bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public Personnel Management in County Government
Authors: Steel Brent S. , Lovrich Nicholas P.
Published: March 2007

In recent decades there have been many social, economic and political changes in society which have led to an emphasis on progressive public personnel policies and management. Some of the most salient changes for public personnel policy have been the increasing number of women in the workplace, a societal emphasis on equality and diversity, the unionization of government employees, and an increasing emphasis on employee lifestyle issues. This article investigates how well county governments have responded to these new workplace dynamics and the factors associated with adaptive change. The focus of the analyses presented is the adoption of progressive personnel practices and policies such as sexual harassment prevention training and complaint processing, affirmative action recruitment, collective bargaining rights, and employee assistance policies. Based on a survey of 790 counties in 1993, the results indicate that the adoption of formal sexual harassment, affirmative action, collective bargaining, and employee assistance programs is demonstrably related to level of urbanization, the presence of a professional personnel office, size of the workforce, local-level representation of women and/ or minorities in public office, and political culture.
Pay-for-Performance Systems in State Government
Authors: Kellough J. Edward , Selden Sally Coleman
Published: March 2007

Pay for performance has been a widely used method of compensation in the public sector since the early 1980s, but a growing body of research has indicated that numerous problems can be associated with the application of performance-based compensation systems In late 1993, the federal government, after years of difficulty experienced with its merit pay program, took a significant step back from pay for performance through passage of the Performance Management and Recognition System Termination Act This research seeks to determine whether state governments are becoming similarly disenchanted with pay for performance To gain insight into this question, a survey was administered to a nationwide random sample of state agency personnel management executives Results indicate that pay for performance remains as popular as ever in state government, and that nearly all of the systems in the states utilize merit pay despite difficulties often associated with that approach to pay for performance.
Human Resources Flexibilities in the United Kingdom's Public Services
Authors: Farnham David , Horton Sylvia
Published: March 2007

This article explores the wide variety of human resources flexibilities being used in the United Kingdom's public services and how they have arisen since the election of four successive Conservative administrations after 1979 Three issues are addressed: (1) how these flexibilities can be classified, (2) examples of numerical, contractual, functional, and pay flexibilities in the civil service, National Health Service and local government, and (3) the effects of these flexibilities and an evaluation of their impact on employers and staff.
Political Culture, Local Government and Progressive Personnel Practices
Authors: McCurdy Arthur H.
Published: March 2007

The American federal system allows for a great deal of variability in policy implementation by municipal and county governments Devolution of that responsibility from the federal government to state and local governments will likely reinforce the variability. This article assesses the relative utility of Elazar's and Lieske's political culture theories with respect to the adoption of progressive collective bargaining practices. Findings from a survey of 703 local governments support the conclusions that certain political cultures are more likely to adopt progressive collective bargaining provisions, and Lieske's theory is at least as effective as Elazar's in predicting such adoption.
Planning, Representation, and the Production of Space In Lexington, Kentucky
Authors: Jones Katherine
Published: March 2007

Much of planning theory has incorporated the communicative practice critique to deconstruct both plans and planning. These critiques have given planning theorists and practicing planners a useful way to think about how plans through their very structure, language, and techniques-may empower certain participants and disempower others. To date, however, the deconstruction of plans as texts still remains to be extended to a critical deconstruction of plans as spatial texts. Because planning embodies representations about the spatial-material world, its language is also spatial, and this spatial language may benefit from the lens of a deconstructive spatial critique. This paper begins by laying out a rationale for such a critique. I then show how an explicitly spatial deconstruction might proceed, and finally, I turn this examination to one particular plan for a neighborhood in the city of Lexington, Kentucky.
Shaping a Culturally Sensitive Planning Strategy
Authors: Khamaisi Rassem , Shmueli Deborah F.
Published: March 2007

The decade-long period of public debate and planning for Israel’s Trans-Israel Highway has been characterized by controversy and passion. There has been little if any consideration of how Highway Six can help redress the economic imbalance between Israel’s Arab and Jewish sectors. Land compensation is a complex process whenever expropriations take place. The development impact, which affects both private and public interests, has to take into account the differences in culture and legal status between two communities: Jewish Israeli and Arab Israeli. This article offers a set of mechanisms that, only if agreed upon in advance, could ensure a system of shared capital among all stake-holders working toward jointly arrived-at solutions and would lend substance to the concept of cultural sensitivity in planning.
Naturalized Epistemology and Dilemmas of Planning Practice
Authors: Saarikoski Heli
Published: March 2007

