Doctoral Dissertation Research: The Social Organization of Altruism and the Procurement of Human Organs

Princeton University, Princeton NJ

Investigators

Abstract

This project studies variations in organ dontion rates and links them to differences in organizational structures and cultural climates surrounding the donor banks. A variety of quantitative data will be analyzed using time-series and other techniques, supplemented by qualitative historical data on advertising and news accounts of organ donations. The research is important to sociological understanding of organizations, for donor banks constitute an unusual combination of professional and volunteer employees, and non-profit and emotional foci in their structures. The work may have policy implications as well, for it may identify structural characteristics and cultural forms associated with more successful appeal for donors.