bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Prison Crowding upon Infraction Rates
Authors: Clayton Obie , Carr Tim
Published: March 2007

During the 1970s the prison populations grew at an alarming rate and researchers became interested in the effects of crowding on inmate behavior. Paulus, McCain, and Cox (1975; 1978) and D'Atri and Ostfeld (1975)found empirical evidence physiological changes occurring in crowded prison populations. Other researchers have also uncovered deleterious effects due to crowded prison conditions.

Unfortunately, the work in crowding has lagged behind other areas in corrections and there are few accepted paradigms.This research attempts to expand the current studies and, in doing so, examine the effects of crowding upon several groups ofcriminal offenders. The research is based upon a sample of 21,500 inmates, plus a subsample of 1,300 teenage prisoners. Ananalysis of variance and covariancefound no crowding effectsfor the prison population as a whole. However, strong crowdingeffects were found among young black violent offenders. For this group, crowding was a stronger predictor of infraction ratesthan any of our control variables (age, time served, home county population density, race, or type of crime). We interpret theseresults as artifacts placing high-risk inmates in the largest, most crowded prisons.
Social Control in the People's Republic of China
Authors: Rojek Dean G.
Published: March 2007

The American and Chinese approaches to social control offer two fundamentally different philosophical and experiential perspectives. While the rights of the individual are of paramount importance in the United States, and an exceedingly active formalized legal system is responding to these needs, the Chinese have adopted a vastly different approach. The hallmark of Chinese social control is the preeminent position of society, or the social collective, and there is a marked aversion to formal law or any judicial system. The core of Chinese social control is based on Confucian social ethics which stress self-discipline and subordination to the family and to the State. Under Chairman Mao, Confucian principles were wedded to Marxist-Leninist ideology, but China resisted the bureaucratized model of the Soviet Union. Current social control practices include a strong reliance on mediation, massive legal education, and rigorous neighborhood organization strategies. In those instances where formalized court processes are employed, the Chinese have adopted a strategy that coincides with the perceived needs of their socialist system. Recent events in China indicate clearly that, while their informal style of social control is relatively effective, by no means has it eradicated all forms of deviance. The consequences of the Chinese style of socialism and its concomitant mandate of social responsibility infer a denigration of individual rights.
Do more Conservative States Impose Harsher Felony Sentences? An Exploratory Analysis of 32 States
Authors: Bowers David A. , Waltman Jerold L.
Published: March 2007

Felony sentencing is a state public policy outcome lying at the end of a long chain of decisions by legislatures, bureaucracies, and courts. Using data from the 1986 National Judicial Reporting Program study of 32 states, the authors discovered that felony sentences for rape, assault, and robbery were linked to the Erikson, McIver, and Wright index of state conservatism (1987), whereas those for homicide and property crimes were not correlated with ideology. The addition of resource variables such as tax capacity and prison capacity was found not to alter these findings. These results make sense, given the intense public antipathy to crimes against persons; the exception for murder may derive from the fact that a uniform abhorrence of murderers subdues the effect of liberal and conservative ideologies. Therefore, the preferences of the public seem to weigh heavily in the sentencing of violent offenders (other than murderers) but have much less if any effect on the fate of other criminals.
Protection or Prevention: Testing the Prisoner Population for Communicable Diseases
Authors: Severson Margaret
Published: March 2007

Prisoners, because of both pre-incarceration and confinement lifestyles and living conditions, are at greater risk for contracting communicable, often lethal, diseases than are non-incarcerated persons. Despite current knowledge about the numbers of inmates who are infected with HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, and other communicable diseases, legislators and correctional administrators have resisted making policy decisions mandating routine communicable disease screening of all inmates. Moreover, in the name of protection of inmate rights, several prisoner suits have been brought on both sides of this issue: Some prisoners have challenged mandatory wholesale screening policies while others have challenged the absence of mandatory screening procedures. This article explores the constitutional arguments that surround the issue of communicable disease screening and the operational difficulties that are a consequence of mandatory screening procedures. It is contended that correctional authorities have an ethical duty to include such screening in their medical treatment protocols.
Complaints Against the Police: A Focus Group Study of Citizen Perceptions, Goals, and Expectations
Authors: Walker Samuel
Published: March 2007

This article explores citizen perceptions, goals, and expectations in filing complaints against the police. It is based on 10 focus groups representing a cross-section of a medium-sized midwestern community. Its findings confirm earlier research indicating a poor "fit" between complainant goals and complaint procedures. Although most existing complaint procedures are designed to investigate complaints of officer misconduct and to punish guilty officers, relatively few of the focus group participants indicated punishment as their goal. The majority wanted either an explanation for the incident, an apology, a face-to-face encounter with the officer, or documentation of the incident on the officer's record.
Using multiaxial testing to determine the effects of temperature on high density polyethylene geomembrane liners
Authors: Stessel Richard Ian , Gopal Deepak
Published: March 2007

