Browsing by Subject "Government"
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Item A cross-national analysis of political violence: a model specification and its empirical test(Texas Tech University, 1979-12) Yough, Syng NamNot availableItem Digital flood insurance rate maps and their influence on Cameron Parish, Louisiana, post-Hurricane Rita(2009-12) Pryll, Jaclyn Marie; Butler, Kent S.Cameron Parish, Louisiana, was impacted by one of the most devastating hurricane seasons in U.S. history in 2005. Three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Hurricane Rita stormed over the Texas-Louisiana border delivering another debilitating blow to the Louisiana coast and creating devastation along the southwestern coastline. In March 2008, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Cameron Parish. These maps rezoned much of Cameron Parish by placing a majority of the parish's land in a flood zone rating of V or higher. FEMA's reluctance to provide federal disaster funds to substantially redevelop and newly construct buildings in areas classified as a flood zone rating of V or higher makes it difficult for Cameron Parish to redevelop as they desperately need federal assistance. This research analyzes Cameron Parish's resources to protect against the hurricane before it hit as well as roles of the federal, state, and local governing bodies on its future development through planning initiatives after the hurricane. Using literature review, state and local media coverage, and interviews with professionals in the field of planning and engineering, this report found that it took a massive hurricane to convey the need for planning in Cameron Parish, and that the flood maps used to provide risk do not communicate risk management as efficiently or accurately as intended.Item An evaluation of cost in government aircraft acquisition programs(2011-08) Reynolds, Robert Paul; McCann, Robert Bruce, 1948-; Nichols, Steven Parks, 1950-Aircraft system development has been steadily increasing in cost since the inception of human flight. Several factors have influenced this including economics, increasing complexity and increased customer expectations and requirements. In addition, the contractors which produce these systems have almost consistently been unable to complete them within the originally contracted budget and schedule. The factors which influence cost increase have been studied extensively by industry, government and private organizations and a study of those findings will be conducted in the following work with the intention of determining the factors which are primarily responsible for cost increase in aircraft acquisition programs. Following the discussion of data, recommendations for reducing cost will made with the goal of identifying the methods with which systems engineering can be used to improve the process at the system and program level. The intent will be to show how improved techniques for managing programs, meeting customer requirements and improving cost estimates can be implemented to manage cost growth. The ultimate goal of this study is to show that program risk can and should be managed more effectively and that high technology programs can be executed if they are properly managed.Item Examining hookah use among U.S. college students(2014-08) Chen, Yen Tzu; Loukas, Alexandra; Pasch, KerynHookah smoking has become a popular form of tobacco use among college students. However, there is limited research exploring the risk factors associated with hookah use among this population. This study examined two risk factors, harm perceptions and beliefs about government evaluation of hookah, associated with current use of hookah among 18-24 year old college students, and looked at differences between current hookah users and non-users on cigarette smoking status, various demographic characteristics, and the two risk factors (harm perceptions and beliefs). Participants were 5,028 university students aged 18-24 (M age = 20.5 years; 59.6% female) from seven public universities within a larger university system. Students completed an online survey, which assessed their knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors related to hookah use. In this sample, 10.8% of participants reported current or past 30-day hookah use. There were differences between current hookah users and non-users on cigarette smoking status, gender, race/ethnicity, harm perceptions, as well as beliefs about government evaluation of hookah. Cigarette smokers, males, non-Hispanic White students, students reporting lower harm perceptions regarding hookah use, and those who believed the government evaluates hookah for safety were significantly more likely than their peers to be current hookah users. Results from a logistic regression analysis indicated that after controlling for cigarette smoking status, gender, and race/ethnicity, harm perceptions of hookah use, but not beliefs about government safety evaluation of hookah, was associated with an increased likelihood of current hookah use. Cigarette smoking was the strongest correlate of current hookah use; current cigarette smokers were seven times more likely than non-smokers to have used hookah in the past 30 days. Findings point to the necessity of educating college students, particularly cigarette smokers, about the dangers of hookah use. Additionally, tobacco prevention and cessation programs should be implemented in order to reduce initiation and continued use, and it is important to educate college student smokers about the dangers of dual use of this product with cigarettes.Item Financing strategies for the acquisition of park space(2010-08) Hernandez, Nicholas John; Sletto, Bjørn; Kahn, TerryCity parks can improve the quality of life as well as the physical and mental health of its citizens, and they can lead to increases in property values and hence higher property tax revenues. However, parks can also be costly to cities, especially medium-sized cities that lack the necessary access to