Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Sociolinguistic Study On The Use Of Coke In The Rgv, Kylie Ross

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This is a sociolinguistic study, examining the relationship between the usage of the term coke and the population of the RGV, which seeks to explain why (if) this phenomenon persists and identify connections between Spanish/Mexican cultures intertwined in the network of English/Spanish usage. It pursues to go a step further, addressing what social factors have an influence on the term choice and what implications this influence can provide for SLA in specific regions. To do this, various groups have been polled, surveyed and informally interviewed in an effort to make connections between the usage of coke and social conventions. The …

Racial Discrimination, Skin Tone, Locus Of Control, And Acculturation Among Mennonite Latino/As Of The Rio Grande Valley, Nancy Rivera

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study assessed the relationship between perceived racial discrimination, and skin tone, locus of control and acculturation among Latino/a Mennonites of the Rio Grande Valley. Eighty nine Latino/a Mennonites were recruited. The following measures were used: Schedule of Racist Events, Intrinsic Spirituality Scale, a short version of the revised Acculturation Scale for Mexican Americans-II, and Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. A window tint meter assessed skin tone. Multiple regression analysis and multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine how rates of perceived discrimination among Mennonite Latinos/as were related to skin tone, locus of control and acculturation. The results …

A Concise Chronology Of The Rio Grande Delta From The Paleo-Indian Period To Early Spanish Exploration And Colonization, Kristina Solis

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Rio Grande Delta's archaeological record is mostly unknown. This paper attempts to assemble scattered resources into a concise and understandable chronology of the Delta’s prehistoric cultures. The prehistoric environment is discussed to clear up the misconception that modern day and prehistoric environments were identical. Archaeological contributions are covered to illustrate the difficulties and successes that 20th century archaeologists experienced. Chapter III discusses a few major sites from the region to give an example of what archaeologists have discovered, and what kinds of cultural remnants have been found. A concise chronology covering the Paleo-Indian period through the Late Prehistoric follows. …

Art, The Social Enzyme: The Emergence Of An Art Community In The Rio Grande Valley, Heaven Lashley

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study explores the emergence of an art community in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region of South Texas. In researching this objective, I relied on observations at many gallery public functions where I had the opportunity to observe the interactions between prospective buyers, gallery owners and artists. I also visited with gallery owners and artists many times in small group settings where I raised open ended questions about the region's artists and other historical developments that would allow me to put together a cohesive story about the emergence of the art community

This study began as an unstructured exploration …

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 Sacred And The Mundane: Images Of Deity In Ordinary Objects In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Monica Delgado Van Wagenen

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This thesis focuses on "iconotheophanies" or images of deity in ordinary objects. It further looks at the people who recognize and believe in iconotheophanies, specifically those of Mexican descent. This study hypothesizes that the Virgin of Guadalupe narrative, which emphasizes the appearance of images on objects, sets a pattern for Mexicans and Mexican-Americans to recognize the sacred in their own lives. Juan Diego, as the main character in the story, demonstrates a theoretical profile of five characteristics of individuals most likely to recognize iconotheophanies. These characteristics are: low level of acculturation, low socioeconomic status, male gender, older age, and increased …

Mexican American Baptists' Dependency On Anglo Baptist Institutions In South Texas: A Case Study In Bee County, Richard Carrera

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In the early 1800s, Anglo-Americans entered the Southwest in great numbers, bringing religious institutions with them, Mexican American Baptist dependency on Anglo Baptist institutions occurred. Anglos in the Southwest brought in the doctrine of Manifest Destiny and strict racial codes. Mostly Southerners, they sought to submit so-called foreign cultured people, in this case Mexican Americans, to a predetermined role in the economic and sociopolitical life of the Southwest. Anglo Baptists were part of this culture and influenced by the practice of this ideology. Applying the theory of Dependency, this study will examine the manifestation of dependency and its legacy in …

A Burkean Analysis Of Aung San Suu Kyi's Leadership Role In The Political Development Of Burma, Jayshri H. Patel

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The focus of this thesis is the historical and analytical role, influence and effect of Aung San, U Nu, and Ne Win in the struggle of independent post-war Burma between the philosophy of Buddhism and the aims of a Socialist welfare-state and its effect on Aung San Suu Kyi's struggle for democracy in present day Burma. There has not been any rhetorical analysis of Aung San Suu Kyi as of yet. Chapter 1 covers the political history of Burma in detail; it will cover the monarchy period, the British colonization, and the struggle for independence. Chapter 2 will concentrate on …

Intermarriage In Hidalgo County, 1860-1900, Ana Cristina Downing De De Juana

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

David Montejano and others characterize early Hispanic-Anglo relations as operating under a "peace structure," during which the two groups developed strong alliances. However, they suggest that after 1848, "conflict and distrust" replaced it. These studies rely on anecdotal evidence. To date, no one has sought to verify them using actual patterns of social interaction.

This study addresses intermarriage between Hispanic, white non-Hispanic, Black and mixed heritage individuals in Hidalgo County. The quantitative data shows that the demographic characteristics of the area played a major role in defining the patterns of intermarriage. However, it points to a multiethnic society that intermarried …

20th Century Rhetorical Influences On United States-Mexico Relations, A. Gene Wendorf

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The thesis documents the important influences that have shaped Mexican-American relations in the late 19th century and in the 20th century. These influences uncover areas that go over and beyond the conventional schools of diplomacy. They include a whole myriad of forces. The thread of our relations is found to be based largely on self determination made by each Presidential administration.

It is demonstrated that many Presidents have acted as their own statesmen in regard to Mexico. In searching for influences the researcher finds culture, language, technology, politics, economics, history, geography and religion as relevant. The nature of United States …

The Disposable Mexican: Operation Wetback 1954, The Deportation Of Undocumented Workers In California And Texas, Sylvia Cavazos

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In June 1954 the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service initiated an aggressive program to rid the country of Mexican undocumented workers. The campaign was a result of years of hostile media coverage and public outcry that depicted Mexicans as subversive villains infiltrating the country in order to rob "decent, hardworking Americans" of jobs. In an attempt to satisfy these critics, the federal government called for the immediate deportation of over one million Mexicans, the majority of whom had been actively recruited by American growers. The INS called this program Operation Wetback.

Professional Baseball In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of South Texas, 1949-1961, Mark Lynn Paschall

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Professional minor league baseball has been played in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas since 1910. Early leagues had trouble gaining a foothold in this region during the years prior to the Second World War primarily because all games were played in the intense heat of the South Texas summers.

With the installation of arc-lights at many of the local ball parks, following the post World War II era, to allow teams to play their games in the cooler hours of the evening, area entrepreneurs tried once again to bring the National Pastime to the Valley. Unable to …

The New Deal Public Works Programs And Mexican-Americans In Mcallen, Texas, 1933-36, Irene Ledesma

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In an area like the Rio Grande Valley of Texas with a majority population of unskilled Mexican-Americans who generally worked for another group in trouble, the farmer, there was bound to be a high rate of unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930's. Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration responded to unemployment with the several New Deal public works acts in 1933. The question then arises: what effect would such acts have on a majority group in an area where the minority population had political power?

Extensive use of county and city newspapers, a number of interviews, a short survey, and …