The Impact of a Model Cities Program on the Convergence of Crime Rates in a Model City Area and Residual Areas (open access)

The Impact of a Model Cities Program on the Convergence of Crime Rates in a Model City Area and Residual Areas

One purpose of the national Model Cities Program was to reduce the incidence of crime and delinquency in poverty blighted areas to levels prevailing in the remainder of the community. A measurable goal projected by the Austin program was to reduce crime in its Model City Area (in comparison to the rest of the city) by at least 8.73 per cent during the operational years of the program. The central problem of the study was to examine the relationships between official crime rates in the Austin Model City Area in comparison to residual areas of the city. Robbery, burglary, and auto theft rates were singled out for intensive study over the six year operational period of the program to see if they were converging with comparable rates in the rest of the city. Ultimate implication: the Model Cities Program was probably a contributing factor in the reduction of selected crimes in the Model Neighborhood and census tracts containing it.
Date: December 1976
Creator: Tinkler, B. Rollo
System: The UNT Digital Library
Domestic Law and Population Characteristics (open access)

Domestic Law and Population Characteristics

This study examines current domestic provisions and their extent of departure from English common law principles. The purpose of this study is to discover whether differences among state domestic codes are associated with differences among demographic characteristics. If such associations do exist, then some conclusion might be made regarding the feasibility of a national, uniform domestic code. This study examines current domestic provisions and their extent of departure from English common law principles. The purpose of this study is to discover whether differences among state domestic codes are associated with differences among demographic characteristics. If such associations do exist, then some conclusion might be made regarding the feasibility of a national, uniform domestic code.
Date: December 1976
Creator: Forbes, Winona R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Empirical Examination of Conflict Theory: Race and Sentence Length (open access)

An Empirical Examination of Conflict Theory: Race and Sentence Length

The conflict perspective of criminology and societal reaction to crime suggests that the administration of criminal justice is determined and controlled by those segments of society which are relatively powerful. Based on this perspective, it is reasonable to expect that relatively powerful groups or categories will be far less subject to severe criminal sanctions than will those who are relatively powerless. This proposition may be tested at points in the criminal justice system where decisions are made relative to the application of criminal sanction. The findings are that the relationship between race of offender and sentence length considered both with and without selected control variables is a uniformly weak relationship. In certain categories of control variables the relationship between race of offender and sentence length does strengthen slightly, but in no case are the relationships sufficiently strong to be significant at the .05 level. Partial correlation coefficients show the relationship between race of offender and sentence length to be little affected by the control variables. Therefore, the relationship between race of offender and sentence length is in all cases considered, and by every form of analysis, quite weak. Proportional reduction in error in virtually every case considered in this study …
Date: August 1976
Creator: Dison, Jack E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Urbanization and Tribalism in Nigeria, 1911-1963 (open access)

Urbanization and Tribalism in Nigeria, 1911-1963

The problem with which this study is concerned is the description of the past and present trends in the process of urbanization in Nigeria. In addition, the study explores tribal practices and perspectives in Nigeria's urban areas, giving special attention to the bases for the continuous existence of these phenomena. The data used in the study are obtained from books, government documents of both the United States and Nigeria and the. United Nations demographic analysis documents. The study is divided into five chapters. Based on findings and research of this study, the conclusion is drawn that adaptation to Nigeria's urban life proceeds through modification of the traditional institutions and their combination with Western cultural values, technology and economic practices into a new social structure.
Date: May 1977
Creator: Sijuwade, Philip Oyebowale
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Exploratory Study of Rural Values and Settings in Children's Picture Books (open access)

An Exploratory Study of Rural Values and Settings in Children's Picture Books

The main problem of this research was to discover if children's picture books over the last fifty years have depicted rural values more significantly than urban values. One-hundred and one children's picture books were systematically chosen for analysis. This study takes an overall view of the history of children's literature. Also included is a review of the current studies and literature most germain to this study. Content analysis was used as the technique of data analysis, A descriptive analysis of the sample is also given. The study supports the main hypothesis that rural set, tings and rural values do occur more often than non-rural settings and urban values in children's picture books.
Date: August 1978
Creator: Holcombe, Karen E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Voluntary Associations: Membership Attrition and Structural Characteristics (open access)

