<p> This dissertation uses a relational approach and a contentious politics framework to examine the archaeological record. Methodologically, it merges spatial and social network analyses to promote a geosocial archaeology. Combined, the articles create a counter-narrative that highlights how environmentally focused investigations fail to explain how and why societies in the Southwest often reorganize horizontally. The first article uses geosocial networks, which I argue represent memory maps, to reveal that the socially important, and sophisticated, act of forgetting was employed by people in the Gallina region during A.D. 1100&ndash;1300. A concomitant community level, settlement pattern analysis demonstrates similarities between the arrangement of Gallina and Basketmaker-era settlements. These historically situated settlement structures, combined with acts of forgetting, were used by Gallina region residents to institute and maintain a horizontally organized social movement that was likely aimed at rejecting the hierarchical social atmosphere in the Four Corners region. The second article proposes that as ideologically charged material goods are consumed, fissures within past ideological landscapes are revealed and that these fissures can demonstrate acts of resistance in the archaeological past. It also contends that social and environmental variables need to be combined for these conflicting religious and political practices to be correctly interpreted. The third article applies many of the ideas outlined in the second article to a case study in the Greater Southwest during A.D. 1200&ndash;1450. Fractures in the ideological landscape demonstrate that the Salado Phenomenon was a religious social movement formed around, and successful because of, its populist nature. Based on variations in how the Salado ideology interacted with contemporaneous hierarchical and non-hierarchical religious and political organizations it is probable that the Salado social movement formed around desires for the open access to religious knowledge.</p>

<p> The juvenile system is no longer perceived as a social welfare model, but has become more punitive approximating a crime control model. Juveniles are not responsible for the majority of crime in the United States and are not the most serious and violent demographic; however, they are incarcerated at a higher rate than adults. Incarceration is an element of deterrence currently used by the juvenile justice system without a clear conclusion of whether or not it works to reduce juvenile crime. </p><p> The goal of this research was to first conduct a systematic review of prior studies on the effectiveness of incarceration on recidivism rates for juvenile offenders. A meta-analysis design was used on selected studies that met the inclusion criteria to determine if a relationship exists. This study compared and reviewed the recidivism rates of juvenile offenders sentenced to incarceration with a comparison group as identified in each study. The method for statistical measurement to test the research questions focused on analyzing effect sizes with a mean effect size through a meta-analysis. Moderators were analyzed across groups on their effect on recidivism. The length of the sentences for juveniles were examined and the results showed an association between longer sentences and reduced recidivism. Additionally, the effect sizes comparing recidivism between incarceration with non-incarceration resulted in negative relationship. Incarcerating juveniles is not a deterrent for criminal behavior, rather incarceration increased recidivism. It is time for policy makers to adhere to the evidence that incarceration does not deter crime and accept that imprisoning juveniles does not fulfill the promises of reducing crime and increasing public safety.</p>

<p> Rice farmers have a wealth of knowledge about local amphibians, impacts of chemical pesticides on amphibians and rice paddies, and changes in amphibian populations over time. I used my training in anthropology to highlight the relevance of examining the impacts of national and international policies and institutions on local rice farmers&rsquo; experiences, perceptions, and practices in regards to amphibians and rice pest management. Through a focused ethnographic approach with farmers in Banca-Banca Victoria, I found that policies and institutions have direct influences on farmers&rsquo; knowledge, attitudes, and practices including four themes among rice farmers: (1) articulated perceived consequences of non-native invasive anuran species, such as <i> Rhinella marina</i> and <i>Kaloula pulchra</i> (2) articulated perceived indicators of environmental health provided by native and non-native anuran species (3) perceptions that both native and non-native anurans can help in efforts to manage pest insects in rice paddies (4) local knowledge about impact of chemical pesticides on amphibian populations and observed temporal changes in amphibian populations. I contend that the Filipino rice farmers I worked with have insights into rice farming practices, amphibians, and the local environment that should be further explored in an effort to find alternative or modified pest management practices to positively affect farmer and environmental health, sovereignty, and dignity.</p>

<p> The harried nature of our society and contemporary church culture tends to prescribe that, for Christian artists, preparation for worship ministry occurs mostly during the hours immediately before Sunday service. While this practice demands a measure of technical, artistic or musical proficiency, it does not adequately prepare local church worship leaders and arts ministers to touch the deeper spiritual needs of the congregation. In addition, such short-termed preparation fails to promote spiritual growth towards Christian maturity. Neither does last minute preparation create spiritual stability within the life of the artist and arts ministries. A survey of Jesus&rsquo; ministry preparation habits indicates that he spent a significant amount of time preparing for ministry. However, his preparation was a patterned lifestyle. The opposite is true for most people in ministry today&mdash;including church musicians, worship leaders, worship team members and media volunteers. </p><p> The aforementioned challenge is particularly potent for emerging adults&mdash;people between the ages of 18 and 34. Cultural shifts impacting their definition of Christian spirituality threaten to distort the purpose and meaning of worship ministry in the church. Emerging adults are tomorrow&rsquo;s leaders. Consequently, forward-looking pastors, worship pastors and worship directors are hungry for answers to the question, &ldquo;How can we prepare the next generation of spiritual front-runners to lead transformational worship in the church?&rdquo; </p><p> The purpose of this applied research project is the evaluation of a 28-day course designed to spiritually prepare emerging adult worship artists for transformational ministry. Drawing on existing research regarding emerging adult spiritual formation, this study hypothesized that as a result of this intervention, the participants would experience four types of enhancement: In awareness of God and daily spiritual experiences with God; In the knowledge of how God uses the disciplines in one&rsquo;s ministry preparation; In effectively using spiritual disciplines in personal worship ministry preparation; In contextual understanding of how one&rsquo;s spiritual preparation interacts with and impacts the community (the congregation). </p><p> Participants met with the researcher for group coaching, once a week. These ninety-minute sessions were held during weekly worship rehearsals. The participants practiced spiritual formation homework assignments, incorporating fasting and prayer, silence and solitude and study and worship with a focus on ministry preparation during the other six days. The methodology for this course was a mixed approach since neither quantitative nor qualitative methods alone could adequately test the participants and the spiritual impact of the course. Self-reporting forms were created so that the participants could record their thoughts and use of the disciplines. These documents were emailed or handed in to the researcher at weekly meetings. Pretesting, homework, focus group data and post testing documents were statically analyzed or content analyzed. The findings were used to evaluate the course and its hypotheses. </p><p> The results of the analyses answered this research project&rsquo;s primary question in the affirmative. However, the degree of enhancement and kinds of enhancement varied based upon the participants&rsquo; individual role in ministry and application of the teachings. Twelve of the fourteen participants experienced some degree of an enhanced awareness of God&rsquo;s presence, enhanced knowledge of the spiritual disciplines as tools for worship ministry preparation, the effective use of the spiritual disciplines for transformational ministry preparation and an enhanced appreciation for the role artists play in meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation through worship.</p><p>

<p> The convergence of material donations following disaster events is well documented in the literature. This influx of goods is often dubbed a &ldquo;second disaster&rdquo; with non-priority and unnecessary goods causing transportation and storage challenges to the community of survivors. Interviews were conducted following Hurricane Sandy in 2013 and two tornadoes outside of Oklahoma City in May 2013. By utilizing the Triple-A model (agility, adaptability, and alignment), which has previously been applied to commercial and humanitarian supply chains, and the social construction paradigm, this dissertation investigates how stakeholders understand donations and the roles of the features of the Triple-A model in the disaster relief supply chain. Findings illustrate conflicting views about the necessity for agility, adaptability, and alignment. From a broader perspective, the findings reveal that individuals involved in the supply chain differentially assign value in the donations process, including if they value donor needs over survivor needs, and if cash or materiel items are of greater value to the donors and survivors. Agility, the timing, flexibility, and reaction time in the supply chain, was viewed as necessary to a healthy supply chain, however there was not a universal understanding of how to achieve an agile supply chain. Overall, alignment of donor interests and survivor interests was constructed as necessary by stakeholders in the disaster affected community, however donation drive coordinators lacked a clear understanding of how to align the interests of survivors and donors. Lastly, adaptability to structural changes was constructed as necessary, except in the cases of individuals and organizations that placed a higher value on donor generosity over survivor interests. Further research is necessary into the social construction of the value of donations, as well as how agility, adaptability, and alignment are understood in the disaster relief supply chain.</p>

<p> This study examines lived experiences of advisors and mentors during leadership development efforts and how understanding cultural differences enables leadership emergence. Work conducted by advisors and mentors in Afghanistan provided the focus for research. The qualitative approach used incorporated interviews of ten participants. The researcher used Moustakas&rsquo; phenomenological research method to explore the lived experiences. Findings provide understanding of how cultural differences influence leadership emergence development in marginalized societies and how cultural differences influence approaches to developing local leaders. </p><p> Conclusions from this study provide meaning because they address gaps in knowledge regarding experiences related to leadership development for society&rsquo;s marginalized elements, leadership approaches mentors report important in fulfilling their roles, and methods to develop emerging leaders. Conclusions indicate 1) mentor and advisor experiences stress the importance of adaptability, demonstrated competence and positive outlook; 2) building trusted relationships, leadership as a social process, and the emerging leader construct form foundational elements of mentoring in post-conflict marginalized societies; 3) trust, critical thinking, planning, accountability and expertise are leadership competencies that result in mentor success; 4) developing leadership emergence in cultures other than one&rsquo;s own require engagement strategies that enable rapid understanding of how to deal with cultural differences; 5) mentees in marginalized societies can alter mentors perspectives; and 6) developing leadership emergence is a non-gender specific process and should emphasize technical expertise. </p><p> This study offers recommendations for practice in developing leadership emergence and illuminates future research. Recommendations for practice include: providing intensive leadership development training for mentors and fostering increased multicultural understanding for emerging leaders; the importance of developing trusted relationships and networks; fostering curiosity in learning about other cultures; promoting the need for openness toward cultural differences; and integrating cooperative learning into leadership development practices. Recommendations for research include using actual field experience of leadership development that takes into account cultural differences; study on leadership emergence of youth in marginalized societies; study on indigenous cultures through the lens of cultural dimensions; and future meta-analysis of leader emergence in developing nations and vulnerable groups.</p>

<p> This thesis examines the discourses and practices of professionals who work with survivors of sex trafficking. Professionals include social workers, therapists, and nonprofit workers. Ethnographic fieldwork was conducted through participant observation at public meetings that were held to counter human trafficking, by shadowing a professional and through volunteer work with a nonprofit organization that houses adolescent female survivors of sex trafficking. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with eight different professionals. Interview and fieldwork data were analyzed by identifying the discourses professionals use when discussing their work with survivors. Additionally, professionals&rsquo; discourses were analyzed to understand the ways in which human trafficking is referenced and characterized in the social and political realm. This thesis exposes the ways professionals discursively construct their experiences working with survivors and how they position themselves in their attempts to help others. The analysis also considers the ways in which professionals view the resources available for survivor reintegration and the role that these resources play in combating human trafficking. Findings include areas of tension with language use amongst the counter-trafficking movement and the different models of agency and self-positioning that professionals take when working with their clients. Additionally, the analysis reveals different perspectives on the process of a survivor&rsquo;s reintegration into society and the resources that are needed to achieve this process. Lastly, this research contributes to combatting the issue of human trafficking as it illuminates professionals&rsquo; challenges and experiences when assisting survivors of sex trafficking in the process of survivors&rsquo; reintegration into society.</p><p>

<p> Youth living in low-income urban areas are at high risk of being pulled into a culture of violence that can have long lasting and widespread effects on their lives. Research indicates that sport participation, by itself, does not drive positive character development, despite the common belief in the United States that it does. However, sports programs that are intentionally designed to meet specific youth development outcomes have proven to be highly effective. </p><p> This study measured whether the experience of being on the same sports team as someone from an out-group (a group determined by an individual not to be &ldquo;part of self&rdquo;) reduces prejudice toward people from that group. The strategy examined was intentional mixing of teams to include a mix of players from conflicting groups. The theoretical basis for this strategy lies in social science theories on prejudice and intergroup bias. The study found that participants expressed significantly less prejudice toward out-group peers after participating in an 8-week basketball program when teams were mixed to include players from different groups.</p>

<p> This qualitative study explored the Identification stage of transorganization development concerning the issue of supporting disadvantaged Richmond youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. Seven participants from four youth-serving organizations in Richmond were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling strategies. Participants were interviewed about the challenges disadvantaged Richmond youth currently face; which organizations may form the membership of a transorganizational system focused on supporting disadvantaged Richmond youth; and what these member organizations&rsquo; goals, motivations, values, current activities, and outcomes are. Richmond youth were found to face a multifaceted set of challenges affecting all aspects of their lives. A range of nonprofits, for-profits, and public sector organizations were identified as currently operating in the space. The leading goal for their organizations is to help youth to better themselves, and to do so, they deliver a range of services that achieve the aims of awareness building, mental and emotional support, recreation outings and activities, and academic support.</p>

<p> Factors influencing incidents of transnational crime in Jamaica and the international community have been established in the literature. However, strategies to counter transnational security threats have been predicated on a foundation of re-activity, necessitating the need for proactive crime fighting efforts. This study investigated the effects of organizational agility, a proactive crime abatement strategy, on transnational crimes in Jamaica using quantitative analysis. An input-output framework based on economic theory, along with a multiple regression model provided the analytic foundation for this study. Thirty-two years of crime data between 1982 and 2013, one independent variable-organizational agility, and five control variables comprised the analytic model. Chief among the findings are that organizational agility as a proactive crime abatement strategy was found to be inversely related to incidents of transnational crime at &alpha; = 0.05 and that the overall model explained 91% of the variation in transnational crime incidents. </p>