Suchergebnisse

Attending motorcycle rallies is an important component of social life for many touring motorcyclists. The significance of these events transcends the mere recreational experience of riding a motorcycle and spending time with other riders. This project is an examination of brand specific motorcycle rallies as a process and social world that has ritualistic features and activities that serve to bond members of the group, reinforce their identity, and distinguish members of this subculture from other motorcyclists and from the larger social world. Drawing on classical social theory and more contemporary research, a framework is established to discuss the activities and social organization of rallies. Objects from the material culture of those involved are examined as distinguishing components used to establish boundaries and confer membership. An in depth description of rally activities and interactions, enhances the understanding of these events.

Using data from neighborhood associations in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this research examines the relationship between the structure of neighborhood associations and the characteristics of the population of their respective neighborhoods assuming that the social environment in which an association operates has an impact on the structure of the organization. The size of the association, the percentage of the neighborhood population that is Black socioeconomic status of the residents, and an age composition variable were positive predictors of the degree of complexity of organizational structure in the associations. Neighborhood stability exhibited a negative impact on complexity. The significance levels of some of these relationships changed when the neighborhood associations with mandatory membership were excluded. The age of the association did not have a significant impact on complexity.

The sociological study of risk-taking behavior is a relatively recent development. Lyng (1990) and others have developed the field of edgework, or the "sociology of risk-taking." In this study, we examine a group of edgeworkers to understand the role of fun and identity in a group of BMX "freestyle" bicycle riders and conclude that these riders reject rational reasons, in the sense of the term envisioned by Weber, for riding in favor of choosing an activity that they report as fun, which leads to feelings such as self-actualization and fulfillment. Additionally, they are not concerned that others, outside of the subculture, recognize their status as participants, further suggesting that rationality played little into the calculation used to define success by this group.

This study examines U.S. affiliates of an international voluntary associa tion (Habitat for Humanity) and the relationship of local board composi tion, membership composition, and community characteristics. Using survey and census data, we were interested in whether characteristics of the local community are important predictors of the types of members recruited and the kinds of persons who emerge as voluntary organization leaders. We found that the characteristics of the local community influ ence composition and the size of membership and boards of directors. Additionally, we found that membership composition is also related to board composition.

This research examines the effect of overall neighborhood satisfac-tion, victimization, and social participation on perceived neighborhood safety. It systematically tests the relative importance of victimization, concern with neigh-borhood "environmental" quality, and social integration into the community in predicting fear of crime. Our research incorporates three aspects into a single model that predicts the level of fear of crime experienced by local community residents. Fear of crime is measured in terms of perceived risks in various circumstances in the neighborhood of residence. As such, a measure of fear of crime can be seen as a measure of perceived neighborhood safety. Results suggest that those who exhibit higher levels of satisfaction with the neighborhood environment tend to express higher perceived levels of neighborhood safety. Property victimization, not personal victimization, is found to have an impact on residents' perception of neighborhood safety. In contrast, social participation does not seem to be related to perceived neighborhood safety. The result implies that improving the quality of neighborhood environmental characteristics will increase residents' concern with the appearance of the neighborhood along with their concerns about the quality of people who live there, which in turn enhances higher perceived levels of neighborhood safety.