financing to acquire and maintain city parks. In the case of Lafayette, Louisiana, the city is struggling to acquire the University of Louisiana Horse Farm and incorporate it into its park system. This professional report reviews financing strategies for cities that are seeking to acquire land or open space, and also provides specific recommendations for the Horse Farm. Through this literature review and analysis of the Lafayette case, this professional report contributes to the literature on public financing of land for green space development, a subject of particular importance considering the important role parks play in urban life.Item Formal systems and informal networks : Iranian power politics in principle and practice(2014-05) Pritchard, Megan Ashley; Suri, Jeremi; Inboden, William, 1972-This work explains the structure and function of the contemporary Iranian government by examining the government's formal political, religious and national security structures and the informal networks that empower and constrain the individuals who fill formal regime positions. The research argues that the Islamic Republic of Iran should be understood as a solar system in which the Supreme Leader resides at the center and oversees all other government bodies. These bodies have their own responsibilities and power, but ultimately answer to the Supreme Leader. The work outlines the current Iranian political landscape by examining the dominant ideological currents. It analyzes informal networks using the examples of three relevant actors: President Hassan Ruhani, Majles Speaker Ali Larijani and Supreme Leader Advisor Ali-Akbar Velayati. The paper concludes with predictions for evolutions in Iranian policy in the remainder of the first Ruhani Administration.Item Government as work : temporal communication design through genres(2015-05) Ford, Emily Anne; Ballard, Dawna I.; Jarvis, Sharon EThis thesis describes the current research that has been done on governments in communication and opportunities within organizational communication, then offers an example of research that could expand this area of scholarship. The content analysis of U.S. Digital Services' forums on GitHub, a software development website used for open coding projects, investigates communication genres and genre systems through a codebook of genre norms (Im,Yates, & Orlikowski, 2005) to analyze the temporal aspects of communication design as a theoretical perspective and the practical implications of considering time scale in coordination, collaboration, and idea generation. Temporal landmarks led to four specific patterns in forum participation, and the temporal foci of proposed ideas were overwhelmingly in the present. Third, it calls for a new model of communication, one that does not use a process definition of communication.Item Organizations and the state: An interactive view(2005-12) Cavazos, David E.; Washington, Marvin; Boal, Kimberly B.; McDonald, Robert E.; Szyliowicz, DaraThis dissertation examines field level relations among organizations and the state. I develop a perspective that takes into account both state legitimating activity as well as the actions of interest groups whose activities shape actions of the state as well as organizations. This dissertation focuses on federal agency rule making behavior. Because the agency rule making process, the process that occurs once a rule is proposed by an agency, is independent of legislation, organizations must directly participate in the rule making process rather than utilizing influence tactics such as lobbying and political action committees. By examining such interaction, aspects of the nature of state-organization interactions that have previously not been considered are revealed. To illustrate the process three agencies are qualitatively and quantitatively examined. Transportation and Security Administration (TSA), rulemaking is examined as is NHTSA (National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration) rulemaking activity in the form of FMVSS (Federal motor vehicle safety standard) 225, a rule aimed at establishing standards for vehicle child restraint systems. FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) rulemaking is also examined. Federal docket comments concerning TSA, NHTSA and FAA rules are examined using qualitative and quantitative approaches respectively Findings suggest that agency rule making activity is shaped by agency interactions with organizations and interest groups who attempt to shape policy in their interests; however the nature of this interaction depends on the nature of both the organizations and state actors in question. More specifically, like other organizations, state actors will vary in their power and influence depending on their size and age. It is these aspects of state actors that dictate the nature of and extent of organizational influence on state agency rulemaking.Item Organizations and the state: an interactive view(Texas Tech University, 2005-12) Cavazos, David E.This dissertation examines field level relations among organizations and the state. I develop a perspective that takes into account both state legitimating activity as well as the actions of interest groups whose activities shape actions of the state as well as organizations. This dissertation focuses on federal agency rule making behavior. Because the agency rule making process, the process that occurs once a rule is proposed by an agency, is independent of legislation, organizations must directly participate in the rule making process rather than utilizing influence tactics such as lobbying and political action committees. By examining such interaction, aspects of the nature of state-organization interactions that have previously not been considered are revealed. To illustrate the process three agencies are qualitatively and quantitatively examined. Transportation and Security Administration (TSA), rulemaking is examined as is NHTSA (National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration) rulemaking