What determined political contributions made to congressional candidates in the 2012 election? The existing literature on the subject is problematic in that it is too specific and will only focus on particular aspects of contributions. According to my research hypothesis there are variables that can be used to analyze a national race that include all levels of contributors to determine why candidates received the contributions they did. My equation has total contributions, according to Federal Election Commission filings, made by each candidate for the two year period in which that election cycle occurred, as the dependent variable. The explanatory variables are margin of victory for both the congressman and the presidential candidate of their party, committee chairmanship and other key leadership roles, the productivity of the congressman, per capita income of the district, and years of incumbency.
Herve Varenne wrote a book called Americans Together (1977) that theorized American culture as the product of the dual American ideals of individualism and collectivism. I found his approach illuminating as I endeavored to identify the cultural values embedded in CrossFit groups. This ethnographic research combined participant observation and life history interviews in several different gyms in the Keene area with a review of relevant literature. The fieldwork created a comparative framework for a study of the cultural journey taken by CrossFit Keene members after their gym closed. I have applied the methods and theories of Franz Boas, Claudia Strauss, and Herve Varenne to a social process that helped develop the group's identity and 'creation myth.' In this presentation, I will discuss ways in which members of CrossFit culture in Keene work to express their individuality through their group.
