Computing experiences of young adults: An empirical analysis

The High School Beyond study provides the data for an analysis of the computing experiences of young adults. Five types of computing experiences-general, personal and recreational, job, general educational and high school computer usage are examined with respect to selected socio-economic and demographic characteristics. The results suggest that computing experience is related to gender, race, SES, father's education and family income. When controlling for gender, several relationships are modified.The world is entering a new period. The wealth of nations, which depended upon land, labor, and capital during its agricultural and industrial phases — depended upon natural resources, the accumulation of money and even upon weaponry — will come in the future to depend upon information, knowledge and intelligence (Feigenbaum and McCordick, 1983; 14).     

In Celebration of Virginia Olesen's Uncanny Sociological Eye

Symbolic interactionism dwells deep in the intellectual bones of Ginnie Olesen, manifest in sundry ways across a long and ambitious academic career. Here, we briefly sketch her background and then trace her scholarship featuring her interactionist and feminist contributions in four main areas: professional socialization, women, health and healing studies, qualitative methods/feminist methodologies, and the sociology of emotions/interactionist social psychology of illness. We conclude with cherished memories.     

Rape: is there an app for that? An empirical analysis of the features of anti-rape apps

This study of mobile phone apps designed to prevent sexual violence (n?=?215) is a quantitative analysis of all their features (n?=?807). We analyze the intended users (victims, bystanders, and perpetrators) and rape prevention strategies of each feature, finding that anti-rape app design generally reinforces and reflects pervasive rape myths, by both targeting potential victims and reinforcing stranger-danger. To demonstrate that these limitations are primarily cultural rather than technological, we conclude by imagining apps with similar technical features that resist rather than reinforce rape myths. This study offers an empirical investigation of the relationship between technical design and social norms, and a unique methodology for uncovering the ideologies that underlie design.     

Firm Size and Ownership Structure: Effects on Motivations for Use of Business Community Involvement Practices

This study presents an empirical investigation of the effects of size and ownership structure of the firm on the motivations for use of business community involvement practices. The “motivation‐mix” conceptual framework composed by commitment, calculation, conformance and caring motivational mechanisms is used for the conduction of eight comparative case studies. Results indicate that (1) size and ownership structure, per se, do not affect the motivations, and (2) high levels of calculation and low levels of caring are observed in one particular combination of size‐ownership structure: large, publicly held firms.     

Introduction: Gender and Reproductive Technologies in East Asia

This special issue of EASTS examines reproductive technoscience, gender, and the formation of East Asian modernities across the twentieth and into the twenty-first century. We begin our introduction with a brief overview of social science scholarship to date on reproductive topics. We then turn to emergent trends: going to and coming from beyond the West, complicating the issues, and intensive localizing and comparative research. Next, we discuss themes that cut across considerations of gender, reproductive technologies, and related issues in East Asia: issues of imperialisms and colonialisms as roots and contexts, postcolonial and nationalist forms of embeddedness, feminist theories of gender and transnationalism, and relations of gender and reproductive technologies to biological citizenship. Last is an introduction to the articles in this special issue.

Use of the Internet by Informal Caregivers Assisting People with Multiple Sclerosis

The Internet is used to help informal caregivers provide assistance to people with chronic illness and disability. We identified factors associated with Internet use by informal caregivers assisting people with multiple sclerosis (MS) using a logistic regression model. Duration of MS in the person receiving care and caregiver age predicted lower Internet use. More hours per week providing care and higher caregiver educational level increased odds of Internet use. The Internet can be a low-cost service delivery option to provide education and support to caregivers assisting people with MS.     

Predicting State Investment in Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services, 2000–2011

Although state use of Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) to provide long-term services and supports to older adults and individuals with physical disabilities continues to increase, progress is uneven across states. We used generalized linear models to examine state factors associated with increased allocation of Medicaid dollars to HCBS for the period 2000 to 2011. We observed enhanced growth in states that began the period with limited investment in HCBS, as reflected in significant year trends among these states. The political environment appeared to be an important influence on states’ investment for states with limited initial allocation to HCBS, as was housing affordability, a policy amenable variable. There continues to be wide variation in states’ relative investment, calling for additional policy attention and research.     

Co‐producing Approaches to the Management of Dementia through Social Prescribing

A promising approach to the management of dementia is ‘social prescribing’. Social prescribing is a form of ‘co‐production’ that involves linking patients with non‐clinical activities, typically delivered by voluntary and community groups, in an effort to improve their sense of well‐being. The success of social prescribing depends upon the ability of boundary‐spanning individuals within service delivery organizations to develop referral pathways and collaborative relationships through ‘networks’. This article examines the operation of a pilot social prescribing programme in the North East of England, targeted at older people with early onset dementia and depression, at risk of social isolation. It is argued that the scheme was not sustained, in part, because the institutional logics that governed the actions of key boundary‐spanning individuals militated against the collaboration necessary to support co‐production.     

The role of family centres in reducing social isolation in deprived communities

Social exclusion and isolation are worldwide social and health concerns with negative effects becoming exacerbated in deprived communities. There is limited understanding related to the role of community‐based centres in reducing social exclusion and isolation, so the aim of this research was to explore the role one family centre had in improving social inclusion in a deprived community in Glasgow, Scotland. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was utilized to analyse interviews from 10 parents to explore their lived experiences of creating and developing social networks through family centre attendance. Findings indicate that attending the family centre positively impacted on social inclusion and social support for all parents interviewed. Relationships created in the centre were proposed as being meaningful, non‐judgemental and produced social capital—rooted in reciprocity and trust. Findings can inform services that aim to reduce social isolation in deprived communities.