Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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Browsing Electronic Theses and Dissertations by Department "Criminal Justice"
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Item A descriptive study of twenty-five female homosexualsBrowne, Carol Hardy,1941-; Young, Jeanne PPurpose: The research was devised to investigate some of the social factors present in the life situations of female homosexuals in Houston, Texas. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of this population of lesbians and to specifically consider the factors which have caused female homosexuality as seen by members of the study sample and to relate them to existing literature in this field. In addition to collecting demographic data on the sample, the study was designed to gather information concerning the subjects’ heterosexual and homosexual development, experiences, and attitudes with emphasis on opinions as to the contributing and casual factors of female homosexual behavior pattern in this population. Methods: The primary sources of data for this study were the interviews conducted with twenty-five female homosexuals in Houston, Texas. The interviews were structured by a fifty-nine item questionnaire. All interviews were conducted by the researcher, therefore minimizing bias. The data were tabulated and distributed by fifty-nine descriptive items. Findings: Although findings cannot be generalized beyond this sample, the data gathered during this research and the findings of this study seem to support the following conclusions: 1. This study suggests that the mother was the dominant figure in the family structure of the female homosexual in this sample. 2. It is concluded from study data that sexual fantasies of a homosexual nature and awareness of homosexual feelings precede actual physical experience. 3. The homosexuals in the sample do not attribute homosexuality to congenital factors 4. The female homosexuals in the sample do not attribute homosexual behavior to the early factor of a sexual trauma with a man. 5. This study supports inference by the literature that the female homosexuals in the study attribute psychic trauma, homosexual seduction, sexual frustrations, and family relationships as contributing factors to female homosexual behavior.Item A study of father-daughter incest in the Harris County Child Welfare UnitBethscheider, John L.,1946-; Young, JeannePurpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that are common to cases of father-daughter incest, and do not occur in neglect child welfare cases. This information might aid a caseworker in identification of family symptoms which, if not corrected, may produce a climate conductive to incest. The main importance of this study was to examine incest and neglect and to determine whether or not the factors that significantly differentiate the incest from the neglect cases can be used to plan differential treatment. Methods: All cases of father-daughter, step-father-daughter incest referred to the Harris County Child Welfare Unit for a time period of ten years were studied. The total population of father-daughter incest for the time period January 1960 through December 1970 was thirty-four. Of these thirty-four cases, four were rejected because of lack of information, and lack of verification of the incest occurrence. Seven of these cases were father-stepdaughter cases. Sixteen of these cases were closed and fourteen were active cases. A random sample of neglect cases was also selected from the Harris County Child Welfare Unit. Two hundred fourteen active neglect cases contained both father and mother. Only neglect cases which included both a mother and father were selected, in order to obtain characteristics of both parents involved in the case. Seventy of the neglect cases were selected, using a table of random numbers. Each case was examined and notes were made throughout the reading. After careful reading, a questionnaire containing seventy-six items was completed. When needed information was omitted from the case record, the caseworker was contacted regarding missing information. After all data were collected these were key-punched on IBM cards at the Sam Houston University Data Processing Center. A frequency distribution was run on the 360 IBM Computer. After receiving a print-out on frequency distribution, the data were analyzed by the chi-square test for the significance of the difference. Findings: 1. Mothers in incest families tend to be older than mothers in neglect families. This finding may be explained by the fact that incest children tend to be older and thus incest mothers tend to be older. Both incest families and neglect families have a high religious unaffiliation rate which is related to the poverty of interaction in community activities. These findings indicate also that both groups are under-employed because their level of education indicates that more might be skilled if given the opportunity. There were proportionately more incest fathers than neglect fathers who were employed in skilled and semi-skilled occupations. 2. Home conditions.– Both incest and neglect families live in overcrowded conditions. Both types of families are likely to have one or more family members sleeping in a room other than the bedroom. 3. Alcoholism.– Incest fathers show a significantly higher rate of drinking than do the neglect fathers. Seventy-three percent of the total sample fathers drink either constantly or sometimes. More than ninety per cent of incest and neglect fathers, however, were not fired from job because of drinking. The neglect mothers are more apt to drink constantly or sometimes than did the incest mothers, and were less likely to “never drinkâ€� than the incest mothers. 4. Physical Abuse.