Geomembranes (GMs) are increasingly being used to line containment facilities for both hazardous and municipal wastes. The most common GM in the USA is high density polyethylene (HDPE), a tough polymer showing good chemical resistance, thereby helping to protect the environment from leachate emissions from landfills. The work presented here uses a form of multiaxial testing, called the comprehensive test system (CTS), for geomembranes to perform testing in a manner reflective of the field application. The key mechanical testing distinction of the CTS is that of applying load to the sample with granular media. Liners are exposed to a wide range of temperatures from pre- to postconstruction, and under a wide range of seasonal and latitudinal conditions. This work evaluated the effect of temperature on GMs using the CTS approach. The test time required to elicit changes in the material properties as a function of elevated temperature was considerably reduced by comparison with the US Environmental Protection Agency standard tests. The data showed that the delta modulus (a measure of the material strength) decreased with increasing temperature, indicating a loss of material strength. Most importantly, an increase in temperature weakened the GM in a linear fashion throughout the range studied, with no indication of a threshold temperature.
Biological treatment for removal of organic material and ammonium from leachate at low temperatures
Authors: Kettunen Riitta H. , Keskitalo Pertti , Hoilijoki Taina H. , Rintala Jukka A.
Published: March 2007

The biological anaerobic-aerobic treatment of medium- strength municipal landfill leachate (COD (chemical oxygen demand) 1500 to 3200 mg 1-1; BOD7 (biological oxygen demand) 1200 to 1900 mg 1-1; NH4-N 80 to 270 mg 1-1) was studied by usmg a pilot-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor (13 to 28°C) and laboratory-scale activated sludge reactors (5 to 11°C). In the sequential process, 80 to 90% COD removal was achieved with an effluent COD of 250 to 350 mg 1-1 and a BOD7 of <10 mg 1 -1. Most of the organic material was removed during anaerobic pretreatment, and more than 50% COD removal was obtained at 13°C. The aerobic stage served as an ammonium removal and a polishing step. More than 90% of ammonium was efficiently removed by nitrification even at 5°C. The anaerobic- aerobic treatment produced effluent fulfilling the official requirements. Furthermore, the sequential process seems sustainable and cost effective for leachate treatment at low temperatures. Based on a preliminary design, leachate treatment costs were estimated at 3.1 to 3.3 EUR m-3 in the sequential process. This compares with the option of discharging leachates into a sewer system. Both the discharge fee and the construction and operational costs of a transfer sewer are considered.
Full-scale experiences with mechanical-biological pretreatment of municipal solid waste and landfilling
Authors: von Felde Dierk , Doedens Heiko
Published: March 2007

In Lower Saxony three full-scale plants for the mechanical- biological pretreatment (MBP) of residual municipal solid waste (RMSW) prior to landfillmg are now in operation. The three plants support a wide range of mechanical and encapsulated biological process techniques. In addition to biological degradation, pretreatment allows mechanical separation of iron fractions and refuse derived fuel (RDF). This causes a strong reduction in the need for landfill sites and hence lowers landfill emissions. To describe the efficiency of biological stabilization of RMSW several chemical-physical or biological methods for analysing solid matter or eluate can be used. On the one hand, chemical- physical methods determine a large portion of the total organic carbon (TOC) of pretreated wastes, but often do not allow a differentiation between mobile (with respect to degradable) and immobile (with respect to non-degradable) portions. On the other hand biological parameters explain only a small portion of the TOC, but are well suited devices for qualitative evaluation of landfill reactions and emissions. First results from separate landfill compartments show lower hydraulic permeability, higher landfilling density, lower organic and nitrogen concentrations in leachate of landfilled MBP wastes compared to untreated wastes. An acid phase with high organic leachate concentrations does not occur. This will create new requirements for landfilling techniques.
Development and Use of an in-Basket Promotional Exam for Police Sergeant
Authors: Salem Betty , Ellis Don , Johnson Douglas
Published: March 2007

Twenty male police officers in a medium-sized Texas city were administered an in-basket test (IBT) in conjunction with a traditional promotional exam for sergeant. Results indicated the IBT contributed uniquely to the exam, and correlated significantly with several criterion measures. A subsequent Civil Service Commission ruling upheld the legitimacy of the IBT for use in promotional examinations. It was concluded that the IBT can be readily tailored to meet civil service requirements, and has the potential for making a valuable contribution to personnel testing in the public sector.
The Values of Public Administrators: a Comparison With Lawyers, Social Workers, and Business Administrators
Authors: Nalbandian John , Edwards J. Terry
Published: March 2007

