Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Ethnic management'

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2006.
Thesis Advisor(s): Peter Gustaitis. "December 2006." Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-83). Also available in print.

The present political climate in which the ideals of entrepreneurship and self-help are strongly encouraged has drawn attention to those ethnic minorities noted for their entrepreneurial activity. Since the Chinese appear to be an exemplary case in point, this thesis focusses upon the historical material conditions which have led to the formation of a Chinese 'business* community in Britain, both past and present As such, it rejects the theories of cultural determinism which characterise most studies of the Chinese. For rather than representing the endurance of cultural norms, the existence of the contemporary Chinese 'niche' of ethnically exclusive firms in the catering industry is due to the conjunction of a number of historical processes. The first is the imperialist expansion into China of Britain's capitalist empire during the nineteenth century which established a relationship of dependency upon the interests of British capital by colonial Chinese labour. The second is the post war development of the catering industry and its demand for cheap labour as administered by the British state together with the contemporaneous development of the agricultural economy of colonial Hong Kong. Far from representing a source of material benefit to all, the ethnic Chinese 'niche' in catering is highly exploitative and merely underlines the racial oppression of Chinese in Britain. Attempts to promote business interests within the ethnic community therefore serve merely to entrench the structures of oppression.

In Nigeria, most citizens between the ages of 20-60 believe that ethnicity is the leading cause of discrimination. The central problem addressed in this study was how ethnic diversity influenced managerial choices in Nigeria. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the role of ethnicity in managerial choices in a Nigerian federal traffic management agency to gain an understanding of how ethnicity influenced managers' recruitment, placement, and promotion of employees. Complexity theory and a consideration of African management practices constituted the conceptual framework. Participants were 11 managers who were recruited from a Nigerian government agency using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling. Data collection occurred through interviews, observation, and government document reviews. Through use of Yin's 5-step process for data analysis, data triangulation, and member checking, 10 themes emerged regarding managers' decisions: (a) federal character principle, (b) merit, (c) ethnicity, (d) influence of godfathers, (e) favoritism, (f) promotion, (g) productivity, (h) morale, (i) frustration, and (j) health challenges. A conclusion was that ethnicity played a role in managerial choices. However, the execution of the current Nigerian law to manage ethnic diversity allowed the alleged discriminatory actions of managers in government agencies. Recommendations included a change in the implementation strategy of the federal character principle to reduce incidences of discriminatory actions in government agencies. This study may contribute to positive social change by providing public service managers the knowledge to create an enlightened and fair public service, free of ethnically induced barriers that have underpinned Nigeria's underdevelopment.

Thesis: S.M. in Management Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2018.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 29-34).
Venture capitalists have been shown to be more likely to invest in entrepreneurs of the same ethnicity. At the same time, this result rests on assumptions about how shared ethnicity is defined both theoretically and empirically. Current measurement of ethnic ties is problematic due to mis-classifications, mixed heritage individuals, and variation in accuracy by ethnicity. This paper overcomes these limitations by taking advantage of a novel source of data -- face photographs -- and by applying advanced machine learning techniques to compute the facial similarity between investors and entrepreneurs in a large scale dataset of realized and potential investments. Results suggest that previous work has vastly underestimated the relationship between ethnic ties and investment. Moreover, this relationship is more nuanced than previously documented, varies with the stage of investment and the type of investors involved, and is associated with a lower likelihood of securing follow-on funding or achieving an exit.
by Jane Y. Wu.
S.M. in Management Research

At the end of 1999, the Swedish government adopted two European Union conventions to protect ethnic minorities, and Roma people were recognized as a national ethnic minority of Sweden. Approaching the 20th year mark after the recognition, this research aims to develop an in-depth and inclusive database for Roma people’s heritage and archaeological resources management. Analyzation of the collected data is based on the number, nature, and responsible organizations for the events. As a result, 48 events were recorded in the database under such a framework. A significant increase in events happened in the second decade (2010 to 2019) of the research period. 14 out of 21 counties in Sweden have participated in the topic and three excavations have been done in the past 20 years. Former Roma people’s settlements have been discovered in the western and eastern counties of middle Sweden. Therefore, it can be suggested that counties such as Södermanland and Västmanland have the geographic advantage to further discover new traces that have yet to be recorded. This thesis analyses the Bohuslän Museum’s exhibition Möt Resandefolket! as a case study due to its uniqueness as the only permanent exhibition about Roma people in the country. It includes a spatial analysis under Moser’s framework (2010) and experience analysis using the thick descriptive approach suggested by Geertz (1973). The interview with the museum’s archaeologist Kristina Lindholm connects the perspective from the exhibition curators and heritage mediators, while 3D modelling is also developed and used as a tool to understand the spatial context and the effectiveness of idea communication in the exhibition. As a result, the case study identifies two challenges in communicating Roma people’s heritage and culture: the limited resources in the material culture and the alienness raised in the exhibition. The causes and possible confrontations of these matters are discussed, followed by suggestions on how to improve the excavation agenda, digital preservation for intangible heritage, and new representation and presentation methods. There is also potential in turning alienness into a positive motivation which enables the exhibition to further fulfil its curiosity- and self-education attainment purpose. This thesis suggests that these ways of interpretation are effective means to illustrate and emphasize the uniqueness of a culture and to further appreciate the values in the ethnic minorities.
I slutet av 1999 antog den svenska regeringen två EU-konventioner för att skydda etniska minoriteter och romerna erkändes som en av Sveriges nationella etniska minoriteter. Denna forskning fokuserar på de 20 år, 1999–2019, som gått sedan erkännandet, och syftar till att utveckla en djupgående och inkluderande databas för romers kulturarv och arkeologiska resurshantering. Analysen av insamlade data baseras på antal, typer och ansvarande organisation för genomförda romska evenemang. 48 sådana registrerades i databasen och en betydande ökning av evenemang inträffade under decenniet 2010 till 2019. Baserat på de 48 företeelserna hade 14 av 21 län i Sverige deltagit i olika aktiviteter och tre arkeologiska utgrävningar hade genomförts under perioden. Eftersom före detta romska bosättningar har upptäckts i såväl öst som väster om län som ligger i Sveriges södra mitt, föreslås att län som Södermanland och Västmanland skulle ha en geografisk fördel till att upptäcka ytterligare nya spår av romsk kulturarv, som ännu inte registrerats. Denna uppsats analyserar Bohusläns museums utställning Mot Resandefolket! som en fallstudie på grund av dess unikum som den enda permanenta utställningen om romer i landet. Den inkluderar en rumslig analys utifrån Mosers ramverk (2010) och gör även en erfarenhetsanalys med hjälp av den metod som kallas ”thick description” (från Geertz [1973]). Intervjun med museets arkeolog Kristina Lindholm kopplar samman perspektivet från utställningens kurator och förmedlare av kulturarv, medan en 3D-modellering också används som ett verktyg för att förstå det rumsliga sammanhanget och effektiviteten i idékommunikation i utställningen. Som ett resultat identifierade fallstudien två utmaningar när det gäller att kommunicera romers kulturarv: de begränsade resurserna i den materiella kulturen och den främmande komponenten, s k ”alienness”, som uppstod i utställningen. Orsakerna till och möjliga konfrontationer av dessa frågor diskuterades vidare, följt av förslag för att förbättra utgrävningsagendan, digital bevarande för immateriellt arv och nya representations- och presentationsmetoder. Det lyftes också fram att det finns en potential att vända det främmande, ”alienness”, till något positivt, som en motivation som gör det möjligt för utställningen att ytterligare stimulera till både nyfikenhet och självutbildning. Denna uppsats visar även att tolkningsmetoder är effektiva medel för att illustrera och betona kulturers unikum och att ytterligare uppskatta denna etniska minoritet många värden.

