Sociology & Anthropology Masters Theses

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Agency and Empowerment in the Childbirth Process: The Effect of Medicalization on Women's Decision Making
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Kauffman, Alicia Jane
Over the past decade, rates of caesarean section births and other interventions in childbirth have increased substantially. With increased medicalization of childbirth, it is often viewed as an illness requiring treatment rather than a natural process that women are equipped to handle with little intervention in most cases. A qualitative study was completed that included interviews with nine women participants who had previously given birth to at least one child. The findings elaborate on how women navigated the medical structures of childbirth in order to assert themselves as decision makers in the process, how they related to their bodies during childbirth, and how they educated themselves about childbirth. Seven categories emerged, of which two dominant areas, power of words and provider and nurse/doula relationships, affected women’s empowerment in childbirth. A key finding is the way prenatal appointments were structured and how they began the process of constraint experienced by women.
Agency within Low/Moderate Income Community
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Rizzo, Joseph Christopher
The objective of the study is to focus on two key areas; (1) to measure qualify of life based on the type project and whether the tenant receives rental assistance based on affordable rents, stress level, affordability and safety, location, financial ability, and project management; and (2) to measure Creating Community based on the type of project and whether the tenant receives rental assistance based on communication with neighbors, comfort level, family relationship, stress level, and the project building’s resources. The use of a questionnaire, secondary data, tenant stories, and community impact study were used to measure those key areas. The use of social capital by the nonprofit developer to leverage political and financial capitals creates built capital, and in turn creates strong social capital and community. It is these bonding and bridging principals that help reshape the field and redefine agents’ habitus.
An analysis of intersecting factors influencing first-generation college student enrollment
(North Dakota State University, 2024) Johnson, Anne
This study examined the impact of college visits on first-generation college students (FGCS). Specifically, I analyzed data from a midsized university in the upper Midwest to understand the the intersecting effect of variables on FGCS’s choices for attending college. I tested four hypotheses by conducting logistic regression models using the focal variables of the number of campus visits, estimated family contribution, race, high school grade point average, and gender. Results showed that visiting campus, a student’s race, being female, and grade point average significantly impacted their likelihood of enrolling at this university. FGCS who were Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino were substantially less likely to enroll compared to FGCS who were White. When looking at race and college visits, increased college visits indicated higher chances for enrollment for most FGCS; however, Black/African American students’ chance of enrolling decreased with additional campus visits.
Are Rural North Dakota Hospitals Prepared for a Disaster? An Exploratory Study
(North Dakota State University, 2009) Walter, Melissa Beth
This study examined the disaster preparedness plans within selected rural North Dakota hospitals. The ultimate goal was to explore rural North Dakota hospitals' disaster preparedness plans, gathering information that would provide answers to some key disaster preparedness questions. This study looked at the steps these hospitals have taken, but also what they have planned for in terms of surge capacity, plan activation, and implementation of the disaster plan and training that goes along with it. Several themes emerged from the data that brought new light to the research. These themes included reviewing and revising the disaster preparedness plans, memoranda of understanding, disaster preparedness plan activation, all-hazards planning, training and exercising the disaster preparedness plan, liability and insurance, community representation, and surge capacity. Specific thoughts about rural hospital disaster preparedness versus urban hospital disaster preparedness were also discussed. The significance of the study and suggestions for future research were also presented.
Beyond Buildings, Progressive Planning: Improving Collaboration Among Design and Community Development Professionals
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Braseth, Tia Marie
This research presents a basic understanding of the relationships among design and community development professionals. If their collaboration progresses, there might be a rise in vibrant and sustainable communities. Research participants included 22 professionals comprised of architects, engineers, planners, housing specialists, community/economic developers, and educators. Research questions focused on methods of community building, roles and levels of involvement, and ways to build and strengthen relationships critical to community development. The prevalent themes found in the interviews were related to roles and responsibilities, first impressions, trust, challenges, and moving forward. Conclusions are that all participants think collaboration among each other is extremely important, roles and responsibilities should be clearly defined and adopted prior to starting projects, and a lack in trust might suggest trust-building efforts. Implications of this research include increased and improved collaboration among design and community development professionals, vibrant and sustainable communities, and increase research in this topic.
