Sociology
Loading...
Date established
City
Country
ID
soc_ag
Citations
Altmetric:
Altmetric::
Description
The Department of Sociology is co-directed by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It offers a major in Sociology (giving a liberal-arts education, or a sociological background for work in social-services, law, theology, academia, the government, etc); as well as a major in Public Service and Administration in Agriculture (preparing for work with agricultural agencies or agriculture and natural-resources public services). It also offers the interdepartmental major in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
History
The Department of Sociology was formed in 1991 from the division of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
Dates of Existence
1991 - present
Related Units
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (parent college)
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology (predecessor)
Subject Categories
Permanent Link
item.source.page.uri
25 results
Publication Search Results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 25
Publication A meta-analysis of agricultural conservation intentions, behaviors, and practices: Insights from 35 years of quantitative literature in the United States(2022) Lu, Junyu; Ranjan, Pranay; Floress, Kristin; Arbuckle, J. Gordon; Church, Sarah P.; Eanes, Francis R.; Gao, Yuling; Gramig, Benjamin M.; Singh, Ajay S.; Prokopy, Linda S.; SociologyConservation practices (CPs) are integral to maintaining the long-term viability of agro-ecological systems. Because farming systems and farmers' values and attitudes are heterogeneous, factors that consistently predict conservation behaviors remain elusive. Moreover, heterogeneity is present among studies regarding the type of CPs examined, and whether behavioral intentions or actual behaviors were measured. This study considers the characteristics of each CP, and whether a given study measured behavioral intention or actual behavior, to better understand farmers' adoption of CPs. We reviewed and analyzed 35 years (1982–2017) of quantitative conservation adoption literature in the United States. We categorized CPs based on their primary purpose, the type of benefit they provide, and whether they are operational or structural. We also examined the following five CPs: conservation tillage, buffers or borders, soil testing, grassed waterways, and cover crops. In our behavioral intention and actual behavior analysis, we found that attitudinal factors predicted both conservation intention and action (actual behavior), whereas current or previous use of practices only influenced actions, not stated conservation intentions. In our analysis focusing on CP characteristics, we found that having specific knowledge about and positive attitudes toward the CP, adoption of other CPs, seeking and using information, larger farm size, and vulnerable land predicted actual adoption across nearly all CP categorizations. Nuances emerge when comparing predictors of CPs that share a particular characteristic. For example, we found farm characteristics to be comparatively more important in predicting adoption of soil management CPs than nutrient and livestock management CPs, and farmers’ stewardship identity to be more important for permanent practices than operational practices.Publication Intersectional Engineers: Diversity of Gender and Race Microaggressions and Their Effects in Engineering Education(American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2021-01-22) True-Funk, Arielle; Poleacovschi, Cristina; Jones-Johnson, Gloria; Feinstein, Scott; Smith, Kalynda; Luster-Teasley, Stephanie; Sociology; Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering; Political ScienceUnderrepresented minorities in engineering regularly experience subtle behaviors or statements that denigrate them on account of their race, ethnicity, gender, or other identity. Engineering students cite these behaviors, known as microaggressions, as reasons for having considered changing majors or leaving college altogether. Despite the recent research trend to foster a more racially, ethnically, and gender-inclusive engineering education and profession, previous research does not examine microaggressions in engineering using an intersectional lens. Without an intersectional perspective, intragroup diversity is overlooked, increasing the potential to reinforce broad racial and gender stereotypes. To measure the effects of microaggressions among engineering undergraduate students, the current study used an intersectional approach and collected data from a predominantly white institution (PWI) and from a historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The authors conducted individual semistructured interviews to examine the effects of microaggressions among 42 engineering undergraduate students, who can be categorized into seven intersectional identities—White women, African American men, African American women, Asian men, Asian women, Latino men, and Latina women. Results showed five macroeffects and two microeffects—(1) reduced self-belief (reduced self-efficacy and reduced