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Articles 1 - 30 of 66
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Even Playing Field? Examining Challenges Female Sportswriters Face, David Hinojosa
Even Playing Field? Examining Challenges Female Sportswriters Face, David Hinojosa
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of the study was to examine what obstacles female sports writers face. Because sports writing has been and still remains a male-dominated field, there have been documented incidents in the past that have made the job more difficult for females than males. This study sought to see if there those obstacles remain. With the rising popularity of sports and the increase of females entering the sports writing field, it is important to research, among other things, whether female sports journalists believe they are seen as equals by their male counterparts; whether they are believe their sources take them …
Intimate Partner Violence In South Texas (Rio Grande Valley): An Exploratory Research Of Latinas Of Mexican Descent, Georgina Villegas
Intimate Partner Violence In South Texas (Rio Grande Valley): An Exploratory Research Of Latinas Of Mexican Descent, Georgina Villegas
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This is a qualitative exploratory research study of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among a sample of Latinas from the Rio Grande Valley. Purposive and snowball sampling was used to identify 12 Latina victims of intimate partner violence. Respondents’ ages ranged from 24 to 40 and were born in cities throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Respondents participated in a structured interview process. Respondents’ descriptions of abuse included physical, verbal, sexual, and emotional abuse. Interview results produced 12 distinct narrative memos summarizing respondents’ intimate partner violence experiences. Interview results were analyzed and revealed several themes and subthemes frequently identified in other intimate …
A Sociolinguistic Study On The Use Of Coke In The Rgv, Kylie Ross
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 …
Companies' Responses To Negative Online Reviews, Claudia L. Ramos
Companies' Responses To Negative Online Reviews, Claudia L. Ramos
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Past research has revealed that very little research had examined services recovery strategies in the online context. The study investigated different types of companies’ responses to negative online reviews as a service recovery strategy after a service failure. The current research centers on the relationship between one service recovery strategy and three online customer behavioral reactions: post-purchase cognitive dissonance, post-recovery satisfaction and re-purchase intentions. Participants were randomly assigned to one of five conditions and were asked to complete a questionnaire that measured cognitive dissonance, post-recovery satisfaction and re-purchase intention scores, as well as demographic items. Results showed that the apology …
Assessment And Treatment Of Elopement In Young Children With Autism, Ivette Andrade
Assessment And Treatment Of Elopement In Young Children With Autism, Ivette Andrade
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Elopement, leaving a caregivers side without permission or supervision, is a behavior that is more prevalent among children with autism as compared to their typically developing peers. With potentially fatal consequences (e.g., drowning, being run over, abducted), it is reported to cause high levels of stress for caregivers. In the present study, we evaluate the assessment and treatment of elopement using a multicomponent treatment package to address the multiple functions of elopement. The treatment consisted of an antecedent treatment procedure, blocking and differential reinforcement of other behaviors with extinction (DRO w/ EXT). An ABAB reversal design was utilized to assess …
Premenstrual Experiences: The Simultaneous Examination Of The Association Of Self-Perceived Stress, College-Related Stress, And Sleep Quality, Sara Julia Gonzalez
Premenstrual Experiences: The Simultaneous Examination Of The Association Of Self-Perceived Stress, College-Related Stress, And Sleep Quality, Sara Julia Gonzalez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Research suggests that stress may contribute to the severity of premenstrual experiences, but the contribution of different types of stress has not been carefully examined. Using self-report measures, the current study examined the relation between self-perceived stress, college-related stress, sleep quality, and premenstrual experience in a predominantly Hispanic female college sample. Results indicated that self-perceived stress accounts for a statistically significant proportion of the variance in premenstrual experience ratings, with higher stress associated with greater premenstrual distress. Based on a hierarchical regression analysis, adding college-related stress to the predictive model allows for a significantly larger amount of the variance in …
Organizational Culture And Generation Cohorts: A Comparative Analysis Between A Public And Private Organization, David A. Morgan
Organizational Culture And Generation Cohorts: A Comparative Analysis Between A Public And Private Organization, David A. Morgan
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The relationship between organizational culture type and generation cohort values has potential implications for how we understand a workplace environment. The examination of an organization’s culture through the prism of generation cohorts and their corresponding values is the focal point of this research question. Utilizing the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) to measure the current and preferred culture type within an organization, and identifying the generational cohorts whom measure these cultures allow empirical data to establish the relationship between these two variables. By examining these results through a public sector and a private sector organization, the claim that the two …
Is Texas Measuring Up To Federal Expectations? An Examination Of The No Child Left Behind Legislation On Texas Region One Education Service Center District Schools, Maricela De Leon
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This research paper presented information on student performance results for school children in Texas Region One – Title I district schools. By using recent data on student performance from a seven year period, 2003 to 2010, between district schools in Region One, the findings of the results is reflected to answer the question on whether district schools in Texas Region One –Title I schools reflect the intended No Child Left Behind act performance indicators as identified in the 2002 legislation.
