Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Development And The Environment: A Case Study About The First Attempted Creation Of A Texas Coastal Conservation District, Rene De La Rosa

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In 1991, the American General Insurance Corporation desired to create a $2.5 billion ``ecotourism'' resort in Willacy County, Texas. Unfortunately, the land the Corporation owned was located within the Coastal Barrier Resource System which does not allow federal flood insurance for any construction in the area due to it's proximity to ``Hurricane Alley''. American General's plan to build hinged on a three-pronged attack at the federal, state, and county levels. At the federal level, AG was shut out except for some minor concessions. At the county level, a municipal utility district (MUD) was established to help with building the infrastructure …

Acculturation Level And Performance Of Mexican Americans On A Test Of Malingering, Sonya Rosa Flores

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The detection of malingered neuropsychological impairments is an essential issue for mental health professionals. Acculturation level and performance of Mexican Americans on the Computerized Assessment of Response Bias, (CARB), was investigated in the present study. The CARB was administered to 89 subjects comprised of 51 student volunteers and 38 community volunteers. There were 41 males and 48 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 46 years of age. All subjects were instructed to try their best to "fake" a memory deficit. Subjects were grouped into four acculturative typologies according to their performance on the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II, …

The Political Realities Of Rio Grande Valley Women, Linda Buxton

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The inclusion of minority women in literature on electoral politics is scarce. Although they do exist in this realm, officially and unofficially, their influence has not been a popular topic of study. This study attempts to gain insight into the meaning that politically-active Mexican American women attach to their involvement in politics. The rhetorical criticism approach of fantasy theme analysis has been chosen as the framework for this thesis, which is linked to the general communication theory of symbolic convergence. Responses from 24 in-depth interviews with Mexican American women of Hidalgo County in south Texas were analyzed for common themes …

Silent Messages In Negotiation: A Descriptive Study Of Negotiators' Perceptions Of The Role Of Nonverbal Communication In Multi-National Business Negotiations, Yun Chu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study specifically explored the perceived importance of the following nonverbal factors in the negotiation process: proxemics (location and negotiation site), physical arrangement (seating and furniture arrangement), and kinesics (eye contact, facial expressions and gestures). The findings show that the negotiators' perception about the three categories and their role in negotiation are consistent with nonverbal communication theory.

A Comparison Of Prison Rehabilitation Classes, Linda Sue Jackson

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study employed a Pretest-Posttest Comparison Group Design in order to determine the comparative effectiveness of two prison rehabilitation classes. The experimental group was comprised of 14 adult, male, incarcerated offenders enrolled in a Prerelease class designed to impact their attitudes, thinking, and values. The comparison group consisted of 22 adult, male, incarcerated offenders enrolled in a GED preparation class. Both groups received a battery of pretests and posttests consisting of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, the Adjective Checklist (ACL), and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). There was an interval of 23 school days between the pretests and posttests. Between …

A Research Model Of Care-Givers And/Or Socializing Agents Explored In Terms Of Grandparenthood, Susanna Imelda Guadalupe Stephens

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A collection of secondary (literature) information which revealed the relevant elements and conditions that surround the psychosocial aspects of family kinships were integrated to form the Kin-Psychosocial-Systems Model (KPSS). The KPSS Model is an investigative model (that includes a set of inter-related concepts, definitions, and propositions) which presents a systematic view of family kinships by specifying relationships among culture and family social systems, care-giving and socialization, and psychosocial development for the purpose of providing researchers with a means for explaining and predicting psychological and social phenomena related to the expression and enactment of family kinships.

Colonia Outreach Assistance And Training (C.O.A.S.T.), Eunice Aida Garcia

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This project examines the benefits of Educational and/or Job Training under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Title II-A and Title II-C programs for Colonia residents in Hidalgo County. The design will be a pretest-posttest non-randomized experiment, conducted by the County of Hidalgo Office of Employment and Training (CHOET). This paper will present the background of the study, describe the methodology, present facts about the living standards of the colonias within Hidalgo County, the procedures of the project, and the measurement of the project impacts.

A Management Role Perspective Of Adult Protective Services, Isaac Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study examines the most important management roles, as viewed by Adult Protective Services supervisors and Adult Protective Services staff members in Region 11. A total of 6 supervisors and 51 staff members were mailed questionnaires on October 1, 1998. A total of 5 supervisors and 26 staff members completed and returned the questionnaires.

The study is limited by a lack of a consistent management role theory, limited to a basic method of aggregation, and limited to a specific population.

APS supervisors were found to believe the management roles of leader, monitor and disturbance handler as being most important to …