Building a Promise Neighborhood from the Inside Out: A Springfield, Ohio Experiment with Asset-Based Community Development
(North Dakota State University, 2018) Smith, Eric Robert
This paper examines the impact of the Springfield Promise Neighborhood (SPN) initiative on the City of Springfield, Ohio. Launched in August, 2010, SPN adopted an asset-based and resident-driven strategy to transform vulnerable neighborhoods by ensuring the academic and social success of the youth within a defined geographic locality. SPN was conceived as an initiative that would eventually impact all of Springfield by engaging citizens and youth to envision and achieve a preferred future story. The early piloting of the model has taken place in partnership with Lincoln Elementary School and its attendance zone, which represents a 110-block area surrounding the school. This case analysis has been undertaken in order to reflect on the progress made and the lessons learned from the initial six years of the project and consider how these findings could be integrated into a scalable model that could influence other neighborhoods within Springfield.
Community Perspectives on Girls' Dropout in Tajikistan
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Thapa, Madhurim
Girl's dropout from school is problematic towards the overall wellbeing of those who drop out and to the society as whole. The goal of this study is to uncover some of the underlying factors that hinder girls from attending school in Tajikistan. For reference I used secondary data collected by UNICEF which was conducted to analyze the demand side of the drop out girls in Tajikistan. There were thirteen focus group discussions and seven individual interviews were conducted with the participants. The results from the analysis indicated that political and institutional factors, culture, poverty and school factors are the key elements for girls to drop out from school. Further, the intersections of these factors create discriminatory situation for girls to participate in schools. The result also identified the differences in perspective of participants on the importance of school for girls.
Cyberbullying in World of Warcraft’s Looking for Raid Function
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Brinkman, Heather Rebecca
This thesis focuses on the effects that othering or cyberbullying within the Looking for Raid (LFR) function is having on the World of Warcraft (WoW) community in terms of their identity creation. I will look at the three separate classes that I have identified (elite raider, casual raider, and casual gamer) in the community and to see how each of these groups has been affected by the creation of the LFR function and the conflict that it has created. I will explore the hegemonic process that led to the creation of the LFR function and the coopting of the vital symbolic resource, the screen shot, by the casual gamer. While the relationship between cyberbullying and bullying in the physical world is not yet apparent, it is important that the phenomenon be adequately understood and defined first.
Determining Women’s Innermost Social Support Relationships
(North Dakota State University, 2018) Chivers, DelRae Ruth
This thesis examined how single women over forty determine their innermost social support relationship. A qualitative study of personal in-depth interviews was conducted with twelve single women ranging in ages 41 to 95 living in a small community in the United States upper Midwest area. The data gathered from the interviews reveal what fosters these women’s close relationships, specifically, those borne out of common situations, shared interests, and/or similar experiences. The data disclose what it is in their relationships that matters to them, illuminating dimensions that sustain closeness. Important aspects of their relationships include affection and reverence for each other along with honesty and authenticity. Additionally, trust, reciprocity, proximity, active communication, longevity and history, and finally, continued shared interests further the closeness in their relationships. The research explains aspects of the close relationships of twelve single women, over the age of forty, that bring forth meaningful support in their lives.
Does Social Capital Always Affect Immigrant Employment? Analyzing the Mediating Effect of United States’ Cultural Context on the Relationship Between Social Capital and Immigrant Employment
(North Dakota State University, 2022) Kole, Debarati
The paper investigates if culture mediates the relation between immigrants’ social capital and the likelihood of employment in a host country. It applies Social Capital Theory to predict potential effects of culture and then, conducts statistical tests on data for two distinct periods in United States history. Results are consistent with prior findings that social capital enhances the likelihood of employment for immigrants. In general, culture did not affect the efficacy of social capital on increasing the likelihood of immigrant employment, though there was an effect of culture on the quantity of bridging capital and immigrants’ trust in members of the host country. In particular, non-white immigrants had fewer bridging ties and lower levels of Trust in 2018, when the culture was significantly less hospitable to new immigrants on a number of factors.
