Sociology - Student Works
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Item The Iranian movement, women, life, and freedom: a content analysis of reactions to the protests on Facebook(2023) Adnan, SumblinaThis study looked at public reactions by analyzing comments posted to Facebook regarding the movement for freedom in Iran and the protests that erupted after the death of an Iranian woman. A content analysis of 60 comments revealed that between November 9 to November 16 of 2022, four prevalent themes emerged. These themes included: fear, women, support, and arguments. The most frequently mentioned theme was the arguments category, making up 30% of the sample. Supportive comments were 28%, while women made up 27%, and the fear category was 15% of the total sum of comments. The results showed overall support for the movement and women. At the same time, a level of concern was expressed, and users engaged in conversation and arguments to indicate their opinions.Item Body image and social media sharing: a content analysis of public reactions to a body positive post on TikTok(2023) Strach, ShannanThis study explored the public reactions of society to a post on TikTok created by Nessa May. In this video, Nessa May confidently shows her body, which does not fit the stereotypical beauty standards of society. She explains to viewers that it is okay not to fit beauty standards and to have a body type similar to her own. A content analysis of the 100 most recent comments reacting to Nessa May’s video identified five main themes including: love, thankfulness, emotions (happiness), beauty, and insecurities. The predominant theme seen was that of love towards Nessa May herself, as well as self-love and increased confidence in the commenters themselves (this made up 35% of all comments). Overall findings showed both support for the body-positive post, as well as an emphasis on the effect normative beauty standards have on women.Item Perceptions of dairy farms on the environment: a content analysis of comments on TikTok(2023) Ostapovich, SarahThis study examined the public perceptions of dairy farms on the environment by viewing comments to a TikTok video, which presented a claim that the dairy industry has had a decrease in its environmental impact. A content analysis was conducted with initial and secondary evaluations, finding five broad categories, which included positive and negative perceptions of the dairy industry, as well as a further six themes, including informative, clarification, blaming humans, veganism, critical, and education. The most common theme was informative, encompassing 38% of the relevant comments. The findings indicated proficient use of scientific research, critical considerations of the video, and reflected the biases and influences found in social media and popular culture.Item Covid-19 and its impact on hospitals: a content analysis of the effects on emergency department wait times due to Covid-19(2023) Dhunna, RiyaThis qualitative study explored the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted Canadian hospitals and emergency department (ED) wait times. A purposive sampling procedure was used for this study to conduct a content analysis on a sample of 50 of the most recent and relevant comments that included reactions, personal experiences, and possible solutions towards ED wait times from a CBC News article. A coding procedure examined any frequent themes and subcategories in the comments. Results showed six consistently present categorical themes: Wait Times, Shortage of Workers, Underfunded Healthcare System, Unrelated Covid-19 Symptoms, Avoidance, and Solutions. Furthermore, additional subcategories were determined from the themes. This study analyzes the intense backlogs of surgical cases and waiting rooms, resulting in adverse patient outcomes. Additionally, this study explores the underfunded and understaffed healthcare system, the stresses healthcare workers face daily, and possible solutions to mend this broken healthcare system.Item War trauma effects on civilians: a content analysis of reactions of civilians with PTSD on YouTube(2023) Ahmad, QamarThis qualitative study explored the effect of war trauma on Iraqi civilians by examining YouTube videos that contained interviews with civilians, doctors, and military personnel giving their reactions and experience with war trauma and PTSD. This study examined 12 videos of civilians in Iraq and refugee camps, psychiatrists, and veterans who served in the Iraq war, and it identified the following themes: killing or death of family members due to war violence, fear, PTSD, nightmares, and anger. This study identifies the emotional responses to war trauma, and it demonstrates that most civilians have also developed other mental disorders due to exposure to war and life-threatening conditions.Item Masked reactions: a content analysis of reactions on Twitter to masking update by the premier of Alberta(2023) Wall, NaomiThis qualitative study was conducted to explore attitudes and reactions toward a tweet released by Danielle Smith on October 29th, 2022. The data was collected by creating a sample of the 100 most recent comments on the post. From there, the comments were coded to identify common themes and messages. Two sides emerged; those in support of Smith and those opposed. For those in support, four main subcategories emerged. For those opposed, six categories were developed. This study demonstrated that individuals were generally displeased with this announcement and the mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic by Alberta’s UCP government.Item Fighting for women, life, freedom across borders: a content analysis of Internet activism displayed in TikTok videos and public protests concerning the Iranian protests(2023) Dowdeswell, MaysonThis study examined internet activism displayed in TikTok videos and the sharing forms of public protest using TikTok videos regarding the 2022 Iranian protests. A content analysis of the 50 most liked videos using the advanced search “Iran protest 2022” identified eight general themes, including educational awareness, public marches/gatherings, cutting hair, miscellaneous, sports demonstrations, hacking Iranian media/ technologies, purposeful modesty law violations, and burning hijabs. The most prevalent theme of the eight was educational awareness, accounting for 50% of the total videos used in the sample. All videos included in the sample supported the protests and the symbolism provided, and no videos were found to be pro-Islamic regime.Item Long-term effect of Donald Trump’s usage of white supremacist rhetoric on public discourse: a content analysis of comments to a tweet about Donald Trump’s dinner with Nick Fuentes on Twitter(2023) Simmons, EthanThis qualitative study performed a content analysis of the top 50 comments on a tweet about Donald Trump and his dinner with white supremacist Nick Fuentes. This study aimed to see if any long-lasting effects were caused by Trump's utilization of white supremacist dogmatic rhetoric. The comments were coded for relationships with each other and prevalent themes; five were apparent 1) Criticism of the media, 2) Mention of Trump's base, 3) Use of the term white supremacist, 4) Use of term antisemitism, 5) and Criticism of Trump or Republican Party. The most pervasive themes explored were the sentiment that Trump is associated with white supremacy, a notion that tarnished him and his base, according to the findings of this analysis.Item Cross-border tensions affecting sports: a content analysis of reactions to extreme decisions Made by Ramiz Raja on Twitter due to politics being exposed to sports(2023) Nauman, DuaThis study aimed to explore cross-border tensions affecting sports and how people reacted to the decision made in the wake of those tensions. Fifty Twitter comments were sampled using a purposive method to gain knowledge about the themes in reactions to bold decisions made by Ramiz Raja. Results revealed 11 main themes. The literature suggests that disputes are brought up by politicians, which reflects the general population. The results show that the public does not hold the same views as the politicians, and people are more accepting of moving past conflicts. People are very protective of cricket in both nations. Current events have shown that despite politicians working hard to keep nations apart, the people do not completely agree.Item The abortion debate: a qualitative content analysis of public reactions to a TikTok video on the overturning of Roe v. Wade(2023) Bukhari, AlizaThis qualitative analysis investigated public reactions in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This consisted of a content analysis of 50 of the most recent comments from an NBC news video posted to the TikTok account for the Today Show. The analysis identified four findings, with an emphasis on the last finding. The results demonstrated that individuals felt strongly about the overturning: 1) reactions were either for or against the decision, 2) forty-two of the comments were reactions against the overturning while 8 were for, 3) general themes found among the 8 comments were happiness, celebration, unsympathetic and dismissive, and 4) the most apparent themes among the 42 comments were freedom of choice, individual rights, injustice, medical and societal implications, emotional and betrayal.Item The Lorax effect: a statistical analysis of environmental concern in Canada(2023) Gagnon, AlexandraAs the globe continues to experience the effects of climate change, researchers must continue to investigate factors that contribute to individuals' attitudes concerning climate change. This study utilizes survey data from 1,539 Canadians gathered in 2019.The data was analyzed using ordinary least square linear regression to analyze how political ideology, gender, and level of education correlate with individuals’ level of environmental concern. Approximately 83.2% of Canadians rated themselves as having a moderate level of environmental concern or higher in the collected survey data, suggesting that most Canadians express some amount of environmental concern. Canadians with a conservative political ideology have a lower level of environmental concern than their liberal counterparts. Within the Canadian context, there is no statistically significant relationship between level of education and concern for the environment. Females are more concerned, on average, about the environment, compared to males. Canadians’ gender identity seems to influence their level of environmental concern. However, more representation of non-binary individuals is needed in future data-gathering to analyze non-binary individuals' level of environmental concern. The paper further discusses these variables' effects on the level of environmental concern.Item Perceptions of dairy farms on the environment: a content analysis of comments on TikTok(2023) Ostapovich, Sarah; Symbaluk, DianeThis study examined the public perceptions of dairy farms on the environment by examining comments to a TikTok video, which presented a claim that the dairy industry has had a decrease in its environmental impact. A content analysis was conducted with initial and secondary evaluations, finding 5 broad categories which included positive and negative perceptions of the