This article proposes that a feminist interpretation of naturalized epistemology provides a sound basis for a deliberative planning approach. It preserves the grounds for making reasoned choices between competing validity claims while promoting a view of planning as a diverse and deliberative enterprise attentive to various ways of knowing and modes of expression. The solution is based on a revised notion of objectivity that emphasizes the important function of biases—values, experiences, and contextual commitments—in “truth tracking.”
Management Vs. Political Perspectives on Transit Policymaking
Authors: Wachs Martin
Published: March 2007

Over a thirty year period the American transit industry has been transformed from private to public ownership, and financial support for transit has come to be domi nated by a political perspective rather than a management perspective Examples of the politicization of transit policy are drawn from four areas: (1) fare policies designed to encourage ridership use in low density suburbs while penalizing inner-city residents taking short trips, (2) service increased for peak hour com muters and decreased in the off-peak despite adverse economic consequences, (3) emphasis on accessible "mainstream" service for the handicapped rather than more cost-effective separate services, and (4) technical forecasts of transit patronage and cost guided by political uses of the forecasts rather than their accuracy. While researchers have carefully enumerated the economic consequences of transit policy, political concerns are more likely to deter mine those policies
Estimating Housing Demand and Supply for Local Areas
Authors: Koebel C. Theodore
Published: March 2007

The problem of inadequate local data for planning is chronic. The ex pense of data collection forces many planning efforts to rely on decennial census data. However, county level housing data can be assembled an nually at minimal cost. The Annual Housing Report for Kentucky has presented such data since 1979, in cluding various household and hous ing estimates. The data are derived directly from administrative records or from estimation models that in corporate administrative data. Esti mation models have been developed for households (by age of house holder and type of household), me dian family income, and mobile home shipments. No primary data collection is involved. Planners out side Kentucky can use these models and similar data to monitor housing trends, conduct market analysis, and analyze housing affordability, short ages, and production patterns.
Planners in the '80s: Who We Are, Where We Work
Authors: Glasmeier Amy , Kahn Terry
Published: March 2007

This paper details the results of a national survey of recent planning graduates. The results indicate grad uates are taking jobs in nontradi tional planning fields. Project find ings inform academic debates about what planners are, what they do, and how they should be educated.
The Negotiated Plaza: Design and Development of Corporate Open Space in Downtown Los Angeles and San Francisco
Authors: Loukaitou-Sideris Anastasia , Banerjee Tridib
Published: March 2007

The development of downtown public space has been increasingly defined by agreements negotiated between the public and private sectors. In the last decades the majority of downtown public space has occurred in the form of urban plazas, built as integral parts of privately owned office and retail complexes. In this paper we document the private production of public open space in the downtown areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco—two cities that have used distinctively different policy approaches in forming public-private partnerships. We examine how the process of public open space creation is affected by the culture of planning and development, and discuss similarities and differences in the imagery and form of plazas in the two cities. It is found that urban plazas are the reflection of a market-driven urbanism. As such they are quite homoge neous in their form despite differences in the planning style and development process encountered in the two California cities.
Planning Beats the Market: The Case of Pacific Greyhound Lines in the 1930s
Authors: Thompson Gregory L.
Published: March 2007

Pacific Greyhound Lines, one of the two most successful of the Greyhound subsidiaries, arose out of a competitive environment of small entrepreneurs to monopolize most intercity bus markets within California. During the hard times of the 1930s it earned a substantial 30% return on its investment. Its success derived not from conspiracy between Southern Pacific Company and General Motors Corporation to loot lucrative rail markets, as is commonly believed, but by corporate planning that stressed cost control and economies of scope. Because of such economies, achieved through planning, it contributed more to public welfare than small, competitive bus entrepreneurs of the type favored by adherents of deregulation.
Teaching Urban Form
Authors: Moudon Anne Vernez
Published: March 2007

The paper describes the scope, purpose, and effectiveness of a required class on the subject of urban form. The course condenses material from urban design, planning history, and urban and historical geography. In order to practice urban design and planning, students must be prepared to intervene in an ongoing urbanization process which is not altogether in their or anyone's control. The goal of the course is for students to acquire 1) substantive knowledge of processes of city building—an understanding of the evolution of city form, of the historical basis of the contemporary city, and of the cultural differences between cities—and 2) analytical skills to measure and interpret urban form as it affects access to services, life style, and, eventually, quality of life. The morphogenetic approach serves as the theoretical basis of the course. Its strength lies in its explanation of the characteristics of urban form as the product of city-building processes. Students gain fluency in the vocabulary of forms. They are trained to visualize and measure actual elements of form and to compare their performance.
Resettlement and Modernization In Post-Nomadic Bedouin Society: The Case of Segev Shalom, Israel
Authors: Dinero Steven C.
Published: March 2007