Downtown Fargo: Stakeholder Struggles and the Crisis ofldentity
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Bergenheier, Lindsay Alair
This research sought to discover the social impact of demographic, aesthetic, and economic neighborhood restructuring in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 cultural, economic, and practical community stakeholders, comprised of downtown Fargo residents, business owners, and community service providers. Their narratives are used to explore how spatial and economic change has been perceived, as well as how similarities and differences between economic, cultural, and practical stakeholders have shaped their perceptions of the neighborhood. This research discovers that downtown stakeholders actively manage the social identity of their community by accentuating speci fie aspects of the neighborhood, creating an idyllic origin story for the neighborhood and an anti-suburban character for the space. The similarities and differences between participants' community perceptions stem from the different roles they play in the community, and issues of power and marginalization are tied to the process of economic neighborhood revival. Contributions to scholarly literature on community development, urban sociology, space-based theorizing, and an expansion of stakeholder theory is discussed. The process of community restructuring in downtown Fargo has entailed a redistribution of cultural and economic power, and the narratives given about this community are found to be both a source of social marginalization and potential political action and empowennent.
Education System of Tajikistan during the Civil War: Student Perspectives of Hardships
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Yakubova, Muhabbat Makhbudovna
Civil wars have devastating consequences for people who witness them. Wars collapse states' economies, ruin infrastructures, and result in death of people. The goal of this study is to examine the multiple perspectives of students about the effects of the civil war in Tajikistan on the education system. The study uses secondary data collected by the "Oral History of Independent Tajikistan Project" of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Academy. 107 interviews with participants representing all regions of the country, who were in school or university during war in Tajikistan, were selected translated, transcribed and coded. Coding revealed topics and characteristics such as the start of the war, school quality issues, and long-term consequences of the war are the effects of the war on education. The findings also revealed differences in standpoints about the effects of the war on their education based on participants' gender and region.
The Effects of Traditional Gender Norms on the Fate of Girls' Education in Tajikistan
(North Dakota State University, 2020) Yakubova, Parvina
Tajikistan is the only post-Soviet republic that went through a civil war after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which negatively impacted all aspects of the country as well as education, particularly girls’ education. The limitations on Tajik girls’ education are due to economics and gender norms that are critical factors. This paper highlights the girls’ education condition in the period from 1995 to 2019, which is the post-war period, in the capital city, Dushanbe, and rural areas of the country. The review answered why girls most likely choose family life (marriage and children) rather than pursuing higher education in their life. In order to study this issue, the study used primary data. This paper studied the traditional culture (gender norms) factor as a barrier to keep girls out of school while providing the context of the social and occurred political changes during the post-war to the present time.
Emplacing New Economy Businesses in Small Metropolitan Areas: Examination of Role of Place Constructs
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Calkins, Mitchell Bryant
It is often argued that only large metropolitan areas possess the preconditions for the origination of successful technology companies. However, smaller cities across the country have been successful in developing vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems, thus contravening that observation. This case study presents one such city in order to further expand the conceptual understanding of what characteristics contribute to a thriving entrepreneurial scene. Previous research has identified multiple qualities related to culture, networks, and institutions as being important. It is argued that the attachment entrepreneurs develop with a location, as well as the location’s identity upon their business, are variables that might explain how seemingly globalized economic activity becomes emplaced.
Ethical Landscapes of the Human Terrain System
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Clawson, Jenna Lark
This thesis addresses current controversy over ethical practices in the Human Terrain System. In the past decade the Department of Defense has adopted a cultural approach in the science of military control consequently creating the controversial HTS program. The HTS employs anthropologists to create ethnographic data sets on target populations, which has created ethical concerns for the anthropology discipline. This phenomenon is situated in the context of anthropologists’ roles in colonial population control, prior military engagements, and the discipline’s reactions to late 20th century ethics issues. This ethical dilemma is analyzed using discourse of the military, academics, and the public. Themes found are contextualized in an analysis of ethics standards and practices for anthropology and the military and the AAAs opposition to the HTS. Findings are explained through application of Hoffman’s cultural response to disaster model. Based on this research, I make some initial suggestions for resolving this ethical dilemma.