- Incest fathers were more apt to physically abuse their children than neglect fathers. The physical abuse in the incest cases was usually in connection to the incest act. 5. Denial of normally accepted social activities.- Almost twice as many incest families as neglect families constantly did not allow their children to have a continuing relationship with others outside the family. Three times as many incest as neglect parents constantly did not allow their children to participate in neighborhood groups. 6. Involvement in Family Life.- The incest fathers were more involved in family life than the neglect fathers. Incest fathers made more decisions and were more consistent in planning the family’s money. 7. Employment.- Twice as many neglect fathers as incest fathers constantly lost their jobs. More incest fathers missed work constantly than neglect fathers. Incest and neglect fathers were alike in that they seldom talked about dislike for their job or changing jobs. 8. Social Factors.- Lack of cleanliness, inadequate clothing, leaving children alone for hours and inadequate feeding were significantly more of a problem in neglect families than the incest families. The incest families were more apt to have problems with the father’s aggression, the mother’s role as the restraining agent of protecting them and nagging and scolding of their children. Physical deprivation is a problem for the neglect family and the father’s aggression a problem for the incest family. 9. Incest Victim.- Incest acts are more likely to occur in the child’s own home. These acts are usually detected by the mother and reported by the mother. Pregnancy was seldom the reason for reporting the incest act and none of the incest victims ever reported an abortion. 10. Law enforcement agencies are involved in every case of reported incest. The Child Welfare Agency has a working agreement with the Sheriff’s and Police Departments and all cases of incest are referred to them. The reason most given for agency intrusion was sexual victimization. This finding indicates that most cases of incest are reported to the Child Welfare Agency specifically because of the incest.Item A study of one-hundred and sixty active and inactive family planning mothers and how they differ in attitudes and socio-economic conditionsJenkins, Odest C.,1942-; Hayes, Dorothy DPurpose: The objectives of this study were: (1) to demonstrate the need for more insight into the family planning problems of low income mothers; (2) to provide a current comparative survey of active family planning mothers and inactive family planning mothers; (3) to determine whether significant differences exist among these groups with respect to the four areas of analysis—mother’s attitude toward children, mother’s attitude toward her husband, mother’s attitude toward family planning services, and the mother’s socio-economic conditions. Methods: The methods used in this study were: (1) to collect data on the attitudes and socio-economic conditions of active and inactive family planning mothers by utilizing a questionnaire; (2) to analyze the responses to the specific questions within the four categories of analysis for the active and inactive family planning mothers by using the chi square test with the differences considered to be significant at the .05 level. Findings: From the data presented in this study the following conclusions were made: 1. Active family planning mothers—young and educated—have a comprehensive understanding of family planning. On the other hand, inactive family planning mothers—older and poorly education—have a lack of knowledge concerning family planning. 2. Active family planning mothers prefer to use family planning contraception because it is easier to use than other means of contraception’s. Inactive family planning mothers use other methods of contraception because they experience more problems with family planning. 3. Active family planning mothers feel that family planning is conducive to good health, but inactive family planning mothers feel insecure about this. 4. Active family planning mothers have excellent human relationships with the personnel of family planning. However, inactive family planning mothers seem to have less meaningful relationships with family planning personnel. 5. Active family planning mothers believe that family planning is good for the people of their races/ The inactive family planning mothers feel less [positive of their ability to have additional children and most are not receptive to others suggesting that they use family planning. 8. Most hundreds of family planning mothers—active and inactive—approve of their wives using family planning services.Item Arguments for and against the legalization of abortionRaab, Larry L.,1946-; Friel, Charles; Ann Baker; Erwin Ernest.Free association to the word abortion would probably yield a fantastic array of emotional responses: pain, relief, murder, crime, fear, freedom, genocide, guilt, sin. Which of these associations people have no doubt reflects their age, marital status, religion or nationality. To a thirty-five-year-old feminist, the primary response might be freedom and relief; to an unmarried American college girl, fear and pain; to a catholic priest, murder and sin; to some black militants, genocide. As a result of the Supreme Court rulings in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, 93 S. Ct. 705 (1973), every woman in the United States has the same right to abortion during the first three months of pregnancy as she has to any other minor surgery. These rulings have been received differently throughout society/ While abortion proponents have viewed the rulings with exhilaration, pro-life advocates consider the decision a monumental error which will result in chaos. The purpose of this paper was to explore the arguments for and against the legalization of abortion. This study includes an