Nipissing University major research papers (Graduate)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/1807/93417

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Locked down but no where to go : analyzing homelessness in the District of Nipissing, Ontario, Canada before, at the onset, and during the Covid-19 pandemic (2018-2021)
(2022-08) Odd, Megan
Homelessness is a growing social concern experienced across Canada. In Ontario, specifically in the District of Nipissing, this issue has become increasingly prominent in recent years. Previous research has described the demographic composition of the homeless population both in the Nipissing District of Ontario and in the city of North Bay. However, the trends and variations in the demographic profile and homeless experiences of this group before, at the beginning and during the COVID-19 pandemic have yet to be studied. Drawing on the model of “Cycle of Homelessness” (Wolch et. al, 1988), this research investigates structural and individual-level barriers and factors that are associated with becoming homeless or remaining homeless. Utilizing data from the 2018, 2020, and 2021 homelessness enumeration surveys, conducted in the District of Nipissing and Parry sound in Ontario, and employing descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses, this research project examines trends and sociodemographic variations in the reasons of homelessness, barriers to housing, episodic and chronic homelessness before, at the beginning, and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results revealed an emerging aging homeless population, a significant gender disparity, and an increase in first time homelessness among older individuals. The location where homeless individuals sleep was also revealed to be influenced by the pandemic. Decreases in emergency shelter use and increases in the use of locations where proper pandemic protocols and social distancing were possible was observed. The results showed an increase in chronic homelessness, in addition to an increase in episodic homelessness suggesting that individuals are becoming homeless and staying homeless for prolonged periods. Further, specific barriers to housing were highlighted as being influenced by the pandemic including addiction, substance use and the inaccessibility of safe and secure rental units. The migration analysis showed that the more recently an individual moved to the District of Nipissing, the more likely the main reasons given were related to accessing homelessness services and supports. Finally, gender disparity was found among COVID-related housing loss. The findings of this research suggest that policy makers in the Nipissing District should focus on increasing youth housing and homeless supports, as well as preventative measures for at-risk individuals such as advocating for increase of welfare amounts respective to inflating living costs.
Lé zistwér, l'tisaj a douaw dla l'èn pi dla sintsure fléché = |b les histories, le tissage à doigt de la laine et la ceinture fléchée = Stories, finger weaving and the sash.
(2024) Trudel, Rebekah
Métis sashes mean something to the Métis, as expressed by France Picotte, and they fall within the art mentioned by Ruth Wagner. Many scholars engage with weaving as a metaphor in their writing. For the Métis, the Métis sash is one of their symbols, a means of identification, a multipurpose tool, a prop in games and dances, a textile, a cultural garment, a teaching tool, a storyteller, used in ceremony and more. It is part of Métis heritage and legacy. Weaving is a skill, an art form, and finger weaving specifically provides its own set of unique experiences. Encompassing all of what was just mentioned is a concept first introduced to me by my supervisors, the concept of the sash as a gatherer. This research adds to the conversation, by utilizing weaving as a historic research methodology and by sharing what two Métis Elders’ stories say about finger weaving, and the sash.
"'Young ladies don't do things like that'": voices and stories from the women of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee
(2024) Ventress, Sydney
This research project examines the women of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and their memories of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. SNCC was a student-led organization in which women played a critical role in the organization and mobilization of the movement. They risked their reputations, relationships, and physical safety in pursuit of their activism. Using written memoirs of the women of SNCC, this MRP amplifies the often-unheard voices and stories of SNCC women and attempts to understand the factors – namely gender, race, and age – that shaped their participation. Through analysis of two common experiences, 1) being arrested and going to jail, and 2) their relationships with postsecondary administrators and parents, this paper demonstrates that the women of SNCC had uniquely diverse experiences, but their unifying experience was their shared passion and dedication to the Civil Rights Movement. During their time in the movement, the women of SNCC created a new identity for themselves as activists. This new-found identity was the central attribute that redefined their other identities as they chose their activist pursuits over obedience to social norms and expectations.
