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Social Work Dissertations - Archive

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Articles 121 - 143 of 143

Full-Text Articles in Social Work

The Social Capital Effect In Nonprofit Human Service Organizations: An Examination Of Potential Outcomes Of Organizational Social Capital Related To Effectiveness, Delissa Garcia Nuno Apr 2008

The Social Capital Effect In Nonprofit Human Service Organizations: An Examination Of Potential Outcomes Of Organizational Social Capital Related To Effectiveness, Delissa Garcia Nuno

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The study provided for a more complete understanding of social capital theory and its applicability to nonprofit human service organizations (NPHSOs). The initial analysis included an examination of potential outcomes of social capital (e.g., human capital, financial capital, volunteerism, and program effectiveness); and secondly, the study examined possible mediating effects between social capital and program effectiveness in NPHSOs, while controlling for demographic differences. Primary data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire distributed to a sample of NPHSOs, United Way partner agencies in the eight most populated regions in the State of Texas. The survey response rate, after attrition resulted in …


Homosexuality And The U.S. Military: A Study Of Homosexual Identity And Choice Of Military Service, G. Dean Sinclair Apr 2008

Homosexuality And The U.S. Military: A Study Of Homosexual Identity And Choice Of Military Service, G. Dean Sinclair

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The Department of Defense policy regarding homosexuals allows gays and lesbians to join without requiring them to divulge their sexual orientation. However, just as in previous versions of the military's homosexual policies, the current Don't Ask, Don't Tell version continues to make it clear that gay men and lesbians are not welcome. The policy excludes persons (homosexuals) whose presence in the armed forces would create an unacceptable risk to its high standards of morale, good order, discipline, and unit cohesion (US Code 654, 1993). The purpose of this study was to examine and gain an understanding of those homosexuals who …


The Effects Of Education On Health Care Professionals' Assessment Of Intimate Partner Violence In Primary Care Settings, Sherry G. Sheffield Jan 2008

The Effects Of Education On Health Care Professionals' Assessment Of Intimate Partner Violence In Primary Care Settings, Sherry G. Sheffield

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study was designed to explore what factors influence healthcare professionals' assessment of intimate partner violence (IPV) and to examine the effects of education on healthcare professionals' IPV knowledge, opinions, and assessment behaviors. A quasi-experimental, pretest-post-test non-equivalent comparison group design was utilized to collect data. One hundred forty-nine (N = 149) healthcare professionals from three outpatient healthcare settings participated in this study. Participants completed a survey questionnaire (PREMIS) designed to measure healthcare professionals' IPV knowledge, opinions, and practices, and to assess training effectiveness. Participants' responses on PREMIS scales were evaluated to determine the relationship between sample demographics, previous training, knowledge, …


Factors Influencing Black/White Interracial Marriage Satisfaction, Gary John Herr Jan 2008

Factors Influencing Black/White Interracial Marriage Satisfaction, Gary John Herr

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this study is to investigate the marital satisfaction of Black-White interracial couples. This research study was undertaken by looking at the differences among interracially married Black-White couples and intra-married Black and White couples, using data from an American sample of 808 couples (White male-Black female, Black female-White male, Black male-Black female, White male-white female). These couples had presented for counseling or marriage enrichment and had taken the Evaluating and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication, Happiness Inventory (ENRICH) between January 2007 and mid-summer 2008. The ENRICH Inventory measures individual and dyadic responses to questions regarding marital satisfaction across multiple …


Drug Abuse Among Young Adults In Vietnam: The Influence Of Family, Peers, And Society, Van T. Nguyen Jan 2008

Drug Abuse Among Young Adults In Vietnam: The Influence Of Family, Peers, And Society, Van T. Nguyen

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the influence of family, peer, and society in interactions with personal factors on drug use among young adults in Vietnam. The study is based on empirical data collected among 189 young adults aged 18 - 27 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The sample included 113 subjects who had used drug, and 76 had not. Ecological perspectives and social leaning theory provide a framework for this study. Based on an extensive theoretical and empirical literature review, five hypotheses were derived, speculating the relationships between drug abuse among young adults in Vietnam with personal, familial, …


The Effect Of Social Capital In Women's Participation In The Labor Force In Mexico: A Neighborhood In Monterrey, Maria Luisa Martinez Sanchez Dec 2007

The Effect Of Social Capital In Women's Participation In The Labor Force In Mexico: A Neighborhood In Monterrey, Maria Luisa Martinez Sanchez