This pilot study compares the professional values of public administration students and alumni with a similar group of social workers, business administrators, and lawyers. It reflects the belief that professional values and value patterns strongly influence the way that professionals define and resolve problems. The authors hypothesized that value differences would be found among the four groups surveyed and that the public administrators would hold a distinctive value pattern. They constructed a questionnaire containing value scales plus a small number of demographic items which were administered to the members of the four groups. A factor analysis of the Professional Value Scale was conducted. Examination of this analysis revealed significant differences between members of the four groups in their value preferences. On the basis of their study, the authors conclude that the value conflicts and ambiguities found suggest significant underlying differences in the decision premises of the professional groups surveyed.
Job Stress and Public Sector Occupations
Authors: West Jonathan P. , West Colleen M.
Published: March 2007

Stress in public organizations can affect the health, well-being and productivity of the workforce This article examines three so-called "high stress" government jobs (nurses, police officers and air traffic controllers), identifies the sources, symptoms, and conse quences of stress, and compares stress levels in these occupations with those in other populations Public personnel managers can work with others to prevent, detect, and manage stress in their work settings The authors discuss and illustrate various individ ual and or ganizational strategies relevant to stress management in each of the three oc- cupations
Employee Assistance Programs and the Troubled Employee in the Public Sector Workplace
Authors: Johnson Arthur T. , O'Neill Nancy
Published: March 2007

This article provides an overview of public sector Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and identifies issues to which public sector managers should be sensitive EAPs can assist troubled employees and their supervisors and reduce health care costs related to the behavior of troubled employees and their families The continued escalation of health care costs will motivate many employers to turn to EAPs as part of their health care cost containment efforts However, there are many barriers to EAP effectiveness, and measuring EAP success is difficult To he effective, public sector EAP administra tors must be sensitive to the unique characteristics of the public sector workplace and the changing nature of the government workforce, and must have access to the or gani zation's personnel system
Glass Ceilings in the Military
Authors: Baldwin J. Norman , Rothwell Bruce A.
Published: March 2007

This article presents the outcome from every Air Force officer promotion board convening over a 13-year period. It includes the evaluation of more than 160,000 Caucasian, Afro- American,Hispanic, femaleand "other" officers eligible for promotion to captain, major, lieutenant colonel and colonel. The data indicate minorities are not promoted at the same rate as majority officers, and few females serve as Air Force officers. On the brighter side, females have very competitive promotion rates to lieutenant colonel and colonel, minority promotion rates do not indicate adverse impacts, and majority-minority promotion rate differences decrease as rank increases in the Air Force.
The Effect of Professional Orientation on Job Stress
Authors: Liou Kuo-Tsai
Published: March 2007

This study examines factors affecting detention care workers' professional orientation, i.e., attitude toward youthful detainees, and their perceived job stress. Focusing on DCWs in two metropolitan detention centers in a Southeastern state, the study found that (1) DCWs exhibit two different dimensions of professional orientation, a treatment- and a punishment- oriented attitude; (2) these attitudes are influenced by different personal and job factors, and (3) job stress is significantly correlated to the treatment attitude, role conflict/ ambiguity, and age.
Managerial Responses to an Aging Municipal Workforce
Authors: West Jonathan P. , Berman Evan M.
Published: March 2007

THIS PAPER FOCUSES ON THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF OLDER WORKERS IN U.S. CITIES. THE RESEARCH IS BASED ON A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF MUNICIPAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGERS IN CITIES OVER 50,000 POPULATION. A WIDE VARIETY OF STRATEGIES ARE BEING USED IN CITIES IN FOUR KEY AREAS: (1) SUPPORTIVE WORKPLACE RELATIONS; (2) TRAINING; (3) CAREER DEVELOPMENT; (4) PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL. HOWEVER, CITIES DO LITTLE TO ADAPT TRAINING TO THE NEEDS OF OLDER WORKERS, TO REVITALIZE THE CAREERS OF MATURE EMPLOYEES, OR TO USE PROFICIENCY TESTING AS A SUPPLEMENT TO PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL. MANAGERIAL PROFESSIONALISM IS AN IMPORTANT DRIVING FORCE INFLUENCING STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING ON THIS ISSUE; LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND FISCAL STRESS ARE LESS SIGNIFICANT FORCES.
Choosing a House: The Relationship between Dwelling Type, Perception of Privacy and Residential Satisfaction
Authors: Day Linda L.
Published: March 2007

This study measures satisfaction of residents in two new, higher-density suburban subdivisions: one of small detached houses on small lots, the other townhouses. The post-occupancy evaluation found that satisfaction with housing does not depend on whether a house is attached or detached and that house design can be more important than site design. Putting more houses on less land makes privacy more difficult to attain, and it may force a trade-off between open space and adequate auto accommodation. The findings support the kind of regulatory flexibility that will allow developers to maintain density levels while allowing residents the space they say they need. Adherence to regulatory standards, however, is not sufficient in evaluating a subdivision proposal. The planner needs to evaluate the location, footprint, and orientation of each dwelling and to take differences in site design into account when determining the amount of off-street parking to mandate.
Balancing Different Interests in Aesthetic Controls
Authors: George R. Varkki , Campbell Marcia Caton
Published: March 2007

