Department of Social Sciences & Historical Studies
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Item 4-F: The forgotten unfit of the American military in World War II(1/1/2013) Smith, Tiffany Leigh; Landdeck, Katherine Sharp; Travis, Paul D.; Presnall, BarbaraThis research explores how different segments of American society understood, interpreted, and responded to militarily rejected men, classified as 4-F by the Selective Service System during the Second World War. The first area of this study explores the military's intent and meaning in the creation and use of a 4-F classification. The second section is dedicated to an in depth examination of African American rejection rates. As the only minority group in America kept statistically separate by the U.S. Armed Forces and the Selective Service System, special consideration is given to the circumstances and contributing factors influencing the higher rejection of black men. In contrast to official institutional understandings of 4-F, the third section discusses the social stigma and response to 4-F men on the American home front from the general public, business, and vocal politicians. The fourth section details the intimate implications of military rejection and its associative effects on dating and family life. The fifth and final section is dedicated to how and why some 4-F men sought military reclassification out of 4-F. This thesis seeks to broaden the space in the historical narrative for non-combatant men during WWII and re-examine the complex social dynamics of the U.S. home front.Item The accessibility and subsequent influence of social capital on academic achievement in children identified as at-risk and/or confirmed victims of maltreatment in the United States(8/30/2011) Barker, Merryl; Zottarelli, LisaWith over 700,000 children involved with the child welfare system each year, our society must address the issues that result in their maltreatment and invest in preventative and supportive measures for this population. Much of the research focuses on the most severe cases in which children are placed in foster care, rather than those remaining in the care of custodial parent(s). Using the theoretical idea of social capital, especially as pioneered by James Coleman, the effect of social capital on potential academic achievement was evaluated on young adolescents identified as at-risk for maltreatment. Also considered were the effects of risk severity as indicators of potential academic achievement. Data was collected as part of a longitudinal research project conducted by the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect. Unfortunately, no conclusive support was found connecting social capital to reading scores, but differences among sample populations were discovered and discussed.Item Adaptation experience of post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States(3/22/2013) Michalikova, NinaDespite the rapid growth in the numbers of new Eastern Europeans in the United States, very little is known about this immigrant population. There is no published systematic study of their adaptation to American life. Using the latest nationally representative quantitative data, this dissertation attempts to fill this gap in the literature by systematically examining the cultural, socioeconomic, structural, and political adaptation of post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States. Two research questions will guide this study. First, to what extent do post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States adapt culturally, socioeconomically, structurally, and politically to American life? Second, what are the major determinants of cultural, socioeconomic, structural, and political adaptation of post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States? This dissertation is the first comprehensive study of the adaptation experience of post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States. The study contributes to the field by simultaneously examining the cultural, socioeconomic, structural, and political adaptation of these new immigrants. In addition to an important methodological contribution and policy implications, the project reviews contesting perspectives of immigrant adaptation and develops a theoretical base for understanding Eastern European immigration. Since different Eastern European groups adapt to their new lives in the United States differently, their adaptation experiences can be best explained by different theoretical frameworks. Data from the Department of Homeland Security were used to describe the recent trends and patterns of immigration from Eastern Europe to the United States. The 2006-2010 American Community Survey (ACS), the 2008-2010 Civic Engagement Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CES-CPS), and the 2002-2010 Voting and Registration Supplement of the Current Population Survey (VRS-CPS) collected by the U.S. Bureau of the Census were used to address aspects of