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this dissertation study was to explore associations between Women's Participation in the Labor Force (WPLF), family organization (type of family, family size, domestic work and decision-making), personal attributes (years of schooling and labor experience), and social capital, an original approach of this study to understand WPLF. Social capital theoretical approach has been tested mainly in developed countries, in this study a qualitative component to explore cultural factors has been added. In the quantitative component, the study is a cross-sectional, with survey of 190 women (103 working women, 87 non-working women) between the ages of 18 and 64 …


Assessment Of Social Support And Peer Influence As Factors Contributing To High School Completion Among African American Males, Kristen Shanutelle Guillory Dec 2007

Assessment Of Social Support And Peer Influence As Factors Contributing To High School Completion Among African American Males, Kristen Shanutelle Guillory

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The study employed a non-experimental survey design to assess social support, spiritual beliefs and peer influence as contributing factors to high school completion among 203 African American males between 18 and 24 years old. A review of empirical and theoretical literature is presented. The participants completed a paper and pencil or online self report survey comprised of demographics, past psychosocial factors, the friends measure of the Texas Christian University/ Prevention Management and Evaluation System scales on family, friends, and self (TCU/PMES), and the Young Adult Social Support Index (YA-SSI). Descriptives revealed that students residing in "run down" communities and attending …


Optimism Associations With Well-Being Indicators Among Older People In The U.S., Danny Hudson Vandergriff Nov 2007

Optimism Associations With Well-Being Indicators Among Older People In The U.S., Danny Hudson Vandergriff

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Introduction This study is an analysis of associations between optimism and other psychological well-being indicators among people over age 65 in the U.S. The analysis is based on a stratified random sample collected in 2001 (Wave 1) with a 2004 follow up (Wave 2). The original survey was restricted to African American and Caucasian respondents who were "Christian." The purpose of this study is to provide social workers a better understanding of the function of well-being, particularly optimism, among older people. Literature Review Literature comparing well-being indicators to optimism among older populations is very limited. There are a few studies …


Effects Of Experiential Learning On Face To Face And Multimedia Learning Environments In The Acquisition Of Active Listening Skills, Juan Enrique Huerta Wong Aug 2007

Effects Of Experiential Learning On Face To Face And Multimedia Learning Environments In The Acquisition Of Active Listening Skills, Juan Enrique Huerta Wong

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Comparison studies between Technology or Multimedia Learning Environments and Face-to-Face (F2F) Learning Environments in social work education usually show that technology works as well as F2F environments. However, they also suggest they are not interchangeable, but are dependent upon educational approaches. Otherwise, experiential learning as a main educational approach has been adopted from Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) guidelines without strong evidence of its effectiveness. A 2X2 Nonrandomized Multiple Comparison Groups Design with pretest from each group evaluates the effectiveness of two different Learning Environments (multimedia versus F2F) and two different Teaching Techniques (experiential versus exposure plus discussions) in …


A Quasi-Experimental Design: Multisystemic Therapy As An Alternative Community-Based Treatment For Youth With Severe Emotional Disturbance, Kirstin Painter Jul 2007

A Quasi-Experimental Design: Multisystemic Therapy As An Alternative Community-Based Treatment For Youth With Severe Emotional Disturbance, Kirstin Painter

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study compared multisystemic therapy to usual services in a community mental health setting for emotionally disturbed youth with externalizing disorders. Usual services included the combination of case management with a family skills training curriculum. A secondary data analysis utilizing a pretest-post-test, quasi-experimental design was used. Eighty-seven youth were in each group and were matched based on gender (53% female, 47% male) and ethnicity (34 % African American, 54% Caucasian, 10% Hispanic, and 2% other). Findings of this study suggest that youth who received MST experienced more improved treatment outcomes across the combination of areas in their social ecology than …


The Effectiveness Of A Virtual Learning Environment On Student Learning About Clinical Skills, Eric Youn Jul 2007

The Effectiveness Of A Virtual Learning Environment On Student Learning About Clinical Skills, Eric Youn

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this study was to explore whether social work students could increase their clinical skills knowledge in a Clinical Skills Virtual Learning Environment (CS-VLE). The evaluation of an online exercise that was developed using experiential learning theory and other learning theories was seen as being the first step in challenging a noted theme within social work academia concerning the effectiveness of online environments in teaching clinical skills. This study assessed changes in knowledge, produced by exposure to a web-based clinical skills environment. Results showed significant changes in knowledge after exposure to the online environment as hypothesized. Results also …