Voluntary Associations: Membership Attrition and Structural Characteristics

The problem of this research was to investigate David Sills' explanation of membership attrition in voluntary associations. Using the membership population of the Dallas Association for Retarded Citizens from 1969 through 1974, a survey was conducted to determine whether the organizational characteristics of bureaucracy, minority rule, and goal displacement are associated with membership attrition in a selected voluntary association. The findings of this study support Sills' ideas about the association of goal displacement and minority rule with membership attrition in voluntary associations. Bureaucratization, however, was not found to be related to membership attrition.
Date: May 1976
Creator: Huffman, Ellen Jane
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of Viewer Response to the Television Presentation, “Roots” (open access)

A Study of Viewer Response to the Television Presentation, “Roots”

The problem of this research is to discover viewer response to the television series, "Roots," as revealed through newspapers and magazines published from December, 1976, to June 20, 1977. Thirty-seven articles and 134 interviewee responses were analyzed. The responses with the highest frequency of occurrence in the sample provided eight major categories (listed in the order of highest to lowest frequency of response): inaccuracy/oversimplification, increased awareness, future race relations, white guilt, black anger, future prime time television programming, black pride, and sadness. The predominant appeal of "Roots" was to the emotions of the viewers. Despite the criticism of inaccuracy and/or oversimplification, "Roots" was a timely presentation relating to a current social concern with justice and heritage.
Date: December 1977
Creator: Cannon, Sherry L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Suffragette Movement in Great Britain: A Study of the Factors Influencing the Strategy Choices of the Women's Social and Political Union, 1903-1918 (open access)

The Suffragette Movement in Great Britain: A Study of the Factors Influencing the Strategy Choices of the Women's Social and Political Union, 1903-1918

This thesis challenges the conventional wisdom that the W.S.P.U.'s strategy choices were unimportant in regard to winning women's suffrage. It confirms the hypothesis that the long-range strategy of the W.S.P.U. was to escalate coercion until the Government exhausted its powers of opposition and conceded, but to interrupt this strategy whenever favorable bargaining opportunities with the Government and third parties developed. In addition to filling an apparent research gap by systematically analyzing these choices, this thesis synthesizes and tests several piecemeal theories of social movements within the general framework of the natural history approach. The analysis utilizes data drawn from movement leaders' autobiographies, documentary accounts of the militant movement, and the standard histories of the entire British women's suffrage movement. Additionally, extensive use is made of contemporary periodicals and miscellaneous works on related movements.
Date: December 1977
Creator: Lance, Derril Keith Curry
System: The UNT Digital Library
Social Class Position, Familism, and Family Leisure-Time Involvement: An Exploration (open access)

Social Class Position, Familism, and Family Leisure-Time Involvement: An Exploration

The literature revealed a neglect in the area of family leisure-time behavior. The problem under consideration in this investigation was leisure-time behavior among fathers with members of the immediate family. Forty five fathers were selected for this study. Fifteen fathers represented each of three social class positions as defined by the Hollingshead two-factor index of education and occupation. All fathers had to be presently married and living at the same residence with spouse and children. There had to be two or three children in the family, and they had to be within the age range of six to thirteen. Finally, all fathers were of the caucasian race. The findings supported the hypotheses relative to social class position and time and types variations. With one exception, there was a positive association between social class position and every aspect of father family leisure time when both time and types variations were considered. There was no association between social class position and the amount of leisure time a husband and wife spent together. The findings did not support the hypotheses relative to the association between familism and time and types variation of family leisure time. In most instances there was an inverse association …
Date: December 1974
Creator: Jorgenson, David E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Racial Segregation in Dallas Public Housing: 1970-1976 (open access)

Racial Segregation in Dallas Public Housing: 1970-1976

Racial residential segregation in Dallas public housing projects is analyzed before and after the implementation of the "central tenant assignment plan," adopted in May of 1975, Among the socioeconomically segregated population served by public housing, the effects of race and the nondiscrimination policy are investigated using project occupancy data. Indexes of dissimilarity are used to measure racial segregation, and the racial compositions of the communities in which the projects are located are described using 1970 U.S. census and 1976 Dallas City Profile Survey data. The findings indicate that the nondiscrimination policy was not effective in reducing the high levels of racial segregation. A small decline in segregation was noted after a change in project administrative personnel late in 1974.
Date: December 1978
Creator: Weatherby, Norman L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Structural Correlates of Community Innovation (open access)

Structural Correlates of Community Innovation

Structural differences between communities which exhibit a tendency toward innovation and communities which fail to exhibit this tendency are studied. The Model Cities program is used as a test case for the tendency toward innovation, and two samples (applicants and non-applicants) are matched on the basis of population size. Four structural elements are examined as related to applicant status: community differentiation, community poverty, community social-human resource commitment, and the centralization of local governmental structure. Each of the structural elements is further refined by operationally defining specific measures. Community differentiation is measured by occupational and racial/ethnic differentiation. Community poverty is reflected by economic and educational poverty. The variable of community social-human resource commitment is developed using the following measures: per capita community fund goals, per capita amounts raised, per cent of goal raised, and the number of private social agencies in a community that are devoted to social-human resource needs. The centralization of local governmental structure is measured by the presence or absence of the city manager form of government, the presence or absence of non-partisan election, the size of city councils, and the per cent of the city council elected at-large.
Date: May 1974
Creator: Hartling, Sally Caldwell
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Preliminary Investigation of the Relationships Among Life Satisfaction, Status Inconsistency, and Selected Demographic Variables (open access)

A Preliminary Investigation of the Relationships Among Life Satisfaction, Status Inconsistency, and Selected Demographic Variables

The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationships among life satisfaction, status inconsistency, marital status, sex, race, and age. Status inconsistency is determined through a comparison of the status indicators of education, occupation, and income. Life satisfaction is determined by the responses to five areas of satisfaction which are presented in the 1976 General Social Survey conducted annually by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC). The five satisfaction variables are factor analyzed to assure the appropriateness of their use in the construction of the life satisfaction index. Analysis of the data consists of the use of chi-squares, Cramer's V, and Kendall's tau-b. Findings are reported and suggestions are presented for future research.
Date: December 1979
Creator: Agamau, Terry Jeane Nashert
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Demographic Analysis of Female Participation in the Iranian Labor Force, 1956-1966 (open access)

A Demographic Analysis of Female Participation in the Iranian Labor Force, 1956-1966

The purpose of this study is to analyze the participation of females in the labor force of Iran between 1956 and 1966. Selected demographic variables are age, educational attainment, employment rates, and marital status. The data are from the national censuses of 1956 and 1966. The traditional female roles are discussed. The findings of the study indicate that female participation rates increased in the educational, economical and political fields. There are indications that sex roles are being modified as related to urbanization and industrialization.
Date: August 1978
Creator: Saidi, Shahla
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Preliminary Study of Selected Factors Related to the Decision of Chinese Students to Remain in the United States or Return to Taiwan (open access)

A Preliminary Study of Selected Factors Related to the Decision of Chinese Students to Remain in the United States or Return to Taiwan

The purpose of this study is to explore selected factors that may be related to Chinese students' decisions to remain in the United States or return to Taiwan after they finish their studies. Based upon the Chi Square test, the results are: students likely to remain in the United States are influenced by the understanding of the life style of those Chinese who had stayed, perceived less prejudice from American people, and received political freedom in the United States. Factors influencing the decision to return to Taiwan are likely to include family expectation to return, willingness to devote one's ability for the betterment of Taiwan's future, and stronger identification with Taiwan. It is suggested that a long-term cost-benefit analysis be conducted so that it is possible to understand whether Taiwan's brain drain is a loss or a gain to its development.
Date: May 1978
Creator: Cheng, Mei Lien
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Demographic Analysis of Female Participation in the Thai Labor Force, 1960-1970 (open access)

A Demographic Analysis of Female Participation in the Thai Labor Force, 1960-1970

The purpose of this study was to analyze the participation of females in the labor force in Thailand between 1960 and 1970. The demographic variables tested were age, sex, migration rates, employment, youth dependency ratio, and educational attainment. The findings of the study indicate that demographic trends are affecting economy, culture, and roles of women. Female participation rates in the economic sector increased, particularly in Bangkok. Although many Thai women still occupy traditional female roles, there are indications that sex roles are being modified as related to industrialization and urbanization.
Date: May 1976
Creator: Dhamasiri, Malee
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Marginality, Social Class, and Goal Orientations of American Indian Migrants in Fort Worth, Texas (open access)

The Marginality, Social Class, and Goal Orientations of American Indian Migrants in Fort Worth, Texas