Gender variations in satisfaction with personal safety among rural and urban locations
(2024) Gagné, Rilley
Fear of crime impacts how individuals interact with their community and could potentially impact their mental health. Perceptions of safety differ among rural and urban communities, with rural communities often being associated with idyllic conditions. However, additional analysis is warranted to better explain the gendered variations regarding satisfaction with personal safety from crime and if they vary depending on location of residence and sociodemographic variables. According to the social vulnerability hypothesis, individuals of certain social demographics groups such as women report higher levels of fear of crime because their gender identity is associated with an actual risk or perceived vulnerability and victimization. This is aligned with the fear of crime paradox, which has emerged as prior research has indicated that women report higher levels of fear of crime despite having a lower risk of being victimized. This research draws upon the General Social Survey – Canadian’s Safety (GSS) from 2019 to investigate gender differences in reports of satisfaction with personal safety from crime when controlling forlocation of residence, sociodemographic variables, perception of neighbourhood crime rate, and victimization history. It finds a significant gender difference in satisfaction with personal safety from crime. Women are significantly less likely than men to report being either satisfied or very satisfied with their personal safety from crime. Location of residence had minimal impact on the relationship between gender identity and satisfaction with personal safety from crime, while larger effects were seen when controlling for all other variables. Results of this work suggest the need for additional research to be completed on certain sociodemographic variables and environmental characteristics that shape an individual’s perception of their neighbourhood and its safety.
Parents' educational expectations for their children : exploring the effects of socioeconomic status, sex and rurality in Canada
(2024) Reid, Christina M.
Existing research has underscored the important influence that parents’ educational expectations for their child have on their child’s academic success, academic achievements, and educational aspirations. However, there is very limited research on the factors that influence parents’ educational expectations for their child. To explore this gap in literature, this paper employs the Survey of Approaches to Educational Planning (SAEP) 2020 to analyze the relationships between parents’ socioeconomic status, sex of a child, urban/rural status, and parents’ educational expectations for their child in Canada. To understand these relationships, this research draws upon concepts of habitus, cultural capital and cultural reproduction theories as well as The Wisconsin Status-Attainment Framework. The findings reveal a statistically significant association between parents’ education, household income and parents’ educational expectations for their child across all levels of education. After controlling for the other variables, sex of the child was only statistically significantly associated with parents’ educational expectations for their child at the trades level. Urban/rural status was statistically significantly associated with parents’ educational expectations at the university level.
Analyzing the performance of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) within wildlife conservancies in the Maasai Mara and Northern Rangelands of Regions of Kenya
(2024) Babu, Iddi
Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is a form of natural resource management where, in theory, local communities are given more control of how to manage and distribute the benefits of natural resources in their communities. CBNRM has been applied in different regions and contexts, however it is generally perceived by policy makers as an alternative to previous, top-down resource management approaches. What are the key challenges faced by group conservancies in the Maasai Mara Region and community conservancies in Northern Rangelands of Kenya? How does the local context (e.g., governance structures and historical context) contribute to these challenges? What are the socio-economic impacts of CBNRM on local communities? How have conservancies responded to these challenges and what is the way forward? As I explore these questions, I will also identify the similarities and differences between group and community conservancies in the two study areas.
