Digital Commons Network^™

Use Of Pedometers To Promote Improvement In Selected Physiological Measurements In An Older Female Mexican American Population, Zasha Romero

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The problem of this study was to determine if pedometers promoted daily walking exercise reflected by changes on selected physiological measurements in older Mexican American females. Significance in the study was determined at the 95% level of confidence. The researcher offered the null hypothesis of no difference in results from the pretest to the posttest in both the control and treatment groups for the selected physiological measurements. The subjects of this study were 55 Mexican-American females ages 60 to 75. The subjects were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) method was used to …

Prayer As A Treatment Modality In Patient Healthcare: Physicians' Spiritual Beliefs And Religious Practices And Their Relationship To Patient Health, D. Ronald Rickerhauser

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The intention of this study was to determine whether physicians' spiritual beliefs and the integration of prayer in medical practice are associated with patient health. In this study, 546 physicians from 40 different family practice residency programs in the contiguous United States completed and returned surveys. Regression analyses using these data and patient statistics provided by the clinics were performed. Patient's length of hospital stay and a ratio of clinic patients to hospital patients were used as dependent measures. The results did not show a relationship between physician beliefs, prayer, and patient health. However, there was a significant relationship between …

The Effect Of Scaffolding On Children's Oral Language Development, Ana Villaurrutia

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This was a quasi experimental nonequivalent control group design used with 71 subjects in two Head Start center settings. LAP-D assessment results were also taken in account for the purpose of comparison regarding the dependent variable. The subjects were children 4 and 5 years old who were attending classes in two different Head Start centers. These subjects were students from 2 classrooms from Center One and 2 classrooms from Center Two. In Center One, teachers were trained in the use of scaffolding techniques, whereas in Center Two teachers had no training on scaffolding techniques. An analysis of variance procedure was …

The Working And Living Conditions Of Migrant Farm Workers, Hilario Molina Ii

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this thesis was to explore the world of migrant workers, through first hand account, through the description of the living and working conditions of migrant farms by focusing on each camp (A, B, and C), by observing and describing the line of work, by discussing the social and cultural dynamics of migrant farm working—the role and culture of the migrant women, children, and alpha males—and by documenting the exploitation of migrant farm workers. This is a qualitative research, based on ground theory, which consisted of participant observation of these factors. There was no hypothesis due to the …

Reading Instruction Practices By Teachers Of Hispanic Elementary Students: A Teacher Survey Of Classroom Time Spent In 25 Reading Instructional Activities, Richard A. Steele

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study was conducted in order to measure the amount of time spent among Hispanic elementary students in each of the most commonly used reading instruction methodologies. A survey was conducted among 500 randomly selected pre-kindergarten through fifth grade teachers instructing students who are 95% Hispanic and 63.4% English-as-a-second-language (ESL). Twenty of the 221 elementary campuses within a two-county area were randomly selected, representing ten school districts. All teachers at selected campuses were asked to estimate the amount of weekly class time spent in 25 reading and reading-readiness activities and methods of instruction. In addition, teachers provided various demographic data. …

Folk Healing In The Tradition Of The Fidencista Movement, Katherine Brittain

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Fidencista Movement is a religion in process . Like in many other medico-religions whose primary ministry is healing, women hold the highest positions of authority. The shamanic channeling of the spirit of the folk saint, Niño Fidencio , plies Fidencistas' belief in the spirit world and ameliorates physical and emotional healing. Fidencistas are concentrated in the Texas/Mexico borderland region where they are facing a passing of traditionalism, the social matrix in which folk healing thrives. However, the signature of the Movement, the penitential trek up the Vía de Dolores in Espinazo, is a cohering bi-annual ritual that fortifies devotion …

The Effect Of A Family Literacy Parental Involvement Intervention On Oral Language Development, Azucena C. Escobar

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The subjects that participated in this study were 36 Hispanic children who attended Head Start Programs. The participants were 4 and 5 year olds from four classrooms. An intervention, training of parents regarding literacy activities was implemented in the study to determine the outcome of parental involvement on oral language development. This researcher implemented parental training prior to the treatment. Parents were to provide their children with oral language intervention for fifteen to twenty minutes, three times a week. These activities took place at the children's home from March through June of 2004. Children's oral language development was determined using …

A Study Of Education Reform In Texas: State Mandated Testing Results, Effects, And The University Of Texas-Pan American, Monica M. Trevino

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The study will use scores on TASP, and ACT as predictors of first year college success. First year college success will be measured by first-year year college grade point average and number of class hours dropped. We expect to find a high correlation between standardized test scores and college success. In order to continue yearly state test administration efforts, data needs to be found supporting that these efforts are sufficient. If this evidence is not present, then state mandated achievement testing needs to be reconsidered for use as a requirement for receipt of a high school diploma, school accountability, and …

Is The Maquila Industry A Factor Influencing Migration To Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico?, Maria Cristina Guzman

