Chris F. Biga, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Sociology
Office: Minard 408F
Phone: 701.231.5887
Email: Chris.Biga@ndsu.edu
Degrees
- Ph.D., Sociology, Washington State University, 2006
- M.A., University of New Orleans, 1999
- B.A., University of Nebraska, 1996
Chris F. Biga joined the Department in the Fall of 2007. His primary research focuses on the intersection of environmental sociology and sociological social psychology. Specifically, explaining environmentally significant individual behaviors through self meanings of identities. Dr. Biga’s previous research has appeared in Sociological Theory. Currently, Dr. Biga is investigating how shared values across identities (environmental, gender, and consumer) influence the occurrence of environmentally significant individual behaviors.
Working in collaboration with scientists at the Great Lakes WATER Institute in Milwaukee, WI , Dr. Biga collaborated in the design and implementation of a research agenda comparing two urban Milwaukee communities’ perceptions of a local water system. He is also interested in how communities perceive environmental risks. Dr. Biga is presently taking steps to investigate environmental risk perceptions utilizing identity theory surrounding the risks of living in the Red River Valley.
He has broadened his scope of research to include the self meanings of caregiver identities of family members ho care older adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, Dr. Biga is assessing the effectiveness of the Dementia Specialist Training Program, offered by the Wisconsin Chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association to paraprofessional and professional Alzheimer caregivers. In addition, he is a member of a research team that is investigating identity discrepancy/change of family caregivers as their loved ones progress through the stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Presently, Dr. Biga is testing the validity and reliability of spousal, filial, and caregiver identity measures.
Courses:
- Sociology 115, Social Problems
- Sociology 340, Social Research Methods
- Sociology 341, Social Research Methods Lab
- Sociology 431/631, Environmental Sociology
- Sociology 440/640, Sociology of Aging
- Sociology 701, Quantitative Methods
