This study examined helping and hindering factors that influence the experiences of forensic psychiatric patients in the forensic system, and describes implications for practice. A qualitative approach was used to delineate which factors patients report are helpful and which ones are reported as hindering within a forensic inpatient hospital. Ten participants were interviewed using Critical Incident Technique to elicit their experiences since coming to a Forensic Psychiatric Inpatient Hospital. Results indicated that the factors that were helpful were: talking with staff, programming and services, and taking prescribed medications. Hindering factors included: exposure to illicit drugs, exposure to violence, programming and services, stigmatism, living on a maximum security ward, lack of respect from the staff, and concerns involving prescribed medication. The results of this research are discussed in light of how this present research supports the extant research and theories. Implications and recommendations at both a clinician and system level within forensic psychiatric services are offered. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

This qualitative study attempted to capture the experiences of parents of children with high-functioning autistic spectrum disorders participating in child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT). Parents of children with high-functioning autistic spectrum disorders (HFASD) are prone to experiencing stress in the parent-child relationship due to difficulty in social understanding and rigid behavioral patterns often found among children with HFASD. Moreover, parents of children with HFASD may feel challenged to find suitable interventions that are time-limited, affordable, and appropriate for parents and children with HFASD. Because no research currently investigates the perceived acceptability of CPRT for parents of children with HFASD, it was decided that a qualitative study would best capture the experiences of parents of children with HFASD participating in CPRT to understand more fully whether CPRT is an appropriate intervention for these parents. Four parents and one grandparent were interviewed prior to and following their participation in 10 sessions of CPRT. Thematic analysis of the pre- and post-intervention interviews as well as the 10 CPRT sessions revealed eight themes related to the parents overall experience of CPRT and change in the parent, child, and parent-child relationship: understanding of CPRT concepts, reactions to CPRT, group dynamic, child characteristics, parent characteristics, knowledge and experiences with HFASD, family context, and parent-child relationship. The emerging themes indicated that the five participants found CPRT to be a useful intervention for developing skills to deal with child-behavior concerns related to HFASD. The participants also reported developing a better understanding of their children with HFASD and four parents reported increased closeness in the parent-child relationship. The implications for this research are that CPRT may offer parents of children with HFASD a time-limited intervention that meets their needs as parents, as well as possibly helping parents and children with HFASD develop increased closeness in the parent-child relationship.

This research describes what motivates Vietnamese students to come to the U.S. to study for a degree, what outcomes they expect, and what they experience academically and culturally while studying in the U.S. Currently the surge of international students from Vietnam has reached an all time high of 13,112 students to the U.S. This moves the relatively small South East Asian nation to the ranking of ninth among all nations for the number of international students sent to the U.S. in depth interviews were conducted fall semester 2011 with 11 students enrolled in two large public universities in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Denton Metro area. the participants were students from Vietnam holding J-1 or F-1 visas who were in their sophomore year or beyond. Interviews were conducted with these undergraduate and graduate students on the campus where each was enrolled. Interview transcripts were provided to participants for their review and comments. Ethnograph qualitative research software was used to analyze and code the data. These students reported that the increased number of students coming to study in the U.S. is because of the reputation of higher education in the U.S., relatives living in the U.S. who create a support system, and economic growth in Vietnam which has made education abroad more accessible. More students are coming to the U.S. for study because of the respect that these students families and friends have for the educational system and potential of opportunity that a U.S. degree brings. Meaningful relationships with other students provide a better and broader educational experience for Vietnamese international students. Vietnamese international students desire not only gainful employment from their degree but also a balanced growth experience that includes friendships, immersion in the culture, and being responsible members of the host society. These students made strategic use of the community college to enhance their higher education experience. the findings indicate that universities and colleges interested in attracting students from Vietnam should forge partnerships between community colleges and universities and with local Vietnamese communities to promote recruitment, affordability, retention, and graduation.

Despite the rich history of gang research in the United States, Asian gangs remain arelatively understudied group. While early investigations have teased out factors associated withentry and exit among these individuals, the vast majority of these accounts focused specificallyon Chinese and Vietnamese gang members in California and New York. Consequently, it isunclear whether these findings hold true for Asian gang members residing in other states and ofdifferent ethnic background, such as the Hmong (a highland tribal people from the mountains ofLaos). In an effort to address this empirical gap, this study relied on life-history interviews andethnographic observations with 34 current and former Hmong gang members from California,Minnesota, and Wisconsin to uncover the motivations and methods associated with entry,persistence, and exit. Overall, findings mirrored much of what has been documented amongother racial and ethnic gangs; that is, participants expressed similar reasons for joining, staying,and leaving. However, findings also indicated that Hmong gang members demonstrate a greaterand more genuine level of bonding—an observation that has also been noted among Vietnamesegang members. Moreover, there was evidence of geographic variations associated with joiningand staying between California and Wisconsin participants. In an effort to theoreticallycontextualize participants’ experiences (i.e. entry, persistence, and exit), this study utilized asymbolic interactionist framework—social structures, meaning-making, and identity—given itsemergence through the modified grounded theory approach to data collection and analysis. As aresult of these efforts, several theoretical and policy implications emerged and were discussed.

