Browsing by Author "Raile, Amber N. W."

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Agriculture in Shifting Climates: The Configuration and Ripeness of Problem Understandings in Uganda and Senegal
(2018-03) Raile, Eric D.; Young, Linda M.; Bonabana-Wabbi, Jackline; Kirinya, Julian; Mbaye, Samba; Wooldridge, Lena; Raile, Amber N. W.; Post, Lori Ann
The international community has advocated the adoption of climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) as lower‐income countries deal with the negative consequences of climate change. Scaling up such policies, practices, and programs successfully will require support from a variety of local stakeholders. Such support requires alignment between CSA solutions and the problem understandings of stakeholders. However, problem understandings can differ across individuals, stakeholder groups, and geographic areas. Consequently, we examine understandings of climate problems and socioeconomic and infrastructure problems related to agriculture among different stakeholder groups in Uganda and Senegal. We operationalized and measured these problem understandings following the detailed guidance of the political will and public will approach for analyzing social change. Semistructured interviews elicited stakeholder‐generated lists of problems for each group. Limited quantification of problem understandings and their relative importance or “ripeness” demonstrates how contexts might shape opportunities for CSA.
Analysis and action: The political will and public will approach
(2018-05) Raile, Amber N. W.; Raile, Eric D.; Post, Lori A.
Addressing complex social problems requires the implementation of public policies in support of positive social change efforts. Both political will and public will are crucial elements of such efforts. This article details an approach for analysis and action consistent with other action research approaches that facilitators can use in analyzing and subsequently helping to build political will and public will to address social problems. This article outlines a basic toolkit for action researchers working in the public policy arena. Four basic and iterative tasks, based on formal conceptual definitions of political will and public will, make up this approach for analysis and action. These tasks are stakeholder identification, assessment of stakeholder views of problems and solutions, alignment of problem and solution understandings, and the building of firm commitments and mutual accountability. Action researchers working to bring about positive social change through public policy can use this approach to structure their efforts.
Defining Political Will
(2010-08) Post, Lori Ann; Raile, Amber N. W.; Raile, Eric D.
Although frequently invoked as a rhetorical tool in political discussions, “political will” remains ambiguous as a concept. Acknowledging the centrality of political will to policy outcomes, the authors propose a pragmatic and systematic approach to definition. This approach facilitates analysis by identifying particular shortcomings in political will. This identification in turn permits the application of appropriate theoretical frameworks from various disciplines and the effective construction and use of ameliorative measures. The authors also address fundamental issues like the specification of contexts. The analytical approach includes a conceptual definition dissected into essential components, along with corresponding means of operationalization and targets for assessment. Among the major definitional components are requirements that a sufficient set of decision makers intends to support a particular initiative and that such support is committed. The latter condition is difficult to ascertain, but various signals, influences, and constraints on action are observable.
Defining Public Will
(2014-02) Raile, Eric D.; Raile, Amber N. W.; Salmon, Charles T.; Post, Lori Ann
Scientific elaboration of “public will” would enhance the concept's analytical usefulness and contribute to improved understanding in various fields, including political science and public policy. Previous work has utilized the term but has jumped the crucial stage of formally defining public will as a conceptual variable. This project constructs a definitional system that breaks the concept into components and offers operationalizations and assessment targets. Analysis begins with consideration of social systems and their direct ties with other definitional components like shared recognition of the problem and of proposed means of addressing the problem. Resolve to address the situation and to sustain collective action are also essential components. The project then applies the definitional system through a brief case study of firearm control and considers various scholarly implications. The definitional system emphasizes the simultaneous existence of multiple “publics” and argues against using public will synonymously with majority public opinion.
Millennials' "Get a 'Real Job'" Exploring Generational Shifts in the Colloquialism's Characteristics and Meanings
(2015-04) O'Connor, Amy; Raile, Amber N. W.
This study provides a replication of Clair’s research on the colloquialism “real job.” Colloquial meanings are influenced by generational and sociocultural changes; thus, a replication exposes how Millennials who are coming of age during the Great Recession understand the phrase. Analysis of data from 139 currently matriculated Millennials suggests that a real job provides a salary that is utilitarian rather than lucrative, offers medical and retirement benefits, and is fulfilling. Our analysis revealed four themes that are presented under the broad categories of acceptance (right of passage; mark of distinction) and rejection (meaningless concept; relativism) of the colloquialism. Overall, participants were divided about the utility of the term and nearly half of the students rejected that a real job exists. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Women and the weight of a pandemic: A survey of four Western US states early in the Coronavirus outbreak
(Wiley, 2020-12) Raile, Amber N. W.; Raile, Eric D.; Parker, David C.W.; Shanahan, Elizabeth A.; Haines, Pavielle
In the initial months of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, people struggled to adjust to the new normal. The burden of managing changes to home and work life seemed to fall disproportionately to women due to the nature of women's employment and gendered societal pressures. We surveyed residents of four western states in the first months of the outbreak to compare the experiences of women and men during this time. We found that women were disproportionately vulnerable to workplace disruptions, negative impacts on daily life, and increased mental load. Women with children and women who lost their jobs were particularly impacted. These results contribute to the growing body of findings about the disproportionate impacts of crises on women and should inform organizational and government policies to help mitigate these impacts and to enhance societal resilience in future emergencies.