VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Flora, Cornelia B."

Browsing by Author "Flora, Cornelia B."

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Access and control of resources: Lessons from the SANREM CRSP
Flora, Cornelia B. (Gainesville, Fla.: Humanities and Agriculture Program, Center for Applied Philosophy and Ethics in the Professions, University of Florida, 2001)
Developing sustainability in an agricultural ecosystem requires that attention be given to inequities within communities. The experiences of SANREM CRSP revealed that gender inequality was a significant factor in the access and control of resources that were critical for the projects reaching their goals. Among the resources of financial, manufactured, human, environmental, and social capital, enhancing social capital among women was a crucial component of plans for increasing collective and household sustainability. Women's roles in the different SANREM CRSP sites varied significantly and provided a helpful indicator of what aspects of the landscape and lifescape should be addressed in order to work toward sustainability.
Achieving success in Western society: bulimia as the ultimate effort
Carleton, Julia Magdalen Machara (Virginia Tech, 1994-02-15)
Bulimia has recently emerged as an increasing threat to the health of young women in Western society. Though thought by some to be primarily prompted by psychological and physiological instabilities, this research attempts to explore the association between bulimic symptoms and the external pressures to conform to accepted standards of excessive thinness. It is noted that the bulimia trend primarily appears among the population which is overwhelmingly targeted by messages promoting the ideals of success through excessive beauty and thinness. Therefore, this study explores the relationships among several variables: the level of pressure felt by young, achievement-oriented women to control their weight in order to accomplish their goals; the level of difficulty experienced in achieving weight control; and the presence of bulimic symptoms. The sample for this study was taken from five undergraduate sociology courses at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The research found that among women who held career, social, and family relationships to be of high priority, the pressure to be thin in order to succeed in these areas, along with the difficulty experienced by the respondent in achieving weight loss, was positively associated with the appearance of bulimic attitudes and behaviors. Analysis of responses of males in the study did not produce significant findings with regard to the relationships between bulimic symptoms, the pressure to lose weight to achieve goals, and the difficulty in controlling one's weight. This study concludes that the unrealistic expectations imposed on young women in Western culture regarding their bodily appearance, and the difficulty in adhering to these expectations, have a direct impact on the appearance of bulimia in young achievement-oriented women.
Adaptación al cambio climático y de mercado en comunidades del Altiplano: Estudio de caso de la comunidad de Santa María
Turín, Cecilia; Cóndor, Pedro; Flora, Cornelia B.; Flora, Jan L. (2007)
Presentation of the case study research that is being conducted in the Community of Santa Maria in Peru within the objectives of SANREM-CRSP LTR-4 project "Adapting to climate and market change in Altiplano communities".
Adapting to climate change in vulnerable communities in the Andes: Advocacy coalitions
Flora, Cornelia B.; Flora, Jan L.; Fernández-Baca, Edith (2009)
A presentation about the research on advocacy coalitions being conducted in the Peruvian Andes as part of the SANREM LTR-4 project:
Adoption-diffusion of wildlife management innovations by nonindustrial private forestland owners
Green, Champe Brockenbrough (Virginia Tech, 1992-08-15)
An experiential forest and wildlife management training program, based on the adoption-diffusion model, was conducted for 49 nonindustrial private forestland (NIPF) owners. Participant-owners were surveyed 6 months after their training to monitor adoption and diffusion activity. Owners who were nominated by local natural resources professionals adopted significantly more management innovations than those owners not nominated. Farmers demonstrated the most adoption and diffusion activity, business people the least. Farmers and business people were more oriented towards timber production objectives than others, professionals were more oriented towards wildlife management objectives. An a priori developed predictive opinion-leadership model was not correlated with either adoption or diffusion activity. Owners living less than 8 km from their tract spent significantly more time in dissemination efforts than others, as did those who had voluntarily stated an intrinsic motivation to "share what they learned" upon application to the project. Those owners who had gained extensive knowledge from past contact with natural resource professionals were significantly more active in adoption-diffusion activity than others, and those with self-perceived high interpersonal skills engaged significantly more peer owners in diffusion efforts than did others. Size of forest ownership, time residing in a community, primary objectives for owning forestland, and number of local leadership positions held had no significant effect upon adoption diffusion activity by NIPF owners. A significant and negative correlation was found between an owner's self-perceived level of education and one-onone diffusion outreach activity. NIPF owners were generally ambivalent about involvement in informal resource management clubs. It is suggested that future educational projects conducted for NIPF owners be scheduled for late winter or spring versus the fall season, particularly if a short (6 mo.) monitoring of adoption and diffusion activity is a constraint. This investigator hypothesizes that the same methodology used in this study of adoption-diffusion behavior of NIPF owners would be effective in instructing opinion-leading, professional change agents about adoption diffusion theory and techniques.