Aesthetic controls present a specific instance of a general problem faced by planners: balancing the interests of an individual (in altering the physical environments they in-habit) against the interests of the collective (in protecting the visual quality of cities). In this article, the authors discuss the use of aesthetic controls in the United States and review the case for and against restricting architectural expression. The authors then examine two questions: what is the rationale for protecting such expression, and to what extent is this protection warranted? They find two very strong but conflicting interests—one in controlling design expression and the other in not doing so. How might this conflict be resolved? The authors propose a middle ground that is characterized by four criteria: a clearly articulated and demonstrable public interest, demonstrable links to the stated intent, application early in the design or decision process, and allowing and encouraging a variety of acceptable decisions.
Challenges Facing Chinese Planners in Transitional China
Authors: Zhang Tingwei
Published: March 2007

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) joined planning organizations in Asia (APSA), Europe (AESOP), and Australia and New Zealand (ANZAPS) to organize the Global Planning School Congress (WPSC 2001) in China in 2001. While there have been a number of reports about transitions in China, the host country, rarely can we find information about Chinese urban planners, the hosts. Rapid economic and social changes left Chinese planners unprepared to confront new issues from day-to-day work to more fundamental problems such as the value of planning in a market economy. This article analyzes challenges facing Chinese planners in the transitional period and provides up-dated information about the planning profession in China. It also adds new materials in a comprehensive sense to the much broader topic, “What do planners do?”
Urban Communes, Self Management, and The Reconstruction of the Local State
Authors: Fnedmann John
Published: March 2007

Principles for a reconstructed political order at the local state level are developed and discussed. The essay is divided into five parts. Part II traces the relationship between the concepts of political com munity and the local state. It terminates in advanced capitalism, wherein territory is structured into both residentiary and economic spaces in accord with our dual role as consumers and producers, and, in which the two are in conflict with one another. The object of a reconstructed political order is to accomplish integration of the two spaces (Part III). A series of general principles is developed in Part IV, meant as guideposts for political practice. In the final part of the essay, comments are offered on the historical possibilities of a reconstructed political practice and on future roles for planners.
Planning Theory and Practice: Bridging the Gap
Authors: de Neufville Judith Innes
Published: March 2007

There is increasing evidence that plan ning theory has been inadequate in recent years. Not only does it fail to guide prac tice, it contributes to cognitive dissonance and alienation among practitioners. Plan ning schools agree on no body of litera ture and ideas to count as planning theory. Planning is like a paradigm "in crisis," in that theory does not mesh with experience. Moreover, neither of the two main candidates for the prime exemplar for planning practice—the master plan model or the policy analysis model — is acceptable enough to provide coherence to the field
Mediated Negotiation in the Public Sector: The Planner as Mediator
Authors: Susskind Lawrence , Ozawa Connie
Published: March 2007

Resource allocation decisions in the public sector are typically made by legislative and administrative bodies. All too often, these methods of decision making fail to produce wise and efficient responses to conflicting needs and interests and courts are asked to review or to overturn these decisions Recent experiments with medi ated negotiation — face-to-face negotiation involving teams representing key stake- holding interests and an impartial mediator — indicate that it might be possi ble to supplement traditional resource allo cation processes in a manner likely to yield an informed consensus Three cases have been selected to illustrate the procedures and opportunities involved
The Institutional Focus of Planning Theory
Authors: Mandelbaum Seymour J.
Published: March 2007

There is a good deal of talk these days about the ways in which planning theoreticians have neglected practice and practitioners. Some of the talk comes from practitioners, some from theoreticians themselves. This essay reflects on this talk, discerning a coherent theme in the varied chorus of complaints The conventional image that planning theory deals with the interaction between planners and clients no longer seems compelling. In the place of this dyadic image, theoreticians have focused attention on the planning processes embedded in the design of institutions This institutional focus powerfully illuminates the work of practitioners but also looks past them to groups and issues that were barely touched when planning theory dealt with the familiar dyad of planner and client. In the eyes of practitioners and academic colleagues, the community is likely to continue to seem both fragmented and neglectful — riddled with great rifts of incommensurable purposes, language, and analytic models
One Way to Neighborhood Deterioration?
Authors: Jones Bernie
Published: March 2007

