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In the last half century, gun ownership has been one of the most hotly debated topics in the United States. The right to bear arms was written into the U. S. Constitution and into the hearts and minds of its citizens. During the last half century, however, numerous gun control laws have been enacted at Federal, state and local levels, and it can be argued (plausibly or not) that part of the legislative intent has been to decrease the number of gun owning households in the United States. For many decades, this number hovered at one half of all households (Wright, 1995). The possible success of these gun control efforts is suggested by an apparent and rather sharp decline in the ownership percentage beginning in the 1990s. In 2000, the household gun ownership rate had decreased to 32.5% (according to the General Social Survey). The question raised in this thesis is how to account for declining gun ownership. More specifically, I ask if there has in fact been a decline in ownership, or whether the apparent decline is an illusion resulting from changing demographics. A third possibility, that social norms have changed such that admitting gun ownership in surveys is now more problematic for many people, is also considered and seems, indeed, to be the most telling line of explanation.

A postal questionnaire survey located over 700 feral cat colonies. Most were small well - established and lived in association with man, The feral cat population of Britain was estimated to be one million and is concentrated in urban areas. A domestic cat survey indicated a total population of 5.9 million cats in Britain. There appeared to be more females than males and a higher proportion of females than males were neutered. The effect of neutering on a colony of 30 adult cats. living in the grounds of Winwick Hospital, Cheshire, was examined. Individual cats were recognised by differences in coat colour and pattern, and data were collected by direct observation. The colony was studied for one year before and one year after neutering. Before neutering there appeared to be a seasonal fluctuation in numbers as a result of natality$ mortality and migration. Male immigrants were recorded. After neutering the colony remained stable in size and only one (female) immigrant was observed. The ecology and behaviour of 19 cats were studied in terms of home range, the distribution of, sightings in time, and sociability. Before neutering cluster analysis was used to identify groups of similar cats: males$ femalesp nomads and residents, After neutering no such groups could be distinguished and it is suggested that this was a result of changes in hormone balance. A mathematical model was developed for the study of associations within populations. It was shown that the cats tended to form more discrete social groups after neutering with fewer movements between groups. The adult cats were generally in good condition but there was evidence of exposure to feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus. Trapping of cats appeared to be efficient and humane, and neutering was considered to be an acceptable form of population management. / Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Feral Cat Working Party.

The following thesis investigates how social relations affect the type of information that people acquire without actively looking for it. To do this Karen Fisher’s concept of information grounds is being used, together with Mark Granovetter’s theory about the strength of weak ties. The population in the study is new university students. A combination of diaries and interviews was used to gather the empirical material, which was then analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis showed that the most commonly shared type of information was information about people. Conversations with strong ties were usually more in depth, while conversations with weak ties tended to be more superficial. This finding contributes to the reason why information from weak ties tend to appear more surprising than information from strong ties. Factors other than those officially used together with the information grounds concept turned out to be of both interest and importance to understand why certain information was shared between people, while other information was not. These factors included language, culture, and time.

The Grounds Department of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI & SU) employs two enclaves or work crews of individuals with mental disabilities (MD) as an integral part of its landscape maintenance program. Each enclave has five IMD and a supervisor that are involved in litter control, leaf removal, weeding, and snow removal. This method of employment has provided permanent employment for ten IMD. VPI & SU’s success with enclave employment prompted the development of first a statewide, then a national survey to determine the characteristics of employment of IMD in grounds maintenance departments. Surveys were sent to all Virginia college and university grounds departments to document the employment of IMD. The results of the surveys indicated that IMD were employed either as individual employees or as members of an enclave. The surveys showed that the majority of IMD who were currently and permanently employed are members of an enclave within Virginia college grounds departments. A survey similar to the Virginia survey was developed and sent to college grounds departments throughout the United States. Even though this national survey indicated that the majority of IMD who were currently and permanently employed were individual employees rather than as members of an enclave, the enclave employment was still considered a viable option for employing IMD. / Master of Science