cultural, socioeconomic, structural, and political adaptation of new Eastern European immigrants. Ordinary least squares regression and logistic regression were used to test the hypotheses. The results show that new Eastern European immigrants have achieved a relatively high degree of English proficiency, and being recent immigrants, they have a higher likelihood of retaining their native language than other immigrant groups. Overall, new Eastern European immigrants tend to be highly educated and professional, but their average personal income is surprisingly low. Participation in civic organizations and neighborhood interaction of new Eastern European immigrants is somewhat limited, indicating that a relatively high degree of cultural and socioeconomic adaptation might not result in better structural adaptation for these immigrants. The naturalization rate among new Eastern European immigrants is comparable to that of American immigrants in general, but it is lower than the naturalization rate among other European and Asian immigrants. Voting behavior of new Eastern European immigrants is similar to other American immigrants. Overall, it appears that new Eastern European immigrants adapt well culturally, socioeconomically, structurally, and politically, but there are cross-group differences in their adaptation. In addition, empirical evidence suggests that new Eastern European immigrants have become only partially assimilated in the United States, while partially maintaining their ethnic cultures. Therefore, assimilation theory has no relevance when explaining their diverse adaptation paths and experiences. However, cultural pluralism theory, revisionist assimilation theory, and segmented assimilation theory appear to be applicable to the experiences of various Eastern European groups across different adaptation dimensions. The effect of a variety of individual and country-level factors on various dimensions of adaptation was tested. Age and length of stay are among the key determinants of cultural adaptation. The degree of socioeconomic adaptation of immigrants increases with length of stay, age, and English proficiency. Married immigrants tend to adapt better socioeconomically across all measures of this adaptation dimension. Length of stay, marital status, education, and self-employment consistently increase the degree of structural adaptation among immigrants. Immigrants who reside in the United States for a longer period of time, are males, have more education, and are married tend to adapt better politically than their respective counterparts. In addition to a variety of individual factors, results show that adaptation of new Eastern European immigrants is affected by socioeconomic and political conditions in their countries of origin. Immigrants from economically stronger, ethnically homogeneous countries where political and personal freedoms are granted to the citizens tend to adapt better culturally and socioeconomically. However, immigrants originating in countries with weaker economies tend to adapt better structurally and politically than immigrants from economically more stable countries. In addition, ethnic diversity and limited political and personal freedoms in home countries facilitate immigrants` structural and political adaptation in the United States. This dissertation has important implications not only for scholars of immigration, but also for policy makers, and immigrant groups themselves. Collectively, Eastern European immigrants adapt well in the United States, but this overall trend conceals wide cross-group differences. This study will, hopefully, draw the attention of policy makers to this understudied immigrant population, and will lead to an improvement in policies and increased support for groups in need. It is hoped that the information on different dimensions of adaptation included in this dissertation may be beneficial to immigrants themselves, and help later waves of Eastern European immigrants live lives that are more meaningful.Item Adaptation of the Nepalese in the United States(8/31/2011) Thapa-Oli, SoniDespite the rapid growth of the Nepalese population, presently very little is known about the Nepalese in the United States. This dissertation examines the adaptation of the Nepalese in the United States. It focuses on the following three research questions: 1. How do the Nepalese in the United States adapt culturally, structurally, maritally, identificationally, and receptionally to American life? 2. What factors influence the cultural, structural, marital, identificational, and receptional adaptation of the Nepalese in the United States? 