self-esteem), (2) otherness, (3) racial/gender isolation, (4) stereotype threat, and (5) and empowered sense of self. Also, in this work, we make comparisons across intersectional identities. The data provide support for further study of microaggressions and their effects on intersectional identities. This research extends the intersectional approach to focus on engineering departments and colleges and provides information to engineering departments and university administrators concerning the experiences of minority undergraduates and offers academic leaders further information regarding issues surrounding minority student retention and persistence.Publication Juror Perceptions of Firearms Evidence(2020-05) Potter, Sarah; SociologyJurors may be presented with complex forensic science evidence during a case. Jurors may struggle to understand this evidence and may rely on expert testimony to understand this evidence. In particular, jurors may interpret uncertainty in firearms conclusions differently than firearms examiners. This study aims to understand how mock jurors interpret firearms cartridge case comparison conclusions, particularly when the opinion rendered is inconclusive compared to cartridge cases that do not match. Participants (n=430) read a case summary and firearms expert testimony and were then asked to render a verdict and answer questions about the case. Participants were significantly more likely to reach a guilty verdict when the firearms expert rendered a conclusion of inconclusive compared to an elimination. The results of this research are expected to have broad impacts on admissibility decisions, defendant outcomes, and crime laboratory protocols. This research has the potential to significantly improve understanding regarding the probative value of forensic science.Publication Sex Trafficking in the United States: Analysis of Iowa's Laws and Legislation(2020-05) Mankins, Abigail; SociologySex trafficking is commonly thought of as a big city crime: one that does not affect rural or non-metropolitan areas. However, sex trafficking is present everywhere – including in Iowa. It is difficult for law enforcement to convict traffickers of the crime, as it is difficult to prove that cases had a presence of force, fraud, or coercion. Because of this, traffickers are typically convicted of related crimes such as sexual abuse or pimping. This is problematic, as it does not accurately represent the amount of trafficking that occurs in society. This research analyzes how traffickers are charged in Iowa and how those charges compare to charges that are similar in nature: namely, sexual abuse and pimping. It was found that, in Iowa, trafficking charges are not severe, especially when compared to charges for sexual abuse. Traffickers who are correctly charged and convicted with human trafficking get a maximum prison term of 5-10 years, much less than that for sexual abuse in the first- and second- degree. Since trafficking is a relatively new crime and is still increasing in media attention, it is expected that the severity of the conviction will increase in the coming years.Publication Ten simple rules to ruin a collaborative environment(2022-04-14) Lawrence-Dill, Carolyn J.; Buckler IV, Edward S.; Dekkers, Jack; Dorius, Cassandra J.; Dorius, Shawn; Hu, Guiping; Reecy, James; Schnable, Patrick S.; Scott, Nicole M.; Tuggle, Christopher K.; Voas, Rachael; et al.; Agronomy; Genetics, Development and Cell Biology; Animal Science; Human Development and Family Studies; Sociology; Industrial and Manufacturing Systems EngineeringTrigger warning: Here, you will find a bit of satire, written from the not-so-funny, real experiences of the authors who have been involved in “team science” collaboratives. The material presented below covers topics that readers may find offensive or even traumatizing. We present a breakdown (pun intended) of how to ruin a functioning collaboration, rather than how to build one. The ideas contained in this work were developed during two virtual meetings of members of the Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI; www.ag2pi.org) community and leadership team in May and June of 2021. In these sessions, we looked back at collaborative projects that were miserable failures and recalled what went wrong so we could avoid making the same mistakes in the future. We also considered what signals we might have missed that could have saved us some misery and where we might have had some blind spots (but should have seen coming). As a side note, having worked on dysfunctional teams from time to time, we found writing this set of rules to be both cathartic and vastly cheaper than therapy. If you are not prepared for what will likely be the occasional, “Yikes, that sounds terribly familiar!” or would rather read some more upbeat advice, here are a few options we recommend: Vicens and Bourne [1], de Grijs [2], Knapp and colleagues [3], Cechova [4], Sahneh and colleagues [5], and Gewin [6].Publication Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign(2021-05) McDonald, Makayla; Stoehr, Alissa; SociologyHuman trafficking affects nearly 24.9 million people worldwide and is a $150 billion