Examining The Association Between Personality And Alcohol Use Among Mexican Americans: Acculturation And Gender As Moderators, Miguel A. Reyes
Examining The Association Between Personality And Alcohol Use Among Mexican Americans: Acculturation And Gender As Moderators, Miguel A. Reyes
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
In this study the moderating effects of gender and acculturation on the association between personality traits and alcohol use among Mexican American adults were examined. Participants for this study were undergraduate students from a university in the southwestern USA (N=572, 94.5% Hispanic, 72.6% female). The sample completed self-report measures of personality, alcohol use, and acculturation. When using, regression analyses, alcohol use was found to be weakly yet negatively associated with Conscientiousness, weakly yet positively with Neuroticism, and statistically unrelated to Extroversion. The moderation hypotheses were not supported when utilizing a multiple regression analyses. However, a post-hoc analysis of variance involving …
Analyzing The Effects Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder On Marital Satisfaction Among The Veteran Latino Population Of South Texas, Iris J. Segundo
Analyzing The Effects Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder On Marital Satisfaction Among The Veteran Latino Population Of South Texas, Iris J. Segundo
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The current study examined the relation between combat exposure and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), PTSD and marital satisfaction and the influence of religion/spirituality as a moderator. Study consisted of 31 participants; male veterans (n=19) and female spouses (n=12), of which 11 were couples (n=22). Participants were recruited from the University of Texas Pan-American (UTPA), local veteran organization and networking. The sample completed self-report measures for combat exposure, PTSD, marital satisfaction, and religiosity/spirituality. When using a correlation analyses to examine the relation between combat exposure and PTSD and PTSD and marital satisfaction, results showed a negative relation for both; thus, supporting …
Sex As A Moderator Of The Association Between Childhood Trauma, Impulsivity, And Primary Psychopathy In A Hispanic Undergraduate Sample, Judy D. Sifonte
Sex As A Moderator Of The Association Between Childhood Trauma, Impulsivity, And Primary Psychopathy In A Hispanic Undergraduate Sample, Judy D. Sifonte
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The current study investigates the effect that sex as a moderator has on the association between childhood trauma and impulsivity on primary psychopathy in a Hispanic college sample. The online survey obtained 443 responses from undergraduates; however after incomplete responses were removed and the data was cleaned, a sample size of 367 remained for use in primary analysis. The study utilized a hierarchical moderation regression analysis to determine the effect of sex on the association of predictor variables—childhood trauma and impulsivity, to the dependent variable, primary psychopathy. Researchers hypothesized that sex will enhance the association between childhood trauma and psychopathy, …
Family-Friendly Work Environment? An Investigation Of Women's Job Stress And Satisfaction, Nina Ciric
Family-Friendly Work Environment? An Investigation Of Women's Job Stress And Satisfaction, Nina Ciric
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Little research has focused on women with and without children in the workplace and their work-life balance. This study is conducted through the lens of organizational culture in order to determine how different workplace policies can influence women and their job satisfaction and level of job stress. The participants for this study included 172 female students and staff (working full and part time) from an institution of higher education in South Texas. Results showed no significant differences in women's job satisfaction or stress level at work, regardless of having children or not. However, there is a positive relationship between women's …
Predicting College Success: An Analysis Of Graduating Students At The University Of Texas-Pan American, Esther G. Herrera
Predicting College Success: An Analysis Of Graduating Students At The University Of Texas-Pan American, Esther G. Herrera
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Using inferential statistics, this thesis examines whether college experiences, pre-college experiences, and the institutional factors affect college success at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. Secondary data were used from the Graduating Student Survey administered by the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at the University of Texas-Pan American for the years 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011. The findings indicate that college experiences do have an effect on college success (significant at .05 p-value); job after graduation serves as a better predictor of college success than competency; institutional factors also have a significant effect on college success, especially in …
Perceived Anxiety Control And The Contribution Of Gender In Social Anxiety Symptoms Within Latinos, Delia Yazmin Villarreal