The advocacy coalition framework: A theoretical frame for SANREM to address policy change and learning
Flora, Cornelia B.; Flora, Jan L.; Campana, F.; Fernández-Baca, Edith (Watkinsville, Ga.: SANREM CRSP, 2001)
The everyday activities of individuals and communities are generally channeled and limited by decisions about resource allocation and regulation that are taken beyond the local level. These decisions may or may not be contested and the "beneficiaries" of those decisions may or may not be aware of them. Further, these decisions are made not only by governments, but also by corporations and non-governmental organizations. Information is always used to justify those decisions, but it is often sought after the decision to validate the course taken rather than before the decision to inform it.
An assessment of the determinants of interprovincial migration in China, 1982-1987
Hoe, Ruan (Virginia Tech, 1990-04-23)
This study attempted to assess the major determinants of interprovincial migration in the People's Republic of China. The findings suggest that the classical gravity and pull-push hypotheses can also find supporting evidence in the People's Republic of China. Basically, the differential socio-economic characteristics and circumstances determined interprovincial population movement, but relatively speaking, the destination factors played more important roles. Among the variables examined in the study, destination investment and agricultural income level had the strongest pull-force on migrants. On the other hand, unemployment of destination was found to have a push-force discouraging migrants. From the contrast between the positive effect of the destination investment and negative one of the destination unemployment, a conclusion was drawn that the interprovincial migration was largely job-related. Moreover, people in the origin with a higher level of industrialization were less likely to migrate. The analysis also found that the higher level of educational attainment at the origin relative to that at the destination, the higher the migration. In addition, in spite of the similar influence of population and distance on male and female migration streams, the socio-economic conditions affected male migration stream to a larger extent than female migration streams.
Capital social, empoderamiento y medioambiente social
Flora, Cornelia B.; Rames, V.; Hurtado, A.; Morales, P. (2004)
Este presentación describe la importancia de capital social y otras formas de capital. También discute el trabajo de USAID sobre "sustainable livelihoods" y capital social.
Capital, community and collective action: Social foundations of sustainability in an Andean buffer zone (Ecuador)
Flora, Jan L. (Watkinsville, Ga.: SANREM CRSP, 2002)
Development approaches have traditionally emphasized material resources, ignoring the less tangible forms of capital. But sustainable development, especially in relation to land use and production systems, calls for an integration of environmental, economic, human, and social capital. Emphasis on only one type of capital can in fact undermine sustainability. By examining the interaction of different kinds of capital in four buffer zone communities, the study identifies features of economic, social, and political organization that are positively related with the potential for building environmental capital.
Coaliciones de persuasión, los capitales y investigación - acción participativa
Flora, Cornelia B.; Flora, Jan L. (2006)
An explanation of the various capitals and their relationship with a healthy ecosystem, social equity and vital economy. It also explains the importance of the research process in achieving negotiation capabilities and the better use of natural resources within communities. A conceptual framework for coalition building shows it as a tool of support that allows the easily identification of the actors involved in the decision making process. The latter is recognized for improving capabilities of producers to make alliances.
Communautés Rurales, Agricultures et Développement Durable
Flora, Cornelia B.; Flora, Jan L. (2008)
A presentation in France about Hispanic immigrant population contribution to rural development in Iowa, USA.
Community and the Habits of Democratic Citizenship: An Investigation into Civic Engagement, Social Capital and Democratic Capacity-Building in U.S. Cohousing Neighborhoods
Poley, Lisa D. (Virginia Tech, 2007-09-06)
Widespread concern over recent changes in American civic life has spawned arguments in a range of disciplines about the importance of social capital, citizen civic capacity and deliberative democratic engagement in supporting the development of engaged citizens, as well as supporting a democracy that is effective, publicly-minded and accountable. This study contributes to this literature by empirically investigating the potential for a specific type of place-based community development called "cohousing" to enhance the quantity and quality of resident civic engagement. Cohousing neighborhoods marry elements of social contact design with democratic self-governance and intentional social practices designed to build trust and cohesion among neighbors. In addition to investigating civic engagement in cohousing, this study investigates the degree to which U.S. cohousing neighborhoods build social capital, develop residents' democratic capacities and provide a platform for deliberative democratic practice. The results of the study indicate extraordinarily high levels of civic engagement by U.S. cohousing residents as compared to both the general population and to individuals with similar educational, income and racial characteristics. A multiple-case analysis of three neighborhoods, selected for positive deviance in civic engagement levels, were found to possess high levels of trust, social cohesion and norms of reciprocity. Case community residents were also found to be developing a range of democratic capacities, individually and collectively, particularly through engagement in community self-governance via structures of distributed leadership and the use of consensus-based, community decision-making processes. This study suggests that self-governing, communities of place, such as cohousing neighborhoods may represent a promising new avenue for enhanced citizen-engagement at the grassroots-community level. These neighborhoods also represent an excellent arena for future investigation into conditions, necessary and sufficient, to catalyze increased democratic capacity and civic engagement on the part of citizens.
