IU Indianapolis ScholarWorks :: Browsing by Author "Karikari, Isaac"

Browsing by Author "Karikari, Isaac"

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The Blame Game or Sharing the Blame?: Hearing Stakeholders Talk about Each Other. A Critical Discourse Analysis on School Bullying
(2017-11-06) Karikari, Isaac; Brown, James
Using critical discourse analysis (CDA), this research-based presentation examined similarities and variations in how four groups of stakeholders, namely, bus drivers and attendants, principals, school social workers, and parents perceive bullying in schools, and represent themselves in relation to others in bullying discourses. The findings of the study showed that all the stakeholders viewed bullying in sociological and psychological terms. The findings also revealed implicit biases in how the stakeholders viewed themselves, and perceived power differentials in how they related to each other. Potential remedies for identified challenges/problems were discussed.
Bullying Prevention in Schools: The Need for a Multiple Stakeholder Approach
(IUPUI, 2020-07-30) Karikari, Isaac; Brown, James R.; Ashirifi, Gifty Dede; Storms, James; School of Social Work
Since bullying is an ecological and systemic phenomenon that occurs in multiple contexts with multiple actors, it makes sense to consider the perceptions of multiple stakeholders and their relationships with one another and in relation to bullying prevention in schools. Using a non-probability, purposive sample, this study examined the perspectives of 45 school stakeholders, namely, principals, school social workers, bus drivers, and parents from an urban school district in the Midwest. The study unveils some of the implicit and explicit challenges associated with bullying prevention efforts. For example, bullying can be quite nebulous because people tend to look at the issue through the prism of their own experiences and positions, limiting their understanding of other stakeholders. Some stakeholders’ perspectives may be muted when bullying behaviors are discussed or reported. Overall, the findings support the use of multi-stakeholder approaches in developing a more holistic view of bullying. Recommendations include avoiding the reification of the views and voices of a select few and having a more open system of dialogue among stakeholders to create inclusion when addressing bullying.
A Case Study of Extracurricular Activities in Central Indiana
(Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2015-04-17) Bah, Aissata; Dennis, Sheila; Hester, Nicholas; Hutcherson, Andricus; Kessler, Alexandra; Khalid, Ariba; Khalid, Umara; Gentle-Genitty, Carolyn; Kim, Jangmin; Karikari, Isaac; House-Soremekun, Bessie; Dennis, Shelia; Hutcherson, Andricus; Veal, Brittany
Although previous research noted that extracurricular activities are significantly associated with various students’ outcomes, little research to date has explored their current conditions. This case study examined the status and quality of extracurricular activities in 11 public schools around Central Indiana. Two sets of data were combined and matched by each school’s identification: the survey of extracurricular activities from schools and the schools’ characteristics from Indiana Department of Education. Of the sample, 67% were elementary schools and 42% were relatively low SES schools with a larger number of students receiving free meals. Our study showed that on average, schools provided 21 different extracurricular activities for their students. Academic activities were most prevalent (100%), followed by performing arts activities (83.3%), sports activities (83.3%), prosocial activities (75%), and school involvement activities (66.7%). For the quality of extracurricular activities, about 12% of students in each school participated in at least one activity and spent an average of 2.6 hours a week on extracurricular activities. The mean number of staff and volunteers who administered activities was 5. Approximately 39% of activities in each school were delivered by community partnerships. Our study also found that elementary schools had the lower mean scores in most measures of the quality of extracurricular activities, such as the frequency of the activities, hours spent per week, and the number of staff and volunteers. Furthermore, low SES schools tended to have lower levels of students’ participation in extracurricular activities, although they provided more frequent and diverse activities than high SES schools. These results may imply that more significant attention should be paid to elementary schools to improve the quality of activities as well as low SES schools to promote students’ active involvement.