Oulu, is currently branded the capital of Northern Scandinavia is a city of approximately 200 000 people and holds as of 2014, 4600 international residents. While that is a small amount of people in comparison to the population Oulu is still opening to have more tourists and foreign residence to consider it as a place of visiting and residing. This brings about the branding of the city as mentioned in the beginning of the paragraph. This thesis aims to investigate the reasons why ethnic-minorities in Oulu, Finland decide to become self-employed/ entrepreneurs. It also aims to look at different aspects of the business which include how the business was funded, the assistance of family in starting the business, the availability of social capital and to find out the composition of their employees. The use of qualitative methods will be used for research with the use of one-on-one, face-to-face interviews which include 6 entrepreneurs who have started up a business in Oulu, Finland.

In the 2006 census, Statistics Canada recorded that 23% of immigrant women aged 15 and over had a university degree at the bachelor's level or above. These women could help sustain an organization's competitive advantage and respond to labor shortages posed by an aging population. This phenomenological study highlighted self-initiated migration journey and career advancement experiences of migrant women. Through LinkedIn and referrals from non-profit organizations, a sample of 20 women was recruited. All women had migrated to Canada between the ages 32 to 50, all had 5 to 10 years of residence in Canada and all had college degrees from their home countries. Data were collected through in-depth qualitative interviews and analyzed utilizing Moustakas's framework. The themes were driven predominantly by the data from the study. In order to manage structural barriers to their career development, the participants highlighted the importance of career preparation such as postgraduate education, qualification accreditations and international experience to advancing their careers in Canada. The findings of this study showed that, the principles of meritocracy was influenced by ethic discrimination and educational barriers experienced by participants. The participants challenged inequalities by navigating within organizational structures using these modes of engagement; maintenance, transformation, and entrepreneurship as they developed their careers. The results provide a framework to the Canadian government, businesses, and settlement agencies to understand the implications of ethnicity and international experience to the current debate and proposition for reforms to immigration and hiring policies.

