Scholarly Works @ SHSU
Scholarly Works @ SHSU is a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes digital material. Repositories are important tools for preserving an organization's legacy; they facilitate digital preservation and scholarly communication.
Communities in Scholarly Works @ SHSU
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- Collections of Oral histories about SHSU and East Texas
- Collection of papers and articles by Donald Albert on the HMS Bounty and Pitcairn Islands
- White Papers written students of the Institute
Recent Submissions
The Pitcairn Anthology: The Second 25 Years, 1999-2024 (cover and table of contents)
(Pitcairn Islands Study Group, 2024) Albert, Donald P. (editor)
Images of the cover and table of contents for The Pitcairn Anthology: The Second 25 Years, 1999-2024.
Beyond the Library: The Role of Academic Libraries’ Chat Reference in Answering Campus Questions
(Taylor & Francis (The Reference Librarian), 2024-04-22) Owens, Erin; Arce, Vanessa; Del Bosque, Darcy; Fowler, Robin; Sheffield, Silvia
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic drove most users online, chat was establishing itself as a core service for asking library-related questions of many types, from basic directional and reference to research queries of a more sophisticated nature. This investigation seeks to provide insight into how academic libraries are seen not only as a source of library assistance, but also as a means of filling an information gap on a wider subject: the university campus at large. The study’s methods involved analyzing chat transcripts from five large four-year public universities during a two-year period (2019-2021), noting the frequency of campus-related chat questions and coding the specific topics of those inquiries. The findings show that library reference services, particularly live virtual chat, are consistently valuable to the campus community and may be especially important to supporting less privileged student populations.
What about the black child awaiting adoption?
(1973-05-01) Young, William Louis,1949-
Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the problem of the black adoptable child, using information from professional articles and other sources, including studies of community efforts to cope with the problem, over twenty-year period. It is hoped that a summary of this information and proposed solutions will be useful to those interested in the welfare of black children without homes. Many believe that placing minority group children in homes should be approached as a special problem different and separate from the problem of other hard-to-place children. In the case of these hard-to-place children, the older, the handicapped, and the sibling group, agencies have discovered that homes can be found for them if sufficient initiative, determination, imagination and courage are extended on their behalf. Even with the extension of such efforts on behalf of black children most of the time these efforts prove fruitless. A major portion of these children are top adoptable, in that they are free from any physical or severe emotional problems, yet their chances for adoption are so slim that they are virtually unadoptable. Today may be: First, we have deeper understanding of children’s needs and the importance and extent of damage to their personalities when they are deprived of love and care of permanent homes and placed in institutions. Second, there is a definite lack of sufficient foster homes. A result of this concern is that some public and private agencies have become aware of the problem and are pressuring for a nationwide drive to provide for these children. It is felt that a study of this nature will not only be helpful but extremely useful to anyone interested in this area. Methods This study begins with a slight introduction giving a brief history to hard-to-place children, going back to the very beginning of adoptions and ending with the present situation. This introduction is followed by statistical based plight of the black child and some related literature from research studies and articles in this area. Alternative adoption programs such as subsidized adoption, quasi-adoption or permanent foster homes, interracial adoption and single-parents adoption are discussed with interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations concluding this study. The primary sources of data for this study consist of research evaluating and recording information from various books, articles and periodicals, pamphlets, child welfare league reprints, newspaper articles and the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Findings Having analyzed the collected data, the author has arrived at the following conclusions: 1. The problem of insufficient black adoptive homes for children awaiting placement does not stem from ignorance or apathy in the black community. Adoptions are familiar to the black community and those in a position to adopt do so. Many of these adoptions are arranged between the mother and adoptive families or through the services of a doctor, minster, or interested person. 2. Black applicants are not extremely fearful of the adoption agency or the background of the black children available through these placement agencies. 3. Reluctance of the black applicant to adopt is related to their economic situation. It is the stability of income and employment rather than the size of their income that influences adoption. Presently a majority of blacks have marginal incomes or have newly acquired a middle-class status. Though they are economically secure, psychologically they still contemplate their future as unstable. The addition of a child in this situation would threaten their future, as well as that of the child. 4. Withdrawals of black applicants could possibly be prevented if there were less formality and adherence to rigid procedures, allowing the development of early rapport between caseworker and applicant. 5. Agencies need a self-critical attitude in their polices, requirements, and procedures with reference to black applicants. 6. Development of uniformity among adoption agencies regarding treatment of black applicants would prevent distrust and confusion for prospective applicants. 7. Because of cultural differences between the white and black applicant, there should be differentiation in eligibility requirements. This is not a lowering of standards but a difference in dealing with two separate groups. 8. Cooperation is needed between states, such as an adoption resources exchange, so that no opportunity would be overlooked in placing the available black children. 9. Recruitment programs should explain the needs of the available black children, but with more emphasis on the satisfactions and rewards these children can give to those who adopt them. 10. No matter what device is used to recruit black adoptive families, a routine-coordinated program is necessary. An educational and interpretational program regarding the purpose and philosophy of adoption as well as the rationale for agency requirements and procedures should be a part of the agency’s recruitment of black adoptive families. 11. Two-parent self-sufficient adoptive homes may not be available for all the black children awaiting adoptive placement. This means that other alternatives need to be utilized for these children. 12. The alternative adoption programs, subsidized adoption, quasi-adoption, single-parents adoption, and interracial adoption are presently used infrequently in the United States. More study and experimentation is necessary before an all-out acceptance of any one of these alternative programs may be apparent. This may mean a change in the philosophy of adoption.
