Doctoral Dissertation Research in Sociology

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This is a dissertation improvement grant. The research studies influences which originate in prayer groups, and extend to social relationships outside the group. Considerable theory in sociol- ogy identifies consensual values as fundamental to society. Through observations and interviews, PIs will investigate the extent to which relationships established in Charismatic Catholic ritual are replicated in participants' social relationships outside the church. Investigators expect to find changes in external social relationship following conversion to the reli- gion, and they will explore development of these relationships over respondents' lives. Results permit test of several hypothe- ses relating religious forms to social forms, and the signif- icance of moral values in building social cohesion.