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University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses
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Communication Of Mexican Americans With Public School Personnel: A Study Of Channel, Code, Receiver, And Source Preferences
(USC Thesis Other)
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COMMUNICATION* OF MEXICAN AMERICANS
WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL PERSONNEL: A STUDY OF
CHANNEL, CODE, RECEIVER, AND SOURCE PREFERENCES
by
Howard P r e s t o n H o lla d a y
A D i s s e r t a t i o n P r e s e n t e d t o th e
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
I n P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t o f th e
R e q u ire m e n ts f o r t h e D egree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(S peech C om m unication)
Ju n e 1971
72-560
HOLLADAY, Howard Preston, 1930-
COMMUNICATION OF MEXICAN AMERICANS WITH
PUBLIC SCHOOL PERSONNEL: A STUDY OF
CHANNEL, CODE, RECEIVER, AND SOURCE
PREFERENCES.
University of Southern California, Ph.D.,
1971
Speech
University Microfilms, A X E R O X Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan
C opyright © by
HOWARD PRESTO N HOLLADAY
1971
THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THE GRADUATE SCH O O L
UNIVERSITY PARK
LOS ANGELES, CA LIFO RN IA 9 0 0 0 7
This dissertation, written by
under the direction of / a s Dissertation Com Â
mittee, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by The GraduÂ
ate School, in partial fulfillment of requireÂ
ments of the degree of
.H ow ard. Pj.e.g.t.o.n.Jio.llads.y.
D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y
Dean
D ate.......
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE
Chairman ^
PLEASE NOTE:
Some pages have indistinct
print. Filmed as received.
UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES ...........................................................................................
LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................
C h a p te r
I . THE PROBLEM ............................................................................
I n t r o d u c t i o n
N a tu re o f t h e P roblem
The S ta te m e n t o f t h e P ro b lem
D e f i n i t i o n s o f Terms
P r e v io u s R e se a rc h
O r g a n iz a t i o n o f th e D i s s e r t a t i o n
I I . METHODS AND PROCEDURES ...................................................
D e s ig n in g and T e s ti n g t h e I n te r v ie w
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e
S e l e c t i o n and T r a i n in g o f t h e I n t e r v i e w e r s
C o n d u c tin g th e I n t e r v i e w s
The P o p u la tio n Sample
Type o f D a ta C o l l e c t e d
A n a l y s i s o f D ata
I I I . A MESSAGE CONCERNING PROGRESS OF THE PUPIL .
C om m unication C h a n n e ls
C om m unication Codes
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
C om m unication S o u rc e s
IV , A MESSAGE ANNOUNCING A SCHOOL ACTIVITY . . .
C om m unication C h a n n els
C om m unication Codes
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
C om m unication S o u rc e s
ii
Page
i v
v i i
1
26
62
104
C h a p te r Page
V. A MESSAGE CONCERNING DISCIPLINE OF
THE PUPIL ............................................................................
C om m unication C h a n n e ls
C om m unication Codes
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
C om m unication S o u rc e s
126
•
H
>
A MESSAGE CONCERNING PRAISE OF THE PUPIL . .
C om m unication C h a n n els
C om m unication Codes
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
C om m unication S o u rc e s
155
V I I. ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS . . .
C om m unication C h a n n e ls
C om m unication Codes
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
C om m unication S o u rc e s
175
V I I I . SUM M ARY AND CONCLUSIONS ..............................................
Summary o f P ro b le m and M ethodology
R eview o f F in d in g s
__C on e l u s i o n s
R ecom m endations f o r Im p ro v in g
C om m unication
194
BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................ 232
APPENDIXES
, A. QUESTIONNAIRE, ,'O N COMMUNICATING WITH MEXICAN-
AMERICAN PARENTS ............................................................. 244
B. INTERVIEW INSTRUMENT FOR THE STUDY ON COM Â
MUNICATING WITH MEXICAN-AMERICAN PARENTS . 252
C. ENTREVISTA PARA EL ESTUDIO DE LA COMUNICA-
c i 6n CON PADRES MEXICO-AMERICANOS . . . . 259
D. INTERVIEWER'S LETTER OF INTRODUCTION . . . .
iii
266
LIST OF TABLES
T a b le Page
1. D e s c r i p t i o n s o f D em ographic F a c t o r s ...................... 47
2 . C h an n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r a P r o g r e s s M essage ............................... 63
3. C h an n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e P o p u la tio n D e n s ity
Sam ples f o r a P r o g r e s s M essage .......................... 66
4. C h a n n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e S ex es f o r a
P r o g r e s s M essage ............................................................. 67
5 . C h a n n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f Home L anguage U sage
f o r a P r o g r e s s M e s s a g e .............................................. 69
6 . Code P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l P o p u la tio n
Sample f o r a P r o g r e s s M essage ............................... 72
7. Code P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e P o p u l a ti o n D e n s ity
Sam ples f o r a P r o g r e s s M essage .......................... 74
8. Code P r e f e r e n c e s o f Age G roups f o r a P r o g r e s s
M e s s a g e ....................................................................................... 76
9. Code P r e f e r e n c e s o f O c c u p a tio n a l G roups f o r
a P r o g r e s s M essage ........................................................ 79
10. Code P r e f e r e n c e s by B i r t h p l a c e f o r a P r o g r e s s
M e s s a g e ....................................................................................... 81
11. Code P r e f e r e n c e s by P a r e n t s ' B i r t h p l a c e f o r a
P r o g r e s s M essage ............................................................. 82
12. Code P r e f e r e n c e s B ased upon L e n g th o f R e s iÂ
den ce i n Los A n g e le s f o r a P r o g r e s s M essage 84
13. R e c e iv e r P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l P o p u la tio n
Sample f o r a P r o g r e s s M essage ............................... 87
14. R e c e iv e r P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e S ex es f o r a
P r o g r e s s M essage ............................................................. 90
iv
Table
Page
15. S o u rce P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r a P r o g r e s s M essage ..................................... 9 7
16. C h a n n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r an A c t i v i t y A nnouncem ent . . . . 105
17. C h a n n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e S ex es f o r an
A c t i v i t y A nnouncem ent ....................................................... 107
18. C h an n el P r e f e r e n c e s A c c o rd in g t o Number o f
C h ild r e n i n th e Home f o r an A c t i v i t y
A n n o u n c e m e n t .................................................... 109
19. Code P re f e re n c e 's o f th e T o ta l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r an A c t i v i t y A nnouncem ent . . . . 112
20. R e c e iv e r P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r an A c t i v i t y A nnouncem ent . . . . 115
2 1. R e c e iv e r P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e S e x e s f o r an
A c t i v i t y A nnouncem ent ................................................... 117
22. S o u rc e P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r an A c t i v i t y A nnouncem ent . . . . 118
2 3. C h an n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r a D i s c i p l i n e M essage . . . . . . 127
2 4. C h an n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e P o p u l a ti o n D e n s ity
S am ples f o r a D i s c i p l i n e M e s s a g e ......... 129
2 5 . C h an n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f Home L anguage U sage
f o r a D i s c i p l i n e M e s s a g e .............................. 132
26. C h a n n el P r e f e r e n c e s A c c o rd in g t o Number o f
C h ild r e n i n th e Home f o r a D i s c i p l i n e
M e s s a g e ........................................................................... 135
2 7 . Code P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e T o ta l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r a D i s c i p l i n e M essage ............................. 138
2 8. R e c e iv e r P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r a D i s c i p l i n e M essage ............................. 140
29. S o u rc e P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o ta l P o p u l a ti o n
Sam ple f o r a D i s c i p l i n e M essage ............................ 143
30. S o u rce P r e f e r e n c e s R e la te d t o E c o l o g i c a l
B ackground f o r a D i s c i p l i n e M essage . . . . 146
v
Table Page
31. S o u rc e P r e f e r e n c e s B ased upon L e n g th o f
R e sid e n c e i n Los A n g e le s f o r a
D i s c i p l i n e M e s s a g e .......................... 148
32. C h a n n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l P o p u la tio n
Sam ple f o r a P r a i s e M e s s a g e ..................................... 157
33. C h a n n e l P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e P o p u la tio n D e n s ity
Sam ples f o r a P r a i s e M e s s a g e ............................... 159
34. C h a n n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f Home Language U sage
f o r a P r a i s e M e s s a g e ................................................... 161
35. Code P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e T o ta l P o p u la tio n
Sam ple f o r a P r a i s e M e s s a g e .................................... 164
36. R e c e iv e r P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e T o ta l P o p u la tio n
Sam ple f o r a P r a i s e M e s s a g e .................................... 166
37. S o u rc e P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l P o p u la tio n
Sam ple f o r a P r a i s e M e s s a g e .................................... 169
38. O r a l C h a n n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e T o ta l
P o p u la tio n Sam ple f o r A l l M essages . . . . 176
39. W r i t te n C h a n n el P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l
P o p u la tio n Sam ple f o r A l l M essages . . . . 180
40. Code P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e T o ta l P o p u l a ti o n f o r
A l l M e s s a g e s ....................................................................... 183
41. R e c e iv e r P r e f e r e n c e s o f th e T o t a l P o p u la tio n
f o r A l l M e s s a g e s ............................................................. 185
42. S o u rc e P r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e T o t a l P o p u la tio n
f o r A l l M e s s a g e s ............................................................. 188
vi
LIST OF FIGURES
F ig u r e Page
1 . L i s t o f C om m unication P r e f e r e n c e s ......................... 30
vii
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM
I n t r o d u c t i o n
J u l i a n Sam ora h as d e s c r i b e d t h e p e o p le o f M exican and
S p a n is h d e s c e n t who l i v e p r i m a r i l y i n t h e S o u th w e st o f th e
U n ite d S t a t e s as " F o r g o tte n A m erican s."'* ' The te rm r e f l e c t s
n o t o n ly an i n d ic tm e n t o f t h e n e g l e c t o f g o v e rn m e n ts , e d u Â
c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , c h u rc h e s and o t h e r s o c i a l a g e n c ie s ;
u n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t a l s o a c c u r a t e l y i n d i c a t e s th e a b se n c e o f
com m unication r e s e a r c h r e l a t i n g t o M exican A m e ric a n s. An
e le m e n t o f th e r e s e a r c h a b o u t M exican A m ericans t h a t h a s
been e s p e c i a l l y ig n o r e d c o n c e r n s p ro b le m s o f com m un ication
b etw een members o f th e A ng lo^ o r m a j o r i t y c u l t u r e and
M exican A m erican s.
T h is s tu d y c o n c e rn s one a s p e c t o f t h e p ro b le m : th e
com m unication from l a r g e l y A n g lo t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a Â
t o r s o f a p u b l i c s c h o o l s y s te m t o t h e M exican A m erican
â– ^-Julian Sam ora, e d . , La R aza: F o r g o t t e n A m ericans
(N otre Dame: U n i v e r s i t y o f N o tr e Dame P r e s s , 1 9 6 6 ),
p. v i i i .