The concepts of marginality, social class, and goal-orientation were operationally defined. The relationships between these concepts were explored in order to discern their utility in describing the marginal conditions of Indian migrants to an urban area. Marginality was found to be reflected by the extent of identification of Indian migrants with the urban community. Marginal conditions were also more closely linked to social class than goal orientations of parents. Differences in the types of marginality experienced are related to the length of residence in the urban area.
Date: May 1976
Creator: Ward, Carol Jane
System: The UNT Digital Library
Community Participation Patterns of the Residents of Krum, Texas and Denton, Texas (open access)

Community Participation Patterns of the Residents of Krum, Texas and Denton, Texas

Patterns of participation in formal organizations by residents of a rural non-farm community are compared with those of residents in an urban community. Multi-stage random sampling is utilized in Denton to select those interviewed. In Krum, each residence was numbered and a table of random numbers was used to select households. Chapter One includes the study's purpose, review of the literature, and statement of the hypothesis. Methodology is discussed in the second chapter. Chapter Three focuses on findings and discussions. Data indicate that in the urban community social class, age, homeownership, and length of residency are related to amount of participation. In the rural non-0farm community social class is related to participation. Residents in the urban community participate more than those in the rural non-farm community.
Date: December 1974
Creator: Blue, Dorothy A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Cosmopolitan-Local Orientation of Aged Blacks and Whites in Denton, Texas (open access)

The Cosmopolitan-Local Orientation of Aged Blacks and Whites in Denton, Texas

This paper defines the difference between "cosmopolitans" and "locals" in Denton, Texas, as they relate to the aged black and white communities.
Date: December 1973
Creator: Weisel, Jonathan Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of Marital, Sex and Occupational Status of Dramatic Characters on Commercial Television (open access)

An Analysis of Marital, Sex and Occupational Status of Dramatic Characters on Commercial Television

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the characters portrayed on "prime-time" television drama in an attempt to determine how they compared, with the distribution represented in U. S. Census Bureau data for sex, marital status and occupational status. In pursuing this objective, it was also concerned with the development of a method of content analysis that would not require use of a videotape recorder.
Date: August 1973
Creator: Holloway, Fred S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Some Differences Between Black Students at Predominantly Black and Integrated Institutions of Higher Learning (open access)

Some Differences Between Black Students at Predominantly Black and Integrated Institutions of Higher Learning

Black students now have a choice of predominantly Black or integrated colleges. This investigation is concerned with the possible differences between Black students at these two types of institutions. It was hypothesized that these two student groups differ significantly in socioeconomic status, social mobility expectations, and type of orientation in regard to choice of school.
Date: August 1972
Creator: Williams, Sandra E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Investigation of the Effect of Normative Systems on an Empirical Variable (open access)

An Investigation of the Effect of Normative Systems on an Empirical Variable

This investigation is concerned, with the problem of the normative constraints upon scientific research within the broad theoretical framework of the sociology of knowledge, i.e., the contention that knowledge is functionally related to the social system. The concepts "knowledge" and "Social system" are open to wide interpretation; however, in this study knowledge refers to an empirically verifiable variable and the social system is synonomous with the normative system.
Date: December 1971
Creator: Sizemore, Mark T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Drug Knowledge Levels and Drug Abuse Attitudes Among Fifth and Sixth Grade Students of Denton and Keene, Texas (open access)

Drug Knowledge Levels and Drug Abuse Attitudes Among Fifth and Sixth Grade Students of Denton and Keene, Texas

The problem with which this investigation is concerned is that of determining the drug knowledge levels and attitudes toward drug abuse of fifth and sixth grade schoolchildren.
Date: May 1972
Creator: Nations, James D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Programs of Work Release in Two Federal Correctional Institutions (open access)

Programs of Work Release in Two Federal Correctional Institutions

The present study has the following purposes: to provide a general description of work release in this country, to provide specific descriptions of the work release programs at two federal institutions, and to relate the descriptions of these programs to societal reactions to crime and theories of criminal etiology and epidemiology.
Date: January 1970
Creator: Dison, Jack E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Delinquent Behavior in White and Negro Student Populations (open access)

Delinquent Behavior in White and Negro Student Populations

The purpose of this study is to add to the knowledge of juvenile delinquency in our society as it may be discerned through reports by those who have committed delinquent, but in most cases unadjudicated, acts. This study further seeks to add a dimension to the body of knowledge already gained through self-report techniques by discovering whether there are any important differences to be observed in comparing surveys of limited Negro and white populations.
Date: June 1970
Creator: Hunter, Charles Alvin
System: The UNT Digital Library