College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
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The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations..
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Item EVALUATING TREATMENT HETEROGENEITY IN THE COMMUNITY MEDIATION MARYLAND RE-ENTRY PROGRAM(2018) Pierotte, Lisa; McGloin, Jean M; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)To assist soon-to-be released prisoners in their re-entry process, the Community Mediation Maryland Re-Entry (CMM) program focuses on strengthening pre-existing pro-social relationships and assisting in the development of re-entry plans. Prior evaluations suggest this program is successful at reducing recidivism, but given the varied nature of the treatment, important questions remain. This thesis investigates potential treatment heterogeneity based on the subjects’ selection into different formats of the mediation process (i.e., selection of outside participants, focusing on emotional support, and reaching an agreement). The investigations into potential treatment heterogeneity (e.g., propensity score models) reveal null results. In the context of the prior evaluations, it is possible that the null results reflect that CMM is a generally effective program. Future research should consider capturing a larger sample of subjects mediating in the program so that subsequent evaluations can investigate important distinctions in the treatment received, which may be valuable in guiding future implementation of the re-entry mediation model.Item How one helps: personality, theoretical orientation, and helping skill preference(2009) Hummel, Ann Martha; Gelso, Charles J; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)In order to test the interrelationships among personality, preferred theoretical orientation to counseling, and preferences for various response modes (helping skills) in counseling, undergraduates in peer counseling and basic helping skills courses completed measures of these three constructs. Findings include four significant relationships between personality factors and theoretical orientations, and four significant relationships between theoretical orientation and helping skill preference. Three significant relationships between personality factors and helping skill preference were found, including two replications from an earlier study by the author (Hummel & Gelso, 2007). Identification with and belief in the humanistic/client-centered theoretical orientation was found to be a mediator between emotional stability and preference for direct guidance. Overall, there were modest interrelationships between personality, theoretical orientation, and helping skill preference in beginning helping trainees; but it was suggested that these relationships may not yet be solidified at this point in their development as helpers.Item Managing Discontent: Institutions, Intervention and Ethnic Conflict(2006-03-21) Biswas, Bidisha; Lichbach, Mark I; Government and Politics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Over the last fifteen years, the number of civil conflicts worldwide has declined and negotiated settlements have increased. The spread of democracy and greater international concern about domestic conflicts have encouraged states to adopt a negotiations-based approach to addressing minority grievances. In many conflicts, international intervention has played a significant role in facilitating dialogue and peace settlements. The complexities of cases of ethno political conflict suggest that a twin track approach, which looks at the domestic and the international levels of analysis, is critical. Yet, the existing literature on conflict management tends to study either international intervention or domestic institutions. Intersections between the two are ignored. Combining a cross-national analysis using the Minorities at Risk (MAR) dataset with a case study of Sri Lanka, this research project examines the relative and combined impact of domestic institutions and international intervention on the management and de-escalation of conflict. Uncertainty and mistrust between the state and minority groups drives political violence. Mitigating this uncertainty and building trust become essential for building peace. The extant literature fails, however, to recognize that the pathways to building trust and reducing uncertainty vary according to domestic political capacity. When the conflict-affected state is facing domestic institutional anarchy, coercive forms of international intervention, such as offering security guarantees through peacekeeping troops, become necessary. In contrast, where conflict co-exists with relative political stability and some measure of democracy, non-coercive intervention, such as mediation, becomes critical. In contrast to collapsed states, the challenge in such countries is to reform, rather than replace or create, institutions. Where the state is not facing a collapse of authority, facilitative intervention, such as mediation, can be a more cost-effective conflict management tool than high-cost, high-impact actions. This class of cases, which includes Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, has not been adequately investigated in the existing scholarly literature. The arguments and findings presented here make an important contribution by focusing on the interactive role of domestic and international variables, particularly in relatively stable states.