A study of juveniles referred to the Potter County Juvenile Probation Department for Runaway, 1968 through 1972
(1975-05-01) Watson, Larry Dan,1949-
Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the sociological implications of runaway children and their processing within the juvenile justice system. The study was an examination and comparison of demographic characteristic of children referred to the Potter County Juvenile Court as runaways. An examination was made of how the runaway child was processed before the enactment of the Texas Family Code to provide a source of comparison in evaluation the impact of the Family Code on the juvenile court in its processing of the runaway child. Methods The universe of the study was the total referrals to the Potter County Juvenile Probation Department during the period form 1968 through 1972. Out of this group, every juvenile who had been referred for running away was identified. Those who had home addresses outside Potter County were eliminated. It was this five year period of runaway cases, whose home addresses were in Potter County, that constituted the sample of the study. Information was gathered which included the child’s sex, race, age, residency of child, source of referral, offense, disposition and whether the disposition was official court action or administrative decision. This information was transferred to computer cards, and a computer was utilized in compiling the data. A composite of the annual reports of the Chief Probation Officer for the five year period being considered was prepared. Findings 1. During the five year period, runaway referrals steadily declined from 98 referrals in 1972. At the same time police statistics show a marked increase during the same period. The indication being that the runaway is being dealt with in setting other than the juvenile court. 2. Females were more frequently referred for running away from home than males. There were 247 females (60 percent) referred during this period of time compared to 165 males (40 percent) that were referred. 3. The most frequently referred juvenile was the Caucasian female, followed by the Caucasian male. These two groups accounted for 371 of the total runaway referrals, leaving only 41 to all other categories. 4. Minority group males were the least often referred (2.1 percent) of all groups. 5. Fifteen year olds were the most frequently (29 percent) referred age group. 6. Children who ran away most often with both natural parents, however, those from one natural parent homes were referred nearly as frequently (546 from natural parent homes as compared with 506 from one natural parent homes). 7. Of the total group of runaway referrals, their next most common offense was for burglary. 8. Of the 178 juveniles placed on official probation during the five year period, 86, or slightly less than one-half of them had been referred at least once during that time for running away. 9. Of the 102 juveniles committed to the Texas Youth Council during the five year period, 54, or over one-half of them, had been referred at least once for running away. 10. The 412 juveniles studied accounted for 549 referrals other than runaway referrals. 11. Of the 33 girls committed to the Texas Youth Council, 24 had been referred at least once for runaway. 12. The 412 juveniles accounted for 686 runaway referrals. 13. During the five year period, the Potter County Juvenile Probation Department processed 686 runaway referrals in which the child was a resident of Potter County and 615 cases in which the child was a resident of another county or state.
A study of variables from the Houston Alcoholism Rehabilitation Project relating to acceptance of alcoholics into a vocational rehabilitation program
(1973-08-01) Stapler, Pat G.,1929-
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in specific demographic, social, and psychometric factors that existed between those diagnosed alcoholics who were not accepted and those who were accepted for vocational rehabilitation services. The findings of this study are directed toward use by the vocational rehabilitation counselors working in the field of alcoholism. This project was funded through a Social and Rehabilitation Service innovation grant beginning September 1, 1966 and ending June 30, 1969. Methods: The primary sources of data were obtained from 540 applicants during the rehabilitation period at the Houston Alcoholism Rehabilitation Project. A social history, general medical, psychiatric and vocation evaluation was recorded. A battery of psychological tests—the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, and the Peabody Verbal I.Q.—were administered. The secondary sources of information included studies of similar multidisciplinary projects, agency statistics, articles, books, reports, abstracts, journals, and records. The data were analyzed by relating main background, social history, intelligence and personality factors. Statistical techniques used were chi square, multiple correlation, and regression analysis. Forty-three variables were used in the study. Multiple correlation was used on 34 variables with a subsequent multiple regression to determine the significant variables. Nine of the forty-three variables tabulated by chi square significantly differentiated the accepted from the not accepted clients. Findings: 1. The data reveal that the results of this study were unique in that HARP referrals were comprised of a cross-section of individuals. Since no screening measures were used for control or experimental groups plus no restriction as to age, sex, socio-economic status and occupation levels, the HARProject was not entirely similar to any previous multidisciplinary research studies. 2. Significant differences existed in the baseline characteristics—age, educations and occupation. The accepted group tended to be from the middle age group 30 to 49 education was in the class intervals of 8-11, 12, and 13-15 years, and occupation was usually white collar or skilled worker. The not accepted tended, as a group, to be in the twenties or in the 60-69 age group, had less than an eighth grade education or had received a college degree, and was primarily an unskilled laborer or occasionally a professional. 3. Two social factors differentiated the accepted vocational rehabilitation client from the not accepted vocational rehabilitation client. The accepted client was more likely to have previously received group psychotherapy and/or individual psychotherapy, whole the not accepted client had not received individual psychotherapy and/or group psychotherapy. 4. The accepted applicants had higher verbal I.Q.’s, were more aggressive than the not accepted. However, the accepted applicant had less need to help others than the not accepted.