analysis of the Supreme Court rulings on abortion and the definitions, assumptions, and perspectives that abortion proponents and pro-life advocates have internalized in defense of their diametrically opposed views toward abortion. This study will include the judicial developments which preceded the Supreme Court rulings. The affirming and dissenting opinions of the Supreme Court Justices will be discussed with emphasis being placed on the basic principles represented by those opinions. A review of the literature was the major procedure used to gather information. Data extracted from the Supreme Court rulings, professional journals, governments, periodicals and private organization decision papers provided background information and contemporary thought upon which an objective analysis could be based.Item Change in the runaway while away from homeDagg, Arthur Lewis.; Shearer, Robert A; James A. Barrum; Jimmy D. Shaddock.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not a relationship exists between the length of time a child spends on a runway episode and his feelings of security, expressed control, want of control, expressed affection, want of affection, expressed inclusion, and want of inclusion, as reported on the Security-Insecurity inventory and the FIRO-B. It was the specific aim of this study to increase useful information for social services agencies youth counselors concerning personality traits of the runway child, with the expectation that this information would give a direction or goal for therapy, rehabilitation, and decision-making to run-away children. Method: The methods used in this study were: (1) the collection of data runways administering the Security-Insecurity Inventory and the FIRO-B to fifty-four runaway children while thy were on their runway episode and asking how long each had been away from home; (2) correlating the time away from home with the scores obtained on the Security-Insecurity inventory and the FIRO-B using the person Product Moment Correlation; and (3) concluding from the results of personal observation and the results of the correlation coefficient, considering .70 as significant. Findings: 1. Using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation to test the relationship between reported number of days a child is on runway and his feelings of security, as reported in the Security-Insecurity Inventory, indicates that if a relationship does exist, it is a phenomena occurring by chance. 2. Using the Pearson Moment Correlation to test the relationship between reported number of days a child is on runway and his feelings of control, as reported in the FIRO-B, indicates that if a relationship does exist, it is a phenomena occurring by chance. 3. Using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation to test the relationship between reported number of days a child is on runway and his feelings of control, as reported on the FIRO-B, indicates that a tendency for such a relationship might exist. 4. Using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation to test the relationship between reported number of days a child is on runaway and his feelings of affection, as reported on the FIRO-B, indicates that if a relationship exists, it is a phenomena occurring by chance.Item Familial influence on runaway adolescentsAlvey, Patrick Jay,1947-; Kercher, Glen APurpose: The objective of this study was to formulate a more concise profile of the family of the runaway adolescent and its influence in regard to the runaway episode. This was accomplished by analyzing three general questions which were: (1) What is the relationship between family interaction and runaway behavior, (2) What is the relationship between runaway behavior and the behavior of runaway siblings, (3) What is the relationship between runaway behavior and the runaway's ordinal position within the family. Methods: Methods used in this study were as follows: (1) the formulation of a questionnaire which would investigate specific variables pertaining to three general questions, (2) the collection of data by the administration of the questionnaire to thirty subjects who had been categorized as runaways, (3) the analysis of the data by the computer at Sam Houston State University using a frequency distribution on each of the variables, (4) the interviewer's analysis of the frequency distributions in an attempt to locate variables with prominent percentages and to determine their relationship to the three general questions. Findings: Results were formulated, and subsequent analysis was presented in reference to the three questions. Results suggest the following: 1. The subject does seem to interact with his family and/or parents to some extent, yet meaningful activity is at a minimum. 2. Mobility was not found to be extensive among this sample. 3. Discipline within the family is ignored or lacking to some extent. 4. The broken home was not found to be evident in the majority of cases. 5. A large percentage of runaway siblings were older than the subjects. 6. In reference to the number of runaway incidents, number of days gone, reasons for leaving and returning, and with whom left and when, the characteristics of the subjects' runaway incidents were similar enough to the siblings' runaway incidents to suggest modeling. 