Despite the widespread use of one-way streets as a traffic engineering response to urban traffic congestion, very little is known about the impacts such streets have on residential neighborhoods. The social costs of automotive hegemony have generally been ignored in the face of the easily demonstrable traffic movement advantages of one-ways. As part of the Denver Planning Office's study of how to mitigate negative impacts of one-ways in neighborhoods, a survey of residents on one-way arterials and adjacent two-way locals was conducted. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 232 residents. Residents on one-ways were found to be older and less family-oriented than their two-way street neighbors. One-way street residents were significantly more bothered by traffic (noise, volume, danger), less satisfied with their block (cleanliness, peacefulness, air quality), and therefore made more life-style adjustments (less use of front of house, rearranging use of rooms, installing buffers). Consequently, more one-way street residents wanted a traffic change on their block. On a number of measures (e.g., economic conditions, neighboring, stability) no differences were found. These mixed results are read as confirmation that one-way arterials do have some of the suspected negative impacts but also that many people accommodate and resign themselves to the situation.
U.S. vs. Yonkers: A Tale of Three Planners
Authors: Kaufman Jerome L.
Published: March 2007

This article highlights the different paths that three senior-level Yonkers planners took with respect to the central issue of equity in the U.S. v. Yonkers case. Using their experiences as a backdrop, various ways are dis cussed in which planning educators can provide planning students — most of whom have strong equity values in graduate school — with the will and skills to effectively ad vance equity ends when they work for local governments. This is done in awareness of the powerful con straining force that incremental poli tics will undoubtedly have on future planners, checking or eroding their concern about equity values in their local jobs.
Community Economic Development: Three Approaches
Authors: Boothroyd Peter , Davis H.Craig
Published: March 2007

Community economic development approaches can be usefully distinguished according to whether they promote growth, structural change, or community relationships (i e , whether they emphasize "economic," "development," or "community") Each approach has its own history, as indicated herein by examples drawn primarily from Canada Planners should be aware of how the approaches differ in their assumptions, and the implications of these differences for goals, strategies, and planners' practice.
Using a Peer Resource Learning Model in Planning Education
Authors: Grant Jill , Manuel Patricia
Published: March 2007

A studio-based approach to planning education provides opportunities for employing a peer resource model whereby students facilitate each other's learning. This paper describes the experience of coordinating undergraduate studio classes from different levels of study as students worked on a series of related projects. The authors suggest that a peer resource model of education empowers students with confidence in their own experience and growing expertise. Peer resource learning demonstrates the potential of collaborative initiatives while providing a model of the professional work environment.
The Mexican American Caregiving Experience
Authors: Phillips Linda R. , de Ardon Esperanza Torres , Komnenich Pauline , Killeen Mary , Rusinak Ramona
Published: March 2007

Although family caregiving among non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) has been studied extensively, relatively little is known about the caregiving experience in Mexican American (MA) families. This article compares 196 MA caregivers to 165 NHW caregivers and describes differences in the caregiving structure and caregiving experience. For caregiving structure, more MA caregivers were adult children even though the elder had a living spouse, MA caregivers provided less help, fewer MAs lived with elders, and MA elders had better functional abilities, in spite of having similar health problems to their NHW counterparts. For caregiving experience, MA caregivers had and used less social support, felt less social restriction and less change in elder-caregiver-family relationships, had poorer health, and evaluated their role performance better than NHW caregivers.
Disparate Impact Analyses of TAAS Scores and School Quality
Authors: Fassold Mark A. J.
Published: March 2007

This article documents the quantitative disparity in TAAS exit-level test performance and school quality between Texas’s racial/ethnic groups. The article begins with an overview of four measures of disparate impact: (a) four-fifths rule, (b) Hazelwood rule, (c) Shoben rule, and (d) rule of practical significance. Next, the author applies these measures using Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) performance data (i.e., pass/fail data) collected from the Texas Education Agency to determine whether the TAAS results in a disparate impact measuring TAAS performance at different stages in the exam administration cycle (i.e., first administration, last administration, cumulative) and for different groups of students to account for the effect of various at-risk factors. The article then summarizes Texas Education Agency data on accreditation status and curricular offerings to examine whether Texas’s ethnic/racial groups share the same school quality.
Psychometric Inadequacies of the TAAS
Authors: Bernal Ernesto M.
Published: March 2007

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) at the 10th-grade exit-level test consists of three domain-referenced achievement tests in reading, writing, and mathematics, all of which must be passed at the same criterion score of 70 on the Texas Learning Index scale in order for a student to receive a high school diploma. This article examines the adequacy of the TAAS exit-level test from certain psychometric points of view. Although the legal sufficiency of the test has been established in federal court, there is much to learn from the deficiencies of the test. Several simulations based on a selected number of items as a result of factor analysis are discussed to show ways in which the TAAS exit-level test and similar instruments can be substantially improved.
Acculturation and the Hispanic Woman: Attitudes Toward Women, Sex-Role Attribution, Sex-Role Behavior, and Demographics
Authors: Kranau Edgar J. , Green Vicki , Valencia-Weber Gloria
Published: March 2007