industry. Human Trafficking is an umbrella term that encompasses sex, labor, organ, child soldiers, forced or child marriage, etc. In looking at products that addressed Human Trafficking, there appeared to be a gap in items that gave creditable information, were aesthetic to the eye, and were something people would want to keep. Overall, I wanted to fill in this gap by creating awareness around human trafficking with accurate information and designing products people would want to display.Publication The effects of collective trauma on Iowa farmers, their communities, and sustainability outcomes(Springer, 2024-06-14) Morris, Chris; Arbuckle, J. Gordon; SociologyCollective trauma refers to psychological effects that are experienced by a group of people in response to shared traumatic conditions. Farmers represent a unique population that is chronically exposed to potentially traumatic events and conditions particular to the agricultural industry. Farming communities in Iowa have experienced the farm crisis of the 1980s, decades of extreme weather events, rapidly fluctuating markets, trade wars, rising input costs, farm bankruptcies and foreclosures, and high rates of farmer suicides. Exposure to such conditions can potentially have dramatic effects on the people who experience them and the communities they live in. While research exists examining the behavioral health aspects of stress in farmers, no studies have examined the lived experiences of farmers within the framework of collective trauma and its effects on decision-making. To investigate how Iowa farmers perceive their own experiences of these potential types of collective trauma, this study conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with farmers and farmer-oriented behavioral health experts. Particular focus is placed on how collective trauma affects individual farmers, their families, and their farming communities, as well as how this type of trauma impacts farm management decisions and sustainability outcomes. Qualitative data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach to develop a theoretical framework describing how collective trauma, in the form of environmental, financial, and community threats, impacts farm management decisions and, in turn, affects environmental, economic, and social sustainability outcomes. Potential implications for how agricultural policy can potentially address the effects and systemic causes of trauma are discussed.Publication Improving Iowa State Sexual Misconduct Policies and Practices(2021-05) Whitlock, Nicole; SociologyI researched Iowa State University’s sexual assault procedures and policies. I surveyed students to find out what they think of these procedures and policies and used these opinions, and other research, to find where Iowa State University can improve on their sexual assault procedures and policies. I then conducted research to determine how these improvements could be put into action on campus.Publication Somali Immigrants in Lewiston, Maine: An Application of Robert Park’s Race Relations Cycle(Scientific Research Publishing Inc., 2024-04) Kusow, Abdi; SociologyOver the past century, Robert Park’s assimilation theory, dubbed otherwise, a race relations cycle has simultaneously become the starting point for the articulation of ethnic group relations and the most controversial concept in America sociology. With few exceptions, however, the majority of the sociological reaction to Robert Park’s assimilation has remained primarily at abstract level, and Stanford Lyman’s comment more than half a century ago that “…little more than illustration has yet been done on “contact”, “competition”, or “accommodation,” remains true. I use data from the secondary migration of Somalis to Lewiston, Maine, to provide a description of the empirical content that characterize the un-anticipated encounter between Somali immigrants and longtime residents of the city.Publication Global warming’s “Six Americas” among Iowa farmers: Exploring differential attitudes towards climate change and agriculture(2024-05-16) Nowatzke, Laurie; Arbuckle, J. Gordon; SociologyAgricultural production in the U.S. Midwest faces pressure to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change (e.g., extreme precipitation, drought) and to mitigate farms’ greenhouse gas emissions. Research has found that farmer attitudes toward and concern about climate change are highly variable and heterogenous. To explore variation in attitudes towards climate change, we have utilized the Six Americas Super Short Survey (SASSY), a four-item questionnaire that types individuals into six “types” based on their climate change beliefs and attitudes, with 1,039 Iowa farmers. This novel application of the SASSY typology method found that 22% of Iowa farmers aligned with the dismissive type, 20% were doubtful, 7% were disengaged, 23% were cautious, 16% were concerned, and 12% were alarmed. We also explored variation in farmers’ attitudes towards agricultural impacts and risks; we find that the SASSY correlates with attitudes towards more specific agricultural issues as they relate to climate change.
- «
- 1 (current)
- 2
- 3
- »