Kirk Elifson
Ph.D., Vanderbilt, 1973
Professor Emeritus
Methodology, Statistics, Medical, Deviance
Email: sockwe@langate.gsu.edu
Telephone Number: (404) 413-6500
Full Vita (PDF version)
Research and Teaching Interests
During his professional career, Dr. Elifson has been able to contribute to four major areas in the field of sociology. These include religion, deviance, AIDS/HIV and social behavior, and quantitative studies. In his professional development , he has always been intrigued by the constant feedback between theories and empirical findings. While his primary focus was on theoretical contributions, he proceeded to develop his expertise in methodological and statistical issues.
He is currently working on three NIH/NIDA funded projects: "Emerging Drugs and Users: Social and Health Consequences;" "Young Adults and Drug Use: Careers and Familial Factors;" and "Club Drugs: Ecstacy Use Patterns and HIV Risk."
Dr. Elifson recently completed a successful intervention project (with Claire Sterk, Emory University) that targeted African American women who were at risk for HIV through their drug use and sexual activity. His ambitions for the next five y ears include seeking long-term funding to study the phenomenological meaning of smoking, to assist community based organizations to implement HIV/STD interventions for incarcerated men and women, and to gain insight into the health related consequences of substance abuse.
Dr. Elifson's professional development contributes to his qualities as a teacher of methodology and statistics. He seeks to demonstrate to students the value of integrating several research methodologies.