The present study investigated the relationship of acculturation to the variables of attitudes toward women, sex-role attribution, sex-role behaviors, and demographics in Hispanic women. First, Mexican American women, and other Hispanic women, were investigated to determine if they could be placed on a continuum of acculturation. Second, the relationship between different levels of acculturation and the above variables was investigated. Last, the predictive power of these variables to acculturation level was determined through multiple regression techniques. The sample drawn did not significantly differ from the original population used in acculturation research by Olmedo, Martinez, and Martinez, indicating that the Mexican American woman can be placed on a continuum of acculturation regardless of age or geographical location. Greater acculturation was positively correlated with more liberal attitudes toward women, single status, more education, and younger age. Greater acculturation was negatively correlated with more feminine household behaviors. The best subset of predictors of acculturation was found to be education and self-attribution of feminine and masculine sex-role characteristics.
Utilization of Traditional and Non-Traditional Sources of Health Care among Hispanics
Authors: Van Oss Marin Barbara , Marin Gerardo , Padilla Amado M. , De La Rocha Castulo
Published: March 2007

A random sample of 100 low-income Hispanics was interviewed regarding patterns of health care utilization and perceptions of underutilization of health services by members of their community. Responses showed substantially low rates of utilization of preventive services although most respondents knew when care should be sought. Utilization rates of folk providers (Curanderos, yerberos, etc.) were minimal among this sample. Financial difficulties was the most significant reason given for respondents having never visited a private physician or dentist. When asked to rate why people in general do not receive appropriate care, economic difficulties and insurance were again mentioned as the most important reasons followed by such system barriers as lack of child care, time conflicts, long waits and language barriers.
Social Networking as a Recruitment Strategy for Mexican American Families in Community Health Research
Authors: Hooks Paul C. , Tsong Yi , Henske Janice C. , Baranowski Tom , Levin Jeffrey S.
Published: March 2007

A multi-component strategy for recruiting families for community health research was tested among 65 Mexican American families in Galveston, Texas. This strategy, heavily relying on social networking techniques, resulted in an 88% recruitment rate. Most of the desired participants were obtained within five weeks. While the strategy is labor-intensive and may result in sampling bias, the high recruitment rate indicates that the strategy deserves further application in a variety of settings.
Acculturation and Alcohol Use: Drinking Patterns and Problems among Anglo and Mexican American Male Drinkers
Authors: Neff James Alan , Hoppe Sue Keir , Perea Patricia
Published: March 2007

Data are presented on drinking patterns and alcohol-related problems among 164 Anglo and 149 Mexican American male regular drinkers. The paper examines the role of acculturation with regard to alcohol use by categorizing Mexican American respondents into three acculturation groups using a multi-item measure developed for this study. Data from a random sample of males drinking at least 2-3 times a month, aged 20-50, showed that, even after socio-demographic controls, Mexican Americans were less frequent, but higher quantity drinkers than were Anglos. No ethnic differences were found for alcohol-related problems. Quantity was significantly higher among less acculturated Mexican Americans than among the more highly acculturated. "Escape" drinking motives were most common among Mexican Americans, particularly among the least acculturated. Exploratory analyses among Mexican Americans using a combination of acculturation and generational status measures indicated the heaviest drinking patterns and the highest prevalence of both alcohol-related problems and escape drinking motives among the least acculturated second generation males. These suggestive data do not support either a "simple acculturation" or an "acculturation stress" model. Rather, the data suggest a cultural marginality/stress model wherein risk of heavy and problem drinking is greatest among younger Mexican Americans who have not become acculturated.
Hispanic Given Names In Five United States Cities: Onomastics As A Research Tool In Ethnic Identity
Authors: Lavender Abraham D.
Published: March 2007

Scholars of onomastics and scholars of different ethnic groups have documented the strong relationship between ethnic identity and given names, but social scientists generally have not included onomastics in studies of ethnic identity. This report compares given names for males and females in five Hispanic geographical communities (Miami, Tampa, San Antonio, Denver, and Albuquerque). Names and spellings of names are classified as Spanish, Bicultural, or English. Male and female patterns are similar in each community, but noticeable Spanish-Bicultural-English differences are found in these five communities. This report supports the bicultural theory of adjustment. Even when English spellings or names are used, the tendency is to use names popular in Spanish. In conclusion, it is suggested that more attention should be given to naming patterns as an indication of ethnic identity.
A Case of Blaming the Victim: The Dunn Monograph on Bilingual Hispanic Children on the U.S. Mainland
Authors: Willig Ann C.
Published: March 2007