7. The subjects were found not to occupy either extreme of the ordinal continuum, rather a large percentage occupied positions between these two extremes.Item Interpersonal communication among students in a state school for delinquent girlsBarger, Dann William,1935-; Copus, Gary DPurpose: Interpersonal communication is the most important way to transfer ideas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of communication and the structuring influence on the campus of a State School for delinquent girls. It is thought that this study will contribute to the improvement of rehabilitation programs for children adjudicated delinquent. Method: The data for this study were taken from the 105 girls who were residents of the Brownwood State Home and School for Girls, a facility of the Texas Youth Council. The students were asked who they would choose to work with, who they would seek to verify information, and with whom they would attend a social function. Four personal attributes—namely, age, race, family income and Intelligence Quotient were involved in this interpersonal communication study. The research tried to determine if the attributes of race, age, socio-economic status and Intelligence Quotient structured communication patterns for the three types of communication, namely, work, information and social. Findings: 1. Students tended to choose other students from the same racial-ethnic background as work partners. 2. Students tended to go to other students of the same age for work partners. 3. Students tended to choose individuals with similar socio-economic background for work partners. 4. Students tended to select other students like them in intelligence level as work partners. 5. Students tended to go to other students of their own racial-ethnic groups for information. 6. Students tended to go to older students for information. 7. Students had no preference by socio-economic status for seeking information. 8. Students had no preference by intelligence for information exchange. 9. Students chose social partners from the same racial-ethnic group. 10. Students had no preference by age for social partners. 11. Students tended to choose individuals with similar socio-economic background for social partners. 12. Students tended to select other students with similar intelligence as social companions.Item Military dependent juvenile runaways at Fort Hood, Texas :a descriptive profileCiriello, August P.,1947-; Friel, Charles MPurpose:The primary purpose of this study was to obtain a descriptive profile of runway juveniles from Fort Hood, Texas. This profile included basic data such as age, sex, and education level of the juvenile. Information describing basic interaction patterns between the juvenile, his parents and additional family members was also obtained. Emphasis was placed on the actions taken by the juvenile during the runway episode. It was anticipated that through the design and implementation of this study, information would be gained regarding the following aspect of runway behavior at Fort Hood, Texas. 1. Who s the Fort Hood runway, what does he look like insofar as age, sex, race, and education level are concerned. 2. To what extent, if any, does he differ from the non-military dependent juvenile runway describe in previous research? 3. Is there any discernable pattern of events peculiar to the runway episode itself? Methodology: The data gathered in this study were obtained by interviewing fifty Fort Hood, Texas military dependent juvenile runways. Juveniles we defined as being any young person between the ages of six and seventeen. All interviews were structured through the use of a questionnaire form. Interviews were conducted by the author ad staff members from youth-related agencies cooperating in the data gathering effort. Selection of juveniles to be included in the sample was convenience-oriented in that the cooperating agencies was requested to obtain data from all appropriate juveniles currently and subsequently included on their caseloads. To insure accurate recall, this sample was limited to juveniles whose last runways episode had occurred less than twelve months prior to the interview. All data obtained were analyzed by means of frequency distribution through utilization of the Sam Houston State University’s computer. Findings: 1. The typical Fort Hood military dependent juvenile runway is a female between fourteen and sixteen years of age. She is Caucasian. She is mostly likely to be a sophomore in high school, but can be found in any grade in the range encompassing the eighth-grade to the junior year in high school. There is almost a 50-50 chance that she has repeated at least one grade in school. 2. Juveniles in this study were more likely to plan ahead of time the details of the runways episode, than juveniles studied in pervious research. They were also more inclined to stay gone longer and travel further from home. 3. The home, school, and peer group activities were the most likely starting points for runway episodes. Juveniles were more likely to run away by themselves than with another juvenile. Juveniles usually stayed at the dwelling of a friend or other “Sympathetic partyâ€� during the episode. An atmosphere of indifference and/or dissatisfaction, on the part of the juveniles and his parents, usually characterized the juvenile’s return home. 4. The most common responses given by juveniles when asked, “why do you think you ran away?â€� were: (a) Excessive drinking by either or both parents, (b) Strict or authoritarian discipline measure enforced by the parents, (c) Unwillingness of parents to compromise with the juveniles on matter such as the subject’s hair length, clothing style, and choice of friends, (d) failure of the parents to recognize the juvenile as a person with individual feeling and rights.Item State lotteries :a study of an attempt at decriminalization of deviant behaviorDunn, Gregory M.,1943-; Pilcher, Wayland D; Dr. Edwin G. Ernst; Mr. John A. CocorosÂPurpose: The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine state lotteries, as they are currently operated, possess the potential to compete with illegal lottery operations (numbers, policy and bolita), (2) to gather and systematically present meaningful information on the operation and potential of state lotteries, (3) to present recommendations for improving the operation of state lotteries and (4) to determine if legalization of this type of gambling solved any problems associated with deviant behavior in the form of illegal lotteries. Methods: An extensive review of the literature on legal and illegal lotteries, as well as information from statutes, reports, audits and personal communications with several states provided the necessary material for a descriptive analysis of both a typical numbers game and the state lottery operations in New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey. A comparative analysis of the state lotteries and the illegal lotteries was conducted. Findings: 1. The comparative analysis indicates that the numbers game would be more attractive to the average gambler than the state lotteries. 