Implementing Municipal Water Conservation Policy: Goals, Practices and the Case of Texas (open access)

Implementing Municipal Water Conservation Policy: Goals, Practices and the Case of Texas

This study examines whether water conservation is actually being incorporated into municipal water management practices. The development of a conservation policy from a general goal declaration to specific programmatic practices is reviewed for a Texas state water agency, the Texas Water Development Board. From January 1986 through September 1989, 102 political units in Texas applied to the Board for water-related loan funds and thus were required to implement municipal water conservation plans. Two aspects of this conversation policy are assessed: one, the Board's procedural arrangements for the development and review of water conservation plans, and two, the conservation plans of each political unit. It is concluded that Texas state water managers, and local manager also, have yet to incorporate conservation as a significant planning tool for the achievement of water management goals.
Date: May 1992
Creator: Sokulsky, Kariann Elizabeth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Monitoring Watershed Health in the Upper Trinity River Basin, North Central Texas (open access)

Monitoring Watershed Health in the Upper Trinity River Basin, North Central Texas

This study conducts watershed analysis using biological and geo-spatial techniques. Incorporating landscape features with biological attributes has been shown to be an effective method of monitoring environmental quality within watersheds. In situ biomonitoring using the Asiatic Clam, Corbicula fluminea, habitat suitability, and water quality data were evaluated for their potential to describe ecological conditions in agricultural and urban areas within the Upper Trinity River watershed. These data were analyzed with GIS to identify effects of land use on ecological conditions. C. fluminea downstream of point source effluents was effective detecting in-stream toxicity. Ambient toxicity appears to have improved in the Trinity, although urban influences limit aspects of aquatic life. No association between habitat quality and land use was identified.
Date: May 1999
Creator: Csekitz, Jill Diane
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Evaluative Study of Three Units Developed for Multi-cultural and Art Historical Resource Curriculum for Kindergarten and First Grade Art (open access)

An Evaluative Study of Three Units Developed for Multi-cultural and Art Historical Resource Curriculum for Kindergarten and First Grade Art

Two curricular needs exist for the elementary art classroom: multi-cultural lessons which are customized to address North Texas ethnicities, and art history materials for early grades, whether taught by art teachers or regular classroom teachers. This thesis addresses both of these concerns by developing lesson plans to meet the needs, and executing an evaluative study with North Texas art and regular classroom teachers of kindergarten and first grade. The teachers represent four districts, including rural, suburban, and urban demographic populations. Findings address time limitations for public school teachers, cultural exchange differences between demographic groups, and differences between presentation of the units by regular classroom teachers versus art teachers.
Date: December 1990
Creator: Morrison, Pamela Jay Hudson
System: The UNT Digital Library
Critical Factors in Successful Texas Middle Schools 1993-1995 (open access)

Critical Factors in Successful Texas Middle Schools 1993-1995

An examination of the characteristics of Texas middle schools has been conducted with the objective of developing a planning tool for middle staffs. This success is measured by the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS), whose rating scale has three components: campus scores on the Texas Assessment of Basic Skills (TAAS), campus attendance percentages, and campus dropout rates. TAAS scores and attendance rates have been the focus of this study. Two years of data were examined separately for research question. Principal component analysis reduced the number of indicators in both years' data to 20 factors/ Each of these factors received a designated based on the characteristics that the component indicators had in common. A multiple regression analysis was performed on these factors to determine the influence each had on the campus TAAS scores and attendance. The unpredictability of human subjects requires an additional step in this study to achieve valid conclusions. A comparison of the two years' results is made to discover attendance, gifted and talented programs, and teacher gender were the strongest overall positive influences on student achievement. Campus demographics, retention, and ESL/bilingual programs have the strongest association with low student achievement.
Date: August 1997
Creator: Antoine, Terry W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Ethnographic Study of Outstanding, Veteran Elementary Teachers (open access)