dairy industry, as well as a further 6 themes comprised of informative, clarification, blaming humans, veganism, critical, and education. The most common theme was informative, encompassing 38% of the relevant comments. The findings indicated proficient use of scientific research, and critical considerations of the video, and reflected the biases and influences found in social media and popular culture.Item Sharenting and exploitation: a content analysis of public reactions to the Wren Eleanor situation(2023) Stratman, Alyssa; Symbaluk, DianeThis study analyzed 50 responses to the viral case of Wren Eleanor to understand how people react to sharenting and related allegations of child exploitation. The sample consisted of positive and negative reactions (i.e., those supportive and those critical of Wren’s mother and her sharenting). Positive responses revealed themes of Victim, Opposition, Encouragement, Emotional Attachment and Involvement, or Advice, while negative themes emphasized Perpetrator, Exploitation, Fear, or Action. This study demonstrates that parasocial relationships and interactions may play a key role in how people react to sharenting and allegations of child exploitation.Item Sharenting and exploitation: a qualitative content analysis of public reactions to the Wren Eleanor situation(2022) Stratman, Alyssa; Symbaluk, DianeThis study analyzed responses to the viral sharenting case of Wren Eleanor to understand how people react to sharenting and related allegations of child exploitation. A sample of 50 comments was created by retrieving the first 25 comments displayed on two TikTok videos. The sample consisted of an equal number of positive reactions (i.e., those supportive of Wren’s mother and her sharenting) and negative reactions (i.e., those critical of Wren’s mother and her sharenting). The positive responses had five themes: Victim, Opposition, Encouragement, Emotional Attachment and Involvement, and Advice. The negative responses had four themes: Perpetrator, Exploitation, Fear, and Action. This study demonstrated that parasocial relationships and interactions potentially play a key role in how people react to sharenting and allegations of child exploitation.Item The entanglement of the 21st century(2022) Grahn, ShelbyOft forgotten poet and playwright Sir Walter Scott once wrote, “O, what a tangled web we weave…” (Marmion, 1808, 17). While Scott spoke of a tragic romance, in 2018, journalist Al Fonzi echoed these words in an incendiary New Times article accusing The Sierra Club, an “influential grassroots environmental organization”, of being influenced by Russia. Fonzi went on to endorse fracking as a cleaner way of obtaining fossil fuels, appealing to those concerned about climate change by remarking how America had reduced its carbon emissions more than any other nation (Fonzi, 2018). He praised the industry’s benefit to the economy and its high starting wages. The article closes with a suggestion that those who would turn away from oil and gas are just being influenced to damage the American energy sector. Fonzi is assertive in his beliefs, even in the face of commenters who passionately disagree with his opinions and despite the available research concluding otherwise. How can someone, let alone a journalist, be so willfully ignorant? Does the sharing of these attitudes have any real effect on society? Subjectivism states that there is always a myriad of factors at play as to why anything is the way that it is. Fonzi is a product of all the things he has experienced and has been influenced by all of the labels he has worn. According to the brief biography following the article, Fonzi is a veteran, having served in both Vietnam and Iraq, with 35 years of military intelligence under his belt. From the comments, it is suggested that he is an advocate of Donald Trump. He is also a journalist, one of the most popular tools used in the sharing of dominant moral codes (Philipzig, 2022). The comments accompanying Fonzi’s article serve as a small example of the constant conflict occurring in society due to a sophisticated interplay of many different factors, which this paper will aim to explore as they apply to the current state of our world.Item Reliance on service integrated housing in Canada compared to Ukraine(2022) Durocher, ShaelynAs of 2019, nine percent of the world’s population was 65 or older. That is 703 million people who identify as senior members of society (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2019). This number will only continue to increase as the baby boom generation ages and as people live longer lives. This influx of seniors is aided by advances in medical technologies and reduced lifestyle risks, increasing overall health levels and decreasing the number of premature deaths. All this equates to severe issues for senior housing, as nations worldwide are faced with limited resources and funding. Seniors might traditionally turn to supportive housing to ensure their independence and overall comfort are maintained in their final years. Both formal and informal supports ease the burden of aging populations on families and governments. By formal support, this project refers to government assistance programs and solutions such as supportive housing initiatives, home care services, hospitals, or private housing institutions. The term Service Integrated Housing (SIH) is utilized within this project as an all-encompassing term for the various formal housing initiatives implemented as an institutional approach to senior care and housing. Defining informal support refers to cultural provisions such as multigenerational homes, social networks of family and