Whole document restricted until August 2010, see Access Instructions file below for details of how to access the print copy.
Abstract Background Asthma is a common problem in New Zealand, and is associated with significant morbidity and costs to children, their families, and wider society. Previously published New Zealand literature suggested that Māori and Pacific children were less likely than NZ European children to receive asthma medications and elements of asthma education, had poorer knowledge of asthma, and experienced greater morbidity and hospitalisations. However, none of the previous literature had been specifically designed to assess the nature of asthma care in the community, or to specifically answer whether there were ethnic disparities in care. A systematic review of studies published in the international literature that compared asthma management among different ethnic groups drawn from community-based samples was undertaken. The results of this review suggested that minority ethnic group children were less likely to receive elements of asthma medication use, asthma education and self-management (action) plans. Objectives The primary objectives of the study were to: • describe the use of medications, medication delivery systems, asthma education, and self-management plans in primary care for Māori, Pacific, and Other ethnic group children • ascertain whether there were any ethnic disparities in the use of medications, medication delivery systems, asthma education, and self-management plans in primary care after controlling for differences in socio-economic position and other potential confounders. Secondary objectives were to: • describe the asthma-related utilisation of GP, after hours medical care, emergency departments, and hospital admissions among Māori, Pacific, and Other ethnic group children with asthma • ascertain whether differences in medication use, the provision of asthma education, and the provision of self-management plans explained ethnic differences in health service utilisation. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Auckland, New Zealand. The caregivers of 647 children who were aged 2–14 years, had a diagnosis of asthma or experienced ‘wheeze or whistling in the chest’, and had experienced symptoms in the previous 12 months were identified using random residential address start points and door knocking. Ethnically stratified sampling ratios were used to ensure that approximately equal numbers of children of Māori, Pacific and Other ethnicity were enrolled into the study. A face-to-face interview was conducted with the caregivers of these children. Data was collected about: socio-demographic factors; asthma morbidity; asthma medications and delivery devices; exposure to, and experiences of, asthma education and asthma action plans; and asthma-related health services utilisation. Results In this study, the caregivers of 647 eligible children were invited to participate and 583 completed the interview, giving an overall completion rate of 90.1%. There were no ethnic differences in completion rates. The overall use of inhaled corticosteroid medications had increased since previous New Zealand research was published. Multivariable modelling that adjusted for potential confounders did not identify ethnic differences in the use of inhaled corticosteroids or oral steroids. Some findings about medication delivery mechanisms indicated that care was not consistent with guidelines. About 15% of participants reported they had not received asthma education from a primary care health professional. After adjusting for potential confounders there were no ethnic differences in the likelihood of having received asthma education from a health professional. Among those participants who had received education from a primary care health professional, significantly fewer Māori and Pacific caregivers reported receiving education about asthma triggers, pathophysiology and action plans. Lower proportions of Pacific (77.7%; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 70.3, 85.1) and Māori (79.8%; 95% CI 73.6, 85.9) caregivers were given information about asthma triggers compared to Other caregivers (89.2%; 95% CI 84.9, 93.6; p=0.01). Fewer Māori (63.6%; 95% CI 55.7, 71.4) and Pacific (68.1%; 95% CI 60.1, 76.1) caregivers reported receiving information about pathophysiology (Other 75.9%; 95% CI 69.5, 82.3; p=0.05). Information about asthma action plans had been given to 22.7% (95% CI 15.5, 29.9) of Pacific and 32.9% (95% CI 25.3, 40.6) of Māori compared to Other participants (36.5%; 95% CI 28.6, 44.3; p=0.04). In addition, fewer Māori (64.2%; 95% CI 56.1, 72.3) and Pacific (68.5%; 95% CI 60.1, 77.0) reported that the information they received was clear and easy to understand (Other 77.9%; 95% CI 71.8, 84.1; p=0.03). About half of those who had received education from a health professional reported receiving further education and, after adjustment for potential confounders, Pacific caregivers were less likely to have been given further education (odds ratio 0.57; 95% confidence interval 0.33, 0.96). A minority of participants (35.3%) had heard about action plans and, after adjustment for potential confounders, Pacific caregivers were less likely to have heard about these plans (odds ratio 0.54; 95% confidence interval 0.33, 0.96). About 10% of the sample was considered to have a current action plan. The mean number of visits to a GP for acute and routine asthma care (excluding after-hours doctors and medical services) in the previous twelve months were significantly higher for Pacific (3.89; CI 3.28, 4.60) and Māori (3.56; CI 3.03, 4.16) children than Other ethnic group children (2.47; CI 2.11, 2.85; p<0.0001). Multivariable modelling of health service utilization outcomes (‘number of GP visits for acute and routine asthma care in the previous twelve months’, ‘high use of hospital emergency departments’, and ‘hospital admissions’) showed that adjustment for potential confounding and asthma management variables reduced, but did not fully explain, ethnic differences in these outcomes. Māori children experienced 22% more GP visits and Pacific children 28% more visits than Other children (p=0.05). Other variables that were significantly associated with a higher number of GP visits were: regular source of care they always used (regression coefficient (RC) 0.24; p<0.01); lower household income (RC 0.31; p=0.004) and having a current action plan (RC 0.38; p=0.006). Increasing age (RC -0.04; p=0.003), a lay source of asthma education (RC -0.41; p=0.001), and higher scores on asthma management scenario (RC -0.03; p=0.05) were all associated with a lower number of GP visits. Pacific (odds ratio (OR) 6.93; 95% CI 2.40, 19.98) and Māori (OR 2.60; 95% CI 0.87, 8.32) children were more likely to have used an emergency department for asthma care in the previous twelve months (p=0.0007). Other variables that had a significant effect on the use of EDs in the multivariable model were: not speaking English in the home (OR 3.72; 95% CI 1.52, 9.09; p=0.004), male sex (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.15, 5.15; p=0.02), and having a current action plan (OR 7.85; 95% CI 3.49, 17.66; p<0.0001). Increasing age was associated with a reduced likelihood of using EDs (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.81, 1.00; p=0.05). Hospitalisations were more likely in the Pacific (OR 8.94; 95% CI 2.25, 35.62) and Māori (OR 5.40; 95% CI 1.28, 23.06) ethnic groups (p=0.007). Four other variables had a significant effect on hospital admissions in the multivariable model. Participants who had a low income (OR 3.70; 95% CI 1.49, 9.18; p=0.005), and those who had a current action plan (OR 8.39; 95% CI 3.85, 18.30; p<0.0001) were more likely to have been admitted to hospital in the previous 12 months. Increasing age (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.80, 0.98; p=0.02) and parental history of asthma (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.18, 0.85; p=0.02) were associated with reduced likelihood of admission. Conclusions The study is a robust example of cross-sectional design and has high internal validity. The study population is representative of the population of children with asthma in the community. The three ethnic groups are also considered to be representative of those ethnic groups in the community. The study, therefore, has good representativeness and the findings of the study can be generalised to the wider population of children with asthma in the Auckland region. The results suggested that some aspects of pharmacological management were more consistent with guideline recommendations than in the past. However, given the higher burden of disease experienced by Māori and Pacific children, the lack of observed ethnic differences in the use of preventative medications may reflect under treatment relative to need. There are important ethnic differences in the provision of asthma education and action plans. Future approaches to improving care should focus on interventions to assist health professionals to implement guideline recommendations and to monitor ethnic disparities in their practice. Asthma education that is comprehensive, structured and delivered in ways that are effective for the people concerned is needed.

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of African Americans as mentees in cross-ethnic mentoring relationships with two research questions: Through the lived experience of the mentee, what characteristics should a mentor possess in cross-ethnic mentoring relationships, and from the lived experience of the mentee, what behaviors can the mentor and mentee exhibit to ensure positive outcomes? For the purpose of this study, a cross-ethnic mentoring relationship is described as a mentoring relationship between a Caucasian American mentor and African American mentee. Leadership theories—transactional leadership theory, transformational leadership theory, servant leadership theory as well as transformative learning theory—were used to guide the data collection and data analysis process for this study. Each participant reflected on an aspect of leadership and its application to their mentor. Five themes were revealed from the data collection, expanding the existing literature on mentoring: authenticity, openness, trust, communication, and race neutrality. Participants shared the memories of their mentoring relationships, highlighting the importance of mentoring in providing extended networks and resources, the acceptance and support from their mentors as well as, creating a space for race neutrality.

This thesis considers the extent to which decentralisation in the Republic of Macedonia between 2005 and 2012 has been effective in reducing ethnic inequalities that exacerbate social divisions and can lead to conflict. Guided by the concept of horizontal inequalities, it identifies the factors which influenced the decision to devolve responsibilities to the municipalities after 2001. It examines the particular institutional design that Macedonian decentralisation took, and demonstrates how its use of local power-sharing mechanisms was intended to address the concerns of the Albanian and Macedonian communities simultaneously. This thesis takes an integrative approach to studying the political, administrative, and fiscal dimensions of decentralisation's implementation, and considers whether the reform has indeed contributed to the reduction of inequalities between Macedonia's ethnic groups. Where decentralisation's potential has not been reached, obstacles to its successful implementation are identified. While decentralisation alone may be unable to address all of the grievances raised by the Albanian community prior to 2001, this thesis argues that the reform has the potential to address many of the horizontal inequalities that were responsible for raising inter-ethnic tensions during the 1990s. However, decentralisation in Macedonia between 2005 and 2012 has only been partial, and advances in the administrative and political aspects of the reform have been undermined by limited progress in its fiscal dimension. Attempts to solve self-determination conflicts through decentralisation will fail if local self-governance exists only in form but not in substance.