Ecological determinants of malaria incidence and its regional prevalence variation among children under five years old in Uganda
(2024) Ndyamuhaki, Yessey
This study explores the ecological and environmental, malaria control and preventive, and socio-economic risk factors influencing malaria infections among children under five years old in Uganda. This study uses data collected as part of the most recent Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey (2018-2019) implemented by the National Malaria Control Division (NMCD) and Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). A representative sample of 7,787 children, of these, 21.2% tested positive for malaria. Regional differences in positive malaria percentage infection were observed with Northern (37.2%), Eastern (19.6%) and Western (10.1%) regions having higher malaria infection risk compared to those from the Central region (7.7%). Children over 24 months and those residing in rural and refugee households exhibited higher risk to malaria infection compared to younger children and those in urban areas. Specifically, residing in rural and refugee households increased the likelihood of malaria infection by 72% compared to urban areas. Children from households using unprotected water sources had a 2.35 times higher likelihood of malaria infection than those using piped water. Additionally, children from households walking >1 hour to access water had an elevated malaria infection risk, as did those lacking toilet facilities or using pit latrines. The use of biomass cooking fuel was associated with a 31% increase in childhood malaria risk due to greater exposure to mosquito habitats. Malaria preventive measures like ITNs and IRS were effective in reducing malaria risk, though their impact was limited by low coverage and resistance to insecticide. Access to antimalarial preventive treatment was associated with reduced childhood malaria. Children from male-headed and larger households, and those with mothers lacking education revealed a higher infection percentage. Children from poor households had a 3.77 times higher likelihood of malaria infection compared to those from wealthier families. In conclusion, it is clear that malaria elimination in Ugandan children requires integrated, context-specific interventions, including ecological and environmental management, enhanced education on preventive measures, and increased countrywide coverage by ITNs and IRS.
An analysis of the challenges facing Trinidad and Tobago in decarbonization
(2024) Maitland, Jason
Trinidad and Tobago is a Small Island Development State in the southern Caribbean. This twin island republic has an economy which is predominantly fossil fuel driven. Like many countries, Trinidad and Tobago has been impacted by the effects of climate change and is seeking to reduce its carbon emissions. In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago has identified and submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions which consists of a 15% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for electrical energy generation and industry sectors and a 16% reduction for the transport sector. Notwithstanding this, Trinidad and Tobago’s decarbonization processes appear to be stalled. The country has produced over twelve documents which should have well positioned it to have made significant progress on decarbonization, but this has not been the case. This research analyzed twelve documents produced by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) to identify primary barriers to decarbonization. This demonstrated Trinidad and Tobago faces several challenges, the primary ones being political and economic, but there are also challenges relating to social, technological, legal and environmental fields. To safeguard its people, I argue the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago needs to demonstrate leadership to move the country from its position of inaction to one where renewable energy is embraced.
Gender equality in the division of housework and fertility intentions in Canada
(2023) Pilon, Leandra
Canada’s total fertility rate (TFR) has been below the replacement level (2.1 children per woman) for over 50 years, and recently has reached the lowest level of 1.4 children per woman in 2020. The declining TFRs accelerates the country’s aging population, the shortage in the labour force, and strains on health care systems. Therefore, studying the determinants of declining fertility rates in Canada is of a great importance. Limited Canadian studies documenting determinants of fertility decline largely focused on the role of changing nuptiality and cohabitation, and economic transformations in declining fertility, and have understudied the role of gender equality in the division of housework on fertility. Drawing on Gender Revolution Framework, this research aims to address the question of whether gender equality in the division of housework is related to the fertility intentions of Canadian women. Using data from the 2017 Canada General Social Survey, and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses, this study examined the association between gender equality in the division of household chores and fertility intention of Canadian women aged 15-39, living with a male partner in marital or cohabitation unions (n=1589). Based on an Exploratory Factor Analysis of seven household chores, two indexes of gender equality in the division of four household "indoor" and three "outdoor" chores were constructed. Two interaction terms were developed to examine the moderating effects of women's employment and education on the relation between gender equability and fertility intention. Bivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that women, who shared 1-3 indoor chores (OR: 1.6; CI: 1.6-2.1) and 1-2 outdoor chores (OR: 1.5; CI: 1.1-2.0) with their husbands, were more likely to intend to have a child in the next three years. However, when controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors, only the gender division of indoor chores remained significant but had a negative relationship, where women who shared all four indoor chores with their husband were less likely than women who did all the indoor chores to intend to have a child in the next 3 years (OR: 0.52; CI: 0.30-0.90). The adjusted results also showed that women’s education and employment moderated the effects of gender equality in household chores on fertility intentions. University educated women who shared some of the indoor chores (1-3 chores) with their male partners were 80% more likely than women with no university education to intend to have a child in the next 3 years (OR:1.8; CI: 1.2-2.2). However, women who shared all four indoor chores with their husband were 70% less likely to intend to have children (OR: 0.31; CI: 0.10-0.80). When coms to outdoor chores, women with university education who did not share outdoor chores with their husband were 2.4 times more likely than women with no university to intend to have children (OR: 2.4; CI: 1.2-4.7). While employment had no moderating effect on gender equality in the division of 'outdoor' household chores, this study found that employed women whose partners did not contribute to household 'indoor' chores were 66% less likely than unemployed women to intend to have a child (OR:0.34; CI:0.19-0.59). The gender division of household chores have a positive effect on fertility intentions of Canadian women and gendered division of household chores appears to affect women’s intentions to have a child and that a lack of support from their male partners is important when considering their fertility decisions. Thus, policies created to alleviate this burden on women are of particular importance. Policies such as programs promoting the involvement of male partners in all areas of domestic work as well as the restructuring of parental/maternal leave would be areas to consider.