3. Which factors play a more important role in the adaptation of the Nepalese in the United States? The theoretical framework for guiding this study is built upon the synthesis of the following theories: classical assimilation, melting pot, cultural pluralism, selective assimilation, revisionist assimilation, and transnationalism. I proposed a series of hypotheses related to Nepalese's cultural, structural, identificational, marital, and receptional adaptation for testing. The data were collected through an online survey using the online survey software tool, PsychData. The sample (N=768) was collected from the Nepalese who were 18 years old or older and currently living in the United States. I tested the hypotheses using ordinary least squares regression, logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression, and ordinal regression depending on the measurements of the dependent variables. The results show that the majority of the Nepalese celebrated both Hindu and American holidays/festivals. Nepali was the dominant language spoken at home and with children. Most of them had friendship with Nepalese and socialized with Nepalese. The majority of the Nepalese interacted with whites in the workplace and lived in white neighborhoods. The majority of the respondents had a Nepalese spouse and consistently preferred to marry Nepali, if given a choice. More than half of the respondents would allow their children to marry non-Nepalese. The Nepalese not only identified themselves as Nepalese, but also felt closeness to their own ethnic group. The majority of the Nepalese had been mistaken as "Hispanics." Half of the respondents had been treated well in the host country but discriminated sometimes, and had never had unwelcomed feelings. The results also reveal that age of entry is a significant predictor of celebrating Hindu festivals, attending Hindu religious services, attending Nepali functions, having a Nepalese spouse, disallowing children to marry non-Nepalese, and identifying self as Nepalese. Legal status significantly contributes to celebrating American holidays, identifying self as Nepalese American or Asian American, and facing less discrimination and prejudice. Length of stay increases proficiency in English language: it facilitates living in white neighborhoods, having friendship and socialization with whites, obtaining membership in Nepalese organizations, marrying a non-Nepalese, and self-identifying as Nepalese American or American/other. Education in the United States facilitates working mostly with whites and obtaining membership in American organizations. Travel to homeland increases attending Hindu religious services, being close to Nepalese, working mostly with whites, and living in white neighborhoods. Sending remittance is associated with closeness to one's own ethnic group. Similarly, reading Nepali newspapers contributes to attendance of Hindu religious services, attendance of Nepali functions, cooking of Nepali food, retention of ethnic language, self-identification as Nepalese, and closeness to one's own ethnic group. It is found that the relative importance of the predictors in predicting Nepalese adaptation varies depending on the dependent variables. Age of entry has the strongest effect on celebrating Hindu festivals, attending Hindu religious services, attending Nepali functions, and disallowing children to many non-Nepalese. Gender has the strongest effect on attending religious services, cooking Nepali food, and obtaining membership in Nepalese organizations. Legal status not only has the strongest effect on celebrating American holidays and attending Nepali functions, but it also has an effect on a lack of racial/ethnic discrimination experience. Length of stay has the strongest effect on speaking English at home and with children, having friendships and socialization with whites, living in white neighborhoods, and marrying a non-Nepalese, if given a choice. The highest level of education has the strongest effect on socializing and working with whites, and allowing children to marry a non-Nepalese. Interestingly, education in the United States has the strongest effect on working with whites and obtaining membership in an American organization. Travel to homeland has the strongest positive effect on living in white neighborhoods and experiencing less racial/ethnic discrimination. Reading Nepali newspapers has the strongest positive effect on cooking Nepali food, having a Nepalese spouse, speaking Nepali language at home and with children, hindering English speaking ability, and socializing with Nepalese. This dissertation is the first large-scale survey study of Nepalese in the United States. It offers wealth of information on the adaptation of Nepalese unavailable elsewhere. In particular, it systematically analyzes the status and determinants of Nepalese's cultural, structural, marital, identificational, and receptional adaptation. In addition, this dissertation proposes a multidimensional theoretical framework to depict the adaptation experiences of the Nepalese in the United States. It tests this theoretical framework and its derived hypotheses using data from Nepalese, a brand new group of immigrants in America. The results provide support for cultural pluralism theory and challenge classical assimilation theory. It also analyzes the role of transnational activities