An Ethnographic Study of Outstanding, Veteran Elementary Teachers

The purpose of this study was to describe outstanding, veteran elementary teachers using an ethnographic approach. This qualitative study was conducted in a suburban independent school district in northeast Texas serving approximately 17,000 students. The data collected focused on five outstanding, veteran elementary teachers who had at least twenty years of uninterrupted teaching service. Data were collected through interviews, classroom observations, and the administration of the Mind Styles (Gregorc,1982) inventory. The findings of this research were as follows. This study found that many factors were responsible for retaining outstanding, veteran elementary teachers in the work force. These included adequate preparation, a strong personal commitment, a successful initial teaching assignment, a development of skills and abilities inside and outside the teaching field, and professional accomplishments throughout the teaching career.
Date: August 1992
Creator: Adams, Sandra K. (Sandra Kay)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Assessment of Radio-Tagged Grass Carp (Ctenopharnygodon idella) Dispersion, Vegetation, and Temperature Preferences in North Lake Reservoir (open access)

Assessment of Radio-Tagged Grass Carp (Ctenopharnygodon idella) Dispersion, Vegetation, and Temperature Preferences in North Lake Reservoir

Twenty-nine (Group One, June 8,1995) grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and five (Group Two, April 18, 1996) grass carp were radio-tagged to monitor movement patterns and habitat preferences on North Lake, a 335 hectare multi-use reservoir located in Irving, Texas. Overall fish mean Average Daily Movement (ADM) rates were 49.2 meters/day (during Half One, 6/8/95-11/30/95) and 5.3 meters/day (during Half Two, 12/14/95-6/6/96). Aquatic macrophtye distribution data were obtained. Radio-tagged grass carp were located in Hydrilla verticillata infested areas increasingly throughout the study, however, percent frequency of Hydrilla along 15 transects did not decrease. Radio-transmitters were equipped with temperature-sensors (10-35 Celsius range). Results indicated that radio-tagged grass carp showed no avoidance of areas of North Lake with elevated water temperatures. Radio-tagged grass carp dispersed quickly from stocking point, then moved into littoral areas infested with Hydrilla. After an initial movement period, most fish remained in a localized area.
Date: August 1996
Creator: Lacewell, Jason (Jason Lawrence)
System: The UNT Digital Library
India Vaale in the United States (open access)

India Vaale in the United States

This documentary reveals the thoughts and feelings of seven Indian students at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas. It portrays that better material comforts in the U.S. condition the decision of Indian students in not returning to India even after the completion of their studies. It also shows their feelings of nostalgia for the social and cultural milieu of their home country, India. For this project 18 Indian students at the University of North Texas were interviewed and seven of them became part of the final documentary.
Date: December 1995
Creator: Bhatia, Parul
System: The UNT Digital Library
Progressivism/Prohibition and War: Texas, 1914-1918 (open access)

Progressivism/Prohibition and War: Texas, 1914-1918

This thesis focuses upon the impact of war upon the progressive movement in Texas during 1914-1918. Chapter I defines progressivism in Texas and presents an overview of the political situation in the state as relating to the period. Chapter II discusses the negative impact that the first two years of World War I had upon the reform movement. Chapter III examines the revival of the Anti-Saloon League and the 1916 Democratic state convention. Chapter IV covers the war between James E. Ferguson and the University of Texas. Chapter V tells how the European war became a catalyst for the reform movement in Texas following America's entry, and its subsequent influence upon the election of 1918. Chapter VI concludes that James E. Ferguson's war with the University of Texas as well as World War I were responsible for the prohibitionist victory in the election of 1918.
Date: August 1992
Creator: Antle, Michael Lee
System: The UNT Digital Library
Primarily Thai (open access)

Primarily Thai

This thesis is a production report that describes the research process, pre-production and post-production stages of making a documentary about the Thai language school in the Thai temple in Dallas County. The film documents the teachers from Chulalongkorn University who volunteered to teach Thai-American students in the United States, and explores Thai-American students' attitudes toward the school and their heritage.
Date: May 1998
Creator: Phatthanodom, Fahmui
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of the Relationship Between the Use of Color for Text in Computer Screen Design and the Age of the Computer User (open access)

A Study of the Relationship Between the Use of Color for Text in Computer Screen Design and the Age of the Computer User