This paper evaluates the Israeli government's Negev Bedouin-resettlement program from the government's and the target community's perspectives. Using survey data gathered in one Bedouin town, the provision of public services by the government and their effective use by the Bedouin community are measured and analyzed. The effects of urbanization on the Bedouin economy and social structures— both positive and negative—are addressed. It is concluded that Bedouin development programs such as that in the Negev Desert would benefit from greater awareness of and sensitivity to the cultural, religious, and social features of these groups. It is suggested that more comprehensive, user-oriented planning which encourages and includes public participation is essential in furthering social and economic development in such communities.
Neighborhood Change and Urban Policy
Authors: Temkin Kenneth , Rohe William
Published: March 2007

Theories of neighborhood change have concentrated on explaining the process within one disciplinary paradigm despite repeated calls for a model with a multidisciplinary perspective. Consequently, policies to stabilize neighborhoods tend to be theoretically myopic with respect to their recommended course of action. This article provides a synthetic model of neighborhood change based on three major schools of neighborhood change: ecological, subcultural, and political economy. In addition, it provides a discussion of policy implications of each perspective including the synthetic model outlined in this paper
Planning for Telework and Home-based Employment: Reconsidering the Home/Work Separation
Authors: Gurstein Penny
Published: March 2007

The increased interest in the nature and extent of telework and home-based employment by both the public and private sectors reflects its potential impact on economic development. While this shift in employment patterns is speculated to have a considerable influence on patterns of daily life, the planning and design of residential communities have not for the most part recognized this occurrence This paper defines these forms of work, discusses their impact on homes and communities and offers suggestions for new planning responses that are needed to meet the current challenges and reconceptualizations of work
A Ladder of Empowerment
Authors: Rocha Elizabeth M.
Published: March 2007

Empowerment is often envisioned as a solution to poverty acceptable to both the political right and left. Yet the question that is rarely asked or answered is, What is empowerment? While the empowerment literature provides a rich array of techniques and goals through which individuals and groups seek to alter their circumstances, it is contradictory in assumptions and emphases and provides little coherence or structure with which to make informed decisions. This paper develops a typology, a ladder of empowerment, based on existing empowerment literature, so that planners and others may gain a clearer understanding of empowerment and its varied potential.
The Future of the Future in Planning: Appropriating Cyberpunk Visions of the City
Authors: Warren Robert , Warren Stacy , Nunn Samuel , Warren Colin
Published: March 2007

Planning's vision of life in the 21st century tends to be more-of-the-same or the adoption, often implicit, of a market-based information society in which telecommunications advances will restructure time and space in ways that are beneficial in the long run. The future of the future, however, deserves more attention in urban planning. Utopian constructs have largely been abandoned and traditional methods of projection and modeling are poor techniques for anticipating qualitative and nonlinear change. An exploration of cyberpunk writings, a genre of science fiction, offers the opportunity to critically examine and assess the hegemonic model of the information society as well as more dystopian pictures of how evolving social, economic, cultural, and technological patterns could combine in the next century. Attending to the urban dimensions of these fictional works and discourses about them can contribute to more realistic and ethical planning scenarios of the future.
Introducing Diversity into the Planning Curriculum: A Method for Department-Wide Implementation
Authors: Looye Johanna W. , Sesay Abdul
Published: March 2007

In this article, we outline the importance of diversity in planning education and describe a strategy for incorporating new materials into existing courses throughout the curriculum. In researching and developing this strategy, we worked successively with each faculty member in the University of Cincinnati planning department to (1) analyze current syllabi, (2) use library resources to identify materials that covered the same content while addressing issues of diversity, broadly defined, and (3) track resulting changes to syllabi. As a complement to existing bibliographies, we provide step-by-step procedures as well as tables of library search terms that will facilitate implementing a similar project at other universities.
Is Thatcherism Dead? The Impact of Political Ideology on British Planning
Authors: Thornley Andy
Published: March 2007

During the 1980s planning in Britain was conditioned by Thatcherism. I explore whether the ideological influence continued into the 1990s, after Thatcher's 1990 resignation. The case for a significant change rests upon three dimensions—a greater stress on environmental issues, the resurrection of the development plan and new participatory forms of urban policy. I also explore a case study of London and discuss the implications of the “New Labour” goverment. I conclude that there was a significant weakening of Thatcherism during the 1990s, although the basic approach was retained. Uder Blair, however, a new ideological framwork with an emphasis on consensus signals a fresh approach.
Depression, Acculturation, and Motivations for Alcohol Use among Young Colombian, Dominican, and Puerto Rican Men
Authors: Kail Barbara , Zayas Luis H. , Malgady Robert G.
Published: March 2007