A n g lo , an a b b r e v i a t i o n o f t h e te rm A nglo A m erican ,
g e n e r a l l y r e f e r s t o w h ite p e r s o n s who a r e n o t M exican AmerÂ
i c a n . The te rm so m etim es a l s o i n c l u d e s o t h e r m in o r i t y
g ro u p s su c h as B la c k s an d O r i e n t a l s .
1
2
p a r e n t s o f th e c h i l d r e n i n t h e i r c h a rg e . S p e c i f i c a l l y , i t
d e l i n e a t e s t h e c h a n n e ls , c o d e s , r e c e i v e r s , and s o u r c e s
th r o u g h w hich M exican A m erican s p r e f e r t o be com m unicated
w ith by l a r g e l y non-M ex ican A m erican s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l a b o u t
s e l e c t e d s c h o o l m e ssa g e s. In t h i s c h a p t e r , an i n t r o d u c t i o n
t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n w i l l b e g iv e n . T h ese t o p i c s w i l l be
d i s c u s s e d : (1) n a t u r e o f th e p ro b le m , (2) s t a t e m e n t o f t h e
p ro b le m , (3) im p o r ta n t te rm s em ployed i n t h e s t u d y , (4)
p r e v io u s r e l e v a n t r e s e a r c h , and (5) o r g a n i z a t i o n o f th e
d i s s e r t a t i o n .
N a tu re o f th e P ro b lem
E d u c a ti o n a l p ro b lem s o f M exican A m e ric an s h a v e b een
g iv e n c o n s i d e r a b l e a t t e n t i o n by s c h o l a r s i n t h e p a s t few
y e a r s . In a l l th e s e s t u d i e s , t h e f i n d i n g s c l e a r l y p o i n t t o
a f a i l u r e on t h e p a r t o f t h e s c h o o ls a d e q u a te ly t o e d u c a te
M exican A m erican y o u th . By a lm o s t any m ea su re m e n t t h i s
f a i l u r e i s a p p a r e n t . Thomas P. C a r t e r , i n an a u t h o r i t a t i v e
w ork, s y n t h e s i z e s th e v a r i o u s s t u d i e s t h a t hav e b een conÂ
d u c te d c o n c e rn in g th e e d u c a t i o n a l a t t a i n m e n t o f M exican
A m e r i c a n s . ^ He d i s c u s s e s e n r o llm e n t i n s c h o o l a s one i n d i Â
c a t i o n o f e d u c a t i o n a l e f f e c t i v e n e s s . A lth o u g h e x a c t f i g Â
u r e s a r e d i f f i c u l t t o a s c e r t a i n , he c o n c lu d e s t h a t th e
3Thomas P. C a r t e r , M exican A m erican s i n S c h o o l: A
H i s t o r y o f E d u c a ti o n a l N e g le c t (New Y ork: C o lle g e E n tra n c e
B o a rd , l£ 7 0 ) , p p . d-^33.
3
i n c i d e n c e o f f a i l u r e t o c o m p le te s c h o o l o r t h e s o - c a l l e d
" d r o p o u t r a t e " f o r M exican A m ericans i s e x tr e m e ly h ig h :
I t seem s r e a s o n a b le t o s a y t h a t p e rh a p s 60 p e r c e n t
o f th e c h i l d r e n o f M exican d e s c e n t who b e g in T exas
s c h o o ls do n o t f i n i s h h ig h s c h o o l . O th e r s t a t e s w ould
a v e ra g e som ewhat b e t t e r , C a l i f o r n i a and C o lo ra d o p e rh a p s
r e a c h in g o n ly a 40 p e r c e n t d r o p o u t r a t e f o r t h e g ro u p .
A riz o n a and New M exico, i n t h a t o r d e r , w ou ld p r o b a b ly
f o llo w C a l i f o r n i a and C o lo ra d o i n p e r c e n t a g e s o f d ro p Â
o u ts . 4
I n a d d i t i o n t o th e d ro p o u t r a t e , C a r t e r i n d i c a t e s t h a t
a lm o s t any o t h e r c r i t e r i o n u se d t o m easu re e d u c a t i o n a l a t Â
ta in m e n t shows th e M exican A m erican b e h in d e v e r y o t h e r
e t h n i c g ro u p i n t h e S o u th w e st e x c e p t th e A m erican I n d i a n . 5
Some o f t h e s e m ea su re s i n c l u d e , m edian y e a r s o f s c h o o l i n g ,
a c h ie v e m e n t t e s t s , m e n ta l m a t u r it y t e s t s , g r a d e p o i n t a v e r Â
a g e s , and e n r o llm e n t i n i n s t i t u t i o n s o f h i g h e r e d u c a ti o n .
The low e n r o l l m e n t o f M exican A m ericans i n c o l l e g e s and
u n i v e r s i t i e s was exam ined by J u l i a n N ava, Member, Los AnÂ
g e l e s B oard o f E d u c a tio n , i n te s tim o n y b e f o r e th e C a b in e t
C om m ittee H e a rin g s on M exican A m erican A f f a i r s . He s u b Â
m i t t e d t h i s exam p le:
P r e s e n t c o n d it i o n s a r e s a d in d e e d . In a r e l a t i v e l y
e n l i g h t e n e d l o c a t i o n l i k e Los A n g e le s , v e ry few M exican
A m erican s a t t e n d p u b l i c c o l l e g e s , n o t t o m e n tio n p r i v a t e
o n e s . A t UCLA w here some 25,000 s t u d e n t s a t t e n d , l e s s
th a n 100 w ere S p a n ish -su rn a m e d l a s t y e a r . And y e t t h i s
g ro u p c o m p ris e s a b o u t 20 o u t o f e v e r y 100 (20%) young
p e o p le we m ig h t e x p e c t t o go t h e r e . 6
^ C a r t e r , p . 28. ^ C a r t e r , p . 32.
^ J u l i a n N ava, " E d u c a tio n a l P ro b lem s o f M exican A m eriÂ
c a n s ," I n te r - A g e n c y C om m ittee on M exican A m erican A f f a i r s ,
4
Many a tte m p ts have b een made t o e r a d i c a t e t h e s e e d u c a Â
t i o n a l im b a la n c e s b u t few have m et w ith any d e g re e o f s u c Â
c e s s . P a r t o f th e d i f f i c u l t y , o r a t l e a s t a symptom o f t h e
p ro b le m , seem s t o r e v o lv e a ro u n d a la c k o f com m unicatio n
w ith M ex ican A m erican p a r e n t s . Com m unication w ith p a r e n t s
i s deem ed v i t a l i n o r d e r t o in fo rm them a b o u t w hat th e
s c h o o l s a r e a tt e m p t in g t o a c c o m p lis h and t r y i n g t o e n l i s t
t h e i r a i d i n a c c o m p lis h in g t h e s e g o a ls o r s u b s t i t u t i n g new
o n e s . The n e e d f o r r e s e a r c h t o im prove com m unicatio n b e Â
tw een M exican A m erican p a r e n t s and t e a c h e r s a n d a d m i n i s t r a Â
t o r s w as u n d e rs c o r e d i n May, 1968 when th e C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e
A d v is o ry C om m ittee t o th e U n ite d S t a t e s Com m ission on C i v i l
R ig h ts p u b l i s h e d t h e i r f i n d i n g s o f th e Los A n g e le s C ity
S c h o o l s y s te m and t h e M exican A m erican com m unity. T h is r e Â
p o r t d e te r m in e d t h a t "co m m u n icatio n l i n k s b etw een p a r e n t s
and t h e s c h o o ls a p p e a re d p o o r , and i n some c a s e s , n o n e x is Â
t e n t .
S i m i l a r o b s e r v a t i o n s h a d b een made b e f o r e and th e Los
A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o l S ystem was n o t u n m in d fu l o f th e p ro b le m .
In J a n u a r y , 196 8 a "C om m unications T ask F o rc e " was e s t a b -
The M exican A m erican ; A New F ocus on O p p o r t u n i ty , T e s t i Â
mony P r e s e n t e d a t t h e C a b in e t C om m ittee H e a rin g s on M exican
A m erican A f f a i r s , O c to b e r 2 6 -2 8 , 1968, p . 99.
^ C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e A d v is o ry C om m ittee t o t h e U .S . ComÂ
m is s io n on C i v i l R i g h t s , " E d u c a tio n and t h e M exican A m eriÂ
can Com munity i n Los A n g e le s C o u n ty ," A R e p o rt o f an Open
M e e tin g H e ld i n Ju n e 1967 ( A p r il 1 9 6 8 ), p . 14. (MimeoÂ
g ra p h e d . )
5
l i s h e d by t h e B o ard o f E d u c a tio n t o i n v e s t i g a t e th e d i f f i Â
c u l t y . The T ask F o rc e c o n c lu d e d t h a t f a i l u r e s i n th e e d u Â
c a t i o n o f M exican A m e ric a n s , e x e m p li f i e d by t h e h ig h d ro p Â
o u t r a t e and s c h o o l b o y c o t t s w e re , a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y a
r e s u l t o f t h e i n a b i l i t y o f p a r e n t s and s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l to
u n d e rs ta n d e a c h o th e r .® The T ask F o rc e fo u n d t h a t b o th
p a r e n t s and s c h o o l p e o p le w ere c o n c e rn e d b u t t h a t th e y w ere
somehow u n a b le t o w ork t o g e t h e r . C om m unication breakdow ns
w ere a p p a r e n t i n many o f t h e f i n d i n g s o f t h i s c o m m itte e .
M a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f t h e co m m unicatio n breakdow n betw een
s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l and M exican A m erican p a r e n t s a r e v o ic e d by
b o th g ro u p s . P a r e n t s c la im t h a t t e a c h e r s and p r i n c i p a l s
a r e n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e i r c h i l d r e n o r th e com m unity.
They c h a rg e t h a t A n g lo t e a c h e r s i n th e b a r r i o s c h o o ls a r e
r e j e c t s from m ore a f f l u e n t a r e a s . They m a in ta in t h a t th e s e
t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s do n o t l i v e i n t h e community
and a re a n x io u s t o l e a v e i t a s soon a s p o s s i b l e a f t e r t h e i r
te a c h i n g c h o re s a r e f i n i s h e d . S c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and
t e a c h e r s , on th e o t h e r h a n d , c o m p lain t h a t p a r e n t s a re u n Â
i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e s c h o o ls a s e v id e n c e d by t h e i r f a i l u r e to
a t t e n d s c h o o l f u n c t i o n s an d c o n s u l t w ith t e a c h e r s a b o u t
t h e i r c h i l d r e n 's p r o g r e s s i n s c h o o l .
