Sociology electronic theses and dissertations (MU)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Sociology. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item The transformation of Kenya's agrarian sector : the case of western Kenya(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1988) Mbabu, Adiel Nkonge; Nolan, Michael F.This study addresses the transformation process of Kenya's agrarian sector in the context of the global capitalist expansion. Elements of world system theory, dependency theory, and articulation of the modes of production theory are blended to attain an explanation for this phenomena. The following research techniques were utilized: archival research was conducted to develop the historical process that integrated Kenya's social formation and its agrarian sector into the global market economy; a survey was carried out to describe the contemporary social structure of the farming families in western Kenya; and key informants were interviewed to provide insights into the changing circumstances in western Kenya. To provide background information to the transformation process of the Kenyan social formation, precolonial modes of production were discussed; factors that influenced Great Britain in favor of an expansionist policy in the second half of the nineteenth century were analyzed; and the particular circumstances under which Kenya was colonized by Great Britain were discussed. The period 1899-1918 saw the establishment of a settler- based colonial state. This period was characterized by military expeditions and diplomatic maneuvers to subdue African resistance to the British rule; and transfer of land rights and labor from the Africans to the Europeans. The second phase of the entrenchment process, between 1919-1939, was characterized by capital injection into the European farms, introduction of machinery, and rationalization of labor relations. In the early 1920s, Africans organized ethnicallybased political associations to resist the new order. The colonial government responded by creating a semi-privileged social category in the African Reserves, thus blunting the force of the opposition. After World War II, the African struggle for independence took on a national character. To moderate the liberation movement, the colonial government offered the Swynnerton Plan to the Africans, as well as limited access to the 'White Highlands'. As a result of this, Kenya's modern agrarian society is characterized more by class than racial differences. However, as the case of western Kenya illustrates, the degree of differentiation varies due to uneven development of capital.Item Desecularization in Turkey : historical context and current developments(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2024) Uzun, Nihan; Johnson, VictoriaTurkey, once a model for Muslim-majority countries, has been rapidly desecularizing over the past two decades. This shift is most evident in education, aligning with Erdogan's aim to raise a "pious generation," and in state bureaucracy, followed by social life. Laws have been instrumental in implementing these institutional changes, while political rhetoric has further encouraged this shift, particularly in attitudes toward women. Based on Karpov's conceptualization, desecularization is occurring through dedifferentiation, where religion converges with other institutions, and through the deprivatization of religion, as religious beliefs are no longer seen as purely personal issues. The desecularization process can also be traced through the redefinition of boundaries due to Turkey's open-door policy with Syria and the exodus of secular youth, and through the economy with an increase in faith-based consumption and production. According to Bruce's definition of secularization, this process is evident through the rising social standing of religious institutions and their staff, which is a natural consequence of dedifferentiation. The top-down imposition of desecularization has advanced to a point where it may lead to a potential regime change.Item Interaction and leadership among female prisoners(University of Missouri--Columbia., 1975) Simmons, Imogene; Galliher, JohnThe purpose of this research was to investigate the informal social structure of a state correctional institution for women. Of sociological concern for this researcher was the process whereby the informal social structure emerged as women differentially defined the situation in prison and directed lines of action in response to their interpretation of the form al social structure. Further, in order to understand why the informal social structure developed, it was important for this researcher to explain the process whereby the interaction patterns of the women in this institution developed relatively stable and repetitious structure. In addition to seeking an understanding of the process of interaction emerging into structures, this researcher was concerned with the nature of the relationships that were created and sustained as well as the types of interaction found in prisons. An examination of the literature suggested that leadership in the form of deference patterns had been studied in men's prisons but not in women's prisons. Further, the literature on women's prisons suggested some basic disagreements among Giallombardo, Ward and Kassebaum, and Heffernan with regard to the nature of homosexual involvements in women's prisons. Thus, this researcher designed a research project to