archives@tulane.edu / Brazil was at the epicenter of the 2015-2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic, with approximately 60% of globally reported cases within its borders. This dissertation explored how contextual factors were relevant to women’s ability and desire to adhere to the ZIKV recommendations made by the Brazilian Ministry of Health during the epidemic. More specifically this dissertation focused on women’s response to the recommendation to avoid pregnancy during this epidemic. Methods utilized in this dissertation included a rapid assessment and a series of case studies of pregnancy narratives from women in Fortaleza, Brazil. By more deeply exploring women’s fertility decision making during the ZIKV epidemic, a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying contextual factors influencing women’s fertility desires, decisions, and behaviors was developed. Among the findings, we document that the health recommendations promoted during the epidemic were made without the use of best practices in health communication and without acknowledgement of the context in which the epidemic was taking place. For example, these recommendations assumed women had the power to adhere to health authorities’ directives to prevent ZIKV. Furthermore, we document how these generic recommendations ignored the unique conditions of vulnerable populations constrained by income, class, and gender. Analysis showed that participants perceived the recommendations as unrealistic, recycled, unhelpful, or not directed toward them. Case studies and pregnancy narratives illuminated major gaps in the healthcare and support provided to pregnant women during the outbreak, as well as to the mothers of children born with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). ZIKV is the latest of an inevitable influx of emerging infectious diseases that are being brought on by deforestation, urbanization, and global warming. With these diseases on the horizon, it is important to acknowledge and research the underlying contextual factors that permeate these epidemics and continue to devastate the most marginalized within societies. / 1 / Jeni Stolow

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions that college age women have of social aggression and its consequences in their lives. Qualitative research methods were used to analyze written narrative responses to a question posed to women enrolled in a human sexuality class at Virginia Tech. Although 83 narrative responses were selected, 32 narratives that met criteria were examined using modified analytic induction. A coding scheme was devised and the codes were applied to each narrative and revised many times. The findings of the study suggest that the consequences of social aggression continue for months and even years after incident has occurred. Women indicated that their relationships have changed due to their experiences and that these experiences have made them cautious of friendships with women. Furthermore, many women acknowledged that they perceive men to be more trustworthy and better friends than women because of the "mean" nature of women. Additionally, women had a difficult time acknowledging their own meanness and attempted to justify meanness that they did acknowledge. Further research is needed to explain why women feel they cannot trust other women. Additionally, more research is needed to explain why women perceive men to be more trustworthy and why they perceive that men are better friends when previous research suggests that social aggression levels even out during late adolescence and emerging adulthood. / Master of Science

No description available.

The purpose of this case study was to examine the experience of one secondary mathematics teacher during his efforts to facilitate mathematical discussions in a secondary algebra class. Class discussions and interviews were documented and analyzed to investigate the patterns of discussion, the teacher's role in facilitating discussion, and the struggles encountered by the teacher through his attempts to enact reform-oriented strategies. The investigation focused on the teacher's vision for and actual practice in utilizing reform-oriented strategies for discussion in his Algebra class. The teacher's vision of reform was largely based on NCTM Standards recommendations for reforming the teaching and learning of mathematics. Data was collected through various sources and was analyzed using qualitative methods in the spirit of naturalistic inquiry. Data was generated through classroom observations, teacher interviews, audiotapes of whole-class discussions, and personal log notes written by the researcher. Although the teacher expressed intentions to reform discussion in his classroom, he continued to experience struggles in realizing his intentions. Class discussions that were largely teacher-directed and followed traditional patterns of interaction. The teacher struggled with three main issues: classroom challenges, perceptions of student resistance, and teacher authority. The findings of this study suggest that mathematics teachers, even those with extensive experience and grounded knowledge in current reform initiatives, will need to further develop strategies for facilitating a Standards-like environment in their classrooms. Pre-service and in-service educators should also examine the development of programs that can better reflect actual practice and build on classroom teachers' prior experiences and practice. / Ph. D.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / In this exploratory, qualitative study, the author examined the lived experiences of low-income type 2 diabetics around managing their diabetes. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted with volunteer participants from a Midwest student outreach clinic (N=14; 8 men, 6 women). Interviews were first analyzed using LUUUUTT model from the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) theory for gaps between stories lived and stories told. Findings suggest that the lived experience of the majority of the participants had low social support and heightened stress around managing their diabetes. Using the Communication Complex framework, the patterns of interactions around these two tensions were analyzed to make suggestions for change.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The rate of criminal involvement of women has historically been lower than that of men; however, that is changing. Changes in societal norms and progress toward gender equality have broadened the scope of female behaviors, and modified traditional female responsibilities and roles in the home potentially influencing their participation in the crime market. However, the bulk of research on criminal activity is based on the male experience. Thus, less is known about female criminals and their motivations. A closer look at women’s trajectories into crime therefore will likely yield important insights. This study investigates the descent into drugs and crime from the perspective of women who have previously been charged with crimes beyond simple possession of illegal substances. The key interest lies in shedding light on the experiences that set these women on the path to criminal activity. Specifically, this project aims to explore what the women themselves perceive as precursors to their criminal experience. Our findings suggest that female descent into crime may run contrary to many widely held beliefs, such as: that criminal careers begin in adolescence; that women become participants in crime through the influence of significant others; and that criminals come from lower class households.