®John F. Leon e t a l . , "The E a s t Los A n g e le s Com munity,"
A R e p o r t o f t h e E a s t Los A n g e le s C om m unications T ask F o rc e
on S chool-C om m unity R e l a t i o n s (Los A n g e le s: Los A n g eles
C i ty S c h o o ls , Ju n e 1 9 6 8 ), p p . 1 -2 3 . (M im eographed.)
The f e e l i n g on t h e p a r t o f A nglo t e a c h e r s c o n c e rn in g
th e n e g a t i v e a t t i t u d e o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s to w a rd
e d u c a tio n i s so p r e v a l e n t t h a t M exican A m erican e d u c a to r s
f e e l c o m p e lle d t o an sw e r t h e c h a rg e a t e v e ry o p p o r t u n i t y .
Eugene G o n z a le s , w r i t i n g i n C a l i f o r n i a E d u c a tio n c o n c e rn in g
a p o l l ta k e n by t h e Los A n g e le s C i ty S c h o o ls , u s e d th e r e Â
sp o n se t o t h e p o l l a s an o p p o r t u n i t y t o show t h a t M exican
A m erican p a r e n t s a r e c o n c e rn e d :
N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e r e s p o n s e d o e s s u g g e s t t h a t p a r e n t s
lo n g th o u g h t t o be d i s i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e i r c h i l d r e n 's
s c h o o lin g may r e a c t p o s i t i v e l y and d e c i s i v e l y when th e y
can u s e t h e i r own la n g u a g e and when t h e r e i s g e n u in e
i n t e r e s t i n t h e i r o p i n i o n s . T h is home q u e s t i o n n a i r e
seems t o d i s p e l t h e m yth t h a t " th e y j u s t d o n 't c a r e ." ^
A n o th e r s tu d y w h ic h seem ed t o i n d i c a t e t h e p r e s e n c e o f
a com m unication breakdow n b e tw ee n p a r e n t s and s c h o o l p e r Â
s o n n e l was c i t e d by C a r t e r :
Jo h n so n and P a lo m a re s (1966) u n d e rto o k an i n t e r e s t i n g
r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t t o d e te r m in e w h a t d i f f e r e n c e s e x i s t e d
b etw een p a r e n t s who s e n t and d i d n o t se n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n
t o Head S t a r t c l a s s e s i n t h e C o a c h e lla V a lle y o f C a l i Â
f o r n i a . P r a c t i c a l l y no d i s s i m i l a r i t i e s w ere fo u n d b e Â
tw een th e two g ro u p s o f p a r e n t s . The a u th o r s s u g g e s t
t h a t a p r i n c i p a l d i f f e r e n c e was t h a t " . . . n o n - s e n d e r
p a r e n t s w e re n o t c o n t a c t e d by t h e s c h o o l and w ere a p p a rÂ
e n t l y i g n o r a n t o f t h e p ro g ram o r w ere n o t 'i n d u c e d ' t o
se n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n . " The breakdow n o f sch o o l-co m m u n ity
c o m m u n icatio n s a p p e a re d e v i d e n t . 10
T h ere d o e s , t h e n , seem t o be e v id e n c e o f com m un ication
Q
^Eugene G o n z a le s , "M exican-A m erican P a r e n t s Respond
t o B i l i n g u a l Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , " C a l i f o r n i a E d u c a ti o n , I I I ,
No. 1 (S ep tem b er 1 9 6 5 ), 12.
l ^ C a r t e r , M exican A m e ric an s i n S c h o o l, p . 155.
7
f a i l u r e betw een p a r e n t s and s c h o o l p e o p le .
The t r a g e d y , o f c o u r s e , i s t h a t when d e d i c a t e d s c h o o l
p e r s o n n e l and c o n c e rn e d p a r e n t s a r e u n a b le t o com m unicate
an d work t o g e t h e r , t h e c h i l d i s t h e l o s e r . T h is l o s s i s
d r a m a t i c a l l y d e m o n s tra te d i n t h e d r o p o u t r a t e s m e n tio n e d
e a r l i e r . The c h i l d , h o w ev er, i s n o t t h e o n ly one t o l o s e .
U l t i m a t e l y , s o c i e t y s u f f e r s . The f a i l u r e o f t h e s c h o o ls to
e f f e c t i v e l y e d u c a te t h i s l a r g e p o r t i o n o f o u r p o p u l a t i o n
r e s u l t s in an i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f su c h s o c i a l p ro b le m s a s
p o v e r t y , r i o t i n g , c rim e , a n d o t h e r com m unity m a la d ju s tm e n ts .
The u n iq u e n e s s o f t h e c o m m u n ica tio n breakdow n b etw een
t h e s c h o o ls and th e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s i s p r i m a r i l y
an i n t e r c u l t u r a l phenom enon. E x a m in a tio n o f t h e s t a t i s t i c s
fo u n d in " R a c i a l and E th n ic S u rv e y " r e l e a s e d by th e Los
A n g e le s C ity S ch o o l S ystem i n M arch , 1969 s u p p o r te d t h i s
o b s e r v a t i o n . i l T hese s t a t i s t i c s show ed t h a t 1 9 .6 p e r c e n t
o f th e p u p i l s i n t h e Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o ls h a d S p a n is h
surnam es b u t o n ly 1 .3 p e r c e n t o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , 3 .2
p e r c e n t o f th e c o u n s e l o r s , and 3 p e r c e n t o f t h e t e a c h e r s
h a d S p a n ish su rn a m e s.
In E le m e n ta ry A re a E a s t , a d i v i s i o n o f t h e C i ty
S c h o o ls w hich i n 196 8 c o n ta in e d t h e l a r g e s t p r o p o r t i o n o f
U los A n g e les C i t y S c h o o ls , " R a c i a l and E th n ic S u rv e y :
Los A n g e les C i ty S c h o o ls , F a l l , 1968" (March 1 9 6 9 ), p p . 1 -
114. (M im eographed.)
8
M exican A m e ric a n s, t h e c o n t r a s t was even g r e a t e r . O ver 75
p e r c e n t o f t h e s t u d e n t s h a d S p a n is h su rn am es b u t o n ly 3 .8
p e r c e n t o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and 7 .3 p e r c e n t o f th e
t e a c h e r s w ere o f t h i s h e r i t a g e . I n d i v i d u a l s c h o o ls showed
ev en g r e a t e r d i s p a r i t y . F o r e x am p le , M a ria n n a E le m e n ta ry
S c h o o l i n E a s t Los A n g e le s had o n ly t h r e e p u p i l s o u t o f 571
who d i d n o t hav e S p a n is h su rn a m es; th e p r i n c i p a l , h o w ev er,
o f t h i s s c h o o l was an A n g lo , a s w ere tw e n ty - s e v e n o f th e
tw e n ty - n in e t e a c h e r s i n t h e s c h o o l.
In t h e Los A n g e le s C ity S c h o o l S y stem , t h e r e w ere o v e r
f o r t y e le m e n ta r y s c h o o ls w ith o v e r 75 p e r c e n t S p a n is h s u r Â
name e n r o l l m e n t s . T h ere w ere a n o th e r t w e n t y - f i v e e le m e n Â
t a r y s c h o o ls w ith o v e r 50 p e r c e n t o f t h e p u p i l s e n r o l l e d
w i t h S p a n is h su rn a m es. None o f t h e s e s c h o o ls h a d anyw here
n e a r a c o m p a rab le p r o p o r t i o n o f a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t e a c h e r s
w i t h S p a n is h su rn a m es. In many c a s e s t h e r e w ere none and
i n no c a s e was t h e num ber o v e r 8 p e r c e n t .
T h e re a r e two a p p a r e n t a p p ro a c h e s t o t h e s o l u t i o n o f
t h i s com m unicatio n b a r r i e r b etw een M exican A m erican p a r e n t s
an d A nglo e d u c a t o r s . The f i r s t i s t o i n c r e a s e t h e num ber
o f t e a c h e r s , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , and c o u n s e lo r s o f M exican a n Â
c e s t r y and th u s d i r e c t l y a t t a c k th e d i f f i c u l t y . M exican
A m erican s t u d e n t s i n c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r s i t i e s have a d o p te d
a s one o f t h e i r m a jo r g o a l s , t h e e n c o u ra g e m e n t o f M exican
A m erican s t u d e n t s t o s t a y i n s c h o o l i n o r d e r t o become f u -
t u r e t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . V a rio u s s c h o o l sy s te m s
9
h a v e a l s o b een p l a c i n g p r i o r i t y on th e h i r i n g and p ro m o tio n
o f M exican A m erican s i n t o t e a c h i n g and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o s i Â
t i o n s . I t a p p e a r s , h o w ev er, t h a t a t l e a s t f o r some t im e ,
A n g lo s w i l l c o n tin u e t o be l a r g e l y in c h a rg e o f th e t e a c h Â
in g and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f M exican A m erican c h i l d r e n . In
any c a s e , t h e c o m m u n icatio n p ro b le m w i l l a lw ay s re m a in t o
some e x t e n t s i n c e t h e r e w i l l b e a n e e d f o r m a j o r i t y and
m i n o r i t y c u l t u r e s t o com m unicate.
E r n e s t o G a la r z a , Herman G a lle g o s , and J u l i a n Sam ora
e m p h a size t h e v i a b i l i t y o f th e M exican A m erican s u b - c u l t u r e
and c o n s e q u e n tly show t h a t t h e r e w i l l be a n e e d f o r imÂ
p ro v e d i n t e r c u l t u r a l com m unication f o r some tim e t o come:
The M exican -A m erican p ro b le m , f o r th o s e who c h o o se t o
t h i n k o f i t t h a t w ay, w i l l e n d u r e . T h is i s a p re d o m iÂ
n a n t l y young d em o g rap h ic g ro u p . I t i s l i k e l y t o s u s t a i n
t h e p r e s e n t h ig h r a t e o f r e p r o d u c t io n d u r i n g t h e n e x t
two o r t h r e e d e c a d e s , now tw ic e t h a t o f t h e g e n e r a l
s o c i e t y . I m m ig r a tio n , a t t h e p r e s e n t p a c e , w i l l ad d
40 ,0 0 0 o r m ore newcom ers e a c h y e a r . By t h e en d o f 1970
i t i s l i k e l y t h a t i n t h e S o u th w e st t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
o f t h e S p a n is h - s p e a k in g , th e S p a n is h -s u rn a m e d , th e
M e x ic a n -A m e ric a n s— w h a te v e r t h e i r d e s i g n a t i o n — w i l l be
w e l l o v e r 5 m i l l i o n , and p o s s i b l y c lo s e t o 6 m i l l i o n . 12
The se c o n d a p p ro a c h t o a s o l u t i o n o f t h e p ro b le m i s t o
im p ro v e co m m u n icatio n b etw een s c h o o ls and M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s . T h is a p p ro a c h i s th e c o n c e rn o f t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n .