Community capitals: Poverty reduction and rural development in dry areas
Flora, Cornelia B.; Thiboumery, A. (Jodhpur, India: Arid Zone Research Association of India, 2006)
The lack of water in communities in arid lands is often related to the mal-distribution or absence of other resources. In the past, many communities responded to scarce resources by transhumance, building on cultural capital and social capital to produce sustainable livelihoods. But lack of political capital has reduced the options of transhumant communities. As they settle, new pressures are put on natural capital, beginning a downward spiral of other community resources. Successful efforts to reduce poverty in arid lands invest in many capitals in order to reverse the spiral. Attention to bridging and bonding social capital as an entry to poverty reduction is often more successful than built capital to provide bore holes or wells. Attention to cultural, human, social, and political, as well as natural, financial and built, is required for sustainable development in arid lands.
Community participation for conservation and development of natural resources: A summary of literature and report of research findings
Gasteyer, S.; Flora, Cornelia B.; Fernández-Baca, Edith; Banerji, D.; Bastian, S.; Aleman, S.; Kroma, M.; Meares, Alison (2002)
This paper reviews the available literature on participatory approaches to natural resource management, identifying nine specific elements that are common in literature. The authors explain how these elements are applied in several case studies. The paper also discusses the results from implementation of participatory approaches in community-based water quality protection initiatives, which illustrate the necessity of community participation in natural resource management.
Conservation Agriculture, Innovations Platforms and Community Capitals
Flora, Cornelia B. (2008)
This presentation contains graphs that show "IPG's adapted at each level", the "Innovation Platform," the capital that leads to poverty alleviation and resource conservation, and the capital that leads to a vital economy, social inclusion and a healthy ecosystem. Also included are lists of the "Immutable Mobiles for Conservation Agriculture" both on the international and local levels.
The construction of social problems and the experience of human service programs: contradictory relations in a support group for adolescent mothers
Luff, Tracy L. (Virginia Tech, 1997-01-15)
The patterned interactions in a support group for adolescent mothers are analyzed in the context of the specific construction(s) of adolescent pregnancy and motherhood that legitimate the program's existence. Particular attention is paid to the way in which staff and clients are positioned vis a vis one another through the typification of the program's mission and goals. Data analyzed include field notes recorded during ten months of participant observation with the group, program documents describing the history, mission, and goals of the program, and an in-depth interview with the Program Director. Changes in funding patterns led to an increased emphasis on the prevention of child abuse as a goal of the program. The resulting expectations of program staff and assumptions about adolescent mothers cast these two groups of women into social identities containing inherent contradictions. Differences of social class further complicate the relationship between the groups. Varying strategies of self-presentation are employed by clients and staff as they struggle with these contradictions. The young mothers present themselves in ways that maintain distance between themselves and staff. While the staff are never completely successful and breaking down the barriers between themselves and the young mothers, one style of self-presentation has the potential to bridge the gap. The findings have practical implications for the design and implementation of human service programs, particularly those which address stigmatized categories of women. The findings also have theoretical implications relevant to ongoing discussions of feminist epistemology, and the intersection of gender and social class.
Creation of social incentives for the conservation of biodiversity
Flora, Cornelia B. (Athens, GA: SANREM CRSP and CARE-SUBIR, 2001)
This chapter discusses the interplay between human, social, natural, and financial/constructed capital that is needed for integrated conservation and development projects to succeed. She also evaluates the effectiveness of different motivation sources, such as social pressure, force, and economic incentives.