in adaptation. The results may help the understanding of the adaptation experiences of other new immigrant groups. In addition, it may help to reduce prejudice and discrimination against the Nepalese in America.Item Adherence behavior and the impact of HAART on quality of life of Ugandan adults(2008-12) Kalanzi, Dorothy Julliet Nansikombi; Williams, James L.; Moore, Ami; Tilton, AbigailAIDS is no longer a death sentence due to the availability of highly active antiretroviral drugs (HAART) used to treat HIV. The international community is increasing access of HAART to low-resource regions. However, treatment failure and disease progression due to sub-optimal adherence are a public health concern. This study examines adherence behavior and the impact of HAART on perceived quality of life. Data utilized in this study were collected in 2007 and the sample is composed of 70 participants between ages 18 and 64 that were currently on HAART, who were selected using convenience sampling and were affiliated with three HAART providing centers in Uganda. Thirty seven percent of the participants were soldiers and 63% were civilians. The average years of schooling were 9. Fifty six percent of the participants were female. The median monthly income of respondents was $28. Eighty two percent of the participants began HAART after 2004. Some of the questions addressed include: How are individuals on HAART adhering to treatment? What factors influence highly active antiretroviral drug adherence behavior? What factors influence life style recommendations adherence behavior? What is the impact of HAART on perceived physical and psychological health among individuals undergoing treatment? Lack of food was the major influential factor for skipping taking medication, and side effects had the least impact on skipping taking medication. Gender power imbalances, economic need and cultural beliefs increased adherence failure because they were a hindrance to the regular use of condoms, having sex with only one partner, or having good nutrition. The effects of HAART on perceived psychological health were reported to be somewhat less as compared to physical health. In reference to physical health, respondents testified of clinical gains. Although the majority of participants reported improvements in psychological health, numerous respondents expressed continued feelings of anxiety, fear, and loneliness. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings as well as direction for future research are also discussed.Item Alla Delphia Clary: The Speaker's secretary(8/30/1995) Fielder, Catherine Louise; DeMoss, Dorothy; Swain, Martha; Hodges, LybethThis biographical study of Alla Clary, who was Texas Congressman Sam Rayburn's secretary for more than forty years, portrays a woman who witnessed major historical events during the first half of the twentieth century. This research examines Clary's personal life and her career in Washington, D.C. Her personal diaries as well as material from the Rayburn Papers, a collection located at the Center for American History at the University of Texas, helped gain a clearer picture of Alla Clary. The ultimate goal of this thesis is to give visibility to someone whose significance has been generally overlooked in traditional historical investigation.Item American imperialism?: The United States interventions in Nicaragua, 1909 to 1933(2013-08) Binyon, Kristin Danell; Kessler, Mark; Fanning, Sarah; Belfiglio, ValentineThis thesis is an examination of the active policies of the United States in the early twentieth century and the effects of the interventions these policies influenced. This essay reveals that U.S. presence in Nicaragua from 1909 to 1933 acted as a catalyst for positive changes and developments in the political, economic and social sectors of Nicaraguan society. The interventions and military occupations from 1909 until 1933 are classified as failures by much of the existing scholarship because the U.S. failed to meet its objectives in accordance with the Tipitapa Agreement. However, the interventions positive by-products examined in this essay efficiently prove these interventions were not complete failures. Utilizing primary sources including conference proceedings, archived photographs, journals, personal papers, letters, newspaper articles as well as a multitude of secondary sources, this essay examines in detail the political, economic and social developments and advancements brought on by the 1909 to 1933 interventions in Nicaragua to add to the existing scholarship in this subject area.Item An auto/ethnographic exploration of the effects of a reservist's deployment on the support system: The theory of deployment communication and resilience for a support system(4/12/2021) Covey, Jamie M.; Gullion, Jessica Smartt, 1972-The purpose of this study is to understand how the support system, including family (such as parents and siblings), friends, and co-workers experience the deployment of a Reservist who is not