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Four senior sociology majors share findings from their capstone research projects, which
were previously at the annual meetings of the Eastern Sociological Society.
Teaching Happiness: How Education, Class and Gender Affect Contentment
-
Kaleigh
Kesser ’16
Why do some people report being happier than others? Considering Aristotle’s
conception that education is inherently fulfilling, therefore increasing happiness, I
propose that education positively affects happiness. Knowledge increases the likelihood
for employment, which increases income. I analyze self-reported happiness and highest
level of education in a random sample of 2,309 respondents from the 2014 General Social
Survey. My findings indicate that income, education, and gender affect happiness most
with income having the largest effect.
If It Bleeds, It Misleads? How Political Media Shapes Attitudes Towards Felon
Disenfranchisement
- Greer Cohen ’16
Exploring the factors that shape public support for felon disenfranchisement is a critical
task given the millions of Americans unable to vote due to felony convictions as well as
the disproportionate rates of minorities incarcerated every year. This study examines the
relationship between frequency of political media usage and support for felon
disenfranchisement. The findings report no significant relationship between these
variables, instead suggesting that age and conservativeness drive support for this issue.
Exclusionary Patriotism: American Patriots and Attitudes Toward Immigration
-
Maya
Obstfeld ’16
Does patriotism have an effect on American attitudes towards immigration? Analyzing
the 2014 General Social Survey data, this study uses group threat theory to critically
examine the connection between blind patriotism, immigration, race, and various other
control variables. The multiple regression analysis (N=1064) revealed that patriotism is
not a significant variable while whiteness, living in the South, and being more
conservative are all statistically significant.
The Effects of Prison Privatization on Mass Incarceration in the United States
-
Tashawn
Reagon ’16
The U.S. has the record for the highest incarcerated population. This research begs the
question: Can Black and poor people escape criminalization under U.S. capitalism? Data
was sourced from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2013) and U.S. Census Bureau (2010)
and analyzed. Results suggest that when controlling for race and poverty, privatizing
prisons does not have an effect on male imprisonment rates. Poverty rates and Black
presence are strong predictors on male incarceration rates.
2. American Studies Honor Theses
PALAMOUNTAIN 201
Faculty Sponsor: Daniel Nathan, American Studies
Presenters: Hannah Doban ’16, Sophia Inkeles ’16, Markus Messore ’16, Dan Plumer
’16, Mollie Welch ’16