Increasing numbers of young Hispanic men are being treated for alcohol abuse and its consequences. To provide culturally competent services, there must be an understanding of subcultural differences in the antecedents of alcohol abuse and drinking problems. The present study examined the impact of depression, acculturation, and motivations as antecedents for drinking and drinking-related problems among 288 Colombian, Dominican, and Puerto Rican men. Path analyses suggest that for all three groups, depression is associated with drinking for psychological motivational reasons. Psychological motivations, in turn, have a direct impact on heavy drinking and drinking problems. The model for Puerto Ricans suggests psychological motivations are the only direct predictor of drinking problems. For Dominicans, depression appears to be an important direct contributor to drinking problems, whereas for Colombians, acculturation seems to directly contribute to drinking problems. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
The Cuban Ethnic Economy and Labor Market Outcomes of Latinos in Metropolitan Florida
Authors: Zsembik Barbara A.
Published: March 2007

This research of 1990 census data examines the impact of the substantial entrepreneurship among Cubans in Florida’s cities on urban workers, especially on immigrants from Latin America. The large Cuban business community does not employ a significant number of Latino immigrants, except for recent Cuban immigrants. Non-Cuban Latino immigrants, however, appear quite successful in finding employment in the general economy, hired by non-Latinos. The high levels of entrepreneurship among Nicaraguans suggest that some Latino immigrants are flourishing business owners who contribute to the growth of Florida’s economy. The economic impact of Latin American migration depends on the national origin group; overall, Latino immigrants are likely to be contributors to Florida’s economy.
Use of Bilingual Materials in the Social Service System
Authors: Veloz Josefina Estrada
Published: March 2007

Research was conducted to determine the proportion of social service programs in a southern New Mexico county that have Spanish translations available of forms required during the contracting phase of the social service cycle. The contracting phase, which occupies an intermediate position within an agency's social service cycle, consists of formaliz ing a written contract between the individual consumer and a representative of the service agency. Questionnaires were mailed to 125 individual social service programs, and 81.6 % (102 programs) responded. Of these, 74.5% required indi viduals to fill out forms or provide information to complete forms in order to receive services, but only 17.1 % provided translated forms. Program administrators relied upon bi lingual staff to take care of translation tasks. The importance of hiring bilingual staff who are literate in Spanish is stressed, and recommendations are made for future research.
A Note on Death and Dying
Authors: Fierro Arturo
Published: March 2007

This study examines the apparent greater concern for death among Mexican Americans than Anglo Americans and the rela tionship between death concern and psychological adjustment. The sample consisted of Mexican American and Anglo college students. Subjects were administered the Death Concern Scale (Dickstein, 1972) and a modified version of the Adjective Check List (Gough & Heilbrun, 1965). A significant finding corrobo rated previous research on the greater concern for death by Mexican Americans; however, no correlation was found in either group on death concern and adjustment. An interpreta tion is offered suggesting that death concern as a measure of "adjustment" or "maladjustment" may be contingent upon the population being studied and its perception of reality. Impli cations for psychotherapy with Mexican Americans are also discussed.
The Distribution of Mexican American Women in School Organizations
Authors: Ortiz Flora Ida
Published: March 2007

This study reports of the distribution of Mexican American women in public school organizations. It is seen that Mexican American women's ascribed characteristics are used as the basis for placing them in certain teaching and administrative positions. As teachers they are placed with predominantly Hispanic students and in areas such as Spanish, bilingual education, and physical education. In administration they are placed in special projects where they normally deal with their ethnic group. Those Mexican American women who obtain elementary principalships are located in Hispanic schools. Their careers consist of "straightening out" problem schools. In both of these cases, ascription is prominent, achievement is related to containing their ethnic group, and sponsorship is absent. There are some rare individuals who, in spite of the institutional barriers, obtain secondary school principalships and central office positions. The discriminatory practices that lead to the skewed distribution of Mexican American women are due to the heavy emphasis placed on ascribed characteristics and the absence of sponsorship.
Ethnicity and Chicanos: Measurement of Ethnic Identification, Identity, and Consciousness
Authors: Garcia John A.
Published: March 2007

The conceptualization of ethnicity among Mexican-origin populations was explored within a multidimensional perspective. Specifically, the psychological aspects of ethnicity-ethnic consciousness, identification, and identity-were defined and operationalized. In addition, measures of political consciousness were developed to examine their relationships with these measures of ethnicity. Utilizing the pretest data from the National Chicano Survey of Mexicans in Detroit, levels of ethnicity were measured. Each measure proved to tap some aspects of ethnicity, yet reflect their varying levels of pervasiveness among the respondents. The interrelationships of these measures were not always positively correlated, suggesting a non-unidimensional view of ethnicity. Also, only selected measures of ethnicity had positive linkages to critical levels of political consciousness. Efforts to politically mobilize Chicanos who depend on cultural cues is a more complex process than expected. Research ramifications and directions are discussed in light of these results.
Relationship between Acculturation and Psychological Impairment in Adult Mexican Americans
Authors: Griffith James
Published: March 2007

