 |
Berman Summer Research Fellowship Awarded to Harriet Hartman
Professor Harriet Hartman of the Department of Sociology of Rowan University has been awarded the Berman Summer Research Fellowship on the topic of "The effect of Jewish identity on family and secular behaviors: a cross community comparison." For her analysis, she will rely on community studies, archived at the Data Bank, conducted following the NJPS 2000-01. Prof. Hartman is the president of the Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry (ASSJ).
Full Abstract: Controversy over how secularized contemporary society is includes questions about how important religious identity is for everyday, mundane behaviors. The American Jewish population is an interesting case for considering this question, as Jews are reputed to be the most secular of religious groups in the United States. Nevertheless, recent research from the 2000-1 NJPS shows that Jewish identity continues to have relevance to both family behaviors and secular involvement and achievement in the labor force. The current project proposes to consider the extent to which the interrelationships between Jewish identity-religious or ethnic-and family and labor force behavior, vary by region of the United States. Data from the 2000-01 National Jewish Population Survey and more recent community surveys will be analyzed to explore regional variation (or similarity).
The "Fall Line" of Jewish Community Study Data Coming: An Update on Jewish Community Studies in Progress
As of May, at least five Jewish communities are in the process of conducting a Jewish population study. A brief summary of each follows:
Rochester, NY
- Internet Survey completed; approximately 1,900 completed interviews; research methodology included assistance for seniors, etc. to complete the online survey.
- Research conducted by the Rochester Research Group for the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester.
- The previous study of the Rochester area in 1999 was conducted by Ira M. Sheskin, utilizing 708 randomly-selected telephone interviews. The Jewish population of Monroe County (NY) was estimated to be 20,850.
- Data to be analyzed this summer and report issued in Fall, 2010.
- See Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester for additional details about the current study.
Baltimore, MD
- Randomly-based landline and cell telephone study of Greater Baltimore area (Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County) in progress. Approximately 1,200 telephone interviews to be completed with Jewish households, including between 110 and 120 interviews completed via cell phones.
- Interviewing to be completed within the next few weeks. Supplemental Internet survey to begin approximately June 9.
- Initial data reports to be released in Fall, 2010.
- Research conducted for The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Greater Baltimore by SSRS (Social Science Research Solutions) and Ukeles Associates, Inc. (UAI).
- The 1999 study was also conducted by UAI-Ukeles, using a similar methodology (without cell phones in 1999) to interview 1,027 Jewish households. The Jewish population was estimated at 91,400 in the 1999 reports.
- See Baltimore/Howard County Community Study Page for additional details about the current study.
Howard County, MD
- Randomly-based landline telephone survey of Howard County, MD., in progress along with neighboring Baltimore, interviews to be completed within the next few weeks. Total of 250 randomly-selected Jewish household interviews; 1999 study paralleled for comparison over time. Supplemental Internet survey to begin approximately June 9.
- Initial data reports to be released in Fall, 2010.
- Research conducted for The Jewish Federation of Howard County (co-sponsored by the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Greater Baltimore) by SSRS (Social Science Research Solutions) and Ukeles Associates, Inc. (UAI).
- The 1999 study was also conducted by UAI-Ukeles, using a similar methodology. Interviews were completed with 207 Jewish households in Howard County; the Jewish population was estimated to be 16,000.
- See Baltimore/Howard County Community Study Page for additional details about the current study.
Chicago, IL
- Randomly-based landline and cell telephone study of Metropolitan Chicago area (Cook County and Lake County are major Jewish areas; study also includes DuPage, Kane, McHenry and Will Counties).
- Approximately 2,000 telephone interviews to be completed with Jewish households, including approximately 250 interviews completed via cell phones with Jewish respondents. Interviewing to be completed within the next few weeks. Supplemental Internet survey to begin approximately June 9.
- Initial data reports to be released in Fall, 2010.
- Research conducted for JUF/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago by JPAR (Jewish Policy & Action Research), a strategic alliance of SSRS (Social Science Research Solutions) and Ukeles Associates, Inc. (UAI).
- Interviewing for the 2000-2001 study was conducted by the same SSRS interviewing team, then called the Social Science Research Group of ICR (International Communications Research), which completed 2,048 Jewish respondent interviews. The Jewish population in Greater Chicago was estimated to be 270,500 in the 2000-2001 study.
- See Chicago Jewish Community Survey for additional details about the current study.
New Haven, CT
- Randomly-based landline telephone survey of Greater New Haven, from Milford to Madison, from Cheshire to Chester, from Derby to Deep River.
- Ira M. Sheskin is principal investigator.
- Interviewing began on May 23. Randomly-selected telephone numbers in Greater New haven to be included, as well as a random sample of households with Distinctive Jewish names (DJNs), following the model used by Sheskin in other communities.
- 800 completed Jewish household interviews planned for the 2010 study.
- Report and data scheduled for late Fall, 2010.
- The previous study of New Haven in 1987, conducted by Steven M. Cohen, completed 397 Jewish household interviews randomly selected from telephone directories, focusing on households with Distinctive Jewish names only. Cohen, also used Federation list records and their overlap with the DJN listings, to estimate the Jewish population in New Haven to be approximately 28,000.
- See Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven for additional details about the current study.
|