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This thesis is divided into three chapters. Chapter one starts with the historical background of the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico and has a brief definition of migration explaining the factors that push or pull someone to make the decision to move. Chapter two contains the thesis statement, methods, and scope. In chapter three, there is a summary of the findings and conclusions. Analysis of the data collected through a survey conducted in 1997 among maquila workers reveals that a total of 51.01% of both the men and women's moves were influenced by the maquila industry. A similar pattern was …

Efficacy Of A Social Skills Training Procedure Used On A Child Having Moderate Mental Retardation, Anestacio Quintana Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This single subject multiple baseline study tested the efficacy of a social skills training procedure. The subject for this study was an eight-year-old female having Down Syndrome. The subject was diagnosed as having moderate mental retardation. Using an A-B-A-B design, the investigator and two observers collected data on off task behavior, during baseline phases. During intervention phases, the Subject was introduced to a social skills training program addressing the off-task inappropriate behaviors. The results of the study illustrated a positive effect of the social skills training procedure on the Subject. There was an established relationship between the implementation of the …

Self-Efficacy, Metastasis, Treatment, And Demographics As Predictors Of Functional Performance Status Of Adult Colorectal Cancer Patients, Dollie A. Husfeld

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to assess self-efficacy as a predictor of functional performance status in order to discover correlations that could be used to improve care of the colorectal cancer patient. Thirty participants were accessed through three outpatient cancer clinics during a two-week period. Data was collected through a demographics questionnaire, the Cancer Behavior Inventory Long Form, and the Karnofsky Performance Scale Index. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify and relationships between the dependent variable, functional performance status, and the independent variables, self-efficacy, age, gender, residence, treatment, and metastasis ( p = .05). Pearson's correlation showed a …

Extraversion/Introversion And Subclinical Self-Harm In Undergraduate Students, Norma Salazar-Cortez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Objective. To examine the relationship between the extraversion/introversion personality dimension and mildly injurious (fingernail biting, skin picking, etc.) and more injurious (cutting, burning, etc.) self-harming behaviors.

Method. An undergraduate sample of 146 students volunteered to complete several measures including the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised and Self-Harm Information Form.

Results. Participants with no history of self-harm endorsed similar levels of extraversion in comparison to participants with a history of mildly or moderately injurious self-harm. Comparison between the groups using a One-Factor Between Subjects Analysis of Variance was not significant.

Conclusion. A proposition is made to expand future research …

Factors That Predict Underachievement In Hispanic Gifted Students, Sandy Salinas Olivarez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that predict underachieving gifted students. The participants were 44 Hispanic gifted students enrolled in the 8 th grade from 3 different junior high and middle schools in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. The following were used as independent variables: parental influence, motivation, self-concept, attitude, self-perceptions, and goal motivation. The dependent variable was dichotomous, achiever or underachiever. The School Attitude Assessment Survey-Revised and the Parent Influence Survey were the instruments used to collect the data. Analysis was done using the logistic regression model. The results show that attitude towards school …

“Yours For The Salvation Of Mexican People”: Race, Identity, And The Growth/Decline Of Mennonite Brethren Missionary Efforts In South Texas, 1937–1971, Felipe Hinojosa

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Mennonite Brethren (MB) church in south Texas is an anomaly. Mennonite Brethren missionaries were once prominent in Protestant circles in south Texas between 1937 and 1971, planting eight churches during this time. Today, however, the Mennonite Brethren church is relegated to several small congregations sprinkled throughout Hidalgo and Starr County. This research argues that Mennonite Brethren missionary efforts with Mexican Americans were racist and oppressive. Furthermore, the racist ethos that developed was maintained throughout the life of the mission because of the institutional rigidity of the MB church. Both Church Growth Theory and the Contact Hypothesis are applied to …

The Hispanic Image Reflected In Post-War Texas Films: From Jennifer Jones To Jennifer Lopez, Monique James

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

After a history of negative, stereotypical Hispanic film depictions, the largely positive evolution of the Hispanic film image after World War II was the result of three primary forces: America's changing social movements and beliefs, Hollywood's financial concerns, and the filmmakers' backgrounds and views. Through the analysis of post-World War II films set in Texas and the study of film reviews, filmmaker's comments, articles, and books on the subject, the thesis argues that screen Hispanics generally became more multi-dimensional, and less stereotypical as the 20 th century progressed.

Differences In Language Acquisition Among Students When Using Materials They Choose Vs. Teacher's Reading Program, Alicia Gomez Bastar

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This investigation considers four groups of university level students enrolled in remedial English as a foreign language courses at the University of Montemorelos, NL, México. The reading comprehension and vocabulary development of these 55 students were compared when the students selected their own reading materials and when the teacher's program of readings was used. In addition, the students' attitudes toward reading and the class procedures were considered. This research intended to compare two treatments, students' CHOICE and teachers' PROGRAM, in terms of student improvement for reading comprehension and vocabulary, as well as student attitude. The results showed significant differences for …