Some have argued that the Mexican American's relinquishment of traditional values lessens acculturative stress and associated adjustment problems (the "melting pot" or "damaging culture" hypothesis). A competing argument, the "bicultural hypothesis," supposes on the other hand that identification with the Anglo-American culture, while at the same time maintaining traditional values, facilitates healthier psychosocial adjustment. Mexican American adults (n = 259) residing in one of three suburban communities in Southern California provided responses to a standardized measure of psychological impairment to test these hypotheses. Neither the melting pot nor the bicultural hypotheses was directly supported. Spanish-speaking Mexican Americans reported significantly fewer problems of social relations, while paradoxically more anxiety problems than did more acculturated Mexican Americans (both English-speaking and bilinguals). Consistent with this pattern, first generation expressed significantly fewer problems of psychosocial dysfunction than did third generation. Depressive symptoms were not significantly related to one's level of acculturation. When sociodemographic characteristics were held constant, only differences in psychosocial dysfunction symptoms persisted. Differences in anxiety symptoms between the groups are perhaps best explained by socioeconomic status. It was suggested that differences in problems of social relations across the acculturated groups reflect: (a) a cultural difference in the expression or the acceptance of psychosocially dysfunctional behaviors; and (b) stress which accompanies acculturation.
A Prompt/Reward Technique to Elicit Socially Acceptable Behavior with Chicano Gang Delinquents
Authors: Hunsaker Alan C.
Published: March 2007

This paper examines the effect of two types of prompts in eliciting a zero-or low-probability behavior in three Chicano gang members. The target behavior consisted of a chain of responses terminating in the publication of writing and art work in a community newsletter. A general prompt was ineffective, but subject-specific prompts elicited a total of 38 pages of work. The relevance of this study for behavior therapy with similar subjects is discussed. The advantages and special problems of research in the natural environment are discussed, with attention to setting events, which were monitored and used to explain some unexpected findings.
The Influence of Student Ethnicity on Teachers' Behavior Ratings of Normal and Learning Disabled Children
Authors: Elliott Stephen N. , Argulewicz Ed N.
Published: March 2007

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of ethnicity and diagnostic labels on teachers' ratings of children's behaviors in mainstream classrooms. Specifically, behavioral rating scores on the Devereux Elementary School Behavior Rating Scale (DESBRS) for handicapped and non-handicapped Anglo and Mexican American children were analyzed to explore: (a) the influence of ethnicity (Anglo vs. Mexican American) on the behavior ratings of children by Anglo teachers; (b) the influence of a diagnostic label (normal vs. LD) on behavior ratings by Anglo teachers; and (c) the relationship between the behavior ratings of a sample of Mexican American children and the normative sample of the DESBRS. Significant multivariate Fs were observed for the main effects of ethnicity and diagnostic label. Univariate analyses of ethnicity revealed that Mexican American and Anglo children were rated as being significantly different on three factors: comprehension, creative initiative, and closeness to the teacher. The LD and "normal" children were found to differ significantly on various DESBRS factors: classroom disturbance, inattentive-withdrawn, creative initiative, unable to change, quits, and slow work.
Mexican Immigrant Women: A Selected Bibliography
Authors: Baezconde-Garbanati Lourdes , De Snyder V. Nelly Salgado
Published: March 2007

To assess the state of knowledge of the mental health of Mexican immigrant women and to provide a bibliographic tool for interested researchers, relevant documents were identified and compiled from the Spanish Speaking Mental Health Research Center's Hispanic Health and Mental Health Data Base (HHMHDB). A total of 96 documents dealing with Hispanic immigrant women were screened for possible inclusion in this annotated bibliography, of which 36 met the requirements for selection and were incorporated into this article. The first section of this bibliography contains a brief methodological description about its development, followed by the actual listing of annotated documents. The selected materials are presented in alphabetical order by author's last name, providing full title of the document, source, index terms, and an abstract of each citation. The last part of this bibliography provides an analysis of the trends of the research literature on mental health of Mexican immigrant women. In the last section gaps in knowledge are identified and recommendations for future research in the field are made.
Protestant Work Ethic Endorsement among Anglo Americans, Chicanos, and Mexicans: A Comparison of Factor Structures
Authors: Isonio Steven A. , Garza Raymond T.
Published: March 2007

