Graduation Term

2016

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Department of Sociology and Anthropology: Sociology

Committee Chair

Frank D. Beck

Abstract

Place-identity is a concept that examines the corresponding relationship between the self and space. Much work has been accomplished on this topic in environmental psychology and geography, but sociological research on this concept is scarce. This project employs reflexive participant photography, qualitative methods and an analytical framework derived from place-identity theory to research the affect of socioeconomic status on place-identity in the Republic of Moldova. Socioeconomic status consists of four sub-variables - parents's professions, formative loci and experience from formative loci - which further represent class-status and community-society constructs, respectively. These constructs were compared to assess the predominate variables in the data. There are two major findings: Socioeconomic status does affect Moldovan place-identity, particularly in economic and recreation related spaces to a greater measure than in religious, commercial and educational related spaces, and; class-status constructs, represented by parent's professions, affected more change in the data than community-society constructs, represented by formative loci and experience from formative loci.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2016.Savacool.R

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