By p r o v i d i n g d a t a on th e p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s c o n c e rn in g t h e v a r i a b l e s o f t h e co m m u n icatio n p r o -
• ^ E r n e s to G a la r z a , Herman G a lle g o s , and J u l i a n Sam ora,
M e x ica n -A m erica n s i n t h e S o u th w e st (S a n ta B a r b a r a : M cN ally
& L o f t i n , P u b l i s h e r s , 1 9 6 9 ), p p . 7 3 -7 4 .
10
c e s s f i t i s h o p ed th a ,t s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l and o t h e r s can c o n Â
s i d e r t h e s e p r e f e r e n c e s i n t h e i r com m unication w i t h M exican
A m e ric a n s . The i d e a l s o l u t i o n t o t h e p ro b le m s o f i n t e r -
c u l t u r a l co m m u n icatio n i s f o r th e o r i g i n a t i n g c o m m u n ic a to r,
i n t h i s c a s e th e A nglo t e a c h e r o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r , t o l e a r n
and a p p r e c i a t e as much a s p o s s i b l e a b o u t th e c u l t u r e o f t h e
r e c e i v i n g c o m m u n ica to r— t h e M exican A m erican p a r e n t . U n t i l
t h a t i d e a l s t a t e i s r e a c h e d , h ow ever, i t may be h e l p f u l t o
p r o v i d e s u c h t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w i t h c o m m u n ica tio n
g u i d e l i n e s t o a i d m e c h a n ic a lly i n t h e p r o c e s s o f communiÂ
c a t i n g w i t h t h e p a r e n t s o f young M exican A m e ric a n s .
T h ese g u i d e l i n e s c a n n o t be c o n s id e r e d p a n a c e a s f o r
a d v i s i n g A nglo c o m m u n ic a to rs. T here a re many f a c t o r s i n
co m m u n icatio n o t h e r th a n t h o s e c o n s id e r e d i n t h i s s t u d y .
F o r e x a m p le , t h e c o n t e n t o f th e m essa g e, w o rd in g and o r g a Â
n i z i n g t h e m e s sa g e , a s p e c t s o f fe e d b a c k , and so f o r t h h av e
n o t b een c o n s i d e r e d i n t h i s s tu d y b u t may be v i t a l f a c t o r s
i n how a m essage i s a c c e p te d by a r e c e i v e r o f a n o t h e r c u l Â
t u r e , T h is s tu d y i s , t h e r e f o r e , d e s in g e d t o s e r v e a s o n ly
a f i r s t s t e p i n d i s c o v e r i n g how M exican A m erican s p r e f e r t o
b e com m unicated w i t h by A nglo A m erican s c h o o l p e o p le and
a l s o t o p r o v i d e u s e f u l in f o r m a tio n f o r t h o s e r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r su c h c o m m u n ic a tio n .
A m ore d i r e c t c o n c e rn o f t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n i s t o p r o Â
v i d e co m m u n icatio n s c h o l a r s w ith p o s s i b l e i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e
11
ways i n w h ic h t h e s e tw o c u l t u r e s view com m unication c h an Â
n e l s , c o d e s , r e c e i v e r s , and s o u r c e s . Edward T. H a ll gave
co m m u n icatio n r e s e a r c h e r s new c o n c e p ts t o c o n s i d e r i n h i s
13
w ork on n o n - v e r b a l co m m u n icatio n f a c t o r s b etw een c u l t u r e s .
He p o i n t e d o u t t h a t v a r i o u s c u l t u r e s h av e d i f f e r e n t norm s
f o r su c h t h i n g s a s s p a c e , tim e , and o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t a f Â
f e c t th e way co m m u n ica tio n i s s e n t and r e c e i v e d . I f we e x Â
te n d H a l l 's a n a lo g y , we m ig h t s p e c u l a t e t h a t t h e r e may a l s o
b e d i f f e r e n c e s i n p r e f e r e n c e s t h a t c u l t u r e s h av e f o r o t h e r
c o m m u n icatio n e le m e n ts . S c h o o ls have i n t h e p a s t assum ed
t h a t M exican A m erican p a r e n t s s h o u ld re s p o n d t o s c h o o l comÂ
m u n ic a tio n i n t h e same way t h a t m i d d l e - c l a s s A nglos re s p o n d .
When th e y d i d n o t re s p o n d i n t h i s f a s h i o n , t h e e d u c a to r was
o f t e n t o o q u ic k t o s a y t h a t t h e M exican A m erican p a r e n t was
u n c o n c e rn e d w i t h h i s c h i l d ' s e d u c a ti o n . T h is a t t i t u d e i s
r e m i n i s c e n t o f H a l l 's A m erican t r a v e l e r who b ra n d e d p e r s o n s
from o t h e r c o u n t r i e s a s " u n d e rd e v e lo p e d A m erican s" b e c a u s e
th e y d id n o t a d h e r e t o tim e v a lu e s i n th e same way t h a t he
d i d .
T h is s t u d y , t h e n , h a s a s a b r o a d e r g o a l , t h e a tt e m p t
t o d e l i n e a t e co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exican A m erican s
w h ich may be a t v a r i a n c e w i t h p r e f e r e n c e s o f A nglo A m eriÂ
c a n s .
•^Edw ard T. H a l l , The S i l e n t L anguage (Garden C i t y ,
New Y ork: D ou b led ay and Company, In c T , l5"59).
12
The S ta te m e n t o f t h e P roblem
In t h i s s t u d y , an a tt e m p t was made t o d i s c o v e r th e
com m unication p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when
th e y a re b e in g com m unicated t o by p e r s o n n e l o f th e p u b l i c
e le m e n ta ry s c h o o ls o f Los A n g e le s . S in c e th e s e s c h o o l p e r Â
so n s a re l a r g e l y from n o n -M ex ican s u b - c u l t u r e s , t h e s tu d y
c e n t e r s on an i n t e r c u l t u r a l co m m u n icatio n p ro b le m . In o r Â
d e r t o d i s c o v e r c o m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exican A m eriÂ
can p a r e n t s , i n t e r v i e w s w ere c o n d u c te d w ith 130 p a r e n t s who
h a d c h i l d r e n e n r o l l e d i n Los A n g e le s C ity p u b l i c e le m e n ta ry
s c h o o ls . The 130 s u b j e c t s w ere draw n from two p o p u l a t i o n s .
A sam ple o f 6 8 p a r e n t s was draw n from s c h o o ls i n w hich t h e
d e n s i ty o f S p a n is h surnam e e n r o l l m e n t was a b o u t 9 8 p e r c e n t.
A n o th e r sam p le o f 62 p a r e n t s was draw n from s c h o o ls in
w hich th e d e n s i t y o f S p a n is h surnam e e n r o llm e n t was a b o u t
76 p e r c e n t .
The i n t e r v i e w s w ere c o n c e rn e d w ith d i s c o v e r i n g two
t y p e s o f d a t a . The f i r s t ty p e o f d a t a was t h e p a r t i c u l a r
c h a n n e l, c o d e , r e c e i v e r , and s o u r c e t h e p a r e n t s p r e f e r r e d
f o r s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l t o u se when c o m m u n icatin g f o u r d i f f e r Â
e n t ty p e s o f m essa g e s w i t h th em . T hese f o u r m essage ty p e s
w e re : (1) th e p r o g r e s s o f t h e c h i l d i n h i s s c h o o l w ork,
(2). announcem ent o f a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y , (3) d i s c i p l i n e o f
th e c h i l d , and (4) p r a i s e o f th e c h i l d .
The s e c o n d ty p e o f d a t a e l i c i t e d from t h e i n t e r v i e w s
was d em o g rap h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e p a r e n t s . I n a d d i-
13
t i o n t o p o p u la tio n d e n s i t y , t h e f o llo w in g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
w ere d e te rm in e d : s e x , a g e , la n g u a g e sp o k en i n t h e home,
o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e , u rb a n o r r u r a l
b a c k g ro u n d s , p a r e n t s ' u rb a n o r r u r a l b a c k g r o u n d s , l e n g t h o f
r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s , fo rm a l e d u c a t i o n a l a t t a i n m e n t ,
m a r i t a l s t a t u s , num ber o f c h i l d r e n in t h e home, num ber o f
a d u l t s i n t h e home, c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n , and age a t m a rr ia g e .
T hese two c a t e g o r i e s o f d a t a w ere th e n c o r r e l a t e d i n
o r d e r t o d i s c o v e r i f t h e r e w ere any s a l i e n t d em o g rap h ic
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w h ich r e l a t e d t o any o f t h e com m un icatio n
p r e f e r e n c e s i n d i c a t e d a b o v e .
D e f i n i t i o n s o f Terms
C om m unication. — D e f i n i t i o n s o f t h e te rm "com m unicaÂ
t i o n " a r e m y r ia d .14 Lee q . T h a y e r, f o r e x am p le , d e l i n e a t e d
"more th a n 25 c o n c e p t u a l l y d i f f e r e n t r e f e r e n t s f o r t h i s
t e r m ! " M a n y d e f i n i t i o n s o f human c o m m u n icatio n c e n t e r
a ro u n d t h e n o t io n o f a p r o c e s s i n w h ich two o r m ore p e rs o n s
t r a n s m i t and r e c e i v e i d e a s by m eans o f sy m b o ls. F o r th e
p u rp o s e o f t h i s s t u d y , t h e co m m u n icatio n p r o c e s s c o n s i s t s
o f m essa g es from e le m e n ta r y s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l s e n t by v a rio u s
14a s u rv e y o f v a r i o u s d e f i n i t i o n s can b e fo u n d in
Howard H. M a rtin and K en n eth E. A n d e rs e n , e d s . , S peech ComÂ
m u n ic a tio n : A n a ly s is and R e a d in g s (B o sto n : A lly n and
B acon, I n c . , 1 9 6 8 ), p p . 2 -2 3 .
15Lee 0 . T h a y e r, "On T h e o r y - B u ild in g i n C om m unication:
Some C o n c e p tu a l P ro b le m s ," The J o u r n a l o f C om m un ication,
X I I I , No. 4 (December 1 9 6 3 ), 219.
14
c h a n n e ls by m eans o f v e r b a l sym bols o r c o d e s t o M exican
A m erican p a r e n t s o f e le m e n ta ry s c h o o l p u p i l s . " I n t e r c u l -
t u r a l c o m m u n ic a tio n ," as u se d h e r e , r e f e r s t o th e t r a n s f e r
o f m essa g es b e tw ee n d i f f e r e n t e t h n i c g ro u p s o r c u l t u r e s
w i t h i n a l a r g e r c u l t u r a l fram ew ork.