Perceived Anxiety Control And The Contribution Of Gender In Social Anxiety Symptoms Within Latinos, Delia Yazmin Villarreal
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This study examined the severity of social anxiety symptoms and levels of perceived anxiety control in a Latino sample. It explored how perceived control, over anxiety-provoking events and reactions to those events, contributed to social anxiety symptoms of social interaction fears and performance fears. Potential gender effects were also examined. Gender differences for fear of performance and for levels of perceived anxiety control were found. However, no gender difference was found for social interaction fears. In general, men reported higher levels of perceived anxiety control than women. Low perceived anxiety control significantly correlated with higher social interaction fears and performance …
Family Members' Support Approaches Toward Veterans Exhibiting Symptoms Of Ptsd: A First Step Toward Validating The Inconsistent Nurturing As Control Theory Scale, Danielle M. Reed
Family Members' Support Approaches Toward Veterans Exhibiting Symptoms Of Ptsd: A First Step Toward Validating The Inconsistent Nurturing As Control Theory Scale, Danielle M. Reed
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This study was an initial step toward validating a new quantitative measure, the Inconsistent Nurturing as Control Theory (INCT) Scale, designed to quantitatively operationalize the INCT and assess whether functional family members take a controlling, nurturing, or inconsistent support approach to deal with their veteran’s PTSD behavior. Functional family members (88%) indicated that their veteran relative exhibited signs indicative of PTSD, using the PTSD Checklist (PCL-M). The INCT Scale was then used to determine which support approach family members used to deal with their veteran’s behavior. Results indicated that question items on nurturing and controlling yielded .70 or above internal …
Marginalized Within The Borderlands: The Undocumented Citizen Students Of The University Of Texas-Pan American, Christian V. Ramirez
Marginalized Within The Borderlands: The Undocumented Citizen Students Of The University Of Texas-Pan American, Christian V. Ramirez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The Rio Grande Valley, geographically located on the southernmost tip of Texas and north of the Mexican State of Tamaulipas, is far removed from the social and cultural centers of both the United States and Mexico. Within this geographically and socially marginalized space lives a group of citizen students who lack legal documentation to reside in the U.S. This ethnographic study will seek to convey the perceptions of undocumented citizen students, their families, and the background assumptions through which they understand their current and future state of social place. The University of Texas-Pan American is home to over 19, 000 …
Perception Of Communication Training Need Among Pediatric Trauma Team Members, Monica M. Mercado
Perception Of Communication Training Need Among Pediatric Trauma Team Members, Monica M. Mercado
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of this study is to use the APRC (Assessment of Pediatric Resuscitation Communication) as a guide to determine if trauma nurses and surgeons believe communication training is necessary. Many trauma team members have not received team communication effectiveness training in pediatric trauma settings. As a result, miscommunication between team members leads to medical errors during pediatric trauma activations. Thus, it is important to discover whether or not trauma team members believe communication training will help trauma teams improve the overall effectiveness of pediatric trauma activations. The present study provides a descriptive analysis that illustrates nurses’ and trauma surgeons’ …
Radicalization In Post-War Bosnia And Herzegovina: Social Disorganization And Its Consequences, Mirela Dapo
Radicalization In Post-War Bosnia And Herzegovina: Social Disorganization And Its Consequences, Mirela Dapo
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This thesis will explain how social disorganization leads to the radicalization. During the process of rapid change (e.g. abrupt democratization of previously authoritarian Bosnian society) new situations cause development of new desires (e.g. a need for greater independence from social controls) which results in development of new attitudes (e.g. individualism). When the society is unable to satisfy the new desires and attitudes, people resort to illegal acts and even violence to meet their new needs, and social disorganization develops. Due to lack of research that focuses directly on Bosnia this thesis will analyze similar researches conducted in other regions (e.g. …
Se La Robaron (Elopement) In Central Mexico: An Ethnographic Case Study From Santiago Tlacotepec, Susana Pelaez
