Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Dr. James Rhoads, Westminster College professor of political science, presented papers at the annual meetings of two organizations.
Rhoads and Dennis Kinsey presented "Michael Jackson: Public Views of ‘The King of Pop'" at the Far West Popular Culture Association meeting March 12 in Las Vegas.
The paper looked at the subjectivity surrounding the pop superstar in the wake of his death and utilized Q methodology to probe that subjectivity.
At Westminster, four factors emerged: one saw Jackson in a sympathetic and respectful light; one simply didn't "get" the Jackson phenomenon; one was conflicted, as they wished to honor his musical contributions but suspected he was guilty of child molestation; and one focused on the media coverage of Jackson's life and death.
Further analysis was conducted with the same Q-sample at Kent State University (Ohio) and Syracuse University (New York). Three of the factors found at Westminster were also discovered at Kent State and Syracuse; only the Westminster factor concerned with the media was not replicated. In addition, a distinct factor was discovered at Kent State that saw Jackson as "no hero" and seemed to pity him.
Rhoads and Dr. Michael Aleprete, Westminster assistant professor of political science, presented "An Investigation into Elite Foreign Policy Attitudes in the United States Using Q-Method" at the International Studies Association meeting March 18 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The presentation looked at the structure of views toward U.S. foreign policy among a group of experts. Three factors were discovered: a bipolar factor revolving around the theme of rule-based internationalists/realpolitik; an establishment view; and a neo-isolationist/cosmopolitan view.
Rhoads, who has been with Westminster since 1992, earned undergraduate and master's degrees and Ph.D. from Kent State University.
Aleprete, who joined the Westminster faculty in 2007, earned an undergraduate degree from Duquesne University and master's and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.
Contact Rhoads at (724) 946-7255 or e-mail jrhoads@westminster.edu for additional information.