C h a n n e l. — C h a n n e ls o f co m m unication o r m ed ia a r e deÂ
f i n e d a s t h o s e s e l e c t e d m ethods in w h ich m e s sa g e s a r e
t r a n s m i t t e d from e le m e n ta ry s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l t o t h e M exican
A m erican p a r e n t s . B oth o r a l a n d w r i t t e n c h a n n e ls w ere i n Â
c lu d e d i n t h i s s tu d y . The o r a l c h a n n e ls s t u d i e d w ere t e l e Â
p h o n e , c o n fe r e n c e in s c h o o l, and c o n fe r e n c e i n t h e home.
The w r i t t e n c h a n n e ls i n v e s t i g a t e d w e re p e r s o n a l l e t t e r s d eÂ
l i v e r e d by m a il and p r i n t e d form s d e l i v e r e d t o t h e p a r e n t
by t h e c h i l d .
C ode. — C od e, as u se d i n t h i s s t u d y , r e f e r s t o t h e l a n Â
g u a g e s w hich M exican A m erican p a r e n t s p r e f e r f o r s c h o o l
p e r s o n s t o u s e when com m unicating w i t h them . The la n g u a g e
c h o ic e s i n c l u d e d i n t h e s tu d y a r e S p a n is h , E n g l i s h , o r b o th
la n g u a g e s .
R e c e i v e r . — The r e c e i v e r o f m essag es was d e f i n e d a s t h e
p e r s o n i n t h e M exican A m erican home t o whom m e ssa g e s s h o u ld
b e d i r e c t e d by s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l . P o s s i b l e r e c e i v e r s i n Â
c lu d e d f a t h e r , m o th e r, o r b o th p a r e n t s .
S o u r c e . — The s o u rc e f o r m e ssa g e s r e f e r s t o t h e p r e -
15
f e r r e d p e rs o n t o s e n d m essages from t h e s c h o o l . The o p e r a Â
t i o n a l c a t e g o r i e s in c lu d e d th e p r i n c i p a l , v i c e p r i n c i p a l ,
t e a c h e r , t e a c h e r a i d e , o r s c h o o l n u r s e . The m essage s o u rc e ,
i n t h i s c a s e , i s synonym ous w ith t h e te rm " e le m e n ta ry
s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l ."
M exican A m e ric a n s . — T h ere a r e a num ber o f te rm s u se d
t o d e s c r i b e t h e p o p u l a t i o n s t u d i e d i n t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n .
T hese te rm s a r e som ew hat c o n fu s in g a n d a l l h a v e s l i g h t d e Â
g r e e s o f v a r i a t i o n i n t h e i r c o n n o ta ti o n s d e p e n d in g upon
l o c a t i o n , n a t i o n a l o r i g i n , d e g re e o f m i l i t a n c y , and o t h e r
f a c t o r s . A few o f t h e many te rm s u s e d t o d e s c r i b e t h i s
g ro u p o f p e o p le a r e L a t i n s , L a t in A m e ric a n s , S p a n is h , SpanÂ
i s h A m e ric a n s , C h ic a n o s , M e x ica n s, M exican A m e ric a n s , S pan Â
i s h su rn a m ed , S p a n is h s p e a k in g , and so f o r t h . E r n e s t o
G a la r z a and h i s c o - w r i t e r s e x p la in some o f t h e s e d i f f e r Â
e n c e s :
The v a r i o u s te rm s u s e d to i d e n t i f y i n one m an a g ea b le
lump t h e brown human b e in g s who l i v e i n t h e S o u th w e st
s u g g e s t i m p o r t a n t d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n s . The S p a n is h -s u rn a m e d
i n c l u d e r e c e n t im m ig ra n ts from M ex ico , C e n t r a l A m e ric a ,
P u e r t o R ic o , and C uba, a s w e l l as t h e th o u s a n d s o f F i l i Â
p in o s who h av e made C a l i f o r n i a t h e i r home f o r two g e n e r Â
a t i o n s . The S p a n ish -A m e ric a n s o f C o lo ra d o an d New M exico
p r e f e r n o t t o b e c o n fu s e d w ith M e x ican s s t r a i g h t o u t o f
S o n o ra . The te rm M exican-A m erican b r e a k s i n t h r e e p a r t s
a t t h e hyphen: t h e r e a r e th o s e who r e g a r d th e m s e lv e s
a s " p u r e M e x ica n "; t h o s e who c o n s i d e r th e m s e lv e s A m eriÂ
c a n s o f M exican a n c e s tr y ? and t h o s e who f e e l th e y a r e
sim p ly A m erican s o f H is p a n ic l i n e a g e . 16
• ^ G a la r z a e t a l . , p . 58.
16
A lth o u g h no te rm i s e n t i r e l y s a t i s f a c t o r y , t h i s s tu d y
w i l l p r i m a r i l y em ploy t h e te rm "M exican A m e ric an s" s i n c e i t
seem s t o be more g e n e r a l l y a c c e p te d and a p p a r e n t l y l e s s
o b j e c t i o n a b l e t o m o st th a n o t h e r te r m s . A ls o , t h e sam ple
was c o n f in e d t o t h o s e p e rs o n s w ith U n ite d S t a t e s o r M exican
b i r t h and a n c e s t r y who w ere S p a n ish surn am ed an d th u s w ould
co n fo rm w ith G a l a r z a 's c o n c e p t o f th e te rm . One p e rs o n who
h a d im m ig ra te d from P u e r to R ico was i n t e r v i e w e d b u t was
e l i m i n a t e d from t h e f i n a l sa m p le . O th e r t e r m s , e s p e c i a l l y
" S p a n is h su rn a m e d ," "M e x ica n o s," and " C h ic a n o s" w i l l be
u s e d i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y from tim e t o tim e i n t h i s s t u d y , e s p e Â
c i a l l y when q u o tin g from s o u r c e s t h a t u se su c h c l a s s i f i c a Â
t i o n s .
A nglo A m e ric a n s . — A n o th e r te rm t h a t w i l l b e u s e d a t
tim e s t o d e s c r i b e t h e com m unication s o u r c e p o p u l a t i o n o f
t h i s s tu d y i s A nglo A m erican s o r A n g lo s. T h is te rm , l i k e
M exican A m e ric a n s , i s a l s o i n a c c u r a t e b u t i t i s v e ry common
i n t h e " b a r r i o s " o r n e ig h b o rh o o d s o f th e M exican A m erican
com m unity. I t h a s a l s o b e en a d o p te d by m ost w r i t e r s d e a l Â
in g w i t h t h e s e two e t h n i c g r o u p s . S p a n is h s p e a k in g p e r s o n s
o f t e n u s e th e te rm " g rin g o " to i d e n t i f y a p e r s o n from t h i s
c u l t u r a l g ro u p . As m e n tio n e d e a r l i e r , m ost e le m e n ta r y
s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l a r e A n g lo s.
17
P r e v io u s R e se a rc h
A re v ie w o f th e l i t e r a t u r e r e v e a l e d t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s
o f r e l e v a n t r e s e a r c h m a t e r i a l s : (1) g e n e r a l r e s e a r c h on
M exican A m e ric a n s , (2) i n t e r c u l t u r a l c o m m u n icatio n r e s e a r c h ,
and (3) c o n t r i b u t o r y s t u d i e s d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o t h i s
p r o j e c t .
G e n e r a l R e s e a rc h on
M exican A m erican s
R e s e a rc h c o n c e rn in g M exican A m ericans a p p e a r s r e a s o n Â
a b ly a c t i v e u n t i l i t i s com pared w ith th e m ore s u s t a i n e d
r e s e a r c h by a n d a b o u t th e N egro m i n o r i t y . A num ber o f
w o rk s h a v e b e e n p u b l is h e d a b o u t th e e d u c a t i o n , l a b o r , c u l Â
t u r e , im m ig r a tio n , la n g u a g e , and o t h e r f a c t o r s o f t h e M exiÂ
c a n A m erican m i n o r i t y . Much o f t h i s m a t e r i a l was r e c e n t l y
b r o u g h t t o g e t h e r i n b i b l i o g r a p h i c form by t h e M e x ic a n -
A m erican S tu d y P r o j e c t a t th e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e le s , The r e v i s e d b i b l i o g r a p h y , p u b l i s h e d i n May,
1 9 6 7 , i s p r e c e d e d by an e x c e l l e n t b i b l i o g r a p h i c e s s a y
w r i t t e n by R a lp h G u z m a n .^ I n t h i s e s s a y , Guzman s k e t c h e s
t h e h i s t o r y o f th e l i t e r a t u r e on th e M exican A m erican and
a l s o d i s c u s s e s th e p ro b le m o f th e im age o f t h e M exican
^ R a l p h Guzman, "The S e a rc h f o r M eaning: A B i b l i o Â
g r a p h i c E s s a y ," R e v is e d B i b li o g r a p h y , M ex ican -A m erican
S tu d y P r o j e c t , A dvance R e p o rt No. 3 (Los A n g e le s : U n iv e rÂ
s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a a t Los A n g e le s , G ra d u a te S c h o o l o f
B u s in e s s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , D iv is io n o f R e s e a rc h , 1 9 6 6 ),
p p . v i i - x x i i i .
18
A m erican a s r e f l e c t e d i n t h i s l i t e r a t u r e .
S in c e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s b i b l i o g r a p h y , some a d d i Â
t i o n a l r e s e a r c h h a s a p p e a re d . N o ta b le among t h e s e a r e two
w o rk s w h ic h h a v e b een r e f e r r e d t o p r e v i o u s l y i n t h i s c h ap Â
t e r , M e x ica n -A m erica n s i n th e S o u th w e st by E r n e s t o G a la r z a
an d o t h e r s and M exican A m erican s i n S c h o o l: A H i s t o r y o f
E d u c a ti o n a l N e g le c t by Thomas P . C a r t e r .
I n t e r c u l t u r a l C om m unication
R e s e a rc h
C u r r e n t l y , a d e c id e d i n c r e a s e in i n t e r c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s
can b e o b s e r v e d . To be s u r e , s c h o l a r s i n a n th r o p o lo g y ,
s o c i o l o g y , an d e d u c a ti o n h av e lo n g been c o n c e rn e d w ith su c h
s u b j e c t s a s c o m p e n sa to ry e d u c a t i o n , v a lu e s y s te m s , and
s t u d i e s o f i n d i v i d u a l c u l t u r e s , b u t t h i s r e s e a r c h d i d n o t
t a k e on t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f im m ediacy u n t i l th e p a s t few
y e a r s . Even w ith t h i s new. s u rg e o f r e s e a r c h c o n c e rn in g
i n t e r c u l t u r a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s , v e ry l i t t l e o f i t h a s b een d i Â
r e c t l y f o c u s s e d on t h e p ro b le m s o f c o m m u n icatio n betw een
c u l t u r e s .