Blackburnian Warblers (Dendroica fusca) were observed in their wintering grounds in a High Andean native secondary forest in Colombia between September 1993 and May 1994. The main objective of the study was to determine the relationships between the Blackburnian Warblers and the habitats where they were found. Size and composition of the mixed-species flocks joined by Blackburnian Warblers were also compared to habitat features. Habitat variables were measured in circular plots centered where a Blackburnian Warbler was first seen. The same set of variables was measured in randomly located paired plots to compare the two sets. The results obtained in Colombia (wintering grounds) were compared to similar data available from North America (breeding grounds). Ninety-six mixed-species flocks with Blackburnian Warblers were detected. Some of the habitat variables measured differed between plots used by the birds and the random plots. Density of trees in all dbh (diameter at breast height) categories, density of snags and density of native trees and shrubs were higher at the bird-centered plots. Percentage vegetation density (understory foliage volume) from O-1m, 1-2m and 2-3m were lower at bird-centered plots. There was no significant difference for maximum and mean canopy height between bird-centered and randomly selected paired plots. At Los Amarillos, Blackburnian Warblers avoided Eucalyptus spp. trees. They preferred the higher part of the trees and trees in the middle and high abh classes. They avoided the smallest dbh size class (3-8cm dbh). Comparisons were made between the data from Los Amarillos and data available from northern central Minnesota (Collins et al. 1982). Percent ground cover, densities of trees 15.1-23, 23.1-38 and 38.1-53 cm dbh and total density of trees were significantly higher in Minnesota. Trees 7.5- 15, 53.1-68 and > 68.1 cm dbh were higher in Los Amarillos. Percent canopy cover was not different between the two Sites. Blackburnian Warblers selected for closed canopy cover (about 75%) and large trees in each individual site. They selected larger trees in Minnesota. This selection may be related to nesting requirements of the species. / Master of Science

Yes / This article is based on a large-scale European Commission project on international perspectives on positive action measures. The paper presents an analysis of the perceptions of positive action held by respondents from all the countries participating in an international survey, focussing specifically upon differences across equality grounds, sector and organisation type. This paper will also provide examples of positive action being applied in European and non-European countries that participated in the study. The study adopted extensive literate and online survey to obtain data from designers of positive action. Findings are discussed, conclusions drawn and wide-ranging recommendations are made at the European Commission, individual countries and organisational levels.

Yes / Around the world, inequalities exist around boundaries of race, social class, gender, disability, religious beliefs and sexual orientation, often resulting from past and current discriminatory practices. Governments have taken certain measures, including enacting policies such as positive action, to remedy such discrimination. This paper provides a comparative analysis of perceptions of the impact of positive action in seven EU and three non-EU countries. The study adopted participatory methods including consensus workshops, interviews and policy analysis to obtain data from designers of positive action. Findings are discussed, conclusions drawn and wide-ranging recommendations are made at the EC, individual countries and organisational levels.

No / Positive action is a highly contested concept and its meaning varies across states. Law plays a key role in shaping the boundaries of positive action. This paper presents the findings of a comparative study of law and positive action both inside and outside the European Union. It sets out the approach to positive action within European Community (EC) law and, based on that, constructs a legal definition of positive action. It then turns to consider practice at domestic level and uncovers a broad diversity of approaches. The non-EU comparator countries (USA, Canada and South Africa) have been more willing to impose obligations on public and private bodies to engage in positive action than have been the EU Member States considered in this study. Notwithstanding the constraints deriving from EC legislation on positive action measures, there is some evidence of a trend towards duties to take positive action emerging within the EU Member States.

The study draws on theories of society, learning, planning and design, democracy, identity formation, and cultural change to inquire into children’s participation in the social sphere. The thesis emerges from the growing literature in the sociological and educational study of childhood, identity, space and culture. A case study approach, using a variety of participatory methods and photographic visual evidence, is employed to investigate the substantive issue of children’s participation in changing their locales in a contemporary Scottish context. Two main cases are narrated: the first concerns primary school children’s experience in participating in changing school grounds throughout Scotland; the second details the experience of one local authority’s efforts to enhance public play provision for children with disabilities. Local socio-cultural / spatial practices used in the construction of children’s participation and their places of learning, work, and play are described. Children are found to be ‘positioned’ between adult desires to increase children’s participation in matters that affect them, while at the same time, adults may wish to protect children from perceived dangers. The context for children’s participation takes cognisance of the influences of schooling, the exclusion of children from the workplace, as well as the influences of technology, the media, and the changes in family make-up. One central finding of the thesis is that children’s experience of participation appeared to be constructed out of ‘essential beliefs’ about the relations between children and adults, the nature of the child and the child’s ‘place’ in society.