Connecting and learning through art: |b an arts-informed inquiry into elementary students' experiences of visual arts integration in an after-school program
(2024-04) Sousa-Riley, Lena
The goal of this research study is to examine my teaching practices and experiences as an educator teaching integrated visual arts in both my regular classroom as well as in an after-school Art Club. Through the months of October to December of 2023, I composed an arts-informed inquiry using reflective journaling, photographs, and various visual arts forms. I used these methods to record and document my observations and experiences as a grade 4 educator integrating visuals arts in my regular classroom and in a voluntary after-school Art Club, and to better understand the potential benefits and barriers of integrating visuals arts in both environments. The research suggests that integrated visuals arts provides students with learning experiences that encourage social creativity and self-expression. Arts-integration (AI) can significantly and positively enhance a student’s overall learning experience as it encourages students to actively engage in meaningful learning opportunities as well as expand on their individual creative processes. Student engagement is central to learning; “ AI plays a vital role in ensuring that students remain engaged through peer collaboration, requiring them to respond emotionally and [creatively] and by calling up on their cognitive capacity as they learn in, through and about the arts” (Upitis, 2011, p.1)
Examining total phosphorus concentrations in the Whitson River watershed, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
(2024) Snider, Rebecca
Spatial analysis of water quality in a watershed is often difficult to accomplish due to the lack of extensive data available. Water quality data available at the provincial level is usually limited to a few sampling locations and typically disregards sampling from headwaters catchments. Not having sampling from headwater catchments ignores key factors in understanding how headwater catchments impact downstream water quality and flow. Headwater catchments can have more variability in water quality and are more sensitive to climate or land use changes. This study examines Total Phosphorus (TP) concentrations in the Whitson River, a mixed land-use Precambrian Shield watershed, located in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. TP samples were collected biweekly at numerous sites over two years from nested catchments spanning headwaters to downstream along the main channel, with individual catchments ranging in size across the watershed. Here, spatial and seasonal variability of TP in the watershed was investigated using nutrient-based water quality observations across an extensive range of flow conditions, an approach that potentially demonstrates point source inputs that are constant over time. Spatial trends in the Whitson River watershed showed distinctly higher and more variable TP observed across headwater sites, compared to main channel and lake sites that were lower and more consistent in TP. Catchments in the headwaters range in percent impacted area and percent wetlands, with no simple relationship with the percent impacted area and TP values or percent wetlands and TP. Percent groundwater and TP vary between seasons, with spring of 2022 having both TP and the percent groundwater increased moving downstream, with the most downstream location having elevated amounts of TP and percent groundwater out of all main channel locations. The assessment of TP within the Whitson River watershed shows areas of concern and provides information that will be valuable in future management.
Why they left : an investigation of newcomer out-migration from northern Ontario.
