Login

Publications  •  Project Statistics

Glossary  •  Schools  •  Disciplines
People Search: 
   
Title/Abstract Search: 

Dissertation Information for Stacey Peterson

NAME:
- Stacey Peterson

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- Rutgers University (USA) (2002)

ADVISORS:
- Linda Lederman

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Lea Stewart
- Mark Winston
- Bishetta Merritt

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: The development of social bonds: The role of social interaction and alcohol use among African American college women

Abstract: The social interactions of African American undergraduate college women were examined to determine how they formed and solidified their social bonds while in college and to evaluate the role of alcohol in social encounters.

Focus group interviews were conducted in order to collect the data for this study. Constant comparative analysis, which allowed the researcher to classify incidents by comparing them to one another, was used to analyze the data.

Several themes emerged from the data analysis. One addressed the social activities and social life of these African American college women. Students described having active and fulfilling social lives and expressed a preference for socializing primarily with blacks.

Another theme addressed how students formed social bonds. They explained that being around other blacks was important to them and that they used social events as ways to solidify the relationships they had with current friends. Drinking did not play a role in how they formed social bonds. Drinking took place rarely and was not the reason for getting together. Informal gatherings in the dorms were considered the most enjoyable times and social bonds were formed in these encounters.

Another theme focused on the perceptions of the drinking behaviors of their Caucasian peers. These African American college women perceived that Caucasian students were the heaviest drinkers on campus, that they gathered in order to drink, and that they used drinking to excuse their disruptive behavior. These students felt that African Americans were unfairly targeted by campus officials who required them to have excessive security at their on-campus parties. They believed that police accepted a misperception that there would be trouble when blacks gathered for social activities.

These themes suggest that the misperceptions about drinking and college students prevail and that drinking does not necessarily play a central role in having an enjoyable social life or forming social bonds. Students are drawn together by similarities, like race or drinking behaviors. Addressing the social activities of these low and moderate drinking students can show other drinkers that social acceptance can and does take place outside of drinking contexts.

MPACT Scores for Stacey Peterson

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:11:25

Advisors and Advisees Graph

generating graph, please reload

Students under Stacey Peterson

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None