The cross-cultural appropriateness of the Mirels and Garrett (1971) Protestant Work Ethic (PWE) scale was assessed by comparing the factor structures of Anglo American, Chicano, and Mexican samples. The model derived from the Anglo American sample was not statistically acceptable in its entirely for either the Chicano or the Mexican samples. However, examination of specific discrepancies showed considerable similarity across the samples on several factors, namely honor, success, and effort. The factor structure of the Mexican sample was more similar to the Anglo American sample than that of the Chicano sample. Contrary to predictions based on acculturation theory, comparisons using the full scale indicated PWE endorsement in the following order: Mexicans, Chicanos, and Anglo Americans. The findings are discussed in terms of cultural differences in orientation towards work and leisure.
Limits to the Use and Generalizability of the Views of Life Questionnaire
Authors: Hosch Harmon M. , Gibson Jacquelyn R. , Lucker G. William , Mendez Roque , Valdivia Pedro Barrera
Published: March 2007

The factor structures of the Views of Life questionnaire for four data sets collected in northern Mexico were compared with the original structure reported by Diaz-Guerrero (1979). None of the factor structures for these data sets replicated the original. The subscale means and variances were also compared. While statistically significant differences in subscale scores were obtained, little variance was explained by these comparisons (w2 usually < .10). Only one pair of variances was reliably different. Several explanations for the failure to replicate and suggestions for appropriate uses of the instrument are presented.
Social Practices of Ethnic Identity: A Puerto Rican Psycho-Cultural Event
Authors: Rodriguez-Cortes Carmen
Published: March 2007

This is an emic approach to the social practices of ethniic idenitity among Puerto Rican Migrants'Descendants (PRMD), and Puerto Rican Islanders (PRI) experienced in their face-to-face interactions in Puerto Rico. The sample consisted of 60 college students born and/or reared in the United States mainland, honom at the time of the study had lived in Puerto Rico for at least twoyears. The ethnographic interview was used to collect data, and eight key informants co-jointly analyzed it with the researcher. The descriptions have evidenced that PRMD locus ethnic identity in "their minds and hearts " (motivational criteria), while PRI locus it in "the eye of the beholder" (behavioral criteria). These two modes of classifying ethnic experience haoe revealed two major social practices: ethtnic differentiation by contrast, and ethnlic differentiation in a context of resentment.
Ethnic Identity and Self-Esteem: A Review and Integration
Authors: Phinney Jean S.
Published: March 2007

In order to clarify the relationship between ethnic identity and self-esteem, this article identifies a number of components of ethnic identity and examines research linking each component to self-esteem. Research generally has found a weak or inconsistent relationship between self-esteem and the following components: negative stereotypes of one's group; acceptance versus rejection of one's group membership; knowledge about one's group; and commitment to the group. Failure to find a clearer relationship may be a result of not taking into account the ethnic group member's relationship to the mainstream culture. There is evidence to suggest that a strong ethnic identity, when accompanied by a positive mainstream orientation, is related to high self-esteem, whereas without some adaptation to the mainstream it may be problematic.
The Importance of Acculturation in Understanding Research with Hispanic-Americans
Authors: Negy Charles , Woods Donald J.
Published: March 2007

This article provides a brief review of empirical studies that have addressed the role of acculturation across a variety of psychosocial variables (ie., family socialization, social-support networks, alcoholism, and psychosocial adjustment). Special attention is given to two methodological weaknesses inherent across studies: the lack of a satisfactory scale to assess the complex construct of acculturation and the excessive reliance on self-reports for information perceived as "personal" to Hispanics. Taking such weaknesses into consideration, recommendations to improve future research are presented.
Hispanic-American Studnts' Attitudes Toward Enrolling in High School Chemistry: A Study of Planned Behavior and Belief-Based Change
Authors: Crawley Frank E. , Koballa Thomas R.
Published: March 2007

This study sought to (a) identify the determinants that motivate Hispanic-American students to enroll in high school chemistry and (b) determine if providing belief-based information to students and their parentslguardians increases chemistry registration. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) and elaboration likelihood model (ELM) guided the study. Belief-based information about chemistry enrollment was collected from students (n = 69) and was content analyzed. Once identified, the modal salient beliefs and referents were used to develop the Chemistry Interest Questionnaire (CIQ) and audiotaped messages with accompanying information sheets. Messages were presented to one control and three experimental groups (questionnaire as message, student-only message, and student and parent/guardian message). One week later, students (N = 598) completed the CIQ. Shortly thereafter they registered for fall 1990 courses. Findings supported use of the TPB and ELM models to bring about behavior change. Chemistry enrollment for students in the student-only message group exceeded chance expectation.
Mexican American Children's Perceptions of Self and School Achievement
Authors: Okagaki Lynn , Frensch Peter A. , Dodson Nedra Evette
Published: March 2007