R e c e n tl y , some r e s e a r c h h a s a p p e a re d i n sp e e c h commuÂ
n i c a t i o n j o u r n a l s and o t h e r s o u r c e s t h e o r i z i n g a b o u t i n t e r Â
c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ic a tio n . Many o f t h e s e c o n c e n t r a t e on some
a s p e c t o f t h e r h e t o r i c o f p r o t e s t . T y p ic a l o f t h i s ty p e o f
s tu d y i s The R h e to r i c o f B la c k Power by R o b e rt L. S c o t t and
19
1 R
Wayne B r o c k r ie d e . In t h i s b o o k , t h e a u t h o r s a n a ly z e th e
s p e e c h e s and th e c o n f l i c t s b e tw ee n B la c k s and W h ites in
r e c e n t c i v i l r i g h t s s t r u g g l e s .
S t u d i e s o f a d e s c r i p t i v e n a t u r e can a l s o be fo u n d .
Many o f t h e s e a r e c o n c e rn e d w i t h d e l i n e a t i n g t h e phenom ena
o f c r o s s - c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ica tio n . C r o s s - c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s
a r e g e n e r a l l y c o n c e rn e d w ith c o m p a rin g an d c o n t r a s t i n g n a Â
t i o n a l i t i e s and fo c u s on p ro b le m s c r e a t e d by l i n g u i s t i c
i n c o m p a t i b i l i t y . T y p ic a l o f t h i s ty p e o f r e s e a r c h i s a
s tu d y by Lee S a l i s b u r y - ^ w h ich e n u m e ra te s com m unication
b a r r i e r s b etw een Eskimo t r i b e s an d t h e e n c r o a c h in g W estern
c u l t u r e i n A la s k a . Some c r o s s - c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s d e a l w ith
n o n - v e r b a l com m unication f a c t o r s . Dogan C u c e lo g lu , f o r
i n s t a n c e , s t u d i e d t h e a f f e c t i v e and r e f e r e n t i a l m eaning
s t i m u l a t e d by f a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n s o f J a p a n e s e and o t h e r n a -
p 0
t x o n a l x t x e s . w Edward T. H a l l , c i t e d e a r l i e r , was a p i o Â
n e e r i n n o n - v e r b a l co m m u n icatio n b reak d o w n s and b a r r i e r s
b e tw e e n c u l t u r e s . C r o s s - c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s p r o v i d e some i n Â
s i g h t i n t o i n t e r c u l t u r a l co m m u n icatio n b u t do n o t , o f
•^ R o b e rt L. S c o t t a n d Wayne B r o c k r i e d e , The R h e to r i c
o f B lac k Pow er (New Y ork: H a rp e r and Row P u b l i s h e r s , 1 9 6 9 ).
19Lee S a l i s b u r y , " C r o s s - C u l t u r a l C om m unication and
D ra m a tic R i t u a l , " i n C o m m unication: C o n c e p ts and P e r s p e c -
t i v e s , e d . Lee 0 . T h ay e r (W a sh in g to n , D. C. : S p a r ta n B o o k s,
1 9 6 7 ), p p . 7 7 -9 5 .
20Dogan C u c e lo g lu , "A C r o s s - C u l t u r a l S tu d y o f CommuniÂ
c a t i o n v i a F a c i a l E x p r e s s io n s " ( u n p u b lis h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a Â
t i o n , U n i v e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s , 1 9 6 7 ).
20
c o u r s e , d i r e c t l y a t t a c k t h e p ro b le m o f c o m m u n icatio n b e Â
tw een g ro u p s w i t h in a l a r g e r c u l t u r e .
Some s t u d i e s can be fo u n d t h a t d e s c r i b e i n t e r c u l t u r a l
com m unicatio n p ro b lem s o f g ro u p s w i t h i n t h e same l a r g e r
c u l t u r e . An a r t i c l e by J a c k L . D a n ie l i s t y p i c a l . ^ H is
s tu d y i s c o n c e rn e d w i t h v e r b a l c u e s e m i t t e d by w h ite sp e a k Â
e r s t h a t le a d t o i n e f f e c t i v e c o m m u n ica tio n b etw een w h ite
and b la c k p e o p le . The s tu d y i d e n t i f i e s many o f th e v e r b a l
i n d i c e s t h a t B la c k s u se t o ju d g e t h e s i n c e r i t y o f w h ite
s p e a k e r s . S em an tic o r i e n t e d s t u d i e s o f co m m u n icatio n b e Â
tw een c u l t u r e s a re t y p i f i e d by a s u r v e y o f r a c i a l l y p o t e n t
w ords done by Ross and M a d d o x . ^2 They a tt e m p t e d t o i s o l a t e
w ords w h ich have h ig h p r e j u d i c e c o n n o t a t i o n s i n o r d e r t o
e x p o se i n t e r c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ic a tio n b a r r i e r s .
An im p o r ta n t p i o n e e r i n g s t u d y , w hich s y n t h e s i z e d t h e
s t a t u s o f r e s e a r c h i n f a c e - t o - f a c e co m m u n icatio n b etw een
c u l t u r e s , was done a s a d o c t o r a l s tu d y by L a u re n E. E k ro th
a t th e U n i v e r s i ty o f M in n e s o ta i n 1 9 6 7 . ^ E k ro th c o m p iled
^ J a c k L. D a n ie l, "The F a c i l i t a t i o n o f W h ite -B la c k
C o m m u n icatio n ," The J o u r n a l o f C o m m u n icatio n , XX, No. 2
(J u n e , 1 9 7 0 ), 1 3 4 -1 4 1 .
22r . s . Ross and G. M addox, " R a c i a l l y P o t e n t W ords:
A S tudy t o H elp L o c a te L anguage B a r r i e r s t o I n t e r g r o u p ComÂ
m u n ic a tio n " (Wayne S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 1964) . (M im eographed.)
23L auren e . E k r o th , "The S tu d y o f F a c e - t o - F a c e CommuÂ
n i c a t i o n Between C u l t u r e s : P r e s e n t S t a t u s and D i r e c t io n s "
(u n p u b lis h e d Ph.D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n i v e r s i t y o f M in n e s o ta ,
1967) .
21
and a n a ly z e d s t u d i e s o f f a c e - t o - f a c e com m unication b etw een
members o f d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s . T h ree m a jo r c a t e g o r i e s o f
i n t e r c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s w e re sum m arized: s o c i a l and p sy c h o Â
l o g i c a l f a c t o r s , n o n - l i n g u i s t i c s ig n b e h a v i o r , and l i n g u i s Â
t i c s i g n b e h a v i o r . He c o n c lu d e d t h a t th e r e s e a r c h i n a l l
t h r e e a r e a s h a s b e en m e a g re . One o f h i s recom m end atio ns
f o r f u r t h e r s tu d y r e l a t e s t o a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h i s d i s Â
s e r t a t i o n . E k ro th s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e r e s h o u ld b e m ore emÂ
p i r i c a l s tu d y o f i n t e r c u l t u r a l i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h in t h e s e t Â
t i n g s i n w hich i t n o r m a lly o c c u r s . H is d i s s e r t a t i o n i s
a l s o v a lu a b le s i n c e i t sum m arized r e s e a r c h done up t o 1967.
C o n t r ib u t o r y S t u d i e s
A re v ie w o f th e l i t e r a t u r e u n c o v e re d f o u r d o c t o r a l
d i s s e r t a t i o n s d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o t h i s p r o j e c t .
The s e m in a l s tu d y f o r r e s e a r c h on c h a n n e ls o f communiÂ
c a t i o n a p p e a rs t o be a d o c t o r a l d i s s e r t a t i o n c o m p le te d a t
L o u is ia n a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y i n 1956 by F re d T e w e l l . ^ 4
T e w e ll h y p o th e s iz e d t h a t v e r y l i t t l e com m unication p a s s e s
d i r e c t l y from th e w h i t e com m unity t o t h e b la c k comm unity i n
B aton R ouge, L o u i s i a n a . He a l s o s t u d i e d th e c h a n n e ls o f
co m m u n icatio n , w r i t t e n a n d o r a l , t h a t w ere u se d by N eg roes
and t h e e f f e c t o f e d u c a ti o n on t h e u sa g e o f th e c h a n n e ls .
^ F r e d T e w e ll, "A S tu d y o f t h e C h a n n e ls o f CommunicaÂ
t i o n Used by 100 N egro R e s i d e n t s o f B aton Rouge, L o u is ia n a "
(u n p u b lis h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , L o u is ia n a S t a t e U n iv e r s ity ,
1 9 5 6 ).
22
He fo u n d t h a t e d u c a ti o n l e v e l s a f f e c t e d t h e u sa g e o f c h a n Â
n e l s o f c o m m u n ica tio n b u t more s i g n i f i c a n t l y , he d i s c o v e r e d
t h a t t h e r e w ere n o f r e e - f l o w i n g c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n icatio n
b etw een t h e two c u l t u r e s .
G a i l E . M yers c o m p le te d h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n , "A S tu d y o f
t h e C h a n n e ls o f C om m unication Used by One H undred S p a n is h -
25
Named R e s i d e n t s o f D e n v e r, C o lo ra d o 1 1 i n 1959. T h is s tu d y
i s p r i m a r i l y c o n c e rn e d w ith m ass com m unication c h a n n e ls
su c h a s n e w sp a p e rs and r a d i o s t a t i o n s . I t i s o n ly i n c i d e n Â
t a l l y c o n c e rn e d w i t h a s p e c t s o f i n t e r c u l t u r a l com m unicaÂ
t i o n .
A u g u s t P . L o r e n z i n i , s tu d y in g t h e p a t t e r n s o f communiÂ
c a t i o n i n P h o e n ix , A r iz o n a , was i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e e x t e n t
and n a t u r e o f co m m u n icatio n b etw een N e g ro e s , S p a n ish -n a m e d ,
and w h ite r e s i d e n t s o f t h a t c i t y . H is s t u d y , l i k e t h o s e o f
T e w e ll an d M y e rs, e m p h a siz e d th e c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ica tio n
u s e d by t h e s e g ro u p s and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h a t a f f e c t e d
t h e i r c h o ic e o f p a r t i c u l a r c h a n n e ls . L o r e n z i n i f s 1962 d i s Â
s e r t a t i o n was e n t i t l e d "A S tu d y o f th e P a t t e r n s o f CommuniÂ
c a t i o n U sed by F i f t y N egro and F i f t y S panish-N am ed R e s i -
2 6
d e n ts o f P h o e n ix , A r iz o n a ."
25G a i l E. M y e rs, "A S tu d y o f t h e C h a n n e ls o f CommuniÂ
c a t i o n U sed by One H undred S panish-N am ed R e s i d e n t s o f DenÂ
v e r , C o lo ra d o " (u n p u b lis h e d Ph.D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , The U n iv e r Â
s i t y o f D e n v e r, 1 9 5 9 ).