This article challenges Dunn's arguments and the logic used to arrive at them. It is argued here that IQ scores for different groups can be influenced by the way they use vocabulary; that the decline in U.S. mainland Hispanic students' vocabulary scores coincides with the onset of classroom instruction; and that SES is not controlled for in the studies presented by Dunn. Further, genetic components of scores on IQ tests for U.S. -born Hispanics cannot be determined from intelligence tests heavily loaded with a language component, since such tests measure language facility rather than intelligence. Also, Dunn's discussion of the role of heredity and familial factors in academic achievement and intelligence test scores is meaningless when children have not been placed in optimal educational environments. It is argued, contrary to Dunn's position, that native language instruction can result in the elimination of problems discussed by Dunn. Finally, comments on the ethical and moral implications of Dunn's monograph are presented.
Attitudes Toward Chicanos by Students in Mexican American Studies Classes: A Research Note
Authors: Locci Stelvio G. , Carranza E. Lou
Published: March 2007

Students attending Mexican American Studies (MAS) classes at a California State University were asked to participate in a study that assessed attitude toward Chicanos. The instrument used in this study was one version of the Scale for the Measurement of Attitude toward Chicanos developed by Carranza (1977). The scale consists of 20 items about Chicanos with scale values ranging from unfavorable (1.4) to favorable (9.8). The terms Chicano and Mexican American were treated as virtually synonymous for the purposes of this study. The study sought to investigate attitudes toward Chicanos by Chicanos and non-Chicanos taking classes in the university 's MexicanAmerican Studies program. Results indicated that a favorable attitude toward Chicanos exists across gender, age group, and ethnic group identification. Within the favorable dimension, the non-Hispanic White had the least favorable attitude (7.6) toward Chicanos while the Asian/Pacific Islander group had the most favorable attitude (8.8) toward Chicanos. Chicanos who comprised half of the sample had a median score of 8.1. Self-rating medians underestimated favorable attitude toward Chicanos for all categories except the Chicano and non-Hispanic White ethnic categories. Frequency of responses reveals that while the majority (52%) were recorded in the above neutralposition (> 6.0), 47% of the responses fell below the neutral scale value.
School, Peer Group, and Inhalant Use Among Mexican American Adolescents
Authors: Menon Ramdas , Barrett Mark E. , Simpson D. Dwayne
Published: March 2007

Use of toxic inhalants has been identified as a special problem among Mexican American adolescents. This study focused on school and peer influences on inhalant use in a sample of 599 Mexican American youths admitted to drug abuse programs in Texas. Logit analyses showed that problems in school performance, school conduct, peer associations, and attitudes of the school-based peer group were significantly related to inhalant use. These findings are discussed in terms of educational policies and drug abuse prevention opportunities.
The Effects of Local Labor Market Conditions on Labor Force Participation of Puerto Rican, White, and Black Women
Authors: Melendez Edwin , Figueroa Janis Barry
Published: March 2007

This article examines whether the differing impact of local labor market conditions may help explain differences in the labor force participation of Puerto Rican, White, and Black women. The authors' analysis, using the standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA) as unit of analysis, indicates that White, Black, and Puerto Rican women are affected differently by earnings, unemployment, city size, industrial change, and other variables affecting the supply side of labor markets. In particular, White women are less responsive to income changes and more responsive to the discouraged worker effect when unemployment rises than are Black and Puerto Rican women. White women are not significantly affected by the size of the cities in which they live nor by changes in the regional demand for labor. In contrast, Black and Puerto Rican women are adversely affected by the size of the cities in which they live. However, Black women have not been affected by changes in the demand for labor, whereas Puerto Rican women seem to have been hurt by these changes. The differing impact of local labor market conditions may induce differences in the long-term trends in labor force participation for each of these groups.
Patterns of Puerto Rican Segregation and Mobility
Authors: Santiago Anne M.
Published: March 2007

In this article patterns of Puerto Rican residential segregation and mobility within metropolitan areas are examined for the period between 1970 and 1980. Using a weighted OLS procedure, this study tests the effects of social status, ethnicity, racial heritage, discrimination, and housing market conditions on patterns of segregation between Puerto Ricans, Anglos, and Blacks. Census data for 49 metropolitan areas with 4,000 or more Puerto Ricans were used in this analysis. The findings suggest there was considerable variation in the level of segregation between Puerto Ricans, Anglos, and Blacks in terms of regional location, size of metropolitan area, and size of the Puerto Rican population. On average, 61% of all Puerto Ricans would have had to move from their place of residence in 1980 to achieve residential integration with Anglos. The average level of segregation between Puerto Ricans and Blacks was only 3% lower (58%). Although segregation between the three groups declined during the 1970s, the sharpest declines occurred in the level of Puerto Rican and Anglo segregation from Blacks, particularly in the suburbs. Further, Puerto Rican mobility within metropolitan areas via suburbanization actually declined during the 1970s. Multivariate analysis revealed that the low socioeconomic status of Puerto Ricans relative to Anglos was the most significant factor affecting the level of segregation between the two groups. High levels of segregation were also associated with older Puerto Rican communities, low levels of suburbanization and decentralization of employment. Puerto Rican segregation from Blacks was associated with residence in older Puerto Rican communities, high levels of housing demand and high vacancy rates.
Comparability of Self-Reported Hispanic Ethnicity and Spanish Surname Coding
Authors: Winkleby Marilyn A. , Rockhill Beverly
Published: March 2007