activity in the form of FMVSS (Federal motor vehicle safety standard) 225, a rule aimed at establishing standards for vehicle child restraint systems. FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) rulemaking is also examined. Federal docket comments concerning TSA, NHTSA and FAA rules are examined using qualitative and quantitative approaches respectively Findings suggest that agency rule making activity is shaped by agency interactions with organizations and interest groups who attempt to shape policy in their interests; however the nature of this interaction depends on the nature of both the organizations and state actors in question. More specifically, like other organizations, state actors will vary in their power and influence depending on their size and age. It is these aspects of state actors that dictate the nature of and extent of organizational influence on state agency rulemaking.Item The people’s web : government as nexus(2011-08) Newell, Angela Marie; Ward, Peter M., 1951-With the advent of new interactive Internet technologies in government, a move from the transactional loop of electronic government to a more web-like structure of interaction is anticipated for government information systems. It has been argued that that web-like structure of information systems will dictate a new organizational form for government organization. Explored within the dissertation are two primary research questions. The first research question relates to understanding the nature of adoption of new interactive Internet tools in government agencies and whether that adoption differs from the adoption process for transactional systems. To understand the nature of interactive technology adoption, presidential directives, legislation, and laws implementing transactional and interactive information systems are evaluated. Discovered in evaluation are the motivating factors in technology adoption and related technology adoption and organizational outcomes. Accompanying that evaluation is an exploration of the new technologies being used by government agencies as a part of the technology adoption process. To understand the nature of the differences in infrastructure of information systems associated with transactional information technologies and interactive information technologies, a series of case studies were developed. For each case, an exploration of the technology implemented and a map of the Internet architecture for the technology were constructed. Findings suggest that the adoption process and the information system architecture of transactional and interactive technologies are different. Though it is too early in the adoption and implementation process to discern any impacts to the government organization, the technology adoption and implementation is couched in larger organizational theory. Extrapolations are made to address the future form of the government organization and policy outcomes for continued implementation of interactive systems and the organizational impacts are discussed. The second research question relates to the value associated with the implementation of new interactive Internet technologies. To understand any value associated with implementation of technologies, a qualitative assessment of the value conversations within government agencies was conducted, an assessment of citizen value ranking of data was undertaken, and a quantitative analysis of differences in customer service scores given the use of interactive information technologies is conducted. This analysis is triangulated against a historical evaluation of increasing and decreasing scores and an exploration of specific evaluations conducted for interactive technology projects. Findings suggest that that there is value in implementing interactive Internet technologies. However, that signal is weak. A suggestion of research is that evaluation metrics be developed to understand the value of implementing of interactive technologies. Policy suggestions are outlined for technology value evaluation. The concluding outcome of the dissertation is a suggestion of a path forward for interactive Internet technology development in government and an argument for the construct of the emerging organizational structure associated with information organizations.Item Preventing heresy : censorship and privilege in sixteenth-century Mexican publishing(2012-12) Palacios, Albert Anthony; Twinam, Ann, 1946-; Wade, MariaPrevailing Catholic thought in the sixteenth century perceived heresy as a cancer on society and the printed word an effective carrier. Acceptance of this view throughout the Spanish kingdom resulted in the vigilant scrutiny of printed works, in particular those imported or produced in the Americas. Who reviewed manuscript works destined for or written in Mexico before the printing block hit the paper? Did the New Spanish bureaucracy repress colonial authors intellectually or financially? This thesis examines preventive censorship, or the inspection and licensing of manuscripts considered for publishing, and printing privilege in sixteenth-century Mexico. Mexican books printed 1540-1612 and official correspondence form the basis of this thesis. The overarching analysis is diachronic-bibliographic in nature. It starts with the origins of preventing censorship in Spain, its transference to New Spain, and its administration during the first decade of the American printing press (1487-1550). Thrusting ahead, it then delves into the bureaucratic, political, and economic nuances of the mature publishing practice at the turn of the century (1590-1612). The conclusion compares the bookend phases, defines factors, and looks at prevailing practices in Europe to contextualize Mexico’s unique publishing industry. In the Americas, religious authors established, financed, and developed the publishing economy to facilitate indigenous indoctrination and enculturation, enforce Christian hegemony, and promote higher education. As these authors came to dominate in the