This study addresses an individual's performance, relating it to eyesight changes due to the aging of the individual and to color computer screens used for computer-based-instruction not designed specifically for older students. This study determines how existing research in gerontology, human-computer interface, and color use in visual graphics can be applied to the design of computer screen displays containing color text and backgrounds and how various color combinations will affect performance by adult learners forty years of age and older. The results of this research provide software developers and instructional designers guidelines to use when designing computer screen displays for use in instructional computing settings involving older adults.
Date: December 1991
Creator: D'Angelo, John J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Depressive Subtypes and Dysfunctional Attitudes: a Personal Construct View (open access)

Depressive Subtypes and Dysfunctional Attitudes: a Personal Construct View

The influence of cognitive organization, dysfunctional attitudes, and depressive "subtype" on the perceptions of negative life events is explored. BDI scores are used to delineate symptomatic and non-symptomatic groups. Construct content (sociotropic versus autonomous, as first defined by Beck) is used to identify predominant schema-type. Subjects completed a Problematic Situations Questionnaire with Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale. Results indicate that depressed individuals display more dysfunctional attitudes and negative affect in all types of negative situations; further the endorsement of dysfunctional attitudes is significantly more likely to occur in the context of schema-congruent situations. Findings are discussed a) in terms of the utility of personal constructs in the assessment of schema-type and b) in accordance with a person-event interactional model of depression.
Date: December 1990
Creator: Longhorn, Alison J. (Alison Jane)
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Survey on Student Uses of and Attitudes Toward Broadcast Television News and "Tabloid" Television (open access)

A Survey on Student Uses of and Attitudes Toward Broadcast Television News and "Tabloid" Television

A survey testing student uses of and attitudes towards traditional broadcast television news and eleven "tabloid" programs was conducted using 300 students enrolled at the University of North Texas. The 10:00 p.m. newscast was most watched by the students. The most watched weekly news magazine was "60 Minutes." The Oprah Winfrey Show" was the daily "tabloid" leader. "America's Most Wanted" led the weekly "tabloid" shows. Students perceived daily newscasts as important sources of information. "USA Today," the weekly news magazines "60 Minutes" and "20/20,1" and "America's Most Wanted" were also cited by students as being "important" information programming. However, the survey showed "tabloid television" was not a major source of informational programming for college students.
Date: August 1990
Creator: McDonnell, Rafael C. (Rafael Charles)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effects of Discipline-Based Art Education upon Reading Test Scores of Suburban North Texas Second Grade Children (open access)

The Effects of Discipline-Based Art Education upon Reading Test Scores of Suburban North Texas Second Grade Children

This study examines the effects that discipline-based art education has upon reading test scores of public school second grade children. The progress in language arts of an experimental group and a control group were followed for two six week grading cycles. The experimental group was treated with DBAE instruction for one six weeks, while the control group received only studio production exercises. Both groups received no art instruction for another six weeks. Gains between mean pre-test and post-test scores indicated a significant difference for the experimental group but not the control group.
Date: May 1991
Creator: Stephens, Pamela Geiger
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of Refuse Derived Fuel as an Environmentally Acceptable Fuel Alternative for the Cement Industry (open access)

An Analysis of Refuse Derived Fuel as an Environmentally Acceptable Fuel Alternative for the Cement Industry

Resource recovery is an attractive alternative to the waste disposal problem. The chief by-product of this process, refuse derived fuel (RDF) can be co-fired in traditional coal burning facilities. The cement industry is a potential user of RDF. This study, based on a test burn done at Texas Industries Inc. in Midlothian, Texas, demonstrated the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of using RDF fuel in a cement kiln. Technically, the cement showed no deleterious effects when RDF was substituted for coal/natural gas at 20% by Btu content. Environmentally, acid rain gases were reduced. Economically, RDF was shown to be a cost effective fuel substitute if a resource recovery facility was erected on site.
Date: May 1991
Creator: Brooks, Cheryl L. (Cheryl Leigh)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Distribution of Environmental Contaminants: a Socio-Historical Study of Selected Neighborhoods in Dallas County, Texas (open access)

The Distribution of Environmental Contaminants: a Socio-Historical Study of Selected Neighborhoods in Dallas County, Texas