Ballet is a world of exquisite artistry and strong tradition that has evolved beyond its origins as an elite court dance of 17^th century France into a global art form reaching audiences throughout the world. Yet, to this day, ballet remains mostly white. This inequity is found not only on the stage, but in the ballet school, executive suite, and boardroom.

Racial inequity in ballet is born of a complex system of historical, social, and organizational issues, including: artistic tradition, racism, socioeconomics, cultural policy, education, funding, management, and governance. Because these issues are not independent but intersectional, they must be examined and addressed holistically.

By conducting surveys, interviews, and a thorough literature review, the author dissects the challenges ballet companies face in promoting racial equity and identifies strategies being implemented to address those challenges. The author posits that racial equity must come from the top of an organization, with leaders setting policy that leads actionable change. Simultaneously, there must be a bottom-up approach where access, education, and opportunity are given to rising dancers and leaders of color.

This paper is meant to be a working resource for all dance professionals seeking to promote racial equity in ballet.

This qualitative dissertation – which employed a descriptive phenomenological design – examined the associative links that situate racialized knowledge, leadership, and the actions leaders in organizations take to secure competitive advantage. The intent was to investigate the circumstances embedded in the everyday experiences, perceptions, and knowledge of leaders in ethnically and racially diverse organizational settings to discern patterns and themes that might illuminate more fully the complexity of racialized knowledge and its potential to inform decision-making, leadership practices, and organization competitive advantage. The study used a semi-structured interview format to obtain data from eight White and eight non-White participants via an online asynchronous interface. Seven significant themes emerged from participant interviews – reckoning relationships and individual differences, race-coded communication, debunking bias, perspectival diversity, immutable leadership practices, racial spaying, and competitive diversity – which extended the body of knowledge related to racialized knowledge, leading racially different others, and the actions undertaken by leaders to sustain organization competitive advantage. This research is significant to leaders in organizations because it helps them make sense of the often complex and shadowy world in which racialized knowledge is sanctioned, formalized, and operationalized by actors in social organizations.

Research suggested that multicultural team performance is influenced by several variables, but research on the topic has produced conflictive results. It has been suggested that bicultural individuals, due to their dual cultural schemas, can be very competent in mediating the effectiveness of bicultural teams through the use of boundary spanning and conflict perception competencies. Many studies on the topic of multicultural team effectiveness have been performed with college students or under simulated environments, which limits the generalizability of the. To address this research gap, this study provided empirical evidence on the effectiveness of multicultural teams in a real working scenario. A set of validated questionnaires previously published in peer review journals were used to survey 337 bicultural individuals that have been part of a multicultural team for more than one year. The individuals were surveyed on their experience using boundary spanning and conflict perception bicultural competencies and on their rating of the multicultural team effectiveness. Multiple regression analysis indicates that both boundary spanning and conflict perception bicultural competencies have a significant effect on the effectiveness of multicultural teams. Perception of conflict shows the most significant predictive relationship, with immediate conflict resolution, emotional conflict and disagreements on who should do what the most strongly related items to the effectiveness of multicultural teams.

This research explores how race, class arid gerider act together in constructing black women's experiences of managing health arid everyday life. The methodology takes a feminist perspective, rendering the women interviewed subjects rather than objects. This is central for acknowledging and countering our different experiences of race arid class. One finding was that for women, health is inseparable from everyday life. Maintaining health is integral to the emotional arid material reproductiors of the family. In this management of everyday life the women Interact with a range of 'resources' which are themselves historically structured. This led to a consideration of the theoreti cal nature of resources. Following Giddens, 'resource' is used to provide a conceptual bridge between individual arid social structure. Resources are differentially distributed along the lines of race, class arid gender arid are the media through which power is exercised arid structures of domination reproduced. Resources may, however, be both enabling arid constraining. This use of resources avoids a deterministic view of r-ace, class and gender, allows a dynamic coriceptualisatior, of culture, arid refutes the labelling of the black family as 'pathological'. Rather, black family or-garsisatiori enables the coristructiori of black women's ideology of emotional and material independence. Then detailed are the women's childhood and migration experiences. Also consider-ed as resources for managing everyday life are sever-al areas of health care. These are Caribbean systems, home remedies, OPs arid hospitals. The analysis of these experiences provides a framework for- exploring their- relation to private medicine. Finally, a brief overview is giver, of the wider areas of everyday life which the women felt integral to their- accounts of managing health. The research concludes by suggesting that these women's experiences illustrates both the way in which resources are differentially structured by race, class and gender and how this constructs their experience of managing health and daily life.

Portland, OR, is the site of a unique urban food cart phenomenon that provides opportunities for small business ownership and access points for culturally specific food for the city's foreign-born and minority populations. Known as a "foodie haven," Portland also has an active sustainable food movement with engaged citizens and support from city and regional policies aimed at significantly increasing the consumption of local food. To date, there have been no in-depth studies on the sourcing habits of Portland food cart owners and whether or not these street-level actors are involved in the area's local alternative food movements (AFNs). The current understanding of the Portland food cart phenomenon is based on studies that have focused on carts and pods located in the central business district and "inner-ring" areas of the city. Areas beyond these locations (defined as Eastern Portland) are currently home to the majority of the city's growing foreign-born and minority populations. This thesis uses a situational analysis framework to explore the food supply practices of ethnic food cart owners operating in Eastern Portland cart pods. I investigate the feasibility of purchasing locally grown ingredients for use in ethnic cuisines and the degree to which cart owners incorporate the region's prevailing locavore ethics into their everyday culinary practices. Findings from this inquiry suggest that ethnic cart owners in Eastern Portland have a range of habitus, or personal dispositions and embodied knowledge, that is reflected in how they perceive the benefits of and barriers to "buying local" and the extent (if any) that they engage with AFNs in the Portland area. I assert that ethnic food cart owners in Eastern Portland are performing multiple community roles by providing access points for culturally specific cuisines for their particular ethnic groups, while also offering exotic experiences to other residents and tourists alike. I discuss variations within the food cart phenomenon itself by highlighting the differences in design, amenities, types of access, and neighborhood customer bases of cart pods located in Eastern Portland. Finally, I discuss future research directions for understanding the dynamics of food supply chains in small-scale, direct-to-vendor relationships and the implications for local and regional food sustainability policy goals.

