Marcus Crawford - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Marcus Crawford
This study investigates the transportation disadvantage that low-income, older adults face on an ... more This study investigates the transportation disadvantage that low-income, older adults face on an individual basis. To accomplish this, research team members custom designed an innovative “travel diary” app, MyAmble, which tracks planned, completed, failed/uncompleted trips, and unserved trips in its Trip Planner module. In addition to the typical transportation planning data (e.g. origin, destination, mode), MyAmble collects data related to the completed or failed/uncompleted trip’s impact on the participant’s mood and quality of life. MyAmble utilizes 3 additional modules (Challenge Logger, Travel Buddy, and Travel History) to collect qualitative data related to the role that transportation plays in the participant’s life and history. The field test shows significant promise in terms of capturing data on quantity and impact of missed trips, particularly as they relate to psycho-social-emotional well-being and autonomy; however, the selected population of low-income, community-dwell...
Open Journal of Social Sciences
Qualitative studies have examined runaway youth and their choices to leave home, their involvemen... more Qualitative studies have examined runaway youth and their choices to leave home, their involvement living on the streets, and their lived experiences as stigmatized youth. For the present study, a Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Synthesis (QIMS) was conducted to synthesize the data from these various studies. A systematic search located qualitative research that focused on girls who were or had been runaways. They were synthesized in this analysis. The themes of power/control and stigma are analyzed with a Foucaultian lens with an eye toward informing social workers of their roles in the power/control structures that create stigma for runaway youth.
This study investigates the transportation disadvantage that low-income, older adults face on an ... more This study investigates the transportation disadvantage that low-income, older adults face on an individual basis. To accomplish this, research team members custom designed an innovative "travel diary" app, MyAmble, which tracks planned, completed, failed/uncompleted trips, and unserved trips in its Trip Planner module. In addition to the typical transportation planning data (e.g. origin, destination, mode), MyAmble collects data related to the completed or failed/uncompleted trip's impact on the participant's mood and quality of life. MyAmble utilizes 3 additional modules (Challenge Logger, Travel Buddy, and Travel History) to collect qualitative data related to the role that transportation plays in the participant's life and history. The field test shows significant promise in terms of capturing data on quantity and impact of missed trips, particularly as they relate to psycho-social-emotional well-being and autonomy; however, the selected population of low-income, community-dwelling older adults face health challenges that may have limited some participants' ability to utilize the app. The study generates critical feedback for continued improvements to MyAmble. Participants expressed positive feedback and strong support for the app, specifically the Travel Buddy feature. The data generated by MyAmble provide new insights into the challenges facing environmental justice communities.
Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices, 2020
The Ecological Systems theory represents a convergence of biological, psychological, and social s... more The Ecological Systems theory represents a convergence of biological, psychological, and social sciences. Through the study of the ecology of human development, social scientists seek to explain and understand the ways in which an individual interacts with the interrelated systems within that individual’s environment (Bronfenbrenner, 1983a). Bronfenbrenner (1994) sought to develop a theory of human development that would consider the influences of all of the systems that play a role in impacting the lived experiences of the individual no matter how remote the influence. Today, many of these concepts are commonplace in social work practice (micro-, meso-, and macrosystems, for instance); however, its foundation of empirical support is often less understood. This article will explore the historical development of the Ecological Systems theory through the works of Bronfenbrenner, will examine the empirical evidence supporting the theory, and will discuss the implications of the theory ...
Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2021
Runaway youth are at heightened risk for violence, substance use, suicide, and other high risk co... more Runaway youth are at heightened risk for violence, substance use, suicide, and other high risk concerns. Qualitative studies have examined youth choices to leave home, involvement living on the streets, and lived experiences as stigmatized youth; however, findings from these various studies have never been analyzed together into a single synthesis of information. The purpose of this article is to synthesize the qualitative data using Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Synthesis. The researcher completed a systematic search to locate studies focused on girls who were or had been runaways, extracting themes from 10 articles to create new overarching themes that encompassed each of the articles. Results showed six new overarching themes: power/control, stigma, physical needs, safety, belonging, and acceptance. The themes of physical needs, safety, belonging, and acceptance are discussed using Maslow's hierarchy of needs paradigm. Together, the themes are constructed to discuss how helping professionals can be better prepared to help meet the myriad needs of runaway girls by utilizing the hierarchy of needs presented by Maslow. This research article provides a unique insight into working with a vulnerable population by weaving together the experiences and words of the individuals whose real-life narratives have shaped the discussion.