This research expands on recent sociological studies which maintain that environmental contaminants in America are disproportionately placed in neighborhoods inhabited by minorities and the poor. Prior studies have focused on the predictor variables which identify areas of contamination near residential neighborhoods, yet fail to explore the socio-political and historical factors which contribute to these phenomena. The Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory 1990 database, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's Annual Report of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Program for 1992, and the U.S. Census Bureau's 1990 Census Data for Dallas County were utilized in pinpointing industries violating toxic release standards. Socio-historical data was obtained from government and historical records and reports, books, and newspaper clippings on Dallas County. Maps and data were obtained from the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and the cities of Dallas and Garland. Chapter I discusses the synergetic forces of capitalism, urban growth, uneven development, and settlement patterns resulting in the distribution of environmental contaminants. Chapter II reviews the literature and presents evidence that race and class are strong predictors of where environmental contaminants are located. Chapter III outlines the data and methods employed. Chapter IV traces the historical development of Dallas County. Chapter …
Date: December 1997
Creator: Cutrer, Jennifer G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Influences on the Hispanic Woman's Selection of Work and Social Activity Apparel (open access)

Influences on the Hispanic Woman's Selection of Work and Social Activity Apparel

This study investigated significant influences including Hispanicness, traditionalism and demographic characteristics on Hispanic women's purchase behavior when selecting work and social activity apparel. A sample of 114 Hispanic women from a Hispanic professional organization or businesses in the Dallas and El Paso, Texas areas. Surveys were collected by mail or administered to subjects. Analyses included frequencies, percentages, t-tests, and Pearson's product-moment correlations. For both situations, mean scores indicated the most influential information sources were: clothing displays, friends, and female family members, while the most used acquisition sources were: department and specialty stores. In both situations, these women had very feminine appearance attributes and very feminine and fashionable clothing style. Hispanicness, traditionalism, and demographic characteristics made some difference when selecting work and social activity apparel.
Date: August 1994
Creator: Sifuentes, D. Ileana
System: The UNT Digital Library
Parental Socialization Value Change through Time and Space (open access)

Parental Socialization Value Change through Time and Space

Parental socialization values are compared over sixty years by using data from the Denton Parent Project collected in 1989 and from similar questions asked of parents in Middletowri in 1924 and 1978, The objectives of the study were as follows: how have parental socialization values changed through time since the 1920s; has the impact of parental social class status on parental socialization values decreased over time; compare Alwin's study on obedience and autonomy to see how trend has changed from 1978 Middletown to 1989 Denton; and, finally, look at certain family structure variables to determine their influence. Today's parents emphasize social acceptance and a sense of social responsibility in child training practice. Social class still has an impact on parental socialization values but not as great as expected.
Date: December 1990
Creator: Chen, Yan, 1965-
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of a Title I Inclusive Middle School Program in Texas over a Three Year Period: A Case Study (open access)

An Analysis of a Title I Inclusive Middle School Program in Texas over a Three Year Period: A Case Study

The purpose of this study was to describe a Title I inclusion program in a north Texas middle school, to evaluate the degree of its success as a high achieving program, and to analyze how closely it met the requirements of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. Data were collected from the learning facilitators and teachers at the middle school with the permission of the school district. This study began with extensive research on the nature of adolescents and the beliefs and characteristics of high achieving middle schools. It addressed the steps which were recommended in the literature to improve middle schools and benefit students that are at-risk of failing to master the curriculum at their grade level. The researcher concluded by reporting effective strategies being used in middle school at-risk programs. These are strategies noted by experts as successful in identified programs. The population for this study was seventh and eighth grade Title I students who attended middle school during the 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1994-1995 and 1995-1996 school years. The data collected by the researcher are presented in two parts: the description of the Title I inclusion program; and the results of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills tests …
Date: May 1999
Creator: Restivo, Janet DiMaria
System: The UNT Digital Library
Relationship Between Winning Percentage and Perceived Burnout Among Varsity Male Head High School Football Coaches in Texas (open access)

Relationship Between Winning Percentage and Perceived Burnout Among Varsity Male Head High School Football Coaches in Texas

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the effects of winning percentage and specific demographic data on the perceived burnout of varsity male head high school football coaches within the public secondary schools of Texas. Data were obtained from 226 varsity head high school football coaches during the 1990-1991 school year in Texas. Instruments used were the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a personal demographic data sheet. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient were used. Significance was set at .05. A relationship was found between burnout and career winning percentage, age, years as a coach, salary, coaching preparation, and school enrollment.
Date: December 1991
Creator: Field, John Glenn
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Design and Function of the Interior Space of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center of Dallas, 1980-1989 (open access)