People who commit suicide are often more likely to be suffering from depression and feelings of worthlessness. Different ethnicities have different rates of suicide. There are various reasons for this, including family support or lack thereof, individualistic versus collectivist cultural norms, and stress. This study looks at the relationship between feelings of depression among various ethnic groups, and whether one ethnic group has a higher prevalence of depression and feelings of worthlessness than the others. Results of this study can be used to help determine the populations that are in need of suicide prevention programs the most, and ways to customize the programs for those high-risk ethnicities.

The failure rate among small businesses is high. More than half of all small businesses fail within the first 7 years of operation. The purpose of this multi-case study was to explore the strategies that successful small ethnic restaurant owners employed to remain operable beyond 7 years. Three successful ethnic restaurant owners who have been operating their restaurant for at least 7 years in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada were selected. Data were gathered from participant interviews and from an examination of available physical artifacts such as the locations, premises, websites, and social media pages. The resource-based view by Edith Penrose was the underlying conceptual framework for this research. Within-method triangulation was used to ensure the rigorousness of the study. In the study, 5 themes were identified: hard work, interest or passion, family support, location, and food and service quality. These findings underscore the importance of hard work, business interest, family support, prime location, and quality food for successful small businesses. Current and future small ethnic restaurant business owners may apply these findings to improve their business performance and survival rate.

The present study explored whether use of Spanish language sayings, or dichos, improved group climate within multi-ethnic chronic pain groups. Use of this form of figurative language fits within psychological theory identifying use of metaphor as a means of promoting change and creating new meaning. Further, metaphor use is consistent with the broader aims of experiential therapy. Group climate was measured by group members' self reports using the Group Climate Questionnaire-Short Form. A pilot study involving Latino Americans in medical and non-medical contexts aided in categorizing dichos as high versus low-relevance. It was anticipated that clients would rate high-relevance sessions as involving greater engagement, and less conflict and avoidance than low-relevance groups. Participants were recruited from four multidisciplinary pain management clinics offering similar programs. Once every four to six weeks, group leaders were provided with a list of either high or low-relevance dichos, and were blind to the existence of dichos categories. Three hierarchical regression analyses were employed to determine whether dichos relevance, characterized as low, mixed or highly relevant, contributed to variance in group conflict, avoidance and engagement. Dichos familiarity was the last variable entered into the regression equation, with gender, ethnicity and acculturation score entered in sequential fashion. Consistent with predictions, low-relevance groups yielded higher conflict scores than all groups combined. Also, high-relevance groups predicted lower avoidance when compared to all groups. In contrast to hypotheses, high-relevance groups predicted lower ratings of group engagement when compared to all groups. Post-hoc analysis indicated the mixed-relevance groups yielded significantly higher engagement scores than the low and high-relevance groups. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to impact on approaches to group therapy with Latino American clients, and within the chronic pain population. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are offered.

Globally, there is a growing demand for food away from home as a result of higher incomes, changes in consumption patterns, changes in household composition, and the time pressures created by dual-working families. The foodservice industry has become highly competitive as the number of foodservice outlets has increased to meet the demand. In order to succeed in such a competitive industry, restaurant operators need to understand the factors (and their relative importance) that influence restaurant patrons’ decision when selecting a restaurant. The demand for ethnic foods has also increased, in New Zealand and worldwide, due to the influences of ethnic diversity, overseas food and cultural experiences, and media exposure. Despite the importance of restaurant choice criteria and a growth in popularity of ethnic foods, published research on consumers’ restaurant selection behaviour that focuses on the ethnic segment is relatively limited. Furthermore, there are no published empirical studies on ethnic restaurant choice behaviour in New Zealand. This research aims to fill these gaps in the literature by empirically identifying the factors that influence a decision to dine at an upscale ethnic restaurant, their relative importance, as well as their relationships with dining occasion and consumer characteristics. Focus group discussions and the literature review helped identify a set of restaurant choice factors. A mail survey was used to collect the data. Factor analysis was used to refine the restaurant choice factors, and logistic regression analysis identified the five significant factors that influence consumers’ decision. These are: Dining Experience, Social Status, Service Quality, Food Quality, and Value for Money, listed in order of their importance. The results of t-tests and ANOVA suggested that consumers perceived the restaurant choice factors differently based on their demographic characteristics. The results of this study contribute to the marketing theory by providing an empirical framework of consumer selection behaviour in New Zealand upscale ethnic dining establishments. The study will also assist marketing practitioners and operators of ethnic restaurants to develop their strategies and offer the attributes that attract and retain customers.

The study investigated the impact of ethnicity and gender on sexual orientation disclosure in the workplace. A total sample of 129 African American lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) workers between 20 and 61 years of age completed an online survey on PsychData. Respondents were given several measures to determine their ethnicity, gender conformity, and workplace sexual identity coping strategies. A 2x2 multivariate analysis of variance was used to examine the differences between the independent variables (gender conformity/nonconformity and ethnic identity) and dependent variables (passing, covering, implicitly out, and explicitly out). Based on the minority stress model, the research questions focused more on passing and covering coping strategies among LGB individuals who have dual minority identities (i.e., sexual orientation and African American ethnicity). No significant differences were found in terms of using passing and covering coping strategies among LGB individuals who identified with their African American ethnicity combined with gender-nonconforming behaviors. This may have been due to several factors such as a restricted sample size, change or shift in social stereotyping, or the contradicting feelings or concerns of LGB workers with regard to disclosing their sexual orientation. Although previous researchers posited that LGB individuals have a fear of being discriminated against and rejected in the workplace, there are few laws that prevent sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, leaving the LGB individual to engage the continuum of coping strategies. Methodological implications and limitations of the study are discussed, and suggestions for future research are presented.

Resilience is an essential and highly desired characteristic of a social-ecological system’s ability to adapt and adjust to various stresses and shocks that cause disruption. As social and ecological systems are intertwined and continually experiencing changes and disturbances, a major challenge appears revolving around the ways in which this resilience can be built and investigated. Social-ecological resilience can be defined as the amount of stress or disturbance that a particular system can tolerate, while still maintaining the same functions and identity. This paper uses social-ecological resilience concepts as a research framework, and examines three main themes that allow for the building of water management resilience to occur. These themes include learning to live with change, nurturing the ability to adapt/adjust to changes, and also on creating opportunities for self-organization. Two ethnic minority villages in Northern Thailand were chosen as research sites, in which the village water management practices were studied within a specific time period. Varying degrees of quantity and quality water issues within both villages have brought about stress and disturbances within their water management practices and increased the need to deal with these problems. Research was conducted at a community scale and resilience analysis pertains only to this specific level. Through the utilization of focus groups and interviews, qualitative data was collected and analyzed within a SE resilience context. This paper sets out to explore how social-ecological resilience has been built or not, and to what degree this has occurred within these two villages water management practices. The analysis indicates how complex and interconnected the social and ecological systems are and how the water management practices of these two communities play a role in this complex, dynamic process. Conclusions drawn are not limited to these two communities, but can be applied to the wider Northern Thailand region.

Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2006.
"March 2006." Thesis Advisor(s): Kathryn Kocher, Mark J. Eitelberg. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-109). Also available online.

This project suggests a method of conflict analysis, anchored in Bourdieu's social theory, that weds approaches within sociological, political, and international relations theory. I focus on the contemporary conflict between the French state, and the substantial population considered "foreign" within France. This tension has regularly exploded into physical confrontation, most notably in the fall of 2005, though violence has been a persistent feature of the urban periphery for more than two decades. Moreover, tensions within France have often been co-opted into a larger "East vs. West" discourse, and this complex relationship is folded into an international conflict to which it may not belong. With this in mind, the project undertakes a thorough analysis of these complexities as they exist in France, proposing finally a means of transforming the conflict from violent to non-violent through a new theory of mediation.

Denna empiriska studie ämnade till att undersöka hur äldreomsorgen inom kommun NN (påhittat namn) arbetar förebyggande mot etnisk diskriminering samt upplevelser kring detta arbete. Studien hade en kvalitativ ansats med en psykologisk utgångspunkt där semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes på både arbetstagare och enhetschefer för att sammanställa en helhetsbild av arbetet. Författarna genomförde ett målinriktat urval av organisation och därefter ett bekvämlighetsurval av respondenter. Detta resulterade i åtta deltagare (n=8) varav fyra av dessa var enhetschefer och fyra var undersköterskor, med en fördelning på tre män och fem kvinnor. En konstruerad intervjumall användes i genomförandet av intervjuerna och för resultatet användes en tematisk analysmetod. Studiens resultat visade att det förekommer brister i det förebyggande arbetet mot etnisk diskriminering på kommun NN. Information och kommunikation visade sig vara de huvudsakliga bristande faktorerna i det förebyggande arbetet mot etnisk diskriminering.
This empirical study aimed to investigate how the care of the elderly in municipality NN (fictive name) works to prevent ethnic discrimination and the experiences with this work. The study was operationalized with a qualitative approach with a psychological point of view. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with both employees and unit managers to compile a holistic picture of the work. The authors conducted a targeted selection of organization and then a convenience sampling. This resulted in eight participants (n = 8) of whom four were unit managers and four were nurses, with a distribution of three men and five women. A constructed interview template was used when conducting the interviews, and for the result a thematic analysis method was used. The findings of the study showed that there is a lack of preventive efforts against ethnic discrimination in municipality NN. The inadequate factors in the preventive work against ethnic discrimination were shown to be information and communication.

Through the lens of identity process theory, the present thesis explores: (i) the qualitative nature of British national and ethnic attachments and their respective outcomes for identity processes among British South Asians (BSA); and (ii) the impact of media representations for identification and identity processes. In study I, 20 first generation South Asians (FGSA) were interviewed regarding identity, national and ethnic group memberships and inter-ethnic relations. The results revealed that (i) social representations of the ethnic 'homeland' could accentuate national attachment, but that both national and ethnic identities could have positive outcomes for identity processes in distinct social contexts; (ii) the phenomenological importance of 'special moments' and family identity can shape and accentuate national identification; (iii) ethnic and national identities are strategically 'managed' in order to achieve psychological coherence. In study II, 20 second generation South Asians (SGSA) were interviewed regarding similar issues. The results revealed that (i) SGSAs' awareness of the hardship faced by FGSA in the early stages of migration could induce disidentification with Britishness and accentuate identification with the ethnic group; (ii) the Press may be regarded as excluding BSA from Britishness; (iii) SGSA may manifest hybridised identities to enhance psychological coherence. In study III, a sample of 50 tabloid articles regarding BSA was analysed qualitatively. The results revealed that (i) BSA are constructed as 'deviating' from self-aspects of Britishness; (ii) BSA may be represented in terms of a hybridised threat to the ethno-national ingroup. Study IV investigated some of the findings of the previous studies quantitatively. The questionnaire was administered to 215 BSA. A series of statistical analyses confirmed (i) the impact of negative media representations of one's ethnic group for identity processes; (ii) the accentuation of ethnic identity and attenuation of British national identity as a result of exposure to negative media representations; (iii) a weaker national attachment among British Pakistanis than British Indians. It is argued that levels of British national and ethnic identities will likely fluctuate in accordance with social and temporal context and that BSA will make strategic use of both identities in order to optimise identity processes.

The aim of this thesis is to examine the impact of new public management (NPM) reforms on teacher professionalism in Swedish ethnic segregated schools. As a result of the various NPM reforms implemented in the education sector, the work of teachers has changed considerably in the last twenty years. The introduction of the new form of control has intensified the work load of professional teachers and led to standardization of teaching. Some scholars argue that NPM has led to professional losing control of their work resulting in de-professionalization of teachers while others argue that professional might acquire new skills that enhance their professionalism leading to re-professionalization. The theoretical basis for the thesis is Evetts (2009) occupational and organizational professionalism which is used to investigate the links between NPM and professionalism in the contexts of the public services professionals. The empirical study consists of five semi structured interviews with teachers working in four ethnic segregated schools. The findings show that teachers working in ethnic segregated schools encounter a challenging teaching environment that affects their teaching quality and diminish their professional autonomy. The result indicates the expansion of organizational professionalism and the demise of occupational professionalism. The only aspect of occupational professional that is apparent in this study is collegial relations. Moreover the findings of this study indicate the tendency towards de-professionalization.