Deviant fertility in China
Li, Li (Virginia Tech, 1992-11-05)
While most Western and Chinese scholars emphasize the success of Chinese family planning programs, this dissertation focuses on fertility behavior which violates family planning regulations in China. The study contributes to a better understanding of the Chinese "deviant" fertility by conceptualizing the phenomenon in a theoretical framework and conducting an empirical investigation of the issue. In this dissertation, the concept of "deviant fertility" is defined as reproductive behavior that violates current family size norms in terms of having more than the accepted number of children. An approach that bridges the sociology of fertility and the sociology of deviance is established. Specifically, the theoretical framework is based on the cultural conflict perspective of deviance, developed by Thorsten Sellin. The normative conflict concerning fertility in general and the confrontation between the traditional Chinese large family norms and current family planning rules are explicated. Three major data sets are used: the Chinese In-Depth Fertility Survey, with a sample of 6,654 Chinese ever married women aged 49 or younger, the Old-Age Security Survey of 220 married Chinese couples, and the Records of County Family Planning Commissions. More than 50 variables and a number of measurement scales are defined and measured. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's r and analysis of variance, multiple regression, and path analysis are employed in the analysis. Findings from multivariate analyses indicate that a number of factors are significantly related to deviant fertility in China. They are: (1) ideal of large family size, (2) son preference, (3) socioeconomic development, (4) type of employment, (5) area of residence, (6) failed pregnancy, and (7) fertility discussions between a husband and a wife. In addition, the analyses reveal different patterns between rural and urban samples in terms of the impact of individual variables on deviant fertility and different explanatory power of the models. Path analysis further enriches the knowledge of deviant fertility by identifying a number of particular paths through which deviant fertility is influenced. by the selected factors. Several relevant issues drawn from the findings are addressed, including relationships between deviant fertility and Chinese women's status, prevalence of son preference, rural-urban differences, and normative conflicts of fertility in China. Policy implications are also indicated.
Differential perceptions of prejudice: an analysis of social attribution
Graves, Ellington T. (Virginia Tech, 1992-10-15)
Studies have found disparate perceptions of race relations and discrimination between black and Asian students at institutions of higher education. A linkage is made between perceptions of race relations and attributions of prejudice as a motivation. Attribution theory is developed as a foundation for theoretical understanding of the attribution of prejudice. Both theoretical and empirical literature is reviewed to provide a rationale for expecting blacks to attribute, and therefore perceive, more prejudice than Asians. Several social factors are also identified which could serve as additional reasons to expect blacks to attribute prejudice more frequently than Asians. Results from a questionnaire tapping prejudice attributions are analyzed for significant group differences. Those differences are then analyzed by ordinary least-squares multiple regression. Support is found for the contention that blacks have a greater tendency to make prejudice attributions than do Asians. Support is found for the hypothesis that perceptual differences between blacks and Asians are partially due to differences in the tendency to attribute prejudice. Perceptual differences are also found to be partially due to citizenship status and race. A greater salience of race for blacks and blacks' greater tendency to attribute prejudice are suggested as reasons for observed differences in the perceptions of black and Asian students. The greater salience of race for blacks is discussed as a possible effect of structural inequality, or as a cultural artifact originating in past inequality.
Disarticulated agricultural growth: a comparative study of two Chilean regions
Gacitúa Marió, Estanislao A. (Virginia Tech, 1992-12-15)
During the last twenty years, Chilean agriculture has experienced unequaled modernization and growth. The uneven character of this process shows that economic development and the expansion of some agricultural sub-sectors can be associated with the absolute and relative increase of poverty, particularly in rural areas. This dissertation postulates that the disarticulated nature of the accumulation pattern has impeded the achievement of sustained national growth and social equity, as well as threatened the preservation of national food security. This study explains the disarticulated character of Chilean agricultural growth during the last 25 years, analyzes the effects that disarticulation has on national food production and consumption levels, and attempts to advance some policy alternatives. An important contribution of this dissertation is to interpret the ongoing process of regional differentiation in Chilean agriculture through the analytical framework of disarticulated growth. The results of this study indicate that decreasing disarticulation requires restructuring of the prevalent accumulation pattern. Otherwise, alternative policy instruments would not accomplish the goals of growth, equity, and sustainability. The development of the agricultural export sector is nut contradictory to the achievement of sustainability and equity. In fact the expansion of the export sector could contribute to the articulation of the economy. However, this would require a shift in the investment priorities and increasing state support to the annual crops and livestock sub-sectors, particularly to the campesino producers. At the same time, investment in the agroexport sector would have to shift from expanding production via incorporation of new lands to increasing productivity and overall increasing the value of the products. That is, investment would have to be geared toward agroindustrial processes that would add value to the unprocessed agricultural commodities that are currently exported. Finally, sectoral and macroeconomic policy should contribute to internal expansion by increasing employment and minimum wage levels.

Browsing by Author "Flora, Cornelia B."

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