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                                                            Research

My research interests are generally related to the sociology of religion, medicine, and deviance.  Specifically, my work covers these basic topics:

        * Religion, health, and body art.
        * Clergy and congregational ministries to People With AIDS.
        * Religion and aggression.
        * Social outreach in religious organizations.
        * Alcohol and drug treatment industry.

I received my Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1994 and studied with Dr. James D. Davidson. 
Here is a link to a Purdue University story on Jim's retirement

                                                            Publications:
Research Monograph

Beckley, Robert E. and Jerome R. Koch. 2002. The Continuing Challenge of AIDS: Clergy Responses to Patients, Families, and Friends. Westport, CT: Auburn House.  Read Chapter 2      Read Chapter 6

"This monograph makes an outstanding contribution to several types of literature:  sociology of religion, HIV/AIDS, sexuality, and perhaps even gender studies. ...  The reader is able to see beyond the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and observe it as a social phenomenon with broader implications."   J. Michael Cruz, in his review published in the Journal of Church and State, 2003, Volume 45 (3): 615-616.

31 Peer Reviewed Research Articles:  (Click on titles to read full-text)

Owen, Donna C., Myrna L. Armstrong, Jerome R. Koch, and Alden E. Roberts.  Forthcoming.  "College Students With Body Art: Well Being Or Higher Risk Behavior?" Journal of Psychosocial Nursing. 

Armstrong, Myrna L., Jane Tustin, Donna C. Owen, Jerome R. Koch, and Alden E. Roberts.  Forthcoming.  “Body Art Education:  The Earlier the Better.”  Journal of School Nursing. 

Koch, Jerome R., and Alden E. Roberts.  2012.  "The Protestant Ethic and the Religious Tattoo."  The Social Science Journal 49(2): 210-213.

Koch, Jerome R., and I. Luis Ramirez. 2010.  "Religiosity, Christian Fundamentalism, and Intimate Partner Violence Among U.S. College Students."   Review of Religious Research 51(4): 402-410.

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen. 2010. "Body Art, Deviance, and American College Students." Social Science Journal 47(1): 151-161.

Armstrong, Myrna L., Alden E Roberts, Jana C. Saunders, Donna C. Owen, and Jerome R. Koch. 2009.  "Need for uniqueness in older women:  An exploratory look."  International Journal of Older People Nursing 4: 254-262.

Koch, Jerome R.  2008.  "Is Religion a Health Resource for the Poor?  Social Science Journal 45: 497-503.  

Armstrong, Myrna L., Alden E. Roberts, Jerome R. Koch, Jana C. Saunders, Donna C. Owen, and R. Rox Anderson. 2008.  "Motivation for Contemporary Tattoo Removal:  A Shift in Identity."  Archives of Dermatology 144 (7): 879-884.

Klein, Charles, Oscar Reyes, and Jerome R. Koch. 2007.  "A Service Learning Project Involving Multiple Service Projects Including the Mentoring of Younger At-Risk Youth."  NACTA Journal  51(4): 55-61  

Armstrong, Myrna L., Jerome R. Koch, Jana C. Saunders, Alden E. Roberts, and Donna C. Owen. 2007.  "The Hole Picture:  Risks, Decision Making, Purpose, Regulations, and the Future of Body Piercing."   Clinics in Dermatology  25(4): 398-406.

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen. 2007.  "Frequencies and relations of body piercing and sexual experience in college students."  Psychological Reports.  101: 159-162.    

Armstrong, Myrna L., Alden E. Roberts, Jerome R. Koch, Jana C. Saunders, and Donna C. Owen. 2007.   "Investigating the Removal of Body Piercings." Clinical Nursing Research 16: 103-118.

Roberts, Alden E., Jerome R. Koch, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen.  2006.  "Correlates of Tattoos and Reference Groups."  Psychological Reports.  99:  933-934.

Koch, Jerome R., and Robert E. Beckley.  2006   "Under the Radar:  AIDS Ministry in the Bible Belt."   Review of Religious Research.  47: 393-408.

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen.  2005.  "College students, tattoos, and sexual activity."  Psychological Reports. 97: 887-890.  

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Julie Harms Cannon, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen.  2005. "College Students, Tattooing, and the Health Belief Model."  Sociological Spectrum 25: 79-102. 

Curry, Evans W., Jerome R. Koch, and H. Paul Chalfant.  2004.  "Concern for God and Concern for Society:  Religiosity and Social Justice."  Sociological Spectrum 24: 651-666.   

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen. 2004.  "Religious Belief and Practice in Attitudes Toward Individuals With Body Piercing."  Psychological Reports 95: 583-586.  

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen.  2004.   "Correlations of religious belief and practice on college students' tattoo-related behavior."   Psychological Reports 94: 425-430  

Armstrong, Myrna L., Alden E. Roberts, Donna C. Owen, and Jerome R. Koch. 2004.  "Toward building a Composite of College Student Influences With Body Art."   Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing 27: 273-291.

Armstrong, Myrna L., Donna C. Owen, Alden E. Roberts, and Jerome R. Koch. 2004. "Contemporary College Students and Body Piercing"  Journal of Adolescent Health 35: 58-61.  

Koch, Jerome R., and Jean A. Lewis.  2002.  "Twenty Volumes of ATQ:  A Content Analysis."  Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 20(3-4): 131-142.  Reprinted in T. F. McGovern and William L. White (Eds.), pp. 131-142. Alcohol Problems in the United States: Twenty Years of Treatment Perspectives. New York: The Haworth Press.

Armstrong, Myrna L., Donna C. Owen, Alden E. Roberts, and Jerome R. Koch. 2002. "College Students and Tattoos:  The Influence of Image, Identity, Family, and Friends"  The Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services 40(10): 20-29.

Armstrong, Myrna L., Donna C. Owen, Alden E. Roberts, and Jerome R. Koch. 2002.. "College Tattoos:  More Than Skin Deep."  Dermatology Nursing 14(5): 317-323. (Winner of the 2002 Annual Dermatology Nurses Writers Award).

Koch, Jerome R., and Julie D. Blanco. 2001. "Studying 'Alcohol, Drugs, and Society' from a Sociological Perspective ..."  Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 19(4): 81-91.

Pyle, Ralph E., and Jerome R. Koch. 2001.  "The Religious Affiliations of American Elites, 1930s to 1990s: A Note on the Pace of Disestablishment."  Sociological Focus 34(2): 125-137.   

Roberts, Alden E., Jerome R. Koch, and D. Paul Johnson. 2001. "Reference Groups and Religion:  An Empirical Test."  Sociological Spectrum 21(1): 81-98.

Koch, Jerome R., and Evans W. Curry. 2000. "Social Context and the Presbyterian Gay/Lesbian Ordination Debate:  Testing Open-Systems Theory.  Review of Religious Research 42: 206-214.  

Davidson, James D. and Jerome R. Koch. 1998.  "Beyond Mutual and Public Benefits:  The Inward and Outward Orientations of Non-Profit Organizations."   In N. J. Demerath III, Peter Dobkin Hall, Terry Schmitt, and Rhys H. Williams (Eds.), pp. 292-306. Sacred Companies. New York: Oxford University Press.

Koch, Jerome R. and D. Paul Johnson. 1997. "The Ecumenical Outreach Coalition:  A Case Study of Converging Interests and Network Formation for Church and Community Cooperation."  Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 26(3):343-358.  

Ferraro, Kenneth F. and Jerome R. Koch. 1994.  "Religion and Health Among Black and White Adults:  Examining Social Support and Consolation."  Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 33(4): 362-375.