At the dawn of independence in Africa, colonial rulers hastily introduced new structures such as national parliaments, local councils, and opposition parties in a bid to channel popular demands into responsive policies. These structures while all laudable were no match for the ethnic identities that had been created during the colonial period. Colonial rulers had drawn ethnic and geographic boundaries arbitrarily perhaps as part of the divide and rule policy which are said to have contributed immensely to the development of ethnic identities. This seems to give credibility to Mngomezulu argument that the concept of ‘ethnicity’ itself was imposed by colonial administrators upon an otherwise undifferentiated group of people. Thus, while it may be true that Africans in the pre-colonial societies were not homogeneous as evidenced by the migration of various groups across the continent, the colonial era played on the divisions making them rigid.
Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2011.
http://www.chr.up.ac.za/
nf2012
Centre for Human Rights
LLM

Problem and Purpose – Diversity management, a subject of increasing interest over the last three decades in the business context, is even more relevant to higher education institutions, where diversity is present both in the supplier and customer side. In addition to general organisational improvements, most of the benefits arguably derived would have a direct impact on the cognitive processes such as problem-solving, creativity and learning, which are the core of the university reason for existence, being a centre for knowledge creation and transfer. However, the existing research covering diversity and its management in this particular organisational setting is very scarce. This paper aims to fill some of this gap. The purpose of this study is to identify the key motivators for ethnic diversity management in higher education institutions and the perceived benefits derived. Method – The investigation took the form of in-depth structured interviews conducted through e-mail, policy document analysis and website reviews of four selected higher education institutions. Pattern matching (Yin, 1994) was employed as the mode for data analysis. Findings – Ethnic Diversity Management was present in all units, however, it went beyond just the business case to include social justice view and other aspects. The HEIs studied were found to either manage diversity for purely ethical reasons, be motivated by a combination of moral considerations and perceived performance improvements, or completely culturally embrace diversity in the environment with less designated initiatives of diversity management, dependent on a range of variables present in each institutions related to their perceptions, goals and environment. Hence, both the social justice case and business case were concluded to be strong motivators for diversity management in the higher education context. Originality/value – The paper highlights various DM initiatives, strategies as well as observed effects, hence solidifying the arguments for recognizing and managing diversity and the link between well managed diversity and performance in various aspects, both in business and higher education context. The study is expected to make a contribution  to knowledge by assisting in providing information on key motivators for DM in HEIs and is intended  to be  an elementary supplement  for scholarly discourse in management science, and particularly DM in the HEI context.

This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your Honors Thesis, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by following the instructions on the distribution consent form at http://library.ucf.edu/Systems/DigitalInitiatives/DigitalCollections/InternetDistributionConsentAgreementForm.pdf You may also contact the project coordinator, Kerri Bottorff, at kerri.bottorff@ucf.edu for more information.
Bachelors
Sciences
Psychology

The development of lay-led chronic disease self-management programmes (CDSMPs) is considered to be an effective approach to help people self-manage chronic diseases. Current studies have, in their majority, been conducted with White participants, and it remains unclear whether CDSMPs lead to similar results for other ethnic groups, particularly high risk groups such as South Asians. This mixed methods research was constructed in two phases. Phase 1 consists of an evaluation of the Chronic Disease Educator (CDE) programme (a lay-led CDSMP). CDEs felt their role often changed during sessions, between a facilitator and educator, and were able to make content culturally applicable. Participants appreciated the group format of the programme. South Asian participants welcomed members of their community delivering the programme in community languages and were much more likely to report gaining new knowledge from attending the programme in comparison to other ethnic groups. Phase 2 consists of exploring current health beliefs with regards to chronic disease and selfmanagement within the Sikh community. Individuals from the Sikh community accessed a range of systems of support which included traditional health services, alternative remedies, the family and the community, all of which affected lifestyle, disease, symptom and emotional management.

Background: The aim of this thesis was to explore the self management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in black and minority ethnic (BME) groups using health literacy (HL) as the conceptual framework. Study One: Study One was a multi-method systematic review that aimed to answer the research question: What is known about the barriers to, and facilitators of, self- management of T2DM amongst BME groups? There were two review strands. The interventions strand drew together quantitative evidence on T2DM self-management interventions in patients from 28 trials. Secondary analyses demonstrated that interventions were most likely to show a positive effect on self-management if they were culturally competent and based on a theoretical framework. The 'views' strand of the review synthesised 57 predominantly qualitative studies of participants' perspectives on diabetes self-management. Thematic synthesis identified 'Sense of self as the over-arching theme. Finally, a cross-synthesis of the findings from both review strands was undertaken so as to consider whether barriers and facilitators to effective self-management identified within participants' views had been addressed by available interventions. Study Two: Study Two was a qualitative interview study with 15 first and second generation immigrant, British-Pakistani women who had T2DM. The study aimed to address the research question: How does having T2DM affect patients' identity and how does this relate to subsequent self-management? Thematic analysis identified the over-arching theme, 'Role re-alignment enables successful self-management' . Health literacy: Studies One and Two had the same subsidiary aim which was: To refine Nutbeam's conceptual framework of HL (2000) in the context of T2DM Using the key findings of both studies, operational definitions were developed for the different levels. Functional HL reflected day-to-day adherence, interactive HL focused on soliciting information and critical HL emphasised acquiring knowledge from experience. A critique was also presented of the conceptual framework focusing on its hierarchical nature and broader applicability.

The importance of ethnic origin as a factor in delivery of social services has been recognised internationally as relevant at different levels of organization. This study examined 500 dossiers, a random sample of clients referred in 1985 to one hospital social service department in Montreal. Age, gender, status of children, referring hospital service, problems experienced and involvement with community social service agencies were found to be related to ethnic origin, using the Kruskal-Wallis and Pearson chi-squared test. After accounting for differences between ethnic groups in age, type of problem and referring hospital service by the use of logit analysis, ethnic origin significantly affected the changes of involvement with Social Service Centres and Departments of Youth Protection. Among the implications of the results for social services in Montreal were the need for the following: recognition that some ethnic minorities have very different social service needs than the larger ethnic groups; development of skills in cross-cultural social service provision because of the clientele's varied ethnic background; consideration of the impact, desirability and viability of ethnic/socioculturally specific agencies and services. The urgent need for further research is emphasised.

Objective: The World Assumptions Questionnaire (WAQ) was developed to assess optimism and assumptions about the world, which often shift after traumatic events. However, no known study has investigated whether the WAQ holds similar meaning across demographic groups. The objective of this study was to investigate measurement invariance of the WAQ across race/ethnic group, sex, and sexual orientation. Method: Participants consisted of 1,181 college students (75% female; 25% Black, 13% Latinx, 18% Asian, 45% White; 90% heterosexual) who completed an online survey on stress, personality, substance use, and mental health. We investigated a unidimensional and the 4-factor structure of the WAQ using confirmatory factor analysis, and configural, metric, and scalar invariance using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. Results: After dropping 3 items, a 4-factor structure fit the data well (comparative fit index = .92; root mean square error of approximation =.05; 95% confidence interval [.045, .054]; standardized root mean square residual = .06). Mean WAQ scores were higher for participants with probable posttraumatic stress disorder on 2 of the 4 factors. We also identified multiple items that were not invariant across race/ethnic group, sex, and sexual orientation. However, after invariant items were removed, evidence of configural, scalar, and metric invariance was found. Conclusions: This study replicated the 4-factor structure, mapping onto the 4 WAQ subscales, and indicated that a unidimensional measure of world assumptions should not be used. After making the adjustments recommended herein, the WAQ can be used to investigate differences across race/ethnic group, sex, and sexual orientation.

