Harmony Rose Rhoades
Ph.D., Sociology, UCLA, expected June 2010
M.S., Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, expected September 2009;
C.Phil., Sociology, UCLA, 2009;
M.A., Sociology, UCLA, 2005;
B.A., with Highest Distinction in Sociology, Cum Laude, University of California, San Diego, 2003;
Fax: 310-206-9838
E-mail:
hrhoades@ucla.edu
Subfield
Sociology of Health & Illness, Organizational Sociology, Epidemiology, Gender & Sexuality
Research Interests
The Role of Decision Strategy & Structure in Organizational Performance, Dissertation Abstract:
HIV testing in the U.S. is vital to reduce the number of individuals unaware that they are HIV positive (currently estimated at 300,000) and subsequently to reduce the transmission of HIV. HIV testing takes place in organizations and organizational differences can influence the effectiveness of testing services. Effective performance of HIV testing services requires testing a large number of individuals, while at the same time targeting those at greatest risk for HIV infection, ensuring timely disclosure of test results, providing risk-reduction counseling and transitioning positive testers into treatment services.
The organizational context of an HIV testing site can determine the amount of funding dedicated to testing services, the training of testing staff, and the utilization of testing technology. HIV is unique among medical testing services, as it is provided in a variety of organizational sectors (hospitals, private practices, nonprofit community-based organizations, etc.). Sectoral differences in testing programs exist between these sites, and these differentials may result in disparities in HIV testing performance. Additionally, strategic decisions made by organizations may be associated with variation in performance both between and within sectors. This area has been neglected in prior studies of HIV testing, as it is rare for research on organizations to study task-specific performance outcomes. This study examines these differences and their association with HIV testing performance measures.
Major hypotheses focus on both inter-group and intra-group organizational differences in HIV testing performance. These hypotheses are guided by organization theory explicating the relationship between decision-making strategy, structure and performance. This study expands upon prior research by examining how decision-making strategy in organizations mediates sectoral/structural differences, while structural factors at the same time place limitations on decision-making capabilities. This research also tests institutional theories of structural isomorphism in organizational fields by examining the association of organizational forms and strategies with performance outcomes.
The analysis utilizes data on 159 HIV healthcare and testing organizations providing HIV tests in LA County from 2003-2007 and a total of 616 respondents in both administrative and frontline provider roles (NIMH #R01-MH62709, PI Oscar Grusky).
The performance measures used are the number of clients in each setting offered HIV testing who accept in a specific one-year period; the per cent clients of those tested who are HIV-positive; the per cent of clients who received their HIV test results; per cent of positive testers referred to treatment; and the proportion of testers receiving recommended counseling services.
Detectable Viral Load Associated with Sexual Risk Behavior in MSM, MS Thesis in Epidemiology Abstract:
Widespread HAART use has been successful in decreasing the viral load of many HIV+ persons. However, the positive health developments associated with HAART use are accompanied by renewed concern about increased sexual risk and HIV transmission. Viral load, which is in large part contingent upon adherence to HAART, affects the transmissibility of HIV. Researchers initially posited that those with low viral load and high adherence to HAART would have higher levels of sexual risk, based on the knowledge that they have a low chance of transmitting the virus. However, the majority of these studies discovered the opposite effect: those with lower HAART adherence and higher viral load were more likely to engage in sexual risk behavior. This behavior poses a significant risk of HIV transmission, including the risk of transmitting drug-resistant strains of the virus. This association may be confounded by social vulnerability factors that influence both viral load/adherence and sexual risk behavior.
The Framing of Same-Sex Marriage, MA Thesis Abstract:
The issue of same-sex marriage in the U.S. has been paid tremendous attention in recent years, however, little has been done to explain the prevalence and importance of this debate in public opinion. Through an analysis of the framing of social movements, this study examines how same-sex marriage has been framed in terms of the cultural meaning of marriage, traditional attitudes toward the morality of homosexuality, and equal rights under the law and how these frames have been represented as public opinion. General Social Survey data and multinomial logistic regression are used to examine sociodemographic and attitudinal factors that are associated with attitudes toward same-sex marriage, as well as combined attitudes toward same-sex marriage, the morality of homosexuality, and support of other civil liberties for homosexuals. The results indicate that traditional marriage attitudes, attitudes toward the morality of homosexuality, and support of civil liberties for homosexuals have resonated with public opinion in complex and conflicting ways.
Publications
In Progress:
Detectable Viral Load Associated with Sexual Risk Behavior in MSM
The Framing of Same-Sex Marriage: An Analysis of Public Opinion
Grants and Awards
Predoctoral Trainee, UCLA Service Systems for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Research Training Program, 2006-Present.
Golden Key International Honour Society, 2001-2003.
Ford Family Foundation Scholar, 1999-2003.
Research Scholar, Sixteenth Annual UCSD Undergraduate Research Conference, 2003.
Provost’s Honors, 10 academic quarters, University of California, San Diego.
Advisors
Oscar Grusky
Bill Roy
Megan Sweeney
Don Morisky (Community Health Sciences)
Pamina Gorbach (Epidemiology)
Conference Presentations
The Role of Decision Strategy & Structure in Organizational Performance:
A Study of HIV Testing Organizations, Oral presentation at the annual CHIPTS HIV Research: The Next Generation conference, UCLA, April 6, 2009.
HIV & STIs: Using Social Networks for Prevention, Guest Lecture, Communication Studies 156: Social Networks, UCLA, January 29, 2009.
Assessing HIV Testing Service Coordination in LA County: 2003-2007, Oral presentation at the annual CHIPTS HIV Research: The Next Generation conference, UCLA, April 7, 2008.
Social Networks & HIV, Guest Lecture, Communication Studies 156: Social Networks, UCLA, February 21, 2008.
A Comparative Analysis of HIV Testing Effectiveness of Mobile Testing Units in LA County: Preliminary Findings, Oral presentation at the annual CHIPTS HIV Research: The Next Generation conference, UCLA, April 9, 2007.
The Framing of Same-Sex Marriage: An Analysis of Public Opinion, Roundtable presentation at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Montreal Convention Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Aug 10, 2006.
Knowledge and Behavior: Complications for HIV Prevention Among College Students, Oral presentation at the Annual Undergraduate Research Conference, University of California, San Diego, May 17, 2003.
Edit This Page