The Transformative Power of Faculty Development Abroad: A Romanian Scholar\u27s Role to Internationalization of Higher Education

This paper discusses the Faculty Development Seminar organized at Kennesaw State University during the Year of Romania Program (2010-2011). The purpose of the article is to describe the KSU model of global faculty development and increase awareness on its impact on faculty teaching, research and service

DIVERSITY IN A JAPANESE TRANSPLANT: THE EFFECT OF GENDER, RACE, AGE, AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS ON TEAMWORK

Diversity and Teamwork are currently some of the trendiest human resources strategies of boosting team performance and ultimately, organizational performance. This study analyzes the impact of gender, racial, age and employment status diversity on teamwork, and is one of the first studies on diversity and teamwork in the mature phase of Japanese transplants. The theoretical framework includes elements of the symbolic interactionist theory, Kanter.s theory on tokenism, revised contact hypothesis and perspectives on cultural diversity (Ely and Thomas, 2001). The data were collected from interviews with 87 workers from 16 production teams working on the assembly line at a top Japanese auto transplant in US, as well as from observation, analysis of corporate literature and the annual opinion survey. Furthermore, intermediary variables like team climate or team spirit have been found to mediate the relationships between diversity and team performance. Gender mixed teams reported a more enjoyable and pleasant experience in teams, whereas the male teams exposed more rivalry and competition and the female teams had more interpersonal conflicts. Similarly, the racially diverse teams have more fun and more interesting things to discuss at work, which alleviates the boredom caused by the routine of the assembly-line. Age-balanced teams also have optimal functioning in terms of productivity, quality, safety and problem-solving. Differences in employment status were found to bring inequality and different standards of performance for permanent and temporary workers, which can threaten the fundamental principles of teamwork

Societal Sources of Negative Attitudes Against The Roma: The Case of Romania

Romania is the home of one of the largest Roma minorities in the world. This paper examined sources of negative attitudes toward the Roma in Romania by testing two explanations, that of societal integration and contact on a nationally representative sample. Our findings suggest that the negative attitudes against the Roma are largely driven by the type of relationships and contact that Romanians develop with the Roma. Having Roma in the family or as friends or colleagues at work decreases Romanians \u27 negative attitudes against the Roma. On the contrary, as the contact theory states, being in limited contact with them, without engaging in personal relationships is conducive of suspicion, hostility, and negative attitudes. Second, the interpersonal level of individuals\u27 trust contributes significantly to building positive attitudes toward the Roma. Consequently, we recommend that future global initiatives and strategies on Roma inclusion should be centered on increasing the level of interpersonal trust and contact between Roma and non-Roma

Introduction

Introduction to the issue

Do Not Pass Go: Expanding the Generalized Other in Symbolic Interactionist Theories of Difference and Inequality

Mead and Blumer propose the important role of the generalized other but this concept has been largely overlooked in later symbolic interactionist theories and research. This has implications for the social psychology of difference and inequality, especially since the generalized other can be a powerful tool as W. E. B. DuBois\u27 concept of dual consciousness points out. Blumer\u27 s sense of group position has been used to focus on difference, but this term usually requires a structural leap. To re-emphasized the generalized other in symbolic interactionist theory, we make five points: (1) the social construction of identity involves multiple-selves based on multiple-generalized others; (2) this involves both internalization or externalization of views; (3) generalized others may be positive (friendlies) or negative (hostile acquaintances or enemies), and generalized others are most often ranked in terms of importance to the self; (4) generalized others are framed by one\u27s self in that some acquaintances are emphasized and others ignored; and (5) difference and sense of group position springs from these rankings

Integrating the Generalized Other into Theories of Difference: Balancing and Bridging in Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic interactionist theories need to use the generalized in order to explain difference, but this essential term has been neglected. A sense of group position has been used to focus on difference, but this term is too structural. To bridge this gap in symbolic interactionism, we show that a generalized other is socially constructed through framing; this process of social construction involves internalization or externalization; multiple generalized others routinely exist and they create multiple selves; generalized others may be positive or negative; generalized others are ranked in terms of importance to the self; and difference springs from these different rankings

Multiple and Ranked Generalized Others in Symbolic Interactionist Theory with Implications for Difference and Inequality

Mead and Blumer propose the important role of the generalized other but this concept has been largely overlooked in later symbolic interactionist theories and research. This has implications for the social psychology of difference and inequality, especially since the generalized other can be a powerful tool as W. E. B. DuBois\u27 concept of dual consciousness points out. Blumer\u27 s sense of group position has been used to focus on difference, but this term usually requires a structural leap. To re-emphasized the generalized other in symbolic interactionist theory, we make five points: (1) the social construction of identity involves multiple-selves based on multiple-generalized others; (2) this involves both internalization or externalization of views; (3) generalized others may be positive or negative, and generalized others are ranked in terms of importance to the self; (4) generalized others are framed by one\u27s self in that some acquaintances are emphasized and others ignored; and (5) difference and sense of group position springs from these rankings

Incorporating Ethics Holistically: A Case Study in Research Methods Courses for Undergraduates

Ethical awareness and research integrity are quintessential elements that should not miss from the training of future social science professionals. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine how ethics are taught by faculty and learned by students using a case study of faculty teaching a two-course research sequence for undergraduate Sociology majors at a large public university in southeastern USA. Beyond the protection of human subjects, we discuss how ethics need to be considered in every phase of the research process (sampling, data collection, data storage, analysis, reporting of research findings, and conflict of interests). This paper exposes the need to establish a community of faculty focused on integrating the highest ethical standards of research in their research methods courses, not only to train great researchers, but also to prepare students for future professional careers

Theorizing Teamwork: A Classical Sociological Approach

Previous researchers pointed out that the current literature on teams is in a theoretical impasse (Vallas, 2006). The existing theories of work seem to not be sufficient in explaining the complex nature of teams and the unanticipated consequences associated to current workplace transformation. In order to expand our theoretical understanding of teamwork, this paper offers an original incursion into the sociological roots of the concept of teamwork. Based on the classic works of Marx, Durkheim, Weber and Simmel, the paper shows how the understanding of teamwork can be expanded to incorporate deeper meanings and consequences related to diversity, group dynamics and social interaction in teams. As an area dominated by organizational behavioral and psychological approaches, the study of teamwork would benefit tremendously from a cross-disciplinary approach

THE EFFECT OF GENDER, RACE, AGE, AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS ON TEAMWORK

Diversity and Teamwork are currently some of the trendiest human resources strategies of boosting team performance and ultimately, organizational performance. This study analyzes the impact of gender, racial, age and employment status diversity on teamwork, and is one of the first studies on diversity and teamwork in the mature phase of Japanese transplants. The theoretical framework includes elements of the symbolic interactionist theory, Kanter’s theory on tokenism, revised contact hypothesis and perspectives on cultural diversity (Ely and Thomas, 2001). The data were collected from interviews with 87 workers from 16 production teams working on the assembly line at a top Japanese auto transplant in US, as well as from observation, analysis of corporate literature and the annual opinion survey. Furthermore, intermediary variables like team climate or team spirit have been found to mediate the relationships between diversity and team performance. Gender mixed teams reported a more enjoyable and pleasant experience in teams, whereas the male teams exposed more rivalry and competition and the female teams had more interpersonal conflicts. Similarly, the racially diverse teams have more fun and mor