Core notions from social movement research and Sociology of Law studies are integrated into development theory and power/inequality arguments to evaluate the relative importance of internal social organizations of groups, resource dependency, and the impact of the organizational learning process on Native American tribes' inclinations to take greater amounts of control over their economic, political, and social development. This frames development as a political problem, not just an economic one. An analytical model is developed that can be applied to many indigenous groups. This model is used to answer the following question: when new opportunities for sovereign expression are created through changes in the law, which sociological factors impact the ability to take advantage of it? This study raises and addresses some theoretical questions about the conditions under which collectivities opt for more self-determination and develop greater institutional autonomy. It also addresses public policy issues by identifying factors that have proven to be barriers for tribes to pursue greater degrees of self-determination.

Despite much anecdotal and oftentimes empirical evidence that black and ethnic minority employees do not feel integrated into organisational life and the implications of this lack of integration for their career progression, there is a dearth of research on the nature of the relationship black and ethnic minority employees have with their employing organisations. Additionally, research examining the relationship between diversity management and work outcomes has returned mixed findings. Scholars have attributed this to the lack of an empirically validated measure of workforce diversity management. Accordingly, I sought to address these gaps in the extant literature in a two-part study grounded in social exchange theory. In Study 1, I developed and validated a measure of workforce diversity management practices. Data obtained from a sample of ethnic minority employees from a cross section of organisations provided support for the validity of the scale. In Study 2, I proposed and tested a social-exchange-based model of the relationship between black and ethnic minority employees’ and their employing organisations, as well as assessed the implications of this relationship for their work outcomes. Specifically, I hypothesised: (i) perception of support for diversity, perception of overall justice, and developmental experiences (indicators of integration into organisational life) as mediators of the relationship between diversity management and social exchange with organisation; (ii) the moderating influence of diversity climate on the relationship between diversity management and these indicators of integration; and (iii) the work outcomes of social exchange with organisation defined in terms of career satisfaction, turnover intention and strain. SEM results provide support for most of the hypothesised relationships. The findings of the study contribute to the literature on workforce diversity management in a number of ways. First, the development and validation of a diversity management practice scale constitutes a first step in resolving the difficulty in operationalising and measuring the diversity management construct. Second, it explicates how and why diversity management practices influence a social exchange relationship with an employing organisation, and the implications of this relationship for the work outcomes of black and ethnic minority employees. My study’s focus on employee work outcomes is an important corrective to the predominant focus on organisational-level outcomes of diversity management. Lastly, by focusing on ethno-racial diversity my research complements the extant research on such workforce diversity indicators as age and gender.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and survival rates of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) patients are worse than those of non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients. A contributing factor to the worse outcomes may be lower healthcare utilization of AIAN patients. But improving healthcare utilization of AIAN to levels used comparable to those of NHW might increase costs of their care to amounts comparable to those of NHW. Objectives: 1) To examine differences in total healthcare costs and healthcare utilization 12 months following lung cancer diagnosis between AIAN patients and NHW patients, 2) To examine differences in total healthcare costs and healthcare utilization during the end-of-life period (last 6 months of life) between AIAN patients and NHW patients who died from lung cancer or any cause, and 3) To compare the incidence of depression disorder 60 months after cancer diagnosis and determine depression treatment utilization among those with a depression disorder. Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare dataset was used. Patients included in the study were those age 65 years and older, diagnosed with lung cancer between 2000 and 2011, Part A coverage, Part B coverage and no managed care plan before. Diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify costs, utilization, and depression diagnoses. The propensity score matching method was used to balance groups. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used for costs analysis and the negative binomial regression model was used to analyze healthcare utilization. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify risk factors for new diagnosis of depression. Results: Being AIAN was associated with lower total healthcare costs 12 months following lung cancer diagnosis. In contrast, being AIAN was not associated with total healthcare costs six months before date of death among patients diagnosed with lung cancer and ≤ 6 month survival time. The incidence of diagnosis of depression disorder 60 months after lung cancer diagnosis was 3.67% for AIAN patients and 6.16% for NHW patients. The mean number of depression treatment visits suggests higher utilization among AIAN patients compared with NHW patients. AIAN patients were not at increased risk for depression after cancer diagnosis. Conclusions: The healthcare utilization of AIAN patients with lung cancer could be improved while keeping costs of care no higher than those of NHW patients. But any improvements of health care use would need to take account of the variability among AIAN patients receiving health care 12 months following cancer diagnosis, in the last six months of life, and after depression disorder diagnosis.

Conflict over territory is a major concern to scholars and policymakers, and much of conflict over territory is driven by the issues that make territory more or less attractive, or salient, to states. I examine the impact that tangible and intangible issue salience has on territorial claims, and in particular, how it drives both conflict and conflict escalation. I argue that intangible issues, such as ethnic or religious kin, plays a greater role in driving more severe forms of armed conflict and conflict escalation, compared to tangible factors such as natural resources. This is theorized to be due to the difficulty in dividing territory with intangible elements, as well as domestic political pressure driving leaders to escalate. These suppositions are supported, with the finding that identity plays a particularly crucial and unique role in driving states to more severe forms of armed conflict. Further, I examine how natural resources may be viewed by states by their type and form of utilization, with certain resources likely to be more valuable or strategic to states based on their rarity, concentration, or ease of substitution, based in part on a state's level of development. The results support a fairly uniform role of natural resources, with particular resources and combinations of resources serving to drive low level conflict, but with generally little impact on severe forms of armed conflict. Development also is found to play a role, driving poorer states to dispute natural resources of certain types. Lastly, I return to the topic of conflict over territory with an ethnic dimension by examining the role of issue indivisibility in the negotiations process, and find that negotiated settlements are harder to reach, and states more likely to favor unilateral action when disputing territory with an ethnic or religious component compared to other types of issues in claimed territory.