(2024) Szabicot, BJ
This major research paper is an examination of 76 pieces of literature dealing with human migration in an attempt to discern factors influencing Canadian newcomer out-migration from the northern Ontario (Canada) region. Literature sourcing and analysis was divided into two time-frames (pre- and post-2021), with the division granting generalizable insight into drawing conclusions in migration studies based on isolated time frames. The structured literature review was conducted using the CEBMa Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) process and included happenstance accumulation, and the analysis was conducted using MaxQDA's qualitative textual frequency and code comparative tools. The analysis reveals details about migration theories and terminology (Cumulative Causation, Gravity Model, Superdiversity, Push, Pull, Reactive, Proactive), how immigration status and geographic profiles demonstrate a lack of research concerning newcomers in northern Ontario, that social factors are more prevalent than economic factors when considering human migration across not just all examined immigration statuses and geographic profiles, but for newcomers and immigrants in northern Ontario as well. This investigation concludes that very little research is available concerning newcomers in northern Ontario but what research is available points to newcomers out-migrating due to having a lack of social inclusivity, difficulties securing employment, and experiencing an inadequate transit system in their location.
"Poppy ville": the commemorative transformation of Welberg, Netherlands, 1945-2022
(2024) Fournier, Patrick-Aurel A.
This Major Research Paper takes a closer look at Welberg, Netherlands, in order to examine how commemorations of the Second World War have shifted from 1945 until 2022. Focusing on archival materials and photographs as evidence, this research argues that throughout the evolution of commemorations in Welberg, the lines between formal and informal commemoration, as well as collective and private memory, were blurred and even merged. This paper also explores the affects that social media has had on merging of the different forms of commemorations and memory in Welberg’s commemorative landscape after the creation of the Bevrijdings monument Welberg Facebook page in 2015.
Into the vortex: why Bosnian Serb soldiers participated in extra-military violence during the Bosnian War of 1992-1995
(2024) Johnson, Kristian
Many scholars of perpetrator studies have followed the footsteps of historian Christopher Browning’s study of Reserve Police Battalion 101 and asked why individuals participate in genocide when given the option not to. This Major Research Paper applies Browning’s question to the context of the Bosnian War of 1992 to 1995 to answer why former senior officers and soldiers in the Bosnian Serb Army participated in extra-military violence. While Browning emphasized social pressures and political scientist Daniel Goldhagen advocated for ideological explanations, the Bosnian Serb men of this project are a hybrid of the two arguments. This project uses primary sources such as the testimonies of Bosnian Serb Army members who were indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to argue that Bosnian Serb participation in extra-military violence was both ideologically motivated and a product of the pressures many individuals faced at the time. The statements of witnesses and defendants reflect the historic, nationalist, and ethnically charged language that was used by the perpetrators and shows how invested in Serb-nationalism they had become. The case files also highlight the Bosnian War as the first opportunity for many of these men to flourish as individuals in their lives with power and agency that remained largely unchecked by a nationalist system. The defendants’ demonstrations of Serb Nationalism through extra-military violence were built on a distorted view of masculinity that grew on the festering paranoia surrounding birth rates, demographic warfare, and sexual violence in pre-war Yugoslavia. Nationalism, power, and masculinity motivated the perpetrators to execute, torture, rape, enslave, and imprison civilians during the Bosnian War.
Hidden mothers: the experiences of unwed mothers in l'̂Hôpital de la Miséricorde, Montréal, from 1960 to 1973
(2024) Girard, Jacqueline
From 1853 to 1973, l’Hôpital de la Miséricorde operated as a home, hospital, and nursery for unwed mothers in Montreal. In Catholic Quebec, pregnancy outside of marriage was considered a sin and had no visible place in society. Unwed mothers were pushed out of their families and communities and placed into designated homes and hospitals to give birth. The final decade of the institution’s operation aligned chronologically with the province’s societal, political, and economic changes now known as the Quiet Revolution. Little to no historical research has been conducted on attempts to understand and interpret how unwed mothers experienced la Miséricorde’s home, social services, hospital, and nursery throughout this time. Through oral histories, this major research paper explores how girls and women navigated their pregnancy out of-wedlock at la Miséricorde throughout the institution’s final decade. By complicating common victim and agent binaries, this research argues that the unwed mothers at la Miséricorde experienced varying levels of restriction and liberation. In emphasizing the importance of complexity, this paper investigates how women made choices regarding their pregnancy, childbirth, and adoption at la Miséricorde.
