Unit costs,legal shocks,and unionization in construction

I develop an econometric model to examine three potential causes of the decline of unionization in the construction industry in the 1970s and 1980s: increased cost relative to the open shop, reduced coverage by prevailing wage laws, and expanded double-breasting in response to NLRB decisions. The results show that relative cost was the decisive factor in the 1970s, whereas double-breasting was the most plausible explanation in the 1980s. Research support was provided by North Carolina State University. I am deeply indebted to Barry Hirsch for estimating the union-nonunion wage gaps for 1983–1991. An appendix describing the definitions and sources of the variables used in this analysis is available from the author.     

Participatory action research on HIV/AIDS through a popular theatre approach in Tanzania

A participatory theatre approach stimulated communities to break the silence about sexual and cultural practices leading to HIV transmission, and then to openly discuss what they could do to reduce transmission. Participants were district officials, artists, village and ward leaders, youths, and entire communities. Community theatre specialists trained young community members in participatory research and theatre. These artists then researched and encouraged people in their communities to discuss and evaluate the factors contributing to HIV transmission in their communities. Discussion results were transformed into community and district level performances. This was a very successful IEC effort that identified key risk behaviours and locally developed culturally appropriate, relevant materials, delivered in a popular way. People reflected upon their situation and behaviour, and community leaders addressed harmful practices. Feedback sessions were held with co-ordinators and artists to record lessons learned and make recommendations for improving and expanding the programme.     

Sources of Variation in Rate of Decline of Applications to MSW Programs

This study identifies factors associated with the extent of decline in applications to MSW programs between 1975 and 1981. Data were gathered in a secondary analysis of three sources of data on all MSW programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education as of 1975 and in a qualitative follow-up study of eight of these programs. The variables found to be most strongly related to declines in applications as well as the direction of these relationships were unexpected, casting doubt on prevailing assumptions about the causes of the decline and how schools can counteract it.     

Integrating Research and Practice into an Interviewing Skills Project

This paper reports an approach to improving the integration of research and practice instruction by engaging students in a research project. Through the project, the students evaluate an effort to improve their interviewing and relationship-building skills. The skills-development component relies primarily on student role playing and peer feedback, and was implemented as part of a required second-year master of social work research course. Two randomized experimental evaluations of the project’s effectiveness in improving interviewing skills yielded inconsistent results. The authors describe strategies for teaching and assessing interviewing skills and for teaching research.     

Understanding Bullying in an Affluent,Academically Rigorous U.S. High School: A Grounded Theory Analysis

Students and staff members from a U.S. high school were asked to discuss their understanding of bullying within the context of their school social environment. Findings from the grounded theory analysis suggest that understandings of bullying are socially constructed and that how bullying is understood is influenced by context and by the negotiation of identity within that context. Furthermore, subjects focused on drama, a form of social interaction considered far more common than bullying. Findings suggest that research on bullying may benefit from shifting its emphasis on defining bullying and establishing prevalence, to exploring youths' contextual and developmental perspectives.     

The impact of cigarette quitting during pregnancy on other prenatal health behaviors

Several economic studies have evaluated the effects of cigarette smoking and quitting on other health behaviors such as alcohol use and weight gain. However, there is little research that evaluates the effects of cigarette quitting during pregnancy on other health behaviors such as caloric intake, alcohol consumption, multivitamin use, and caffeine intake. In this paper, we evaluate these effects and employ a genetic variant that predicts cigarette quitting to aid in identification. We find some evidence that cigarette quitting during pregnancy may increase multivitamin use and caloric intake and reduce caffeine consumption.