Reproductive Decision Making Among Lesbian Women, Misty Lynn Wall May 2007

Reproductive Decision Making Among Lesbian Women, Misty Lynn Wall

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

A non-experimental, survey design was used to determine which factors influence a lesbian woman's decision to have, or not have, a child. Data was collected via the internet from 373 adult women, who self identify as lesbian. This study was guided by feminist theory and attempts to connect existing empirical literature regarding decision making with the experiences of lesbian women. Review of existing theoretical and empirical literature regarding decision making and lesbian headed families showed that six factors; family of origin support, extrinsic religiosity, perceived ability to parent, internalized homophobia, perceived impact of motherhood, and fear of prejudice and discrimination …


A Qualitative Study Of A Job Placement System For People With Disabilities: The Role Of The Family, Employer And Employment Agent In Monterrey, Mexico, Maximino Ramos May 2007

A Qualitative Study Of A Job Placement System For People With Disabilities: The Role Of The Family, Employer And Employment Agent In Monterrey, Mexico, Maximino Ramos

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study explored the role of the family, employer and agent of employment as determinant to employment for people with disabilities in Monterey, Mexico. The main purpose of this study was to contribute to the equitable integration of people with disabilities into the labor force. The researcher used a case study approach that employed in-depth interviews of 27 participants and grounded theory procedures for data analysis. The key categories and themes that emerged and characterized each case study were cross-cased; the process contributed to the identification of key categories that formed the central tenets that influenced the job placement system. …


A Causal Analysis Of Developmental Assets, Behaviors And Delinquency Among Hispanic Youth In Texas, Jackson Nascimento De Carvalho May 2007

A Causal Analysis Of Developmental Assets, Behaviors And Delinquency Among Hispanic Youth In Texas, Jackson Nascimento De Carvalho

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this study was to identify the main predicting developmental assets for the prevention of juvenile delinquency among Hispanic youth in Texas by adopting advanced research methods. According to Benson (1995), and Lerner and Benson (2003), developmental assets are building blocks of development that help young people grow-up to be healthy, caring, and responsible. Grounded in extensive research (Benson, Galbraith, & Espeland, 1994; Benson, Galbraith, Espeland, 1998; Benson, 2001), the framework of developmental assets is a valuable tool to identify predictors for the prevention of juvenile delinquency among Hispanic youth, and serves as benchmark data to gauge community-based …


Hispanic Adults With Childhood Experiences Of Out-Of-Home-Care: An Analysis Of Outcomes Across Race Groups, Susy Villegas De Chaverri Apr 2007

Hispanic Adults With Childhood Experiences Of Out-Of-Home-Care: An Analysis Of Outcomes Across Race Groups, Susy Villegas De Chaverri

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This secondary data study focuses on the outcome differences of Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian adults with out-of-home care experiences as children. Centering on Hispanics as the reference group, the investigation tested the outcome success of 810 adults in areas of physical and mental health, education, and finance domains. The overall success of the outcomes for each race/ethnic group was also assessed using an integrated outcome composite success construct. In order to determine the strength of race/ethnicity in outcome success, 38 predictors and 12 outcome criteria variables were entered into a series of multivariate analyses that included both logistic and …


Puerto Rican Young Women's Substance Abuse: A Qualitative Study Of Young Female Cocaine And Heroin Drug Users Ages 18 To 35 From San Juan Metropolitan Area, Waleska Janice Rivera-Oquendo Apr 2007

Puerto Rican Young Women's Substance Abuse: A Qualitative Study Of Young Female Cocaine And Heroin Drug Users Ages 18 To 35 From San Juan Metropolitan Area, Waleska Janice Rivera-Oquendo

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this qualitative study was to obtain a deeper understanding of Puerto Rican women between the ages of 18 - 35 with a cocaine and heroin problem. This study was designed to identify and describe common issues (specific problems, and personal/ social characteristics, factors contributing to drug use) in the lives of these young women, their backgrounds, and life experiences, and to examine the social problems that these young women face as a result of their involvement with cocaine and heroin. Literature on drugs use reveals that females are especially vulnerable to the physical and social consequences of …


The Ecological Correlates Of Substance Abuse Among Cps Involved Women And Non-Cps Involved Women, Mary Jo Alvarez-Rodriguez Jul 2006

The Ecological Correlates Of Substance Abuse Among Cps Involved Women And Non-Cps Involved Women, Mary Jo Alvarez-Rodriguez

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Child abuse and neglect is a compelling phenomenon that has been attributed to a multitude of factors including maternal substance abuse. A significant number of the women involved with the child welfare system for child abuse or neglect are found to have issues due to substance abuse or dependency. In addition, most women involved with child welfare tend to be single and poor women of color. Still, relatively few studies have focused on these women. This study used an ex post facto design in its aim to increase the understanding of the factors that contribute to substance abuse and child …