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 2015
Recent deaths by police of unarmed minority youth have raised important questions about the natur... more Recent deaths by police of unarmed minority youth have raised important questions about the nature and outcomes of involuntary minority youth-police encounters. Youth are the most surveilled group of Americans and minority youth frequently live in neighborhoods disproportionately targeted for proactive policing (i.e., using broad police discretion to ''target'' those most likely to be engaged in criminal activity before criminal acts become apparent). Understanding the experiences of minority youth who encounter police officers is of critical concern for social workers in many practice and research areas. Social workers must examine how a minority person's perceptions are formed through repeated, frequent, involuntary encounters with the police. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis was to capture these experiences through the voices of minority youth in recounting their contacts with the police. Four themes were identified: dangerous, controlling, prejudiced, and ineffective. Further reduction of these themes resulted in an overarching theme that captures the essences of these youth's experiences: dehumanization. These results enhance understanding of minority youth experience with police officers and, thus, inform social work advocacy efforts around this issue in both practice and research arenas.
The present study explores how youth create social connections around rap and describes how rap c... more The present study explores how youth create social connections around rap and describes how rap contributes to development and maintenance of friendships. Through ecological analysis, the study demonstrates how transition-age youth use rap to form important connections and tell stories about their lives. Individual interviews were conducted with 5 rappers. Identifiable themes emerged through qualitative analysis. Those working with at-risk youth may incorporate these findings into practice to meet youth's needs who are often difficult to reach. The research indicates that meaningful connections were formed through identification as rappers and the creation and sharing of their music.
Journal of Youth Development, 2017
Youth are the weakest population within the workforce and long-term unemployment leaves them unab... more Youth are the weakest population within the workforce and long-term unemployment leaves them unable to develop work skills, reaches into their future prospects, and can weaken the economy, education systems, and overall social structure. Through ecological qualitative methodology, the reported research gathered in-depth accounts of experiences of ten urban youth who participated in a federally-funded Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). To develop an understanding of aspects of the youth’s lives, individual interviews were conducted and ecomaps were completed with participants. Personal narratives support the premises that documenting the ecosystems of individuals provides insights into daily lives, histories, and lived experiences in a way that provides a window into how services and prevention efforts can be targeted. Results concluded that for these participants, the SYEP made a difference in their lives in terms of helping them make connections to positive role models, learni...
British Journal of Social Work, 2014
ABSTRACT At-risk youth come from diverse backgrounds and may be vulnerable as they struggle betwe... more ABSTRACT At-risk youth come from diverse backgrounds and may be vulnerable as they struggle between acceptance and identity development during the transition between childhood and adulthood. As youth seek to form their own identities and find a place for themselves within their world, many turn to music as a foundation of this community and identity formation. This qualitative study seeks to determine how young rappers use the development and creation of rap to create community and form meaningful connections. Through ecological analysis, the study demonstrates how young people use rap music to form relationships , tell stories about their lives and build relationships founded on trust. The participants included five males aged eighteen to twenty-two. Ecomaps were created for each participant, resulting in a graphic that identifies important groups and individuals in their lives and the communication patterns between them. This study revealed that participants have small inner circles that they relate to more as family than their biological families. Findings present an opportunity to learn about the inner workings of young people who are involved in rap music as an activity with peers and an outlet for processing issues of daily life. By using the ecosystems theory as the foundation of the study, the researcher is able to create a deeper understanding of the meaning of music in the lives of youth and how social workers may be able to use this in their practice with at-risk youth.
Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 2015
The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with p... more The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &
This study investigates the transportation disadvantage that low-income, older adults face on an ... more This study investigates the transportation disadvantage that low-income, older adults face on an individual basis. To accomplish this, research team members custom designed an innovative “travel diary” app, MyAmble, which tracks planned, completed, failed/uncompleted trips, and unserved trips in its Trip Planner module. In addition to the typical transportation planning data (e.g. origin, destination, mode), MyAmble collects data related to the completed or failed/uncompleted trip’s impact on the participant’s mood and quality of life. MyAmble utilizes 3 additional modules (Challenge Logger, Travel Buddy, and Travel History) to collect qualitative data related to the role that transportation plays in the participant’s life and history. The field test shows significant promise in terms of capturing data on quantity and impact of missed trips, particularly as they relate to psycho-social-emotional well-being and autonomy; however, the selected population of low-income, community-dwell...
Open Journal of Social Sciences
Qualitative studies have examined runaway youth and their choices to leave home, their involvemen... more Qualitative studies have examined runaway youth and their choices to leave home, their involvement living on the streets, and their lived experiences as stigmatized youth. For the present study, a Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Synthesis (QIMS) was conducted to synthesize the data from these various studies. A systematic search located qualitative research that focused on girls who were or had been runaways. They were synthesized in this analysis. The themes of power/control and stigma are analyzed with a Foucaultian lens with an eye toward informing social workers of their roles in the power/control structures that create stigma for runaway youth.
This study investigates the transportation disadvantage that low-income, older adults face on an ... more This study investigates the transportation disadvantage that low-income, older adults face on an individual basis. To accomplish this, research team members custom designed an innovative "travel diary" app, MyAmble, which tracks planned, completed, failed/uncompleted trips, and unserved trips in its Trip Planner module. In addition to the typical transportation planning data (e.g. origin, destination, mode), MyAmble collects data related to the completed or failed/uncompleted trip's impact on the participant's mood and quality of life. MyAmble utilizes 3 additional modules (Challenge Logger, Travel Buddy, and Travel History) to collect qualitative data related to the role that transportation plays in the participant's life and history. The field test shows significant promise in terms of capturing data on quantity and impact of missed trips, particularly as they relate to psycho-social-emotional well-being and autonomy; however, the selected population of low-income, community-dwelling older adults face health challenges that may have limited some participants' ability to utilize the app. The study generates critical feedback for continued improvements to MyAmble. Participants expressed positive feedback and strong support for the app, specifically the Travel Buddy feature. The data generated by MyAmble provide new insights into the challenges facing environmental justice communities.
Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices, 2020
The Ecological Systems theory represents a convergence of biological, psychological, and social s... more The Ecological Systems theory represents a convergence of biological, psychological, and social sciences. Through the study of the ecology of human development, social scientists seek to explain and understand the ways in which an individual interacts with the interrelated systems within that individual’s environment (Bronfenbrenner, 1983a). Bronfenbrenner (1994) sought to develop a theory of human development that would consider the influences of all of the systems that play a role in impacting the lived experiences of the individual no matter how remote the influence. Today, many of these concepts are commonplace in social work practice (micro-, meso-, and macrosystems, for instance); however, its foundation of empirical support is often less understood. This article will explore the historical development of the Ecological Systems theory through the works of Bronfenbrenner, will examine the empirical evidence supporting the theory, and will discuss the implications of the theory ...
Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2021
Runaway youth are at heightened risk for violence, substance use, suicide, and other high risk co... more Runaway youth are at heightened risk for violence, substance use, suicide, and other high risk concerns. Qualitative studies have examined youth choices to leave home, involvement living on the streets, and lived experiences as stigmatized youth; however, findings from these various studies have never been analyzed together into a single synthesis of information. The purpose of this article is to synthesize the qualitative data using Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Synthesis. The researcher completed a systematic search to locate studies focused on girls who were or had been runaways, extracting themes from 10 articles to create new overarching themes that encompassed each of the articles. Results showed six new overarching themes: power/control, stigma, physical needs, safety, belonging, and acceptance. The themes of physical needs, safety, belonging, and acceptance are discussed using Maslow's hierarchy of needs paradigm. Together, the themes are constructed to discuss how helping professionals can be better prepared to help meet the myriad needs of runaway girls by utilizing the hierarchy of needs presented by Maslow. This research article provides a unique insight into working with a vulnerable population by weaving together the experiences and words of the individuals whose real-life narratives have shaped the discussion.
