Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Scholars, members of the media, politicians, pundits, and citizens have voiced much concern over low voter turnout in the United States. To stimulate voter turnout, several states have adopted no excuse absentee and/or early voting policies in hopes of making the act of voting easier. Scholars have found mixed results in their analyses of the demographic and ideological composition of absentee and early voters compared to Election Day voters. While Oliver (1996) argued that absentee voters tended to be more Republican than the general electorate, Stein (1998) found that neither Democrats nor Republicans had a significant partisan advantage. Dubin and Kalsow (1996) maintained that absentee and precinct voting were substitute activities. Previous studies have focused primarily on particular states or relied upon aggregate-level data or pooled individual-level data to generate a large enough sample size for analysis. The current study utilizes two comprehensive national samples that encompass pre-election and post-election data from for two elections: 2000 and 2004. Four questions about these elections are addressed: (1) How often did people vote before Election Day?, (2) Were absentee and early voters different from Election Day voters in demographic composition, party identification, or political interest?, (3) Were absentee or early voters more likely to vote for Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate in 2000 and 2004?, and (4) Did those who voted before Election Day regret voting early?

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper tests the effectiveness of active learning methods compared to traditional lecture and discussion methods by conducting a controlled test of the hypothesis that active learning approaches enhance student learning. Following the lead of Krain and Shadle 2005, we hypothesize, consistent with the literature, that students who participate in the active learning simulation will achieve, on average, higher scores on that item than those who do not. We use multiple sections of a 400-student IR introductory course to compare student performance on a midterm examination question related to bureaucratic politics and standard operating procedures. Some students will have been exposed to the active learning 'treatment' using the bureaucratic politics simulation presented in Powner and Croco 2005, while other students will participate in standard discussion sections on the same material. All students will be exposed to the same lecture and readings, thus presenting us with an excellent opportunity to test the effectiveness of this intervention.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This research examines the rhetoric of the Heritage Foundation sponsored No Excuses Campaign and its suggested policy recommendations for student success. A content analysis of the No Excuses Campaign report titled “Lessons from 21 High-Performing, High-Poverty Schools,” is examined in the context of the historical growth of conservative think tanks, their link to the corporate community, and their use rhetoric to affect public opinion and educational policy. Despite the rapid growth and increasing wealth of conservative think tanks since the 1970’s, little research has been conducted on the role that conservative think tanks have in public educational debates. Preliminary findings indicate rhetoric based on the following themes: Co-option of language traditionally used by progressive/liberal interests, promotion of the model of the school as corporation – principal as CEO, a lack of values and cultural impoverishment in the home as a source of educational failure, and the need for traditional curriculum and a rejection of progressive education.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Using impression management as a theoretical framework, the study employed a quasi-experimental design in two countries, Spain and the United States, to study the impact of culture, excuses and media format on corporate credibility. Credibility was measured on a semantic differential scale, with two constituent factors: trustworthiness and expertise. Data were analyzed using a 2 (country) x 3 (excuses) x 2 (format) factorial ANOVA.
The results of the study reveal that nationality is the most significant predictor of evaluations of trustworthiness and expertise. Spanish subjects found excuses offered by a fictitious corporation less credible than American subjects. Results of the study indicate that issuing an excuse in an advertisement or within the context of a news story makes no difference in corporate credibility. This finding implies that organizations wishing to have complete control of their message may wish to choose advertising as a vehicle for delivering their advocacy message.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper takes a look at the problem of child labor in Africa and governments failure to take effective action to stop children from working. Child labor entraps several children in Africa. Millions of children work instead of going to school. Parents put their children to work instead of going to school or are complicit by allowing them to work to bring income to augment their disposable income. Widespread economic hardship which several African families face day-by-day, has blurred the line between “normal” work which children have to do at home from work that generates income, which are usually reserved for adults.


In the past three decades or so, ruling governments in several nations have promised to end child labor and improve the high dropout rate among children with little to show. Governments have failed to back their rhetoric with financial support. African governments may have an ulterior motive for not trying hard to end child labor and the inevitable high dropout rate associated with it.

This paper argues that stopping child labor is a problem that African governments can effectively address and achieve results. The paper suggests different strategies governments may adopt to address the issue of child labor.

By deciding to ignore the issue of child labor, African governments have been doing considerable harm to their modernizing efforts. However, investing money to address the problem of children dropping out of school will yield rewards that will far outweigh the financial cost of implementing an effective policy.