2. The numbers game provides a form of recreation, companionship and community involvement as well as an outlet for the frustrations of those in the lower strata of society. 3. Laws proscribing illegal lotteries act as Crime Tariffs, thereby insuring a monopoly for organized crime and encouraging corruption of police and public officials. 4. The dual goals of state lotteries, i.e., producing revenue for the state and reducing crime by competing with organized crime for the gamblers money are not compatible goals. 5. There is no evidence to indicate the the state lotteries have had an impact whatsoever on the numbers racket. 6. The state lotteries have been only moderately successful in raising revenue for the states. 7. State lotteries do not represent legalization of the numbers game, but rather the creation of a new and different form of gambling.Item The laws against homosexualityBrinkley, Roland A.,1938-; Watkins, John C; Donald J Weisenhorn; George G. Killinger; Bascom Barry Hayes.No AbstractItem The pro's and con's of violence on television and its effects on childrenMazur, John Leonard,1951-; Friel, Charles N; Dr. George G. Killinger; Dr. Billy Bramlett; Bascom Barry Hayes.Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to determine whether or not the portrayal or depiction of violence on television acts as a go-ahead signal in stimulating aggressive impulses and criminal behavior upon preadolescent and adolescent children, who are often the principal viewers of such programs. Methods: The methods used in this study were: (1) the collection of available research evidence from the psychological sociological, and criminological fields of reference; (2) the division of this information into two specific areas of argument; and (3) the assimilation of the major arguments from these specific areas of arguments toward a conclusion as to whether violence on television influences the behavior of children. Findings: The experimental studies bearing on the effects of aggressive television entertainment content on children support certain conclusions: 1. Violence depicted on television can immediately or shortly thereafter induce mimicking or copying by children. 2. Under certain circumstances, television violence can instigate or incite an increase in aggressive acts. 3. There is evidence that among young children (ages four to six), those most responsive to television violence are those who are highly aggressive to start with—who are prone to engage in spontaneous aggressive actions against their playmates; and, in the case of boys who display pleasure in viewing violence being inflicted upon others. The very young have difficulty comprehending the contextual setting in which violent acts are depicted and do not grasp the meaning of cues or labels concerning the make-believe character of violence episodes in fictional programs. 4. There is evidence that any sequence by which viewing television violence causes aggressive behavior is most likely applicable only to some children who are predisposed in that direction. In other words, only those children who are already preconditioned to aggressive tendencies or have developed a highly aggressive behavior because of certain socio-oriented and culture-oriented factors, are more predisposed toward aggressive behavior. 5. There are suggestions from the literature that the way children respond to violent film material is affected by the context in which it is presented. Such elements as parental explanations, the favorable or unfavorable outcome of the violence, and whether it is seen as fantasy or reality may make a difference. Generalizations about all violent content are likely to be misleading. Although this study indicates various significant arguments from both fields of reference concerning the effects of violence on television on children's behavior, a specific, direct conclusion is impossible due to the lack of evidence predisposed in one specific argument. More research and evidence is needed to find out if children are predisposed in the direction of violent behavior due to the viewing of violence on television.Item The relationship between female drug use and prostitutionWesterberg, James F.,1939-; Bramlett, Billy WPurpose: The purpose of this study was to provide an analysis of the relationship which exists between the use of drugs and the practice of prostitution. This study sought to evaluate the hypothesis that a correlation exists between prostitution and drug use. In addition, it attempted an in-depth examination of a selected number of females at the Goree Unit for Women, Texas Department of Corrections, to determine what important factors precipitate the relationship. Specifically, this study sought to determine which phenomena occurred first, prostitution to drug use, and whether one was dependent on the other. Methods: data for this study were obtained through research of available information, and through the analysis of questionnaires given to a sample of female inmates at the Goree Unit for Women, Texas Department of Corrections. The initial sample consisted of 199 convicted female drug users. From this initial sample, it was determined that sixty-nine females that had been convicted of drug abuse offenses had also indicated prior prostitution practices. From this group, a final sample of thirty females was selected on a random basis. The procedure excluded those females convicted of drug abuse offenses with no recorded prior history of prostitution. Conclusions: 1. Curiosity regarding the possible effects, followed by a feeling that drug use would be worthwhile, are the most frequent reasons found for the initial use of drugs. 