The spiral shell that holds my secrets : how I learned the importance of making art in nature for holistic learning.
(2024) Lamers, Brittany
This major research paper examines my experiences of making art in nature and learning holistically. This research, an arts-informed self-study, suggests that learning outside while making art is meaningful. Through this research process, I was motivated to explore my outer world of making art in nature as well as my inner imaginal world. Within standard education, even in our greater society, there is a lack of importance placed on art and creative expression. On top of this, our world is facing dramatic changes of our natural world through the destruction of our ecosystems. I believe that this needs to change and I have found that through a holistic lens—that includes the mind, heart, body, and soul—this can be achieved, especially if we step out into nature and let our artistic spirit flow. Over one month, every day I went to different natural environments and used reflective journaling and various art forms to record the benefits but also the barriers to making art in nature. But what surprised me most through my findings is by making art in nature and learning holistically I was able to begin the process of healing. Through my narrative of transformation, I hope to inspire others to be in nature and incorporate art into their lives and learning, no matter what stage in life one might find themselves in.
The impact of training models on officer knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour towards individuals with mental disorders.
(2024-04-01) Czaikowski, Amy Renee
Interactions between police officers and individuals with mental disorders are frequently reported in the media and it has been suggested that one of the major reasons for negative outcomes is inadequate police training. Psychiatric de-institutionalization and insufficient community resources have contributed to an increase in the frequency of interactions between police officers and individuals with mental disorders and there have been serious consequences to increased interactions. Three major initiatives designed to improve the interactions between police officers and individuals with mental disorders include enhanced training at the recruit and in-service levels, the training embodied in Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT), and the interRAI Brief Mental Health Screener (BMHS). The theoretical foundations underlying the efficacy of training are discussed before presenting the evidence to support the effectiveness of the major initiatives. The evidence suggests that it is still not possible to determine the extent of training offered at the recruit and in-service training across the country let alone evaluate its impact. There is growing evidence to support the effectiveness of CITs however, not all officers receive the training, there is a substantial investment in time and resources required to implement the training, and its long-term impact is unknown. Finally, there is almost no evidence to support the effectiveness of the BMHS beyond the initial implementation study. However, there are attractive features to adopting the BMHS which are explored together with description of an attempt to evaluate its impact on police officer confidence and knowledge regarding the most appropriate response to persons with mental disorders.
The psychological impact of diabetic amputations
(2023) Johnson, Jacqueline
This Major Research Paper (MRP) examines the literature on the physical and psychological impacts of lower limb amputation resulting from diabetes. Race and ethnicity are leading factors in the extent of care, with minority groups often receiving substandard mitigation and treatment services compared to non-minority groups. Focusing on these inequities and researched-based knowledge gaps is critical, as previous research solely focused on the physical parameters of diabetes instead of the holistic. The following study includes current literature in psychological research surrounding patient amputees diagnosed with diabetes. This literature review examined abstract data bases to locate 37 peer-reviewed articles. The abstract data bases included JSTOR, Google Scholar, PubMed, Nipissing University Libraries data base, and Gale Libraries. Keyword searches included diabetes, amputation, physiology, mental health, depression, anxiety, minority group and ethnicity. The findings and summaries of this review can assist a number of different stake holder groups and mental health practitioners can help diabetic patients. Furthermore, although literature certainly exists examining the risk factors for lower limb amputations among diabetics, a focus upon the psychological distress post-amputation is justified. The lack of research on the mental processes that impact patients with diabetic neuropathy, resulting in amputations, further exacerbates adverse outcomes in both the physical and mental realms.