Se La Robaron (Elopement) In Central Mexico: An Ethnographic Case Study From Santiago Tlacotepec, Susana Pelaez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The social institution of marriage is found in almost all human societies. In the community of Santiago Tlacotepec, Toluca, Mexico, there are three types of marriages: elopement (el robo or se la robarron), which is the norm in the town; pedimento which is considered the ideal marriage; and rapto (bride theft), the least common. The focus of this thesis is elopement. This thesis investigates why elopement occurs in the community based on women’s narratives about life before, during and after eloping. There are three main reasons women elope: youth and inexperience, fear of parental rejection of the union, and a …
The Use Of Debit Cards In Promoting On-Time Payment Behavior In A Daycare Center In The Rio Grande Valley Region Of Texas, Ruben James Nieto
The Use Of Debit Cards In Promoting On-Time Payment Behavior In A Daycare Center In The Rio Grande Valley Region Of Texas, Ruben James Nieto
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The study investigates the inappropriate payment behavior of consumers at a local daycare in the Rio Grande Valley. An AB, baseline and intervention, single subject design was used to increase the on-time payment behavior of consumers paying on time at the daycare. Baseline data was taken for 14 weeks before the intervention was implemented. The intervention consisted of an alternative payment method, accepting credit and debit cards, [as an antecedent, to the consumer in order to receive payments on time]. This alternative payment method showed that on-time payment behavior increased compared to pre-intervention.
The Culturally Adapted Public Administrator: How Accredited Mpa Programs Are Preparing Administrators With Cultural Competency, Nicholas Weimer
The Culturally Adapted Public Administrator: How Accredited Mpa Programs Are Preparing Administrators With Cultural Competency, Nicholas Weimer
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the extent to which National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) accredited Public Administration terminal professional degree programs address cultural competency in their curriculum, the amount of institutional diversity of these programs, and the relations among these quantities. The sample includes 74 university self-study reports. Cultural competency is the dependent variable of this study and syllabi/abstracts of courses taught constitute the major explanatory variable. Descriptive analysis reveals that 15.4% of the total courses in the sample address elements of cultural competency. The use of frequency statistics further reveal that …
“To Reveal Or Not To Reveal”?: A Comparison Of Hispanic Daughters' Openness Toward Mothers & Risky Behavior As A Function Of Father-Involvement, Cynthia A. Chavez
“To Reveal Or Not To Reveal”?: A Comparison Of Hispanic Daughters' Openness Toward Mothers & Risky Behavior As A Function Of Father-Involvement, Cynthia A. Chavez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Using Communication Privacy Management Theory as a framework, this study examined the relationship between father-involvement, daughter-mother openness, and risky behavior. All participants were given a questionnaire that measured their openness toward their mother, perceived/desired father involvement, and their risk behavior. The questionnaire addressed subject’s willingness to disclose information on specific topics (i.e. sex, pregnancy, contraception and drugs) that involve high risks when disclosed. This specificity of topics will serve as an aid to measure the extent or degree of openness that may exist within the daughter-mother relationship as a function of father-involvement and at risk behaviors. Predicted results are expected …
Access To Healthcare For “Undocumented Citizens” In The Rio Grande Valley, Milena A. Melo
Access To Healthcare For “Undocumented Citizens” In The Rio Grande Valley, Milena A. Melo
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The argument this research paper attempts to establish is that undocumented citizens have very little access to healthcare free from barriers that the United States government and healthcare facilities impose on them. The purpose of this thesis was to discover barriers that undocumented citizens encounter when accessing healthcare. Structured interviews were conducted with healthcare providers, administrators, and undocumented citizens in the Rio Grande Valley. Finances were determined by all interviewees to be the largest barrier to accessing healthcare. This issue requires further research and quantitative studies into a topic in healthcare that is scarcely studied and that needs immediate attention …
Turnover Intent, Organizational Commitment, And Job Satisfaction: An Assessment Of Municipal Police Departments Within Hidalgo County, Texas, Joel Rivera
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
There is a paucity of research on turnover intent among police officers, particularly municipal police officers. This study examines the importance of turnover intent as it relates to job satisfaction and organizational commitment for municipal police departments within Hidalgo County, Texas. This research is important because attrition costs are among the largest expenses that municipal police agencies incur, and mitigation of that loss may benefit the municipal police agencies during times of financial hardships. This study found organizational commitment to be a predictor of turnover intent.