2. Marijuana and heroin are the most frequently used drugs. Fifty per cent of the respondents initially used marijuana before progressing to other drugs. In fifty-three per cent of the cases, either marijuana or heroin was used following the initial drug experience. 3. Whatever the progression of drugs used, eighty-six per cent of the sample reported that heroin ultimately became their drug of choice. 4. Respondents view the illegal use of all drugs, except marijuana, as detrimental to the welfare of a drug user. 5. Inmates feel that drug clinics are the most beneficial to drug users who voluntarily seek help with their drug problem. 6. Over eighty-six per cent of the drug offenders in this study agreed with the hypothesis that a woman who engages in prostitution will eventually use drugs. 7. Seventy-three per cent of the sample agreed that in order for a woman to support a drug habit she will eventually resort to prostitution. 8. No one specific factor appears to be responsible for a woman using drugs or entering into prostitution but rather many factors, such as the need for money, personal associations, and no legitimate employment.Item The self-perception of fifty-three American homosexuals :male and femaleSisson, William Henry,1940-; Young, Jeanne P; Billy W. Bramlett; M. Hassim Solomon; Bascom Barry Hayes.Purpose: The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine certain demographic characteristics of respondents in order to ascertain whether they could be related to the respondents’ homosexuality: (2) to determine if there were significant differences between male and female respondents vis a vis certain variables: (3) to determine how the respondents view themselves regarding their own deviance and how they view heterosexual society. Methods: The methods used in this study were; (1) the collection of data concerning the respondents’ formative years and current ideas from a questionnaire and Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS): (2) the comparison of data from the questionnaire and the TSCS using statistics as the basis of comparison, and employing logic and the computer complex at Sam Houston State University to determine the significance of the data: (3) conducting a computer analysis of this data via square through use of the computer complex at the University:(4) conducting a computer analysis of the data from TSCS: (5) considering all results with a probability of .05 or less as significant. Findings: 1. The study also indicates that there is a significant correlation between sexual category of the respondents and one variable from the questionnaire. 2. They study also indicates that there is a significant correlation between sexual category of the respondents and one variable (behavior) from the TSCS. 3. The respondents indicated that they do feel uncomfortable at some time in their encounters with heterosexual society even through their deviance is an unknown factor. 4. More men than women in the sample indicated ambivalence in their deviance, i.e. , wished that they were not homosexual. 5. Many of the respondents viewed their homosexuality as an accident of birth, but several others indicated that their deviance was the result of conscious psychological choice. The data did not indicate that the majority of respondents viewed their deviant commitment as irreversible. 6. The study indicated that generally the Lesbians in the sample were much better adjusted in their deviance than were the male homosexuals. 7. The TSCS results also indicated a greater amount of anxiety about their deviance among the males in the sample. 8. The data indicated that the deviants are in general agreement regarding their views on heterosexual society: that their deviance is not so bad and they view general society with noteworthy disdain.Item Watts :the natural history of an evolutionary processRibnick, Stephen Gordon,1945-; Pilcher, Wayland DPurpose: In 1950 Rex Hopper postulated a sequential development of social movements which he called the natural history of an evolutionary process. This technique has been utilized by many different sociologists in their acquisition of knowledge concerning social movements. The purpose of this thesis is to test Hopper's hypothesis using the Watt's incident as case material. After an extensive review and analysis of the political, economic, and social conditions prior, during, and after the Watt's incident, the goal is to determine if there is some relationship between that riot and Rex Hopper's four sequential steps of the social process. These four stages are: (1) the Preliminary State of Mass (Individual) Excitement, (2) the Popular Stage of Crowd (Collective) Excitement and Unrest, (3) the Formal Stage of Formulation of Issues and Formation of Publics, and (4) the Institutional Stage of Legalization and Societal Organization. Methods: My study will be restricted to books, journal articles, periodicals, and newspapers. This study will focus on the social events in the Watt's area from the latter fifties up to the present time. Findings: After the completion of this study, I found that the Watt's incident moved into the incipient development of the third stage of Hopper's hypothesis and did not reflect any traits of the fourth and final stage of a revolutionary movement.