The influence of mesh size selectivity on the sustainability assessments of select Kitikmeot Region arctic char fisheries
(2023) Arlidge, Christopher J.
The establishment of small-scale commercial Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) fisheries can create important economic opportunities in remote Arctic communities. These fisheries are licensed and regulated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and are evaluated for sustainability based on fisheries population sampling that is done with monofilament gill nets. In this work, I explore how different gill net mesh sizes skew our understanding of the size, shape, age, sex, and abundance characteristics of three Arctic char populations in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. Biases affecting these population metrics are important to identify since they will be used by the Towards a Sustainable Fishery for Nunavummiut (TSFN) project to evaluate the ecological sustainability of future commercial fisheries in this area. As an initial proof of concept, I show that mesh size selectivity is present within different panels of both DFO style and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) style multi-mesh (MM) nets; larger gill net mesh sizes preferentially select for larger Arctic char and smaller meshes preferentially select for smaller Arctic char. Mesh size selectivity also drives differences between commercial sized (CM) (140mm) nets and the aggregate catch of MM nets because multi-mesh nets have a smaller average mesh size than commercial nets. Indeed, three of the largest, most complete sampling events of the TSFN project show reductions in mean fork length, round weight, and age when sampling was done with MM nets rather than CM nets. Fulton’s relative condition factor (K) and sex ratios remained consistent between sampling methods and all these findings were consistent with studies of equivalent regional fisheries in the literature. Comparisons of Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) between net types were statistically limited by low net numbers, as well as from high inter-net variability which was likely driven by set time and soak time inconsistencies. Nevertheless, all three sampling events exhibited higher CPUE values in CM nets compared to MM nets, although this was only statistically significant during the Richardson Point sampling event of 2022. Together, these findings indicate that substantial sampling bias can be introduced into the sustainability analysis of Arctic char fisheries if careful consideration is not given to the selection of gill net mesh size and if chosen net types are not constantly applied over the course of an exploratory fishery.
The digital sherpas of social media : using a Bourdieu-Fine blending of field theory and tiny publics to investigate social processes in virtual worlds
(2023-05) Charron, Kyle
This study explores how technology facilitated the change of government in Egypt during the revolution. It will also address these main questions. First, is there a technocratic field of struggle occupied by technocratic elites, and what is their influence in the greater field of power? Second, what is the temporal impact of a technology-organized (digital) protest compared with a traditional (analogue) one? Third, what builds this solidarity, and what makes it impact larger communities? Fourth, how did the activists get their knowledge and understanding of computer networks, satellites, and social media? To help answer this, the study will problematize a technocratic field of struggle and its relationship to the broader social organization of various fields of influence and power that analyzes and develops the following insights in detail: (1) There is a technocratic field where social media has become a virtualized space of social interaction. (2) The messaging in this field allows the rapid generation of solidarity between the participants. (3) Some group members become termed digital sherpas. These participants act as guides who share their technical skills with others and thus increase activist capacity for resisting the state. (4) This increase in capacity through technical skills allowed the activists to use social media to enact symbolic violence on the state. (5) That an attempt to integrate meso and macro levels of analysis assist researchers in exploring and understanding how digital public spheres can support the dynamic of radical social change as well as conservative social reproduction. More specifically, to advocate for a synthesis between Gary Allan Fine’s interactionist theory of tiny publics as group action at the meso-level with Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory at the macro level. As a discipline, this study demonstrates how the Sociology of Technology benefits from a conceptual framework that blends tiny publics withfield theory because it can better account for the rapid emergent social processes constituting virtualized worlds.Zeynep Tufekci initiated documenting the sociological importance of social media for the activists of Tahrir Square, showing how collective action can alter power structures; this study expands on Tufekci’s research by further exploring how activists build solidarity and, by its use, generate communities. Indeed, to effectively study power, we must stop looking exclusively at macro-institutions and look at the actions of small groups and the interactions between them at the meso-level as well.

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