The Occurrence Of Child Maltreatment And Revictimization Among Hispanic Women, Eleni Isis Escorza
The Occurrence Of Child Maltreatment And Revictimization Among Hispanic Women, Eleni Isis Escorza
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The current study examines the prevalence rates of child multi-type maltreatment and adult revictimization among Hispanic women who have witnessed domestic violence and/or experienced sexual abuse or physical abuse as children. A sample of two hundred-forty-three undergraduate, Hispanic, female students completed measures of events occurring in childhood and adulthood, sexual experiences, substance use, acculturation status, and family characteristics. The results indicate that experiencing multiple forms of child abuse is fairly common, especially for women who report a history of child abuse. The results also suggest that experience of abuse as a child is significantly associated with experiencing physical or sexual …
Sociocultural Attitudes And Expectations As A Result Of Media Internalization: An Exploration Of Potential Cultural Resiliency Factors Among Mexican-American College Women, Natalie Marie Perez
Sociocultural Attitudes And Expectations As A Result Of Media Internalization: An Exploration Of Potential Cultural Resiliency Factors Among Mexican-American College Women, Natalie Marie Perez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This study involved a final sample of 153 Mexican-American college women who viewed photos of models who exemplify the thin ideal and models who are considered average and overweight according to society’s standards of beauty. The order of the photos was manipulated to determine if subjection to the thin ideal would negatively affect body satisfaction and or affect how the participants judged the models who did not meet the thin ideal. Manipulation did not negatively affect how participants judged the average and overweight models. In addition, upon manipulation, both groups rated themselves as heavier despite group assignment. Finally, acculturation level …
The U.S.-Mexico Border Fence: An Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of This Immigration Policy, Froylan Garza
The U.S.-Mexico Border Fence: An Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of This Immigration Policy, Froylan Garza
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the effectiveness of the U.S./Mexico border fence for illegal immigration. This topic is important because the recent mandate by Congress in 2006 to construct fencing along the southwest border between the U.S. and Mexico was met with great resistance from the border communities Texas that are directly affected by its construction (Haddal, et al. CRS, 2009). Border communities of the southwest region of the United States are ethnically diverse and rich in history and culture. Many of them hold annual celebrations in which their Latin culture, traditions, and history are honored. The …
Examining The Relationship Between Ethnic Identity And Spanish-Language Media Use Among Bilingual Hispanics, Using The Media Gratifications And Social Identity Theories, Arminda Munoz
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Ethnic Identity and Spanish-language media use among bilingual Hispanics following the Media Uses and Gratifications Theory. Participants in survey included 83 undergraduate university students enrolled in entry-level communication courses. Relationships between participants’ bilingual skills, ethnic identity, Spanish-language media use and gratifications outcomes were examined. Research questions focused on participants’ use of English and Spanish media use. Hypotheses focused on testing relationships between ethnicity, bilingual skills and media use. Results of the study are discussed. Conclusions, limitations and topics for further research are addressed.
Sibling Stress In Families Of Children With Autism, Valerie N. Moreno
Sibling Stress In Families Of Children With Autism, Valerie N. Moreno
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have an increased chance of experiencing more stress than siblings of typically developing children. Stress experienced by siblings of children with an ASD may be dependent on the adaptive and maladaptive behavior of the child with autism. A total of 30 mothers were recruited in this study. Results indicated that the difference in stress levels in siblings of children with an ASD and siblings of typically developing children were not statistically significant. It was also found that the stress levels in siblings of children with an ASD were not dependent …
Predictors Of Pap Smear Utilization Among Female Mexican American College Students, Sylvia M. Morales
Predictors Of Pap Smear Utilization Among Female Mexican American College Students, Sylvia M. Morales
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The Pap smear is a diagnostic screening test that detects abnormal cell growth, which may lead to cervical cancer. Pap smears are performed at a consistently lower frequency among Hispanic than non-Hispanic American White women, potentially contributing to a 70% higher rate of cervical cancer in Hispanic Americans. This study examined possible predictors of Pap smear utilization among 165 Mexican American female college students aged 18 to 30 attending the University of Texas-Pan American situated near Texas’s United States – Mexico border. Significant predictors were: recommendation by a health care professional; sexual activity; mother’s educational level; and external locus of …