Dissertation Defense Schedule
Academic Excellence
Sharing original dissertation research is a principle to which the University of Delaware is deeply committed. It is the single most important assignment our graduate students undertake and upon completion is met with great pride.
We invite you to celebrate this milestone by attending their dissertation defense. Please review the upcoming dissertation defense schedule below and join us!
PROGRAM | Sociology
Environmental Adversity and Urban Violence: A Normative Development Approach
By: Richard Stansfield Chair: Kirk Williams
ABSTRACT
Objectives: One of the central concerns of developmental and life-course criminology is an understanding of risk factors for offending at different ages. Because interruptions in key life events can significantly alter normative development, it is critical to fully understand the sources of risk for healthy development. The present study moves life-course criminology in a slightly different direction, shifting analysis to the macro level, to examine the differential vulnerability of age cohorts to environmental adversity. This dissertation also recognizes that normative development is highly contextualized by a wealth of racial and ethnic differences. Methods: Using age- and race/ethnic-specific homicide rates at city-, county- and community-levels of aggregation, the differential vulnerability of age cohorts to environmental adversity is examined. Results: The impact of disadvantage on homicide is consistently high for youth and emerging adults, but wanes over older developmental stages of the life-course. The association between economic disadvantage and homicide over developmental stages of the life-course seems to cut across racial / ethnic lines. While the protective effects of recent immigration have been well documented in recent years, the evidence here suggests these effects are more pronounced for Blacks. Conclusions: By identifying and better understanding the role of macro predictors of crime by race/ethnic-specific developmental stages, the findings offer new insights for developmental and life-course theories of crime.
The Process
Step-by-Step
Visit our “Step-by-Step Graduation Guide” to take you through the graduation process.From formatting your Dissertation to Doctoral Hooding procedures.
Dissertation Manual
Wondering how to set up the format for your paper. Refer to the “UD Thesis/Dissertation Manual” for formatting requirements and more.
Defense Submission Form
This form must be completed two weeks in advance of a dissertation defense to meet the University of Delaware Graduate and Professional Education’s requirements.