writing, censorship, and production of Mexican printed books throughout the sixteenth century, printers increasingly assumed a subordinate role. In the European printing industry, non-cleric officials predominantly censored manuscripts and printers assumed primary ownership of intellectual work. Inversing European practice, published authors in Mexico enjoyed significant influence over the censorship, printing, and economic potential of their intellectual fruits from the onset of colonization to the remainder of the sixteenth century and beyond.Item Serving those who serve? : Recon, Soldiers Journal and the priorities of the Pentagon channel(2014-05) Hatlen, Lucas David; Frick, CarolineThe Pentagon Channel, a media outlet funded and controlled by the U.S. Department of Defense, has continuously disseminated Pentagon approved programming to American audiences since 2004. Although the content created for The Pentagon Channel encompasses a variety of genres, the core justification for the channels existence is its ability to provide members of the armed forces with credible military news and information not otherwise available. At the same time, the channel is expected to function as an advocate of the Pentagon. This thesis is focused on Recon and Soldiers Journal, two of the news and information programs on The Pentagon Channel. By analyzing the way these programs frame sensitive issues including injury, violence, and death, this project argues that The Pentagon Channel privileges its role as Pentagon advocate above its mandate to provide credible information to servicemembers.Item Signals in the fog : the media and government problem prioritization(2010-05) Wolfe, Michelle Anne; Jones, Bryan D.; McCombs, Maxwell E.Traditional scholarship on the media effects of government activity focuses on the transfer of salience. Salience and priorities are conceptually distinct, although they are often incorrectly used interchangeably. Whereas salience refers to issue attention, priority pertains to issue preferences or importance. This paper offers that media effects are better understood as signals comprised of issue salience and importance in an environment characterized by variation in uncertainty and ambiguity. Using newspaper stories and congressional hearings datasets, unique measures are developed that incorporate the uncertainty and ambiguity of the information environment. The relationship between media signals and government problem prioritization is then examined. This research is important in situating media signaling within the context of the larger issue agenda, and helps to illuminate linkages between the public and government agendas.Item The Obama Administration and digital content : a case study of Healthcare.gov(2016-05) Gant, Alia; Wickett, Karen M.; Towery, StephanieThe United States government has made enormous strides to adapt and evolve with the digital era in the 21st century. Initially the Clinton Administration in the 1990s showed a sense of acceptance and willingness to work with the changing times in regards to technology. The subsequent administrations also continued to support platforms that utilized digital programs such as the Internet. This Master’s Report will examine government websites under the Obama Administration, in particular Healthcare.gov, however through the perspective of information professionals. The report will describe and analyze the information pertinent to users to accessing health needs for insurance plans. The report will discuss and apply frameworks from information studies, including metadata, digital libraries and community informatics Lastly, the report will provide critiques, suggestions, and ways to research this topic in the future.Item Themes and concerns of the Saudi Board of Senior Scholars(2016-05) Boville, Bruce Bintliff; Azam, Hina, 1970-; Di-Capua, YoavReligion in Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly a powerful force, but it is unclear to what extent the Saudi religious establishment controls the expression of religion in Saudi Arabia. In many publications, scholars make assumptions about the nature of the relationship between the religious establishment and the state. Some scholars have assumed that the religious scholars (ᶜulemā’) are the true power in Saudi Arabia and it is they who control government policy. Others have claimed that they scholars intentionally stay out of the state’s way and attempt only to affect Saudi civil society or that the scholars simply function as yes-men, legitimizing the state’s actions but lacking any autonomy. Clearly these positions are incommensurable. What, then, is the reality of the relationship between the scholars and the state in the Kingdom? Do the religious scholars control the government or do they limit themselves to simply controlling Saudi civil society? This paper examines the fatwas published by the Saudi Permanent Council for the Issuing of Fatwas (al-lajna al-dā’ima li’l-iftā’) between 2000-2013 in order to determine the primary concerns of the Council and their ability to affect both Saudi society and government. It argues against both positions; this paper will demonstrate that the Council does not attempt to control government policy, it does not simply serve to affirm and legitimize that policy, and it shows little interest in affecting Saudi society in general. In reality, the Council is a religious institution and their concerns are overwhelmingly religious and ritual, rather than political or social. This paper will also use newspaper articles from a variety of sources in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding nations to examine the first stages of an ongoing project known as the “High Values Program” (barnāmaj al-qiyam al-ᶜuliyā’). The stated purpose of the program is to combat the religious rhetoric of groups like ISIS in the region. This paper will use the articles to demonstrate who, even when assisting the government in attempting to control society, the Council’s concerns remain ritual-oriented.