SOC 111 (MonWedFri 10AM) - Food and Homeless Quiz Response - Alexander Ray Salmeron

Alexander Ray Salmeron - 449 words

Today I analyzed two articles, "Revisiting the Contact Hypothesis: The Cause of Public Exposure to Homelessness" by Barrett A. Lee, Chad R. Farrell, and Bruce G. Link, and "A Decade of Change: Measuring the Extent, Depth, and Severity of Food Insecurity" by Kelly Stamper Balisteeri. Both of these articles deal with studies revolving around the issues of homelessness and food insecurity, respectively.

In "Revisiting the Contact Hypothesis: The Cause of Public Exposure to Homelessness", Barrett A. Lee, Chad R. Farrell, and Bruce G. Link put their contact hypothesis to the test. Their hypothesis seeks to identify whether or not personal exposure to homelessness affects respondents' perception of the homeless. The researchers gathered data from a nationwide telephone survey provided by Columbia University. Probability sampling through telecommunications was used to congregate respondents. Each participant was gestured $10 for their contribution to the study. Approximately 1,507 telephone interviews were conducted. An exasperating 65% of respondents spoke English, and 63% did not. From the sample, 1,388 respondents represented the working class. The total sample excessively represented women and barely represented Latinos. No significant bias was identified in the interviews. Respondents' attitudes towards the homeless represented the dependent variable of the study. Nine significant multi-item scales accounted for reliability of responses and assessed various forms of respondents' attitudes. Respondents' exposure to the homeless represented the independent variable. Fourteen vital measure were observed, including respondents' sex, gender, age, and encounters with the homeless. Regression equations were utilized to formulate results. Findings show that respondents' overall exposure to homelessness was higher than predicted. Respondents' sex, age, gender, and exposure to homelessness were identified as significant contributors to their attitudes towards the homeless. Contextual facts were measured by formulated analyses. It was discovered that ethnic minorities tend to lack empathy towards the homeless. Vicarious exposure was found to have a less significant impact on respondents' views compared to physical exposure.

In "A Decade of Change: Measuring the Extent, Depth, and Severity of Food Insecurity", Kelly Stamper Balisteeri tests her hypothesis regarding the various prevalences of food insecurity amongst multiple ethnic groups. Balisteeri collected her data from two sources, the Current Population Survey (CPS) and Food Security Supplement (FSS). She gathered ethnic household data from three time frames throughout the last decade (2001-03, 2006-08, and 2011-13). Households were selected at random, with over 100,000 observed. Variables measured in this study included ethnicity, food insecurity, household income, and the presence of children within each household. Emphasis was placed on identifying the depth, extent, and severity of food insecurity within each household. Data was measured through utilizing a standardized household supplement. Findings show that low-income households(without children) are most susceptible to food insecurity. Non-Hispanics and Caucasians households(without children) held minimal prevalence rates of food insecurity. However, the rates from these households significantly increased over the years. Low-income households of African-Americans and Non-Hispanics(with/without children) represented the most deprived populations which suffer the highest amounts of food insecurity.