26A u g u st P . L o r e n z i n i , "A S tud y o f t h e P a t t e r n s o f
23
Jam es E. B re n n a n 's d i s s e r t a t i o n , "A S tu d y o f t h e ChanÂ
n e l s o f C om m unication Used by S panish -N am ed R e s i d e n t s o f
San A n to n io , T e x a s ," was c o m p le te d i n 1 9 6 8 .^ 7 T h is s tu d y
i s a l s o i n d e b t e d t o T e w e ll1s 1956 s t u d y . B re n n an h a d t h r e e
p u r p o s e s i n h i s s tu d y : (1) t o d e te r m in e t h e c o m p a ra tiv e
u s a g e o f s e v e r a l c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ic a tio n , (2) t o d i s c o v e r
t h e m ore w id e ly u s e d c h a n n e ls and s u b - c h a n n e l s o f communiÂ
c a t i o n , and (3) t o i d e n t i f y t h e p r i n c i p a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
o f e a c h p r e f e r r e d s u b -c h a n n e l and s p e c i f i c d e m o g ra p h ic
v a r i a b l e s o f i t s u s e r s . A lth o u g h B rennan d i s c u s s e s i n t e r Â
p e r s o n a l com m unication c h a n n e ls , he i s p r i m a r i l y c o n c e rn e d
w i t h m ass m ed ia c h a n n e ls .
D i s t i n c t i o n s b etw een th e p r e s e n t s tu d y an d c o n t r i b u Â
t o r y s t u d i e s . — A lth o u g h t h e p r e s e n t s tu d y i s i n d e b t e d t o
t h e f o u r s t u d i e s d e s c r i b e d above f o r b a s i c m e th o d o lo g y , i t
i s u n iq u e i n t h a t (1) p rim a ry e m p h asis was p l a c e d upon i n Â
t e r c u l t u r a l com m unication by p o s t u l a t i n g a s o u r c e o f one
c u l t u r e and a r e c e i v e r o f a n o th e r , (2) t h e c h a n n e ls o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n s t u d i e d i n th e p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h a r e c o n c e rn e d
C om m unication U sed by F i f t y N egro and F i f t y S panish-N am ed
R e s i d e n t s o f P h o e n ix , A riz o n a " (u n p u b lis h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a Â
t i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f D e n v er, 1 9 6 2 ).
27Jam es E. B re n n an , "A S tu d y o f t h e C h a n n e ls o f CommuÂ
n i c a t i o n U sed by Spanish-N am ed R e s id e n ts o f San A n to n io ,
T ex a s" ( u n p u b lis h e d Ph.D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , L o u is ia n a S t a t e
U n i v e r s i t y , 1 9 6 8 ).
24
w i t h i n t e r p e r s o n a l m edia r a t h e r th a n m ass m e d ia , (3) o t h e r
e le m e n ts o f th e com m unication p r o c e s s w e re s t u d i e d in a d d i Â
t i o n t o c h a n n e ls , nam ely c o d e , r e c e i v e r , and s o u r c e o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n , C4) two d i f f e r e n t sa m p le s w i t h i n t h e M exican
A m erican comm unity w ere t a k e n , b a s e d upon p o p u l a t i o n denÂ
s i t y , (5) a t t i t u d e s to w a rd c o m m u n ica tio n c h a n n e ls , c o d e s ,
s o u r c e s , and r e c e i v e r s w ere e l i c i t e d r a t h e r th a n d e te r m in Â
in g t h e c h a n n e ls a c t u a l l y u s e d , and (6) an o p p o r t u n i t y was
p r o v id e d f o r th e r e s p o n d e n ts t o i n d i c a t e w h a t th e y c o n s id Â
e r e d t o b e th e w o r s t , as w e l l a s t h e b e s t , c h a n n e l, c o d e ,
r e c e i v e r , and s o u r c e t h a t c o u ld be u s e d i n c o m m u n icatin g
w i t h them .
O r g a n iz a tio n o f t h e D i s s e r t a t i o n
C h a p te r I I c o n t a i n s a d e t a i l e d e x p l a n a t i o n o f th e
m eth o d o lo g y em ployed i n t h i s s t u d y . I n c l u d e d i n t h i s s e c Â
t i o n i s a re v ie w o f th e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n d e s i g n in g and
t e s t i n g t h e i n t e r v i e w q u e s t i o n n a i r e , how i n t e r v i e w e r s w ere
s e l e c t e d and t r a i n e d , how i n t e r v i e w s w e re c o n d u c te d , how
t h e p o p u l a t i o n sam ple was d e te r m in e d , t h e ty p e o f d a ta c o l Â
l e c t e d , and how t h e d a ta w ere a n a ly z e d .
C h a p te r s I I I th ro u g h VI u se t h e same o r g a n i z a t i o n
fo r m a t. E ach o f t h e s e f o u r c h a p t e r s w i l l f i r s t r e p o r t t h e
co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e t o t a l sa m p le o f M exican
A m erican p a r e n t s an d th e n w i l l d i s c u s s t h o s e d e m o g ra p h ic
d i v i s i o n s o f t h e t o t a l sam ple w h ic h h a v e com m un ication
25
p r e f e r e n c e s t h a t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d e v i a t e from th o s e o f th e
t o t a l sa m p le . Thus C h a p te r I I I w i l l d i s c u s s t h e communicaÂ
t i o n p r e f e r e n c e s f o r a m essage c o n c e rn e d w ith t h e p r o g r e s s
o f t h e c h i l d i n s c h o o l . C h a p te r IV w i l l d i s c u s s p r e f e r Â
e n c e s f o r a m essag e a n n o u n c in g a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y ; C h a p te r
V, a m essage c o n c e rn in g t h e c h i l d ' s d i s c i p l i n e ; and C h a p te r
V I, a m essage p r a i s i n g an a c c o m p lish m e n t o f t h e c h i l d .
C h a p te r V II w i l l a n a ly z e t h e d a t a by s e p a r a t e l y conÂ
s i d e r i n g e a c h o f t h e co m m u n icatio n e le m e n ts s t u d i e d . SaÂ
l i e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e v a r i o u s c h a n n e ls , c o d e s , r e Â
c e i v e r s , and s o u r c e s w i l l be p r e s e n t e d i n an e f f o r t t o p r o Â
v id e more i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e c o m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s o f
M exican A m erican p a r e n t s .
C h a p te r V I I I w i l l p r e s e n t a summary and c o n c l u s i o n s ,
and recommend a d d i t i o n a l r e s e a r c h .
CHAPTER I I
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
T h is c h a p t e r re v ie w s t h e m eth o d o lo g y em ployed i n t h i s
r e s e a r c h . A s p e c ts o f t h e m eth o d o lo g y t o be e x p la in e d a r e :
(1) how t h e i n t e r v i e w q u e s t i o n n a i r e was d e s ig n e d and t e s t e d ,
(2) how t h e i n t e r v i e w e r s w ere t r a i n e d , (3) how th e i n t e r Â
view s w ere c o n d u c te d , (4) how t h e p o p u l a t i o n sam ple was
d e te r m in e d , (5) t h e ty p e o f d a t a c o l l e c t e d , and (6) how t h e
d a ta w ere a n a ly z e d .
D e s ig n in g and T e s t i n g t h e
I n t e r v i e w Q u e s t i o n n a i r e
An i n t e r v i e w q u e s t i o n n a i r e , p a r t i a l l y b a se d upon th o s e
u se d i n t h e c o n t r i b u t o r y s t u d i e s d i s c u s s e d in C h a p te r I ,
was d e s ig n e d d u r in g t h e summer and f a l l o f 1969. I n SepÂ
te m b e r 1969 c o p ie s o f t h e t e n t a t i v e in te r v ie w i n s tr u m e n t
were d i s t r i b u t e d t o o v e r one h u n d re d s e l e c t e d e le m e n ta ry
t e a c h e r s an d p r i n c i p a l s i n t h e E le m e n ta ry A rea E a s t d i s Â
t r i c t o f t h e Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o ls . (See A ppendix A .)
A tta c h e d t o t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e was an e x p la n a to r y l e t t e r and
s h e e t s w ith q u e s t i o n s d e s ig n e d t o e l i c i t c r i t i c i s m o f th e
d e s ig n o f t h e s tu d y and t h e i n t e r v i e w i n s tr u m e n t. T e a c h e rs
and p r i n c i p a l s a s k e d t o c r i t i c i z e th e i n te r v ie w in s tr u m e n t
26
27
w ere M exican A m e ric a n s and A nglos w ith c o n s i d e r a b le e x p e r i Â
e n ce i n th e b a r r i o s o f E a s t Los A n g e le s .
Of t h e f o r t y - s e v e n t e n t a t i v e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s t h a t w ere
r e t u r n e d , many i n c l u d e d v a l u a b l e s u g g e s t i o n s f o r im p ro v e Â
m ent o f th e d e s ig n a n d t h e i n t e r v i e w i n s t r u m e n t . F o r e x Â
am ple, s e v e r a l o f t h e t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n d i c a t e d
th e n e e d f o r s e n d in g m e ssa g e s w hich p r a i s e d an a c c o m p lis h Â
m ent o f t h e c h i l d . T h e r e f o r e , t h e d e s ig n o f t h e s tu d y was
e n la r g e d t o i n c l u d e t h i s f o u r t h m essage c a te g o r y . I t was
a l s o s u g g e s te d t h a t i t w ould b e o f v a lu e t o know i f th e
p a r e n t s h a d any p r e f e r e n c e s a s t o who s h o u ld o r i g i n a t e
m e ssa g e s; f o r e x a m p le , t h e p r i n c i p a l , v i c e p r i n c i p a l ,
t e a c h e r , o r o t h e r s . T h is c a te g o r y was a l s o added t o th e
d e s ig n and i n c l u d e d i n t h e r e v i s e d i n s t r u m e n t . Many su g Â
g e s t i o n s f o r im p ro v in g t h e p h r a s i n g o f q u e s t i o n s and i n Â
s t r u c t i o n s w ere a l s o i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o th e f i n a l r e v i s i o n
o f th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e . (See A ppendix B .)
A f t e r r e v i s i n g t h e i n t e r v i e w q u e s t i o n n a i r e , i t was
t r a n s l a t e d i n t o S p a n is h . Two p r o c e d u r e s , d e s c r i b e d by
G i l b e r t Sax,-*- w e re u s e d t o v a l i d a t e t h e t r a n s l a t i o n . The
f i r s t p r o c e d u r e i s c a l l e d " c o o p e r a tiv e t r a n s l a t i o n . " T h ree
b i l i n g u a l t r a n s l a t o r s w ere em ployed t o i n d i v i d u a l l y t r a n s Â
l a t e t h e i n s t r u m e n t . A f t e r t h e t h r e e h a d c o m p le te d t h e i r
â– *-Gilbert S a x , E m p i r i c a l F o u n d a tio n s o f E d u c a tio n a l R e-
s e a r c h (E nglew ood C l i f f s , New J e r s e y : P r e n t i c e - H a l l , I n c . ,
1 9 6 8 ), p p . 3 2 1 -3 2 3 .
