Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy 

About: Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy is an academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Poison control & Politics. It has an ISSN identifier of 1529-7489. Over the lifetime, 574 publications have been published receiving 12345 citations. The journal is also known as: ASAP.

Public Perceptions About Sex Offenders and Community Protection Policies

Abstract: Sex offenders and sex crimes provoke a great deal of anxiety in our society, and over the past decade, lawmakers have passed a variety of social policies designed to protect the public from sexual victimization. The purpose of this study was to examine public perceptions about sex offenders and community protection policies. Data were obtained from a sample of 193 residents in Melbourne, Florida. It was hypothesized that the public holds some inaccurate beliefs about sex offenders, and that there is strong public support for community protection policies. It was found that community members believe that sex offenders have very high recidivism rates, view sex offenders as a homogeneous group with regard to risk, and are skeptical about the benefits of sex offender treatment. The hypothesis that public perceptions contradict empirical research was supported. Community members were overwhelmingly in favor of public disclosure of information about registered sex offenders, although they did not express as much support for residence restrictions. Implications for public policy, and for the media's role in shaping public perceptions, are discussed.

Best Practices in Conceptualizing and Measuring Social Class in Psychological Research

Abstract: An extensive body of research has documented the relation between social class, as indexed by socioeconomic status (SES) and subjective social status (SSS), and a host of outcomes, including physical and mental health, academic achievement, and educational attainment. Yet, there remains ambiguity regarding how best to conceptualize and measure social class. This article clarifies definitional and measurement issues related to the assessment of SES and SSS, addresses their importance and relevance for psychological research, and reviews best practices with regard to measurement and assessment. We conclude by discussing the integration of social class with other markers of social position to promote the advancement of psychological science.

The Bases of Power and the Power/Interaction Model of Interpersonal Influence

Abstract: This article provides a summary of work done by Raven and his colleagues on bases of power. It ranges from the initial work in 1959 of French and Raven through decades of follow-up work, and ties the work to that of others doing work on power bases. After the summary, the author responds to a series of questions that probe the work in greater depth, allowing explication of much of the thinking underlying and leading to publications of Raven and colleagues that are well known to social psychologists.

Hate Online: A Content Analysis of Extremist Internet Sites

Abstract: Extremists, such as hate groups espousing racial supremacy or separation, have established an online presence. A content analysis of 157 extremist web sites selected through purposive sampling was conducted using two raters per site. The sample represented a variety of extremist groups and included both organized groups and sites maintained by apparently unaffiliated individuals. Among the findings were that the majority of sites contained external links to other extremist sites (including international sites), that roughly half the sites included multimedia content, and that half contained racist symbols. A third of the sites disavowed racism or hatred, yet one third contained material from supremacist literature. A small percentage of sites specifically urged violence. These and other findings suggest that the Internet may be an especially powerful tool for extremists as a means of reaching an international audience, recruiting members, linking diverse extremist groups, and allowing maximum image control.

Car Sharing: A New Approach to Urban Transportation Problems

Abstract: The concept of car sharing is introduced as an innovative approach to the growing transportation problems of the major metropolitan areas of the United States. After the history of car sharing in Europe and North America is outlined, three studies of the early adopters of Car Sharing Portland (CSP), the first commercial car-sharing organization in the United States, are reported. Study 1 found that these individuals were primarily motivated to join CSP because of their occasional need for a vehicle, and secondarily because of the financial savings they expected to realize by becoming members. Study 2 found that the two most important predictors of CSP trip usage were distance to the nearest vehicle station and length of membership, and that both factors had more influence on vehicle owners than on nonowners. Study 3 found that although members did not drive fewer vehicle miles after they joined CSP, 26% sold their personal vehicles and 53% were able to avoid an intended purchase. In addition, a majority of members reported increasing use of public transit, walking, and cycling. The results are discussed in terms of the potential environmental consequences of car sharing and the effects of the car-sharing experience on mobility behavior.