married and does not have children. This qualitative research used both ethnographic responses from participants, and my autoethnographic writings as the deployer and researcher. The ethnographic research collection spanned the course of the deployment and was tailored to target collection during the three phases of deployment (pre-deployment phase, deployment phase, and post-deployment/reintegration phase). Using grounded theory, I developed the theory of deployment communication and resilience for a Reservist’s support system which posits (1) the support system needs to diverse, (2) the practice of mutual permissive protective buffering in frequent communication, and (3) the need for both deployer and support system to educate themselves on the challenges of reintegration. Another important outcome of the study is confirming the important role of military-to-military friendship in coping and healing during the reintegration phase. This project is the first of its kind focused on the support system of a Reservist.Item An inferno of anxiety: How narratives surrounding the North Texas fires of 1860 ignited paranoia and distrust in Texas prior to secession(May-23) Hustoft, Stefanie 01/26/1997-; Blosser, Jacob; Parker, James; Van Erve, WouterThe purpose of this thesis was to examine the impact of the 1860 North Texas fires on Texas’ decision to secede. This research project looks at the various factors of these events. Chapter one looks at the environment of North Texas and how the dry conditions combined with white settlement practices created conditions that helped the summer fires spread. This chapter also analyzes Donald E. Reynolds’ prairie match, which claims that the North Texas fires of 1860 were caused by matches combusting from the summer heat. Chapter two looks at the animosity Texans had against northerners. A specific focus of this section is Texans’ assumption that all northerners were abolitionists who wanted to harm southerners and take away their slaves. The third chapter analyzes Texas coverage of the North Texas fires and how the narratives were manipulated to accuse abolitionists of setting fires across the region. The chapter also introduces how other southern states influenced Texas to secede during the state convention of 1861.Item An inferno of anxiety: How narratives surrounding the North Texas fires of 1860 ignited paranoia and distrust in Texas prior to secession(May-23) Hustoft, Stefanie 01/26/1997-; Blosser, Jacob; Parker, James; Van Erve, WouterThe purpose of this thesis was to examine the impact of the 1860 North Texas fires on Texas’ decision to secede. This research project looks at the various factors of these events. Chapter one looks at the environment of North Texas and how the dry conditions combined with white settlement practices created conditions that helped the summer fires spread. This chapter also analyzes Donald E. Reynolds’ prairie match, which claims that the North Texas fires of 1860 were caused by matches combusting from the summer heat. Chapter two looks at the animosity Texans had against northerners. A specific focus of this section is Texans’ assumption that all northerners were abolitionists who wanted to harm southerners and take away their slaves. The third chapter analyzes Texas coverage of the North Texas fires and how the narratives were manipulated to accuse abolitionists of setting fires across the region. The chapter also introduces how other southern states influenced Texas to secede during the state convention of 1861.Item An analysis of the social characteristics, social adjustment, and social participation of divorced persons as compared with married persons(7/24/1978) Thompson, Bettye Decatur; Davis, Ethelyn; Fuller, Marie; Johansen, Elinor; McGeehon, Carl; Brown, WilmaItem Anamnesis, myth, and the political in selected works of Murakami Haruki(2003-12) Geer, Ruthann Jones; Hoye, Timothy; Presnall, Barbara; Alexander, JimThis thesis analyzes two novels of the contemporary Japanese author Murakami Haruki. It seeks to dispel the premise advanced by Ōe Kenzaburo, a Nobel Laureate in Literature, which regards Murakami as an inferior writer. Murakami's fast paced style bears resemblance to Western authors and seemingly ignores the literary traditions of Japan. Through study of the development of the novel in Japan and its characteristic elements, this thesis demonstrates that Murakami utilizes many of these valued precepts in his works. Evidence further supports the contention that these novels serve an anamnestic purpose through archetypal patterns and imagery. Murakami raises political questions that proceed from being cast in shadows to a more candid dialogue concerning Japanese actions in Manchuria, the misplaced trust of Japanese citizens, and a distorted idealism of broad cross sections of the populace.Item Anglo-American diplomacy on the Oregon issue, 1844-1846: A compilation of selected documents on public opinion(1974-08) Cardenas, Maria de la Luz