The Design and Function of the Interior Space of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center of Dallas, 1980-1989

This thesis investigates how the interior of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center of Dallas accommodates the three groups which use the space: the patron, the musicians, and the administration. Following the Draft Brief of 1981 prepared by the Dallas Symphony Association's Concert Hall Building Committee, each area is discussed as to what was actually built and what concerns were met. The primary data were the symphony center and interviews with I.M. Pei, architect; Russell Johnson, acoustician of the concert hall; Charles Young, associate of Pei, Cobb, Freed & Associates, interior architect of the concert hall; Carolyn Miller, Trisha Wilson & Associates, designer of the Green Room, Richard Trimble, designer of the musicians' areas, and Joe Pereira, designer of the Administrative area.
Date: May 1990
Creator: McNair, Gay E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Symptom Based Classification of Environmentally Ill Patients: an Exploratory Study (open access)

Symptom Based Classification of Environmentally Ill Patients: an Exploratory Study

The purpose of the present study was to discern a symptom pattern for environmentally ill patients and provide evidence of the uniqueness of the resultant pattern to this population. Patients' environmental exposure was confirmed by the presence of toxins in the blood serum. All patients were administered psychological and physical symptom checklists, the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire, and a standardized intermediate neuropsychological examination. Results indicate a response pattern of symptoms including fatigue, low energy, weakness, poor concentration, poor memory, poor comprehension, headaches, aches and pains, clumsiness, sinus discomfort, mucus, eye problems, restlessness, and present performance inferior to prior level of functioning. Presence of these symptoms, as well as the uniqueness of this symptom pattern was supported by comparisons of the patient and standardization groups on the two standardized tests.
Date: December 1990
Creator: Flanagan, William Joseph, 1963-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Children's Inferences Based on Brand Personality (open access)

Children's Inferences Based on Brand Personality

This study explored the inferences male children held about the brand personality. The sample included 46 male fifth graders. Personal interviews were conducted and the results were compiled and interpreted using descriptive statistics. Four subject areas were addressed: identification and inferences about brand personality, sources of inferences, children's ability to make inferences about other children based on brand personality, and application of brand personality to self. Results indicated children make inferences about brand personality, make inferences about other children based on brand personality, and apply brand personality to themselves. An attempt to identify sources of inferences was inconclusive.
Date: December 1993
Creator: Overstreet, Kay L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Test Order Effects on Children's Rorschachs (open access)

Test Order Effects on Children's Rorschachs

Thirty-three children from a community sample, ages 5 to 13, were administered the Rorschach Inkblot Test, along with projective Draw-an-Animal and Draw-a-Person tasks and other psychological measures. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three test order conditions: Draw-an-Animal followed by the Rorschach, Draw-a-Person followed by the Rorschach, and Rorschach before any other projective test. The number of Human and Animal contents in the test records was examined. Analysis showed no significant differences among the three groups for production of the content variables, suggesting that the Rorschach Inkblot Test is relatively robust with respect to test order effects.
Date: May 1993
Creator: Coyle, Edward L. (Edward Louis), 1965-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Improving the Quality of Hotel Banquet Staff Performance: a Case Study in Organizational Behavior Management (open access)

Improving the Quality of Hotel Banquet Staff Performance: a Case Study in Organizational Behavior Management

The banquet staff at a north Texas hotel were responsible for setting up 11 different functions (e.g., buffet dinners) for conferences and meetings. The functions were often set up late and items were often omitted. An analysis suggested that performance problems were the result of weak antecedents, inefficient work procedures, inadequate training and a lack of motivating consequences. An intervention consisting of task checklists, feedback, goal setting, monetary bonuses, training and job aids was designed to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of function setups. Performance increased from an average of 68.8% on the quality measure (accuracy plus timeliness) in baseline, to 99.7% during the intervention phase. Performance decreased to 82.3% during a follow-up phase in which parts of the intervention were discontinued by hotel management. Performance increased to 99.3% with the reintroduction of the intervention phase.
Date: May 1994
Creator: LaFleur, Tobias C. (Tobias Christopher)
System: The UNT Digital Library