Socialization,Communication, and Role Performance*

The purpose of this phase of a research project with a government agency was to test the hypothesis of Amitai Etzioni involving socialization, communication, and role performance. The data indicate both socialization and communication are siginificantly associated with role performance. Communication continues to affect role performance to a significant degree regardless of the degree of initial socialization experienced. These data do not support Etzioni's hypothesis.     

Sampling properties of estimators of a Weibull distribution of use in the lumber industry

We consider maximum-likelihood estimators of the three parameters in the Weibull distribution. Motivated by an application regarding the determination of a lower percentile of the strength of dimension lumber, we investigate the sampling properties of these estimators. Consistency is established when the shape parameter is greater than one, including some nonregular cases encountered in fitting lumber data. The joint distribution of the estimators is studied by a Monte Carlo approach. The maximum-likelihood estimator of the 5th percentile is compared with the sample 5th percentile. For the cases considered it was generally found that with sample size 70 the usual asymptotic normality does not hold.     

The contagion of stigma: Fieldwork among deviants

Noting the emergence of ethnographic or fieldwork methods as the preferred methodology of many researchers in the sociology of deviance, this article focuses on a particular problem which occurs when such methods are adapted to the study of deviant groups, namely the strains that develop in researchers' relationships with professional colleagues and significant others, particularly family and friends, outside of academia. The article is based on the authors' observations of others' reactions to their research on the homosexual or gay subculture, informal conversations with sociologists who have done fieldwork among stigmatized groups, and more general observations of the ways in which sociology is practiced. The authors seek to increase awareness of the problem, especially among those who will do similar studies in the future; and to offer practical suggestions that may be employed to reduce the possibility of labeling and its accompanying problems.This article is a version of a paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Sociological Society, Minneapolis, 1979. We thank Karen Peterson, Murray L. Wax, and anonymous referees for criticisms of earlier drafts. The authors' names were ordered arbitrarily. Their contributions are equal.     

Testing lack of fit in regression without replication

An F-statistic which tests a hypothesized linear regression model against the general alternative is developed. Observations are grouped using “near neighbours” and a generalization of the usual lack of fit test is derived. Two data sets from Daniel and Wood (1971) are used to illustrate the methodology. Power considerations are discussed.     

State expenditures on home and community based services and use of formal and informal personal assistance: a multilevel analysis

Despite wide state variation in commitment to home and community-based services (HCBS) for functionally impaired older persons, little is known about how such variation affects older adults' strategies to compensate for their functional limitations. This study examines the association of state HCBS expenditures with use of formal and informal personal assistance among non-institutionalized older Americans aged 70 and older with functional limitations. We conducted multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis using data from the first wave of the Assets and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old Survey, combined with data on state HCBS expenditures. Controlling for individuals' demographic, socioeconomic, and care needs factors, persons residing in states with higher HCBS expenditures were more likely to use formal personal assistance, but not less likely to use informal assistance. Our study suggests state variation in HCBS expenditures leads to inequitable access to formal personal assistance, especially among those with high functional limitations.     

A rural road: exploring opportunities,networks, services,and supports that affect rural families

The Great Plains Rural Collaborative project explored rural poverty through the experiences of people living at or below 185% of poverty. Researchers collected information through qualitative and quantitative research methods. They designed focus group questions to identify obstacles rural families face when trying to access economic opportunities, social networks, and services and supports. The article highlights the salient findings.