distal (i.e., “other Americans”) evangelical Protestants rank their SSS higher compared to all others, especially among white evangelicals. When the referent is more socially proximate (i.e., “your friends”), there is no statistical difference between evangelicals and others. This suggests that evangelical Protestantism is a determinant of SSS.
Caste, class, and city : the shaping of religious social capital in contemporary India.
(2010-06-23T12:33:31Z) Stroope, Samuel M.; Froese, Paul.; Sociology.; Baylor University. Dept. of Sociology.
Building on the implications of qualitative work from India and urbanism theories, I aim to understand how religious bonding social capital in contemporary India varies along greater urbanization and whether social class or caste affects such differences. I use a multinomial logistic regression on 1,417 Hindu respondents in a nationally representative sample of India (World Values Survey-India 2001). Results indicate that religious social capital is fostered by urbanism and that this association is stronger for upper castes. Conversely, there is little evidence that social class similarly mediates the connection between urbanism and greater religious social capital. In light of these findings, religious bonding might be better understood as rooted in the interaction of caste dynamics and changes in the urban environment, rather than as a result of greater affluence. The data are also consistent with work underscoring the importance of disentangling social class and caste among Hindus in contemporary India.
Changing patterns in marijuana use among high school seniors : latent modeling of time-series cross-sections (1976 – 2013).
(2016-04-19) Tamburello, Jeffrey A.; Tolbert, Charles M.
Public support for the legalization of marijuana is on the rise. As states are increasingly passing legislation decriminalizing marijuana possession and consumption, a great deal of research is needed to inform policy-makers of the patterns and implications of use. In this project, I work to describe the patterns of perception and use among adolescent marijuana users, especially in light of this cultural shift over time, by providing a framework by which researchers might better understand the social contexts of marijuana use and, by extension, may be better equipped to examine the long-term implications of widespread use. Data for this project come from the Monitoring the Future study, a series of national random samples of US High School Seniors collected as time series cross sections since 1976. Utilizing Confirmatory Factor Analysis and latent mixture modeling techniques I create a framework to typify adolescent marijuana users into two latent constructs, ‘Individualist’ and ‘Communal’ users. Using this framework, I track identification within these categories over time and examine the behavioral implications of this identification, vis-à-vis gateway drug use.
The characteristics of parent-child relationships and their effects on God images.
(2011-05-12T15:45:47Z) Pagel, Andrew T.; Tolbert, Charles M.; Sociology.; Baylor University. Dept. of Sociology.
It has been proposed that an individual's attitudes and beliefs strongly reflect their concepts of what God is and what God represents. However, where do these attitudes and beliefs originate? I theorize that they come from child-rearing practices, as children are likely to view God as an authority figure with the same characteristics their parents have. To test this, I compared God's perceived love and anger to positive memories of a respondent's parents during childhood, and receiving corporal punishment as a child. The results showed that having positive memories of one's parents is positively correlated with viewing God as loving. However, receiving corporal punishment as a child proved to be positively associated with both viewing God as angry and loving. These effects were present despite multiple religious controls, suggesting that one's parents may have a great influence on the way God is conceptualized into adulthood.
Civic engagement : comparing the effect of political identity and socioeconomic status.
(2022-05-06) Johnson, Rachel E. M., 1993-; Mencken, Frederick Carson, 1964-
It was noted this past midterm cycle that the Democratic Party was more politically active than their counterparts in the Republican Party. Expanding to civic engagement, will this trend continue? Furthermore, will socioeconomic status be a significant factor when analyzing partisan community involvement? Utilizing ordinary least squares regression models and the American National Election Studies (ANES) 2020 study, it was found overall that socioeconomic status does influence the three identified types of civic engagement and reduces the effect political party affiliation has on civic engagement. Socioeconomic status is found to be a significant factor in predicting civic engagement behaviors especially for members of the Democratic Party.
Community satisfaction : the solution for rural communities.
(2013-09-24) Garland, Anna Nicole.; Driskell, Robyn Bateman.; Sociology.; Baylor University. Dept. of Sociology.
Why do people like where they live? Why do people decide to stay at their current residence? Are residents satisfied with their community? All of these questions and more have been explored and investigated for decades and in many disciplines. Furthermore, this study examines community satisfaction. This study looks at the answers to all these questions and specifically studies the rural community, an anomaly in regards to migration and economic growth. Rural communities suffer from higher than average rates of poverty and high levels of out-migration, due to an influx of people to cities and suburban areas, which leads to decreased levels of community satisfaction. The predictors of community satisfaction can be applied to rural communities in order to increase resident satisfaction. Research has found that having friends as neighbors, feeling safe in your neighborhood and a positive perception of the state of the economy are all significant positive predictors of community satisfaction.
Congregational growth, closure, identity, and diversity.
(2010-06-23T12:32:57Z) Maier, Jared E.; Dougherty, Kevin D.; Sociology.; Baylor University. Dept. of Sociology.
Despite stories of secularization in America, congregations still possess power as one of America's most prolific social organizations. Their power can be seen by the fact that congregations receive the highest proportion of philanthropic donations of any social institution (Hoge, Zech, McNamara, and Donahue 1996), and are the greatest outlet of voluntarism in the United States (Putnam 2000). This dissertation explores four central issues pertaining to congregations: growth, closure, identity, and diversity. Heterogeneity by age is related to growth in American congregations, while homogeneity by belief is related to congregational growth in Evangelical congregations. Age liabilities of newness and oldness are associated with closure in congregations that have a free-church tradition. Beliefs stand out above denominational affiliation and self-identification in terms of identifying who is Evangelical. Finally, there is potential of racially diverse congregations to assist in the changing of attitudes and actions toward people of a different race.
Cross-national analysis of the association between subjective social status and health.
(2017-07-26) Kang, Su Jin, 1985-; Bradshaw, Matt.
Socioeconomic discrepancies and their associations with health have been a persistent issue in the sociology of health and illness across the globe. Throughout the extensive research effort, subjective social status (SSS) has emerged as a relevant tool for social science and health researchers to investigate socioeconomic disparities in health. Despite the increasing evidences of a significant relationship between SSS and health, most of the findings have been drawn from Western countries. We have little knowledge about how SSS could be associated with health and illness in other countries like Asia and possible explanations of a different social and cultural context. Drawing on cross-national multiple data sets at the individual levels, the three national analyses in this project demonstrate the influence of SSS on a wide range of physical and mental health outcomes of mid and later life adult populations in South Korea, the United States, and a metropolitan area in Japan. The findings for each study are discussed. This study concludes with implications for policy and suggestions for future research.

Browse

Browsing Department of Sociology by Title