Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper examines data collected from exit polling with residents of Jacksonville, Florida (Duval County) who voted in the November 5, 2002 election. 1156 voters from 23 precincts were interviewed. Respondents were asked about their voting experience in the November 2000 election, their voting experience in the November 2002 election, and their attitudes concerning the accuracy of both elections.

Although Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties received the most publicity during the Florida’s 2000 election debacle, Duval County surpassed those counties in terms of rejected ballots. Nearly 27,000 ballots, over 9 percent- of all ballots cast in the county were rejected. Moreover, the geographic distribution of these rejected ballots illustrates a concentration in precincts with high percentages of registered Democrats and Black voters.

Precincts in Duval County were stratified based on the percentage of votes rejected in the November 2000 election (less than or greater than 20 percent-) and a simple random sample of precincts was selected. A systematic sample of voters exiting the voting area at each of the selected precincts was interviewed.

Interviews were conducted by students at two local universities, Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida. Faculty at these universities were asked by the Duval County Supervisor of Elections to provide an independent assessment of elections staff, equipment, and procedures.

The results indicate that the level of confidence in the accuracy of the November 2000 and November 2002 elections is quite different based on the respondent’s precinct and race. These results will also be compared with data regarding voter turnout (which will be made available in January 2003).

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The presentation deals with framing policies permitting community colleges to grant baccalaureate degrees in Florida. The introductory section presents a conceptual framework for paradigmatic change and the historical conditions that have led to orga

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to extend existing knowledge on the effect of personal networks on HIV-related risk behaviors, particularly, the frequency of injection among a cohort of Hispanic injectors in South Florida.
A stratified network based sample of 240 heroin users was recruited from February 2005 to September 2006 from communities in South Florida known for high drug use. After screening for eligibility, participants were administered a structured questionnaire that included basic sociodemographic information, drug use history, personal network, and lifestyle (including HIV risk behavior practices) characteristics.
Logistic regression was utilized to identify those personal network characteristics that make a heroin injector more likely to increase frequency of injection. Personal network size, presence of heroin injectors in personal network, having sexual partners who were injectors, and living with injectors increased the likelihood of increasing frequency of injection.
Personal network characteristics constitute risk factors for increasing injection independent of those individual risk behaviors traditionally highlighted by studies and prevention interventions. In contrast to the abundance of individual-based interventions and their moderate effectiveness, comparatively few network based interventions have been implemented despite growing evidence that indicates that social networks provide a natural frame for interventions designed to interrupt the transmission of HIV infection and to change values, beliefs, and behaviors that increase or reduce HIV risk.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Two recent causes celebres had a lot in common: self-proclaimed guardians of the mute (both sides claiming that Elian and Terri wanted what they wanted and attributing bad motives to the other camp, media and political (including congressional) grandstanding. The general public had scant enthusiasm for the positions of the strident minority.