Several theorists (e.g., LaFromboise, Coleman, & Gerton, 1993; Ogbu, 1992) have suggested that ethnic minority children's beliefs about their ethnicity may affect their self-perceptions in other domains (e.g., academic and social competence). The purpose of the present study was to examine the relations between 4th-and 5th-grade Mexican American children's beliefs about their ethnicity and their perceptions of themselves, their attitudes toward school, and their school performance. In general, children identified with their own ethnic group over Anglo-Americans, but indicated acceptance of allpeople rather than a preferencefor only people of their own ethnic group. Children 's beliefs about their ethnicity were related to their perceptions of their social and behavioral competence, theirself-worth, theirattitudes toward school, and their intrinsic motivation for learning, but not to their school achievement.
Homicide among the 1980 Mariel Refugees in Miami: Victims and Offenders
Authors: Martinez Ramiro
Published: March 2007

The current study analyzes violence by and against the Mariel immigrants. Using homicide as a proxy for violence, the following analysis compares and contrasts the experiences of the Mariel Cubans to pre-1980 Cubans already in the United States. Overall, the results in this study demonstrate that the Mariels were rarely the high-rate killers portrayed by the media. Indeed, relative to their group size, the Mariels were victimized at a proportion greater than their population size. This simple but unnoticed figure suggests that the Mariels were in far greater danger in Miami than Cubans who had been residing in the area for a longer period of time.
Factor Structure and Invariance of the Orthogonal Cultural Identification Scale among American Indian and Mexican American Youth
Authors: Oetting E. R. , Swaim Randall C. , Chiarella Maria Carla
Published: March 2007

Some theories and measures of cultural identification are based on a unidimensional continuum, requiring that, as identification with one culture increases, identification with another decreases. Others, such as multicultural theories, allow high identification with different cultures but rarely incorporate low identification. Orthogonal cultural identification theory specifies that identification with one culture can be independent of identification with another Short scales have been developed to assess orthogonal cultural identification, applicable across a variety of cultures. Comparisons of measurement models indicated that, for both Mexican American and American Indian adolescents, measures of minority and White American cultural identification are, as predicted, independent and that cultural identification is strongly rooted in the family. Although minor ethnicity differences occurred in a few higher order paths, multigroup tests indicated essential invariance of factor loadings and higher order structure across gender, grade level, and ethnic minority group.
Career Aspirations of Urban, Mexican American Adolescent Females
Authors: Reyes Olga , Kobus Kimberly , Gillock Karen
Published: March 2007

The gender distribution of jobs remains vastly disproportionate, especially among minority groups: Women continue to be overrepresented in traditionally femaleoccupied jobs and underrepresented in high-status, high-paying occupations. Literature on gender distribution of careers and factors affecting career choice remains sparse where ethnic minority females are concerned. The present study attempts to fill this gap and focuses on adolescent females from Mexican American backgrounds. Descriptive findings indicate the general male dominance of females’career aspirations. Compared to females aspiring to highly female-dominated careers, females aspiring to highly male-dominated careers were more acculturated, earned higher grade point averages (GPAs) and higher achievement scores in science and social studies, and held higher educational aspirations and expectations, and a greater number of this group evidenced a clear understanding of the steps needed to achieve career goals. Findings are discussed in terms of their contradiction of previous findings and Mexican cultural norms.
Are Social-Cognitive Ability and Narrative Writing Skill Related?
Authors: BURLESON BRANT R. , ROWAN KATHERINE E.
Published: March 2007

Rubin, Piché, Michlin, and Johnson (1984) recently presented data allegedly demonstrating a substantial relationship between social-cognitive ability and narrative writing skill. Certain theoretical and statistical considerations led us to suspect that the claimed relationship was not actually present in the data reported by Rubin et al. Consequently, two empirical studies were conducted to test for the hypothesized relationship between social-cognitive ability and narrative writing skill, one study reanalyzing data reported by Rubin et al. and the second analyzing original data. The results of the two studies indicate no relationship between social-cognitive ability and rated quality of narrative essays. These findings are discussed in terms of a theoretical model of the relationships among cognitive abilities, discourse aims, and discourse models.
Variation and Authenticity in a Study of Children's Written Humor
Authors: EDELSKY CAROLE , SEARFOSS LYNDON W. , MERSEREAU YVONNE M.
Published: March 2007