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 2015
Recent deaths by police of unarmed minority youth have raised important questions about the natur... more Recent deaths by police of unarmed minority youth have raised important questions about the nature and outcomes of involuntary minority youth-police encounters. Youth are the most surveilled group of Americans and minority youth frequently live in neighborhoods disproportionately targeted for proactive policing (i.e., using broad police discretion to ''target'' those most likely to be engaged in criminal activity before criminal acts become apparent). Understanding the experiences of minority youth who encounter police officers is of critical concern for social workers in many practice and research areas. Social workers must examine how a minority person's perceptions are formed through repeated, frequent, involuntary encounters with the police. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis was to capture these experiences through the voices of minority youth in recounting their contacts with the police. Four themes were identified: dangerous, controlling, prejudiced, and ineffective. Further reduction of these themes resulted in an overarching theme that captures the essences of these youth's experiences: dehumanization. These results enhance understanding of minority youth experience with police officers and, thus, inform social work advocacy efforts around this issue in both practice and research arenas.
The present study explores how youth create social connections around rap and describes how rap c... more The present study explores how youth create social connections around rap and describes how rap contributes to development and maintenance of friendships. Through ecological analysis, the study demonstrates how transition-age youth use rap to form important connections and tell stories about their lives. Individual interviews were conducted with 5 rappers. Identifiable themes emerged through qualitative analysis. Those working with at-risk youth may incorporate these findings into practice to meet youth's needs who are often difficult to reach. The research indicates that meaningful connections were formed through identification as rappers and the creation and sharing of their music.
Journal of Youth Development, 2017
Youth are the weakest population within the workforce and long-term unemployment leaves them unab... more Youth are the weakest population within the workforce and long-term unemployment leaves them unable to develop work skills, reaches into their future prospects, and can weaken the economy, education systems, and overall social structure. Through ecological qualitative methodology, the reported research gathered in-depth accounts of experiences of ten urban youth who participated in a federally-funded Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). To develop an understanding of aspects of the youth’s lives, individual interviews were conducted and ecomaps were completed with participants. Personal narratives support the premises that documenting the ecosystems of individuals provides insights into daily lives, histories, and lived experiences in a way that provides a window into how services and prevention efforts can be targeted. Results concluded that for these participants, the SYEP made a difference in their lives in terms of helping them make connections to positive role models, learni...
British Journal of Social Work, 2014
ABSTRACT At-risk youth come from diverse backgrounds and may be vulnerable as they struggle betwe... more ABSTRACT At-risk youth come from diverse backgrounds and may be vulnerable as they struggle between acceptance and identity development during the transition between childhood and adulthood. As youth seek to form their own identities and find a place for themselves within their world, many turn to music as a foundation of this community and identity formation. This qualitative study seeks to determine how young rappers use the development and creation of rap to create community and form meaningful connections. Through ecological analysis, the study demonstrates how young people use rap music to form relationships , tell stories about their lives and build relationships founded on trust. The participants included five males aged eighteen to twenty-two. Ecomaps were created for each participant, resulting in a graphic that identifies important groups and individuals in their lives and the communication patterns between them. This study revealed that participants have small inner circles that they relate to more as family than their biological families. Findings present an opportunity to learn about the inner workings of young people who are involved in rap music as an activity with peers and an outlet for processing issues of daily life. By using the ecosystems theory as the foundation of the study, the researcher is able to create a deeper understanding of the meaning of music in the lives of youth and how social workers may be able to use this in their practice with at-risk youth.
Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 2015
The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with p... more The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &