Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

DNA mixtures are frequently encountered in forensic casework especially in cases of sexual assault. When evidence is recovered, the sample may have come from multiple contributors in different proportions. The first part of this study examines the fidelity of contributor proportions by using the residual to analyze known mixture samples. The coefficient of determination between the expected and observed proportions was also determined and used to assess the fidelity of mixture proportions. The second part of this study involved separating major and minor contributors in a mixture by characterizing the observed proportions. Results for the 2-person mixture show that as the mass of amplified DNA decreases, the number of allele dropouts increases. Furthermore, as mass decreases, the level of variation between the expected and observed proportions increases, as determined by the residuals and the coefficients of determination. In addition, as mixture proportions become more disparate the amount of variations between the expected and observed proportions are not as great as the mass. For the 3-person mixtures, as mass decreases, the residuals increase. Also, when the coefficient of determination of the 3-person mixtures were compared to those obtained with the 2-person mixtures, it was determined that the R2 were larger for the former. This was a result of higher total amplification masses. In mixture 1:2/2:1, major and minor proportions are not distinguishable In mixture 1:4/4:1, major and minor proportions can be distinguished at 1 ng. In mixture 1:9/9:1, proportions are distinguishable at 1, and 0.5 ng. Mixtures could not be distinguished at the 0.25 ng level, despite proportion and is the result of the increase in variation with decreasing mass.

Abstract This paper examines Family and Independence Case Managers in the social services in Atlanta, GA, as they negotiate a highly bureaucratized benefit delivery system that undervalues the emotional costs inherent in its operation. I begin with an examination of Weber’s (1946) theories of bureaucracy, as typified by three components of authority and control in the office. I proceed to Ritzer’s (2004) theory of “McDonaldization,” which advances Weber’s explication of ideal types of bureaucracy by highlighting four institutionalized dimensions of the corporate business model. Then, by incorporating Hochschild’s (1983) discussion of emotional labor, I include an analysis of the impact of emotional labor on workers’ experiences. I use a snowball sampling strategy, interviewing ten former colleagues. By employing the use of in-depth interviews, I attempt to provide an accurate depiction of the work-lives of these case managers and of the struggles they face in relation to their work and to themselves.

Supervision of offenders in the community remains a critical component of the correctional processes in the United States. With almost six million offenders under correctional supervision in the community, there has been relatively little attention and few resources devoted to the style and quality of supervision received by these offenders. As a result of the lack of research regarding the style of probation and parole supervision, there is a need to identify and quantify styles of casework and surveillance supervision. This article describes a research project that identifies the key functions of parole and probation officers, reports self- and peer-rating on a casework to surveillance continuum, and establishes an instrument that can be used to create baseline information regarding how probation and parole officers spend their time, and whether the functions officers perform are casework, surveillance, or a balance of the two.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / Broadly, the purpose of this study is to examiner some aspects of the relationship between the practice of social casework and the treatment of mental illness in the mental hospital setting. It has long been acknowledged that the sociaal worker has a recognized role in the treatment of the mentally ill, since mental illness reflects some failure in social as well as personal adaptation. Social work in mental hospital settings, however, has expanded the concept of its role and undergone modifications. This evolution has been the result of new knowledge and new experiences. "The truth is that casework concepts are dynamic--they change, grow and develop..." This statement apolies as well to casework oriented to a specific setting as to the generic casework processes.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

本論文的研究主旨勿探討立法委員的選區經營方式，作者將選區經營中的選民服務(casework)獨立出來，探討它與選區經營的其他部份工作的關係。筆者發現，選民服務與連任得票之間的確有正相關的關係，而且與選民對立委的工作滿意度亦有正相關的關係。 　　本論文分為六章，分別略述於下：第一章緒論：分析選民服務的特性，並且建立選區經營與選民服務之研究架構。第二章研究背景，概述台灣國會選舉制度與政治文化。第三章選民服務案分析，剖析立委的選區服務組織與服務案處理程序，並且畫分服務案的特質。第四章選區經營分析，探討選區經營的兩項工作：拜訪選民與發行國會通訊。第五章選民服務的效果分析，證明選民服務的效果。第六章為結論。

This study, a narrative analysis of it, deals with the term, home, its importance and the use of it by Child welfare investigators in the city of Malmö between the years 1930-1936. Commonly used and acknowledged, home stood for security and order while the term, street, had just the opposite meaning. Living in the countryside symbolized health and sensibility, while city life was considered to be cramped, dirty and immoral. The responsibility of achieving the liberals and conservatives ideal of a sunny, clean and orderly home was given to the woman of the house, as was the task of keeping the home morally correct, and providing the necessary atmosphere for proper upbringing of the children. Consequently, the basis of theory, using Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in regards to the conflicts between the upper and lower classes, and even theories of Jane Lewis of woman´s connection to home and family, have been the grounds for the study. The very detailed results show that home and morals play a major role in the investigations and prove above all, the intimacy between the home and woman.