examine the process of the emergence of interaction patterns, the nature of interaction with special emphasis on two types of interaction (leadership and homosexuality), and the relationship of interaction, leadership, and homosexuality. The major instrument utilized by the researcher for gaining insight into the patterns of interaction at this institution was field observation. In addition, to the direct observation of the everyday activities of the women, an open- ended questionnaire was used in interviewing every available and willing woman in the research population. Finally, biographical and criminal background data were gathered on each woman from the case history record files. The findings suggested that women who interpreted the informal social structure as meaning that their best adjustment in prison was to withdraw from other women were the isolates. However, other women in interpreting the formal social structure directed lines of action that allowed them to be highly involved in work assignments and treatment programs. Thus, these women were the high interactors, and leaders of this institution. Further, the leaders were also found to be homosexual studs who were outspoken and willing to stand up for themselves and for change in regulations that would benefit the entire population. Finally, this researcher's findings with regard to the nature of homosexual relationships differed from Giallombardo's findings. While Giallombardo found pseudo families based on relatively permanent homosexual dyads, this researcher found brief homosexual dyads. Additional research would be needed to clarify and explain these differences.Item Encounters and careers of postdoctoral students(University of Missouri--Columbia., 1973) Maines, David Russell; Habenstein, Robert W."Increasingly, the doctorate is no longer the terminal point for advanced education in the United States. Especially in the sciences, significant numbers of doctoral recipients seek temporary positions where they may augment their education and experience in research before accepting the more permanent faculty appointment. Generically, these persons are referred to as "postdoctoral students." The postdoctoral is not particularly easy to describe. In the past, postdoctoral students were concentrated in a few very prestigious universities. In recent years, however, they are found not only in a somewhat wider range of universities but in a number of non-academic institutions. The postdoctoral usually has been granted the Ph.D. degree although some are post-MD's or post-DVM's. The person with the Ph.D. is most often a young natural scientist who has recently finished his doctoral dissertation. He has completed his formal education but feels that he can benefit from continuing his research for a while under an experienced mentor--often a colleague of his dissertation adviser at another institution. More rarely are these persons in the social sciences or humanities."--Page 1.Item Edwin Sutherland and the origins of differential association theory(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1984) Gaylord, Mark Stratton; Galliher, John F.The purpose of this dissertation is to examine thoroughly the origin of Edwin H. Sutherland's theory of differential association and to show hew it evolved with Sutherland's development as a criminologist. Comparing criminology to American sociology, which by the 1920s had created a profound new social psychology and had developed an empirical methodology, Sutherland thought it intellectually backward and unscientific. He rejected both the Lcmbrosian legacy of biological determinism and the extreme individualism of psychology and psychiatry. It is argued that Sutherland's dissatisfaction with early 20th century criminology, together with a personality marked by perfectionism, professional ambition, diligence and the desire towin acceptance from his colleagues, led him to search for a scientific sociological criminology. This search resulted in the development of the theory of differential association -- a theory which gave new direction and intellectual respectability to criminology. This study concludes that Sutherland's theory was conceived, developed and accepted, based on three factors. First, he was an active member of a group of University of Chicago sociologists Including W. I. Thomas, Robert E. Park, Clifford R. Shaw, and Henry D. McKay. These men drew from the concepts and perspectives of the wider sociological community as well as frcm each other in developing a general theory of human behavior. Sutherland saw his work as merely one part of this collective effort. His genius was to adapt these concepts and perspectives to his particular field and in so doing help create sociological criminology. Others whose ideas were found to have helped Sutherland develop his theory include Thorsten Sellin, Frank L. Sweetzer, Charles H. Cooley, and Alfred R. Lindesmith. Second, by the mid-1920s Sutherland's professional identity had centered on the development of American sociology. He worked to advance the field both as a system of ideas and as a profession. The theory of differential association, determinedly sociological, was warmly received by Sutherland's colleagues. They accepted his ideas and held him in high esteem as a loyal and effective supporter of sociology. Third, the Depression created a social, political and intellectual climate in which a sociological theory of crime causation was readily accepted.