Child labor: a critical discourse analysis
(2016-03-23) Karikari, Isaac; Khaja, Khadija; Adamek, Margaret E.; Reza, Hasan; Seybold, Peter
Child labor is a complex global phenomenon. Though poverty is widely accepted as the primary cause of child labor, there are many dimensions of the phenomenon that still remain to be explored. Very little attention has been given to the policies that drive efforts to address child labor and how they are framed. Of particular interest is how we determine who is a child, and the notions of childhood underpinning these policies. Less attention has been given to the relationships and power dynamics underlying the policy-making process that surrounds this discourse. A qualitative method, namely, critical discourse analysis (CDA) was used to examine the discursive construction of children and childhood in child labor discourse. Underlying power dynamics through the analysis of diverse child labor-related policies at the global (ILO), regional (OAU/AU), sub-regional (ECOWAS), global/sub-regional (Harkin-Engel Protocol), and local (Ghana) levels was explored. Findings revealed that homogenized and hegemonic trends are visible in child labor discourse. While the ILO's discourse on child labor was either reproduced or referenced in the other policies, there was generally a homogenized definition of children based on Western social constructions and views of children. Child labor policies were not fully cognizant or sensitive to local constructions and conceptions of how we define children and what we determine are appropriate roles at various ages. In particular reference to Ghana, the Government of Ghana's child labor policies did not reflect the sociological and cultural realities of the nation. Findings of the study also suggest that for some organizations and countries, especially in the Global South, political and economic considerations influenced whose voices were included in child labor policy creation. Critical discourse implications for social work education, policy analysis, practice and research are discussed.
Determining Evidence Based Properties of M.O.P. Civic Education School Discipline Program
(Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2014-04-11) Gentle-Genitty, Carolyn; Gauss, Christy; Nichter, Susan; Karikari, Isaac; Cudjoe, Tracy
School discipline helps establish a safe and supportive environment for student learning and development. There are however factors that can undermine the creation of such an environment. These factors include the conduct of students as well as that of school staff. The Me Others Property Civic Education School Discipline Program has been implemented for the last 20 years in several local schools in Indiana. However its evidence based properties have yet to be evaluated. This study examined such properties via the literature on evidence based practices for school discipline. The APA Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) suggests that the use of EBP in schools can help boost students’ psychological wellbeing, and also create the grounds for productive learning outcomes (Evidence-Based Practice in Psychology, 2006). There is increasing appeal for interventions developed on the basis data-informed practices (Kelly et al., 2010). Specifically the study continues to assess the data from a survey administered in two local schools (70 elementary students) and 45 high school-age students who completed a pre-post-test in Belize. The MOP program espouse to help students learn how to respect themselves, others, and property and make right choices. Preliminary findings are presented and discussed.
Differential impact, differential adjustments: diverse experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic by college students in an Upper-Midwestern University, USA
(PubMed, 2021) Karikari, Isaac; Karikari, Grace; Kyere, Eric; School of Social Work
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic though widespread is not monolithic. Therefore, a differentiated understanding of the pandemic's impact on people is critical. Further, it is important to recognize that even within the same group people's experiences may differ. The current study explored how the onset of COVID-19 and its mitigation measures impacted university students across the broad spectrum of their lives. The study utilized a qualitative approach based on individual and focus group interviews through Zoom. Participants were recruited using convenience and purposive sampling strategies. Twenty-one students (mean age = 33.8, over 76% whites, 15 females) participated in the study. Guided by systems and ecological systems theories and grounded in a contextualist paradigm, the data were analyzed thematically. Pseudonyms were adopted to preserve the anonymity of the participants. The findings revealed that COVID-19 has impacted students in varied ways ranging from the seemingly simple to the multi-layered and complex. An overarching theme, "same storm, different boats", which conveys the notion of differential impact, and differential adjustments was identified. Nested under the overarching theme are two main themes (1) Impact of COVID-19: disruptions, stressors, and silver linings and (2) Coping with COVID-19. Participants reported positive as well as negative impacts. Factors that helped students cope included institutional support, empathy from instructors, and family support. The findings suggest that to effectively respond to the impact of COVID-19 on students, it will be important to identify and attend to the distinct and diverse stressors within this population, and systems and ecological systems theories are important guiding frameworks.
