Advances in Applied Sociology 

About: Advances in Applied Sociology is an academic journal published by Scientific Research Publishing. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Computer science & Population. It has an ISSN identifier of 2165-4328. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 394 publications have been published receiving 1538 citations. The journal is also known as: AASOCI.

Korean wave as tool for Korea's new cultural diplomacy

Abstract: In recent years, there has been an influx of Korean popular culture throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Korean popular culture, also known as the “Korean Wave” (Hallyu in Korean) ranges from television dramas, movies, popular music (K-pop), dance (B-boys), video game, food, fashion, tourism, and language (Hangul). The main focus of this paper is to examine the essence of the Korean Wave and its impact on the world. In particular, this paper aims to explore the relationships between the spread of the Korean Wave and political and social changes in a global perspective. That is, does the Korean Wave affect the political position and diplomatic leverage of Korea in any meaningful way? Toward this objective, this paper first examines the relevant literature of international relations for policy and culture change, especially with regards to globalization, interdependence, soft power and world value change. Then, recent developments of the Korean Wave are reviewed and critically analyzed in order to ascertain political and policy implications for Korean diplomatic and practical directives. Finally, we will draw an interpretive conclusion and recommendations toward the plausibility of the Korean Wave as a policy tool for Korea’s cultural diplomacy.

From Food Desert to Food Mirage: Race, Social Class, and Food Shopping in a Gentrifying Neighborhood

Abstract: New supermarkets in previous “food deserts” can benefit residents by improving their access to healthful, affordable food. But in gentrifying neighborhoods characterized by the inflow of middle-class, white residents and the outflow of working class, minorities, who benefits from a new supermarket that emphasizes organic food and environmental sustainability? This paper contributes to the food access literature by examining the food shopping behavior of diverse residents by using survey data and probability sampling in the Alberta neighborhood in Portland, Oregon (USA). Regression results show that college-educated (62%) and white residents (60%) are much more likely to shop there weekly, regardless of age, gender, owner-renter status, distance from supermarket, or length of time living in the neighborhood. These findings indicate that supermarkets that promote healthy living and environmental sustainability need to be sensitive to the racial “symbolic boundaries” and socioeconomic barriers that may create “food mirages” by limiting food access to poor and minority residents.

Determinants of Saving among Low-Income Individuals in Rural Uganda: Evidence from Assets Africa

Abstract: Although research has shown that poor people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including those living in rural areas save, little is known about the factors that influence saving and asset accumulation among this population. Using three theoretical perspectives on saving and asset accumulation, this study examines the broader determinants of saving and asset accumulation among low-income individuals in rural Uganda. Compared with the individual-oriented and sociological perspectives, institutional theory explains a large part of the variance in saving outcome among rural, low-income households. Wealth, proximity to financial institutions, financial education, and financial incentives are positively associated with higher saving performance. Findings suggest that poor people can and do save, particularly when institutional barriers to saving are removed. Institutional structures, which encourage low-income individuals to save, may contribute to a poverty reduction policy that shifts from just income supplementation to a more inclusive wealth promotion policy that assists people in creating their own pathways out of poverty.

Gender and Overconfidence: Effects of Context, Gendered Stereotypes, and Peer Group

Abstract: Research on Swedish school children has found that boys tend to be overconfident about their grades in mathematics, while girls tend to be underconfident. We find similar results for El Salvadorian children. Mathematics is considered a masculine task and we show that these findings do not carry over to a gender neutral task (social science), where both sexes tend to be overconfident. We find that girls in a single-sex school are more underconfident in their mathematics abilities than girls in a co-ed school, which may suggest that gender stereotypes become reinforced in single-sex environments.

Estimating the Size of the Methamphetamine-Using Population in New York City Using Network Sampling Techniques

Abstract: As part of a recent study of the dynamics of the retail market for methamphetamine use in New York City, we used network sampling methods to estimate the size of the total networked population. This process involved sampling from respondents’ list of co-use contacts, which in turn became the basis for capture-recapture estimation. Recapture sampling was based on links to other respondents derived from demographic and “telefunken” matching procedures–the latter being an anonymized version of telephone number matching. This paper describes the matching process used to discover the links between the solicited contacts and project respondents, the capture-recapture calculation, the estimation of “false matches”, and the development of confidence intervals for the final population estimates. A final population of 12,229 was estimated, with a range of 8,235 - 23,750. The techniques described here have the special virtue of deriving an estimate for a hidden population while retaining respondent anonymity and the anonymity of network alters, but likely require larger sample size than the 132 persons interviewed to attain acceptable confidence levels for the estimate.