The O. J. Simpson Trial: Challenges to Science and Society

The O. J. Simpson murder and civil trials riveted the nation and much of the world for more than two years. Of tremendous scientific and public interest was the gulf in attitudes, perceptions, and reactions to the not guilty verdict at the criminal trial. The collection of articles in this issue of The Journal of Social Issues converged on the idea that race is an inadequate explanatory variable in understanding these differences in attitudes, perceptions, and reactions. Instead, race is a marker for a variety of cultural and experiential issues that affect cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes. This concluding article debunks simplistic ideas of race and points to the broader problems of racism and discrimination, criminal injustice, and violence in social relations. The article concludes with suggestions for future research and a call for a broader transformation in societal institutions that affect the quality of social relations.     

Perceived income adequacy and selected financial management practices among families in Chile and Mexico

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived adequacy of families' incomes and selected financial management practices (food budgetin debt, saving) in two Latin American countries. An interview survey was used to gather socioeconomic and demographic information from 537 families in Chile and Mexico. There were major differences between Chile and Mexico in the income adequacy responses and also major differences within countries between income levels. Implications of the findings for policy makers and curriculum planners who work in developing countries with inflationary conditions and income inadequacies are discussed.     

Beyond the Debates: Measuring and Specifying Student Consumerism

Existing discourses suggest numerous aspects of the faculty-student relationship are affected by a student consumerist ideology, but no clear definition of “student consumerism” emerges, and there are no tools for systematically measuring the phenomenon. Using data from 527 undergraduates at a large, public university, we provide an operational definition via development of the Consumerist Attitudes Toward Undergraduate Education scale. Correlations between “Consumerism” and four additional scales indicate that a consumerist approach is distinct from many of the concerns associated with it. These findings provide new tools to advance the discussion of student consumerism and its effects on teaching and learning.     

Audit Within the Corporate Governance Paradigm: A Cornerstone Built on Shifting Sand?

This paper is a case study‐based investigation of aspects of the current paradigmatic approach to ‘good’ corporate governance, with its focus on the interlinked roles of internal control and risk management procedures, internal audit and external audit, overseen and coordinated by a formal structure of board committees, in particular the audit committee. The evidence that we adduce from the study of four high‐profile cases of perceived accounting and governance failure provides limited assurance that this approach will in fact be cost‐effective or efficient in preventing further such cases of accounting and governance failure. Specifically, issues as to remuneration and fee dependence, lack of relevant knowledge and expertise, social and psychological dependence upon executive management appear to have significantly and negatively affected the quality of decision‐making of governance gatekeepers. This suggests that further consideration of relevant economic, institutional and cognitive/behavioural factors beyond the rational choice model of traditional economics should underpin future developments in required modes and structures of governance.     

Attachment Representations and Parental Memories of Incarcerated Fathers

This article presents the findings of a study designed to apply attachment theory concepts to a group of incarcerated fathers in a minimum-security facility. Participants in this convenience sample were either immediate graduates of a 13-week parenting skills program or currently involved in the parenting skills program. This exploratory study sought to examine first, whether the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) could effectively determine current mental representations of attachment relationships with a group of incarcerated fathers. Secondly, to gain further knowledge of this population regarding the impact of familial aspects by use of a survey measure, along with two other standardized measures were implemented. Thirty-eight voluntary subjects participated in the intensive AAI in scheduled individual sessions, completing child abuse additional measures. Differences among a three-category adult attachment classifications and five-category attachment classifications were identified. Both qualitative and quantitative results are discussed.     

Introduction to the Issue

The criminal trial of O. J. Simpson, his acquittal, and the subsequent public reaction have provided an opportunity to apply social science models and methods in ways that have enhanced our understanding of the complexity and dynamics of ethnicity. Most of the articles in this issue focus on ethnicity and go beyond simplistic analyses of ethnic differences in responses to O. J. Simpson and the trial. These analyses inform us that ethnicity is best viewed as a proxy for a host of life experiences, beliefs, and attitudes. The knowledge gained from these applications demonstrates that social scientists can contribute to the understanding of major public events when issues of ethnicity are involved. This article provides an introduction to the dynamics of ethnicity and overviews of the articles in this collection.     

Mexican Migration to the United States Pacific Northwest

The migration of Mexicans to the Pacific Northwest region(PNW) of the United States has received little attention in scholarly literature. This is unfortunate, as Mexican migration has significantly affected this region, both economically and culturally. Using data supplied by the Mexican Migration Project, we compare the characteristics of Mexican migrantsto the Pacific Northwest with characteristics of Mexicans who migrate to other parts of the U.S. The data reveal significant differences between the two groups: Mexican migrants to the PNW earn lower U.S. wages, are less likely to migrate illegally, and more commonly work in agriculture. They also are more transitory in nature, making more frequent, shorter trips to the U.S. Most interesting is that PNW migrants send significantly more money back home compared to Mexican migrants in other parts of the U.S., even after controlling for the aforementioned differences in individual characteristics.     

Disturbing the AcademicConferenceMachine: Post‐qualitative re‐turnings

Author 1:

They say they want to disturb the AcademicConferenceMachine.

Author 34:

What is an AcademicConferenceMachine?

Author 2:

Please do not go in that direction. Ask, for example, what does an AcademicConferenceMachine do?

Author 51:

Ok, so what does it do?

Author 6:

AcademicConferenceMachines are becoming so regulated and standardized that they might lose the possibility to produce different knowledge and to produce knowledge differently.

Author 227:

Do you think they succeeded?

Author 9999:

I do not know.