Divergent Caregiver and Youth Perspectives Regarding Behavioral Health Needs and Psychosocial Functioning: An Exploratory Study
(2019-11-05) Karikari, Isaac; Walton, Betty A.; Bishop, Christine
Background. To promote effectiveness in behavioral health treatment, the system of care framework and wraparound model accentuate inclusion of family and youth as important stakeholders, not just as consumers. This has challenged conventional practices; and youth and caregivers' perspectives have become integral to treatment planning and service delivery. This study explored caregivers and youth's perspectives of behavioral health needs and psychosocial functioning. Methods. This exploratory study utilized data collected in a Midwestern, suburban county as part of the national Child and Family Study of youth with complex behavioral health needs enrolled in the Child Mental Health Wraparound initiative. The sample consisted of 25 caregiver-youth pairs. Assessment measures included the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) and the Columbia Impairment Scale (CIS). Independent t-tests were used to examine differences in caregiver and youth perspectives. Results. Significant differences were identified in caregivers and youth's perspectives of youth's behavioral health on the PSC, but no significant differences between caregivers and youth on the CIS measure. Responses showed that compared to youth, caregivers perceived a higher level of functional impairment in interpersonal relationships, academic, and community functioning. Further, caregivers' views of severity of functional impairment varied based on the caregiver type. Conclusion. Divergent perspectives regarding youth's behavioral health needs and functioning between caregivers and youth have implications for behavioral health treatment planning and service delivery. Additional research is needed on collaborative assessments and implications of different views for practice and outcomes.
Gaining a Comprehensive Understanding of Behavioral and Mental Health Service Utilization through Data Integration
(2017-10-05) Karikari, Isaac; Walton, Betty A.
There are several micro and macro factors that impact these children and youth’s (including their families’) access to and utilization of services. Therefore, knowledge and understanding of contextual factors and service utilization trends and patterns are essential. Although data to develop such knowledge may exist, it is often siloed or structured in ways that do not easily allow for meaningful interpretations and inferences to be made. This presentation demonstrates the use of data integration to engender an understanding of the contextual factors impacting children and youth’s utilization of behavioral and mental health services in Indiana from 2004 to 2016.
Impacts of School Bonding on Problem Behaviors: Ethnic differences
(Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2014-04-11) Gentle-Genitty, Carolyn; Karikari, Isaac; Kim, Jangmin; Hutcherson, Andricus
This study examined the different impacts of school bonding on problem behaviors between ethnic groups (minority students and white students). The study sample was a local Indiana Exemplar public school. A random number of fourth through eighth grade students (6-16 years of age) were asked to complete a survey. Teachers read to younger students to complete. Of the sample 48% were boys and 51% were girls. Of the six categories for ethnicity, 51% were white and 49% comprised the other ethnicity categories, accounting for a total of 192 students. The study specifically looked at the interaction effect of ethnicity on the relationship between school bonding (Attachment, Commitment, Involvement, and Belief) and misbehavior in school (delinquency). The variables were identified through a factor analysis from the copyrighted Gentle-Genitty Perception of School Social Bonding Instrument. The school bonding instrument is reliable and valid (Cronbach’s Alpha .85). The preliminary results show that… • Involvement and belief are significantly associated with reduced misbehaviors in school. • Minority students exhibit behavior that is perceived as delinquent more often than white students. • Older students in higher-grade levels are more likely to exhibit negative behavior than younger students in lower grade levels. • The impact of one of the social bonding variables (involvement-participation in activities) on problem behavior is significantly greater for minority students than white students, as seen in the graph below.
Integration into Mainstream Society and the use of Public Assistance: A Study First Generation Somali Refugees in a Midwestern City
(ICPK, 2023) Akakpo, Tohoro F.; Brown, James R.; Karikari, Isaac; Ashirifi, Gifty Dede; School of Social Work
First generation Somali refugees in the United Stated States could experience both language and cultural barriers along with conflicting identity could hinder economic independence. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between cultural orientation of first-generation Somali refugees and the utilization of public assistance. Using purposive sampling method, data were collected from individuals who self-identified as first-generation Somali refugees (N=166). A quantitative data analysis method using SmartPLS3.0 to predict the need of public assistance on level on integration into host culture. The Somali identity (63.0 %) and American identity (57.0%) were explained by the full model. The study summary revealed that the percentage first generation Somali refugees who integrated into mainstream society was lower than those who did not in seeking public assistance. We suggested facilitation of full integration of the first-generation Somali refugees could reduce dependence on public assistance.

Browsing by Author "Karikari, Isaac"

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