Few empirical analyses have assessed the concordance between self-reported Hispanic ethnicity and ethnicity obtained from Spanish surname coding programs. Using data from 4,918 Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals, aged 12-74, who participated in cross-sectional surveys conducted in Northern California during 1979-1980 and 1989-1990, The authors e-xamined agreement between self-reported and surname-coded ethnicity. Of self-reportedHispanics, 84. 1% were coded as Spanish surnamed and 77.9% ofthose identified by the surnameprogram were self-reportedHispanics. Misclassification was higher for English-speaking groups than for Spanish-speaking groups, and higher for females than for males. English-speaking married and previously married women showed the highest discordance between self-reported ethnicity and surname coding. Results suggest that Spanish surname programs can be a valuable tool for analyzing data sets with inadequate ethnic identifiers, especially in samples having a high proportion of Spanish-speaking respondents.
Smoking Behavior of Puerto Rican Women: Evidence from Caretakers of Adolescents in Two Urban Areas
Authors: Smith Kevin W. , McGraw Sarah A.
Published: March 2007

This study examines cigarette smokingpatterns amongPuertoRican women responsible for caring for adolescents in two metropolitan areas in the Northeastern United States. The age-adjusted prevalence of cigarette smoking in the caretaker sample was higher than the rates for all adult women in the 1985 National Health Interview Survey and the 1986 Adult Use of Tobacco Survey. Smoking prevalence among the caretakers was very similar to the rate reported byPuertoRican women in theNew York City area interviewed during the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression analysis indicated that educational attainment, religious affiliation and marital status influenced the probability that a caretaker currently smokeL Acculturation had a modest positive effect on current smoking. Puerto Rican women may be an important target group for smoking cessation programs because quit rates among ever smokers are still comparatively low and because many of these women are light smokers.
Institutional and Racial Barriers to Employment Equity for Hispanics
Authors: Yaffe Jerry
Published: March 2007

In Los Angeles County, civil rights and equal employment in the local government workforce have been historically defined as a Black-White issue. This parochial definition has served to restrict and minimize Hispanic public employment opportunities. One rationale used to accountfor and justify Hispanic underrepresentation, by both government officials and Black employee leadership, is a myth of a lack of an educated and qualified laborpoolfrom which to meet equal employment goalsforHispanics. Hispanics constitute the only major ethnicdracial group that remains underrepresented in virtually all segments of this local government workforce. Perpetuation of the myth of the lack of an educated and qualified Hispanic labor pool has relied heavily on references to the lower rates for Hispanic high school and college graduation compared to rates for non-Hispanic minorities. The current research discloses that from 1979 through 1992 the actual number of Hispanic high school and college graduates in Los Angeles County and Hispanic college graduates in California was greater than that for Blacks, and in many cases exceeded thatfor all other minorities combined.
Psychometrics of a Brief Acculturation Scale for Hispanics in a Probability Sample of Urban Hispanic Adolescents and Young Adults
Authors: Norris Anne E. , Ford Kathleen , Bova Carol A.
Published: March 2007

This article presents data in support of the reliability and validity of afour-item measure of acculturationfor Hispanics. The study has three strengths. First, this brief measure is evaluated with a probability sample of Hispanic adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24 years) living in urban, low-income households. Second, the sample contains both second-and third-generation Puerto Rican and Mexican American adolescents and young adults. Third, the acculturation measure was administeredas part ofaface-to-face interview. The four-item acculturation scale correlated highly with generation, length of time in the United States, subjective evaluation of acculturation, country of birth, and language chosen for the interview. The psychometric properties of this brief scale are comparable to those obtained for other published scales. Results support the use of this four-item measure of acculturation as a simple, inexpensive measure that involves minimal respondent burden.
Relations of Depression, Acculturation, and Socioeconomic Status in a Latino Sample
Authors: Cuellar Israel , Roberts Robert E.
Published: March 2007

This study investigated the relations among depression, acculturation, and socioeconomic status (SES) in a young-adult Latino sample. Data were obtained from 1,271 Latino first-year college students; 89% self-labeled as either Mexican American or Hispanic, and 11% as Mexican National. Symptoms of depression were compared for various acculturation levels, and bicultural groups with controls for SES and gender. The Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II) was used to assess acculturation characteristics. Clinical depression and symptoms of depression were measured using the DSD26 Symptom Scale for assessment of depressive symptoms and major depression. Variance in depression scores was found to be influenced more by gender and SES than by acculturation or ethnic identity status. Assimilated Mexican Americans reported significantly fewer symptoms of depression than their more traditional counterparts. Ethnicity and acculturation per se were not found to lessen or increase riskfordepression, but SES associated with ethnicity wasfound to directly affect depression scores.