Information Processing In A Structured Interview: Identifying Use Of Heuristics And Heuristic-Based Bias, Dian Cuellar Ruud Apr 2006

Information Processing In A Structured Interview: Identifying Use Of Heuristics And Heuristic-Based Bias, Dian Cuellar Ruud

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The survey interview has been recognized as the most frequently used data collection procedure in the social sciences (Dijkstra & van der Zouwen, l987). Although the survey interview is an essential methodological tool in social science research, it is fraught with problems of validity and reliability. Cognitive psychology offers a perspective to further explore the methodological facets of the survey interview. Research in the underlying cognitive processes involved in information processing over the past two decades has enhanced the understanding and utility of the survey interview in survey methodology (Tourangeau, Couper, & Conrad, 2004; Tourangeau, Rips, & Rasinski, 2000; Sudman, …


A Qualitative Examination Of Risk Factors Influencing Female Adolescent Delinquency In Dallas County, Texas, Vicki Lynn Tankersley Apr 2006

A Qualitative Examination Of Risk Factors Influencing Female Adolescent Delinquency In Dallas County, Texas, Vicki Lynn Tankersley

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors influencing juvenile delinquency for females in Dallas County, Texas and discuss the implications of the findings for future practice, policy, and research. Qualitative research methods in this study have given a voice to female adolescents housed in the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center by giving these young women the opportunity to share and convey information about their lives and factors they felt had been influential in their referral to the Dallas County Juvenile Probation Department. The sample included twenty-six female adolescents who were housed at the Dallas County Juvenile …


Male And Female Trauma Narratives: Differences And Similarities, Catherine A. Simmons Mar 2006

Male And Female Trauma Narratives: Differences And Similarities, Catherine A. Simmons

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

To help understand why women are at greater risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder than men, this dissertation qualitatively explores a conceptual model that incorporates key components of Cognitive-Behavioral theories within the context of social experiences specific to the respective genders. Specifically, this study uses a grounded theory method to explore gender differences in relation to the cognitive factors (a) appraisal of trauma and (b) appraisal of actions during event as well as the social factors (a) social roles and (b) perception of societal expectations of 28 violent crime survivors purposefully selected to ensure similarity in type of crime, ethnicity, …


Evaluation Of An Online Substance Abuse Prevention Exercise, Bhavana Pahwa Dec 2005

Evaluation Of An Online Substance Abuse Prevention Exercise, Bhavana Pahwa

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an online prevention exercise. The rigorous evaluation of one online exercise using controlled school environment was seen as the first step in understanding the potential of online activities to help teens prevent substance abuse. This study assessed changes in knowledge, attitudes, normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control, and intention to change behavior produced by exposure to a Web-based anger management exercise. Results showed significant changes in knowledge after exposure to the teacher led online exercise and the teacher led supplemented by homework groups, but not the other measures. This was …


An Analysis Of Classroom Environment And Child Outcomes Across Three Models Of Early Childhood Intervention, Marion Ruth Shiflett Nov 2005

An Analysis Of Classroom Environment And Child Outcomes Across Three Models Of Early Childhood Intervention, Marion Ruth Shiflett

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This research study presents a comparative analysis to examine classroom environments and child developmental outcomes across three early intervention models that serve children living in low-income families. Two long standing early intervention programs, Head Start and state-mandated Prekindergarten, are used as comparison groups to compare classroom environment and child outcomes with a collaboration known as Ready Start, a combination program serving children with a half day of Prekindergarten and a half day of Head Start. The Ready Start program is designed to combine the strengths of both programs to best serve the needs of children from low-income families. The study …


Using A Structural Equation Model To Examine Child Maltreatment Potential Across Ecological Systems In A Population Of Families In Poverty, Cynthia Lorraine Juby Aug 2005

Using A Structural Equation Model To Examine Child Maltreatment Potential Across Ecological Systems In A Population Of Families In Poverty, Cynthia Lorraine Juby

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study was a secondary analysis designed to examine the ecological system indicators of child maltreatment potential. A total of 263 families living within 200% of the poverty level were included in the sample. Results of the study revealed the exosystem indicator of social support had the greatest impact on child maltreatment while maltreatment of the parent as a child (history of maltreatment), an ontogenic system indicator, was the second highest predictor. Additionally, these two indicators were highly correlated within the structural model. The microsystem indicator of parental educational attainment and the macrosystem indicator of belief in corporal punishment had …