Presented here is a brief report of a study along with an extensive criticism of this and other studies that use contrived tasks for investigating children's humor and writing. The original study had hoped to anwer questions related to how child-produced humor might vary with the sex and age of the intended audience, how writing would figure in child-produced humor, and any relationships that might exist between production of and talk about humor. Two middle-class fourth-grade classrooms were told a contrived story and asked to produce something funny for some sick children. Children in one class produced something for two sick children, both male, one in first and one in eighth grade. The other class produced something for two sick children, both female, one in first and one in eighth grade. Productions (N = 136) were collected and analyzed. Of the fourth graders, 9 were then interviewed about their conceptions of humor and of their productions. Children's productions did vary according to the age and sex of the intended audience. There were no particular relationships between the humor of variability of the productions and the talk about humor. The major criticism in this and similar studies is that the data are flawed. Despite efforts in the opposite direction, the contrived task produced a confused pragmatic context. Once the pragmatics were distorted, the data no longer represented the phenomena of interest—humor and writing. Without extensive observations and interviews, there is little evidence that these findings represent what the chosen variables make them appear to represent. An argument is thus made for increased sensitivity to what phenomena research data actually represent.
Orality, Literacy, and Stars Wars
Authors: HAVELOCK ERIC A.
Published: March 2007

Speech that is authentically oral tends to avoid language that is abstract and conceptual in favor of “down to earth” language. Literacy tends to encourage the former at the expense of the latter. Our educational system starting at the primary level should encourage the latter even while teaching habits of reading and writing. This can be done by including oral recitation in the curriculum and in particular recitation of popular poetry accompanied by music, dance, and also memorization. The modern media, despite their use of electronic sound and image, tend to overuse conceptual language to disguise the hard meaning of what is being communicated. The management of the public relations of the shuttle disaster offered a striking illustration of this habit.
Graves Revisited
Authors: SMAGORINSKY PETER
Published: March 2007

Donald Graves has achieved wide recognition for propounding a method for teaching elementary students how to write that stresses unstructured expression of personal experiences. He uses his case study of sixteen New Hampshire children as a research base providing proof of the efficacy of this method. However, his observations from this study qualify as reportage more than research. The work of the Graves team in New Hampshire represents a demonstration of teaching ideas that work well under favorable circumstances. Because he never considers negative evidence for the hypotheses he is testing, his work does not constitute research.
Tuning, Tying, and Training Texts
Authors: TOMLINSON BARBARA
Published: March 2007

We depend on language not only to write but also to conceptualize and communicate about composing. The various kinds of discourse about writing processes reveal the assumptions and values about writing held by students, researchers, and professional writers. This article discusses some metaphors used by professional writers when describing their revising activities to interviewers and suggests the implications of their use for research on writing.
The Audience within the Object
Authors: CIOFFI FRANK L.
Published: March 2007

Literary criticism of the last decade has developed a new emphasis: the study of a work's reader alongside the more traditional study of literary texts. Some critics have suggested that literary works imply and project an audience. Drawing upon this body of criticism, as well as upon social commentary and advertising theory, this article attempts to demonstrate how composition textbook advertisements suggest, project, and perhaps even create an audience. Examining a series of composition textbook advertisements from 1982 to 1987 in addition to a number of works of art, this article proposes four different audience-related elements of the ad-object: context (the extrinsic circumstances that the advertisement connotes); genre (the kind of text or object the advertisement masquerades as); borrowings (the sources that the ad-object draws upon); and reflexivity (the image of the viewer mirrored by the advertisement). Each of these, while not entirely discrete, serves to imply and project certain features of the viewing audience. The article's conclusion speculates on the nature of this audience projected by the contemporary composition textbook ad and how this image is important to us as consumers of the ads and purveyors of the products they promote.
The Cognitive as the Social
Authors: BRANDT DEBORAH
Published: March 2007

This article explores the uses of ethnomethodology in developing a robust sociocognitive theory of writing. Ethnomethodology, a radical movement in sociology that studies people's sense-making practices, has some parallel interests with cognitive-process research in composition. At the same time, because ethnomethodology is attuned to how sense-making involves organizing social structure, it also shares parallel interests with social-constructionist thought in composition. This article uses ethnomethodological perspectives to translate the language of Flower and Hayes's cognitive theory of writing into a more thoroughly social vocabulary as a way of articulating the role of social context and social structure in individual acts of writing.
Redefining “Context” in Research on Writing
Authors: CHIN ELAINE
Published: March 2007

Interest in the social aspects of composing has led writing researchers to examine more closely the contexts in which writing takes place. However, there is little agreement about what constitutes context as a theoretical construct. Because of this lack of agreement, writing researchers have not been able to delineate as fully as possible the interactions between context and composing. This article examines ways in which context has been defined and suggests a reconceptualization of this construct. The argument depends upon analyses of data gathered during a year-long ethnographic study of graduate journalism education. Specifically, results from the analyses of these data suggest that contexts for composing need to take into account individual writers' personal and social histories as they interact with the economic and political circumstances in which writers compose.