An Exploration of New Methods of Ceramic Analysis: Examining Pottery Sherds from American Samoa using Computed Tomography, Physical Examination, and Residue Analysis
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Tanselle, Brett James
Materials from archaeological assemblages around the world have been examined using a variety of methods in order to obtain data that can contribute to our understanding of past societies, cultures, and behaviors. In particular, ceramics have been analyzed to obtain data that can be used to determine how pottery was manufactured and how its use changed over time. While many ceramic analyses employ established methods of examination such as physical analysis, new methods have been developed. This thesis explored the use of computed tomography (CT), physical examination, and residue analysis to examine a collection of pottery sherds from four archaeological sites in American Samoa. The results obtained from this research were used to determine if CT and residue analysis could be viable for ceramic analysis in addition to determining if changes in ceramic manufacture could be documented over space and time in American Samoa.
Exploring the Gendered Differences within the Service Industry
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Bartholomay, Mariah Jeau
For this study, I sought to understand the demands women face in their everyday lives and how these demands may impact how differing genders perform their jobs in the service industry. I utilized qualitative research methods to analyze focus group transcripts and examine servers who worked in Fargo, ND. For this study, I set out to understand two research questions: 1) Do women and men’s gender performativity impact their work as servers and/or bartenders? and 2) Do the differences in performativity impact servers’ and/or bartenders’ perception of gender equality in the workplace? I found that men and women experience their jobs as servers differently. This is shown in the gendered performances that are expected of servers. I found, through my research, that the gender of a server is connected to the way they perform. Both genders perceived that they must perform in particular ways to be successful in their work.
Exploring the Gendered Efficacy of Photovoice Methodology
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Bartholomay, Daniel John
This study set out to measure the gendered efficacy of the participatory action research method of photovoice. This study utilized secondary analysis, imagery analysis, and qualitative research methods to analyze both photographs and interview transcripts from a previous photovoice study that examined the lives of individuals who have been prescribed medication for a mental illness. This study sought to: 1) evaluate the independent relationship between the researcher and the participants’ photographs; 2) unveil how effective photovoice is as a research method in terms of extracting rich data from mentally ill persons; and 3) assess photovoice’s efficacy in regard to the gender of the participants within a given study. The findings of this study indicate that the high quality of data gathered from both male and female participants in the initial study indicates that photovoice is an effective methodology for examining mentally ill populations, regardless of the participant’s gender.
Exploring the Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Domestic Violence Victim-Serving Agencies and Professionals
(North Dakota State University, 2021) Bibi, Damaris Enyonam Mosope Eyitayo
This study explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the domestic violence victim-serving agencies and professionals through the interview responses of eight professionals working in domestic violence shelters in rural North Dakota. It develops from a gendered perspective, using the work of Connell and Messerschmidt, (2005), as well as the ways in which intersectionality can help frame the way shelters and other services impact women from differently based on issues of race, class, gender, and geographical location (Crenshaw 1991). The results indicate two sets of themes that reflect both the challenges providers faced prior to the pandemic, as well as the ways those challenges were exacerbated as a result of the pandemic. During the pandemic, the collective responsibility actions implemented through intentional communication strategies within and between agencies within rural North Dakota proved effective in addressing the challenges and keeping agencies’ daily operations running smoothly.
A Geospatial Analysis of the Northeastern Plains Village Complex: An Exploration of a GIS-Based Multidisciplinary Method for the Incorporation of Western and Traditional Ecological Knowledge into the Discovery of Diagnostic Prehistoric Settlement Patterns
(North Dakota State University, 2019) Lindsey, Daniel Clayton
This thesis research analyzes how Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) can be used to understand extant Northeastern Plains Village (NEPV) settlement strategies in aggregate for the purposes of subjoining a subsequent verification metric to the current archaeological classification system used to describe NEPV associated sites. To accomplish this task, I extracted Traditional Ecological Knowledge from ethnographic sources for comparison to geospatial, geostatistical, and statistical analyses. My results show that the hierarchical clustering exhibited among NEPV sites is congruent with first person narratives of habitation and resource collection activities occurring in the pre-Reservation period (before AD 1880) within the research area. This study emphasizes the importance of the incorporation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge into material typological classification schemes for archaeological sites which are convoluted by a high rates of cultural transmission.

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Browsing Sociology & Anthropology Masters Theses by browse.metadata.department "Sociology and Anthropology"