Rodriguez; Landry, Harral; Yarborough, Kemp; Dawson, John; Belfiglio, ValentineItem Anna Raguet Irion: Writing a woman's life into Texas history(1995-08) Norgaard, Carolyn Porter; DeMoss, Dorothy; Swain, Martha; Hodges, Lybeth; Scobie, Ingrid WintherAnna Raguet Irion (1819-1883) came with her family from Pennsylvania by way of Cincinnati, Ohio to Nacogdoches in 1833. Her father, Henry Wynkoop Raguet, and Sam Houston became friends and political allies during the tumultuous years of the Texas Revolution and Republic of Texas. Houston, a frequent visitor with the Raguet family, became infatuated with Anna, the eldest daughter of Marcia and Henry Raguet. Smitten Sam Houston, twenty-six years her senior, sent Anna Raguet his personal token from the battlefield of San Jacinto, oak leaves, the symbolic "laurels of victory." For more than five years Houston, an inveterate letter-writer, sent gifts and letters to "the peerless Miss Anna," delivered by his close friend and Secretary of State, Robert Anderson Irion. Letters exchanged between them discussed politics, horses, poetry, all "the beauty and fashion" in society as well as Houston's divorce. Houston's unreserved, often eloquent letters to a young, unmarried woman are a rare view into the private life of the "Hero of San Jacinto" and into a pivotal era in Texas history. The courtship failed, however, and Anna Raguet eloped with Robert Irion in 1840. Anna remained close to her family in the Redlands of East Texas where she raised her five children and was active in her community until her death in Overton, Texas in 1883.Item Are older people really happier than younger people?(1/22/2019) Leone, Erica C; Yang, Philip Q.In recent years, quite a few studies and media reports have claimed that older people are happier than younger people. Although this argument may contain partial truth, I question the total validity of this claim. This study investigates several possibilities. I first examine how the effect of age on happiness varies by health status and economic status. I then investigate a possible non-linear effect of age over a life time. I also analyze the effect of generational cohorts and period on happiness. Data from General Social Surveys 1972-2016 and logistic regression are used to test the possibilities. The results show that the effect of age on happiness is moderated by health status and by income. This study also detects a significant nonlinear effect of age on happiness, namely, as people age they become less happy and least happy at the age of 52, and then gradually regain happiness. It is also found that later generations are happier than earlier generations and that the happiness of Americans has ebbed and flown with the peak in 1990. The findings of this study challenge the popular position that older people are happier than younger people and provide a more complete picture of the relationship between age and happiness. The findings also have significant implications for government policies and programs to improve the well-being of the elderly.Item The arts in the early Renaissance court of Henry VIII, King of England: A study in royal patronage, 1509-30(1974-08) Hodges, Lybeth; Landry, Harral; Dawson, John; Jamison, Alonzo; Yarborough, KempItem The assimilation of the adult into the community: The commuter student at Texas Woman's University(5/30/1970) Parnell, Emily Ann T.; Johansen, Elinor; David, EthelynItem Attitudes toward old people: A comparison between Chinese students and American students(5/30/1974) Chang, Sandra; Bucklew, Reba; Davis, Ethelyn; McGeehon, Carl; Dilley, MarthaItem Attributions in social interactions: A qualitative study(2003-12) Barga, Lynne R.; Williams, James L.; Sadri, MahmoudThe purpose of this study was to investigate people's attributions in explaining ambiguously described behavior, and to discover whether and how those attributions reflect their social identities and social roles. A literature review grounded the study theoretically in Sociological Social Psychology. Qualitative methods of data collection and textual analysis were applied to open-ended questions about behavioral vignettes and a demographic information form. Five major themes of attributional derivation emerged, supported in the literature. (1) Personal experience; (2) Socialized norms, expectations, stereotypes; (3) Response to the vignette, not the behavior; (4) Impression management; (5) Thought complexity. Social roles and identities reflected four themes. (1) Relationships and human welfare—people in arts and humanities; (2) Behavioral perceptions—gays, lesbians, mixed ethnicities; (3) Political and religious ideologies (dualisms, role expectations, judgment)—conservatives and fundamentalists (4) Occupational characteristics. Future research should address other demographic or social characteristics, as well as asking entirely new questions.Item An axiomatic theory of adolescence: A critique and a test(1977-05) Milam, Mary Justina; Albert, Charles Rodney; Davis, Ethelyn; Bucklew, Reba