Honors Theses
Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Public Policy Leadership
First Advisor
Eric Weber
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
A quarter of Mississippi's population lives below the poverty line. Poverty is linked to a myriad of health conditions, psychological effects, and inaccessibility of basic resources. Often, those who have never faced the challenges of poverty hold misconceptions regarding the impacts of poverty. It is important to correct misconceptions in order to combat the problems of poverty through such means as better-informed legislation and community action plans. Poverty simulations have recently been designed to educate people about poverty and its challenges. A poverty simulation is a role-playing exercise in which participants are given props and a list of tasks to accomplish in four 15-minute periods that each represent one month. A successful poverty simulation sensitizes participants to the realities of poverty, demonstrating the impact the experience has on daily life. The McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement at the University of Mississippi Oxford campus hosted the inaugural Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) on October 27, 2015. This experiment examines the attitudes of people from different backgrounds, raises awareness about the challenges of poverty, and evaluates the impact of the simulation. The data show that the inaugural CAPS at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi succeeded in raising participant awareness. This study also explains a need for a larger room, a more realistic and serious setting, a better introduction of the guidelines at the outset of the simulation, and a need to recruit from further audiences for future CAPS.
Recommended Citation
Stout, Anna Grace, "Perceptions of Poverty and the Community Action Poverty Simulation Experience" (2016). Honors Theses. 83.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/83
Accessibility Status
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