friends, and community volunteers. Both forms of support (formal and informal) are important in maintaining a senior’s health and happiness when they need assistance with life’s daily activities. Within this research article, I will identify plausible causes for increased reliance on Service Integrated Housing in Canada compared to Ukraine through an exploration of cultural norms, reasons to seek support, and monetary spending.Item How did legal aid come to be? A cross comparison of Canada’s and Ukraine’s legal aid implementation(2022) Koski, RachelLegal aid is known around the world as a system to help the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable population gain access to justice. Most countries implemented their own unique legal aid systems around the mid-20th century. Legal aid has been around longer, as early as the late 19th century but it was known as charitable work, where lawyers would volunteer their time. During the 1960’s and 1970’s most countries started to pass legislation implementing the development of legal aid. This paper explores a western country, Canada, to a European country, Ukraine, on their implementations of legal aid. It gives an in-depth analysis of the similarities and differences in their implementation process and development of their own legal aid systems.Item Sex work within Canada and Ukraine: social aspects and factors that manifest and affect legislation(2022) Stephens, MayaThis project discusses the criminalization of sex work and the social and institutional aspects that affect its legality. While some individuals believe that these women are simply working for a living, using the assets they have available to them, other individuals believe that sex work is one of the most immoral things you can do with your body. They often think there is inescapable exploitation when it comes to sex work, often believing that it is different from other jobs that deteriorate your physical health to make money for the business exploiting your labour. However, there are, of course, people who believe that sex work is an inherent part of society and could have a positive role, and therefore the government and its citizens should attempt to make it accessible and safe for those workers. The unequal and negative perception of sex work could come from religious views of sex and women, social stigma, cultural norms, or government legislation that criminalizes sex workers. To discover the difference between Ukraine and Canada’s sex work legislation, general statistics on each country will be explored, as well as gender inequality, historical legislation, social norms, the country’s wealth, and violence statistics. The goal is not to determine if either country should change its legislation but to further understand the factors that may impact a country's harsher legislation against prostitution. As well to hopefully reduce stigma through education to make sex work a safer and less stigmatized option for those who would like to pursue a job in the industry. This is a complex problem, with little consensus among individuals, academics, government officials and sex workers. There is no universal way to solve it, nor a universal way to study and understand it. However, it is important to address societal inequality by researching, improving access to education, and further understanding it. Thus, what societal aspects affect legislation regarding sex work?Item A cross comparison of temporary work release programs as an alternative to incarceration within Canada and Ukraine(2022) Shaw, LaurenThe goal of punishment through incarceration is to enforce ideals of criminal deterrence, provide retribution for victims of criminal activity, and to aid in the protection of society from offenders and criminal activity (Ward & Salmon, 2009). Methods of punishment by means of incarceration rely on the denial of access to opportunities and resources that are offered to members of society who are not criminals. By focusing on factors entailed in the idea of enforcing punishment via incarceration, the carceral system is not promoting offender reintegration into society, which increases likelihood of reoffending and thus perpetuates broken justice systems. There is an innumerable amount of evidence suggesting that punishment is not an effective method for the reduction of criminal activity. Therefore, due to a rise in prison populations, criminal activity and high recidivism rates, there is a need to review and modify the methods of the carceral system and offer reintegration programs for offenders (Cheliotis, 2008). This paper compares and contrasts the use of temporary work release programs within Canada and Ukraine and provides insight with regards to how the usage rates of temporary work release programs have changed over time since their implementation in legislation within Canada and Ukraine.Item Erosion of the rule of law: a study of Canada and Ukraine(2022) Haug, HarrisonSocial inequality is present in every society, and every country has to deal with it differently. Some countries deal with social issues better than others. This paper examines the strength of the rule of law in Canada and Ukraine and the different factors that can affect that strength. Mainly, the factors that the paper focuses on are corruption and discrimination. When looking at something like corruption, we will see that some countries deal with this better than others, while some might deal with discrimination better. The point is that while every country faces these issues, they are not equally affected. The goal is to examine the similarities and differences between Canada and Ukraine regarding these issues.