28
i n d i v i d u a l t r a n s l a t i o n s , th e y m et t o g e t h e r t o i n c o r p o r a t e
t h e t h r e e v e r s i o n s i n t o a u n i f i e d t r a n s l a t i o n . Where t h e r e
w e re d is a g r e e m e n ts on t r a n s l a t i o n , th e t h r e e t r a n s l a t o r s
n e g o t i a t e d u n t i l s a t i s f a c t i o n was re a c h e d .
The s e c o n d p r o c e d u r e u se d t o v e r i f y t h e q u a l i t y o f t h e
t r a n s l a t i o n was " b a c k - t r a n s l a t i o n . " A f t e r t h e c o o p e r a t i v e
t r a n s l a t i o n w as c o m p le te d , a n o th e r b i l i n g u a l who h a d n o t
se e n t h e o r i g i n a l E n g li s h i n s t r u m e n t was em ployed t o b a c k -
t r a n s l a t e t h e S p a n is h i n s t r u m e n t i n t o E n g l i s h . The two
E n g li s h v e r s i o n s w ere th e n com pared f o r a c c u ra c y i n m eaning.
The b a c k - t r a n s l a t i o n p ro v e d t o be e x tre m e ly c l o s e t o th e
o r i g i n a l E n g l i s h i n s t r u m e n t and t h e r e f o r e th e S p a n is h i n Â
s tr u m e n t was deem ed s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r t h e s tu d y . (See ApÂ
p e n d ix C .)
A l l o f t h e t r a n s l a t o r s sp o k e t h e v a r i e t y o f S p a n is h
u s e d i n t h e b a r r i o s o f E a s t Los A n g e les and w ere " c o o r d i Â
n a t e b i l i n g u a l s . " A c o o r d i n a t e b i l i n g u a l , a c c o r d in g t o S ax,
i s a b i l i n g u a l who " h a s l e a r n e d t h e se c o n d la n g u a g e i n t h e
same way t h a t he l e a r n e d th e f i r s t la n g u a g e , t h a t i s , by
l i s t e n i n g an d r e s p o n d in g t o a n a t i v e s p e a k e r ." Sax a rg u e s
t h a t c o o r d i n a t e b i l i n g u a l s a r e a b le to make m ore a c c u r a t e
t r a n s l a t i o n s th a n one who h a s l e a r n e d t h e la n g u a g e th r o u g h
a fo r m a l, a c a d e m ic a p p ro a c h .
C a r e f u l a t t e n t i o n was p a i d t o o r d e r i n g o f t h e q u e s -
_____ ^Sax, p. 322.______________________________________________
29
t i o n s on t h e i n t e r v i e w i n s t r u m e n t , b e c a u s e i t was a n t i c i Â
p a t e d t h a t t h e r e w ould be h e s i t a n c y i n a n s w e rin g some o f
t h e m ore p e r s o n a l d e m o g ra p h ic q u e s t i o n s su c h a s a g e , m a r iÂ
t a l s t a t u s , and c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n . T hese q u e s t i o n s w ere
p l a c e d l a s t i n t h e i n t e r v i e w . L i t t l e d i f f i c u l t y i n g e t t i n g
r e s p o n s e s t o t h e s e q u e s t i o n s was e n c o u n te r e d i n t h e p i l o t
s t u d i e s and t h e f i n a l i n t e r v i e w s .
A p i l o t s t u d y , c o n d u c te d i n November 1 96 9, i n d i c a t e d
t h a t t h e i n s t r u m e n t was g e n e r a l l y s a t i s f a c t o r y . O nly m in o r
c h a n g e s w ere th e n made i n t h e w o rd in g and i n o r d e r i n g t h e
q u e s t i o n s f o r t h e f i n a l v e r s i o n o f th e i n t e r v i e w fo rm .
(See A p pend ix B .)
One w eak n ess o f t h e i n t e r v i e w i n s t r u m e n t was d i s Â
c o v e r e d i n t h e p i l o t s t u d y . T h is w eakness was a d i f f i c u l t y
on t h e p a r t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts t o rem em ber t h e p o s s i b l e
c h o ic e s i n e a c h o f t h e com m unication c a t e g o r i e s t h a t w ere
b e in g p r e s e n t e d t o them . I t was d e c id e d t o p r o v i d e t h e r e Â
s p o n d e n t w ith a l i s t o f t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s t h a t c o u ld b e h e l d
and r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e c o u rs e o f th e i n t e r v i e w . F o r examÂ
p l e , a f t e r th e i n t e r v i e w e r h a d d e s c r i b e d a co m m u n icatio n
m essa g e s i t u a t i o n and h a d a sk e d t h e r e s p o n d e n t how h e w o u ld
p r e f e r t o be com m unicated w ith i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n , he was
h a n d e d t h e b i l i n g u a l l i s t (F ig u re 1) w h ich i n c l u d e d th e
p o s s i b l e c h o ic e s o f c h a n n e ls , c o d e s , r e c e i v e r s , and s o u r c e s .
The r e s p o n d e n t c o u ld th e n i n d i c a t e w h a t h e th o u g h t was h i s
b e s t p r e f e r e n c e and h i s w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e i n e a c h o f t h e _____
COMMUNICATION PREFERENCE
30
LA PREFERENCIA DE COMUNICACION
A. By w h ic h o f t h e f o llo w Â
i n g w ays?
Te le p h o n e
C o n fe re n c e i n s c h o o l
C o n fe re n c e i n y o u r home
P e r s o n a l l e t t e r m a ile d
t o you
P r i n t e d form b ro u g h t
home by c h i l d
O th e r ways ( p le a s e
i n d i c a t e )
No p r e f e r e n c e
B. U sin g w hat la n g u a g e ?
S p a n is h
E n g l i s h
B oth S p a n is h and E n g lis h
O th e r la n g u a g e ( p le a s e
i n d i c a t e )
No p r e f e r e n c e
C. To w h ic h p e r s o n i n y o u r
home s h o u ld in f o r m a ti o n
be d i r e c t e d .
F a t h e r
M o th er
B oth
O th e r p e r s o n s ( p le a s e
i n d i c a t e )
No p r e f e r e n c e
D. What s c h o o l p e rs o n
s h o u ld g iv e you t h i s
in f o r m a tio n ?
P r i n c i p a l
V ic e P r i n c i p a l
T e a c h e r
T e a c h e r a id e
S c h o o l N urse
O th e r p e r s o n s ( p le a s e
i n d i c a t e )
No p r e f e r e n c e
A. &Por c u a l e s de lo s s i g u i e n -
t e s modos?
T e le f o n o
C o n f e r e n c ia en l a e s c u e l a
C o n f e r e n c ia en s u c a s a
C a r ta p e r s o n a l e n v ia d a a
u s t e d p o r c o r r e o
Forma de im p r e s a l l e v a d a a
c a s a p o r h i j o s
O tro s modos ( in d iq u e p o r
f a v o r ) .
N inquna p r e f e r e n c i a
B. iE m pleando c u a l id io m a ?
E sp a n o l
I n g l e s
E sp afto l e I n g l e s
O tro id io m a ( in d iq u e p o r
fa v o r)
N inquna p r e f e r e n c i a
C. ,?A c u a l p e r s o n a en s u c a s a
s e d eb e e n v i a r e s t a i n f o r -
m acion?
E l p a d re
La m adre
Los dos
O tra s p e r s o n a s ( in d iq u e p o r
fa v o r)
N inquna p r e f e r e n c i a
D. £C ual p e r s o n a de l a e s c u e l a
debe d a r l e a u d . e s t a
in fo rm a c io n ?
E l d i r e c t o r
E l v i c e - d i r e c t o r
E l p r o f e s o r (m a e stro )
E l a y u d a n te d e l p r o f e s o r
( t e a c h e r a id e )
La e n fe r m e r a de l a e s c u e l a
O tra s p e r s o n a s ( in d iq u e p o r
f a v o r )
N inquna p r e f e r e n c i a
F i g . 1 . — L i s t o f com m unication p r e f e r e n c e s .
f o u r c a t e g o r i e s .
A se c o n d p i l o t s tu d y was th e n c o n d u c te d i n Decem ber
1969 t o e v a l u a t e t h e s e f i n a l r e v i s i o n s and t o ch eck th e
tim in g o f t h e i n t e r v i e w s . The i n t e r v i e w s a v e ra g e d a b o u t
tw e n ty m in u te s and t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e a p p e a re d t o b e h ig h ly
s a t i s f a c t o r y .
S e l e c t i o n and T r a in in g o f th e I n t e r v i e w e r s
The fu n d a m e n ta l r e q u ir e m e n t f o r th e i n t e r v i e w e r s f o r
t h i s p r o j e c t was t h a t th e y s h o u ld b e th o r o u g h ly f a m i l i a r
w i t h t h e la n g u a g e and c u l t u r e o f t h e M exican A m ericans i n
E a s t Los A n g e le s , C a l i f o r n i a . S in c e some f i n a n c i a l a s s i s Â
t a n c e was a v a i l a b l e th ro u g h Econom ic O p p o r tu n ity P r o j e c t
flands a d m i n i s t e r e d by C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e C o l le g e , Los A n g e le s,
i t was d e c id e d t o h i r e c o ll e g e s t u d e n t s who q u a l i f i e d f o r
t h e s e fu n d s and a l s o m et th e la n g u a g e and c u l t u r a l c r i t e r i a
m e n tio n e d a b o v e . A c c o r d in g ly , t h r e e b i l i n g u a l , b i c u l t u r a l
M exican A m erican c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s w ere s e l e c t e d as i n t e r Â
v ie w e r s . Two o f t h e i n t e r v i e w e r s w ere men and t h e o t h e r
was a woman. A l l t h r e e w ere m a tu re , w ere m a r r i e d , and w ere
known p e r s o n a l l y by th e r e s e a r c h e r .
The m a r ria g e f a c t o r , s e r e n d i p i t i o u s l y , p ro v e d t o be
i m p o r t a n t . D u rin g t h e f i r s t p i l o t s tu d y i t was fo u n d t h a t
t h e r e was c o n s i d e r a b l e h e s i t a n c y on th e p a r t o f some r e Â
s p o n d e n ts t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n th e i n t e r v i e w s . The p ro b le m o f
r e s p o n d e n t p a r t i c i p a t i o n had b een a n t i c i p a t e d b e c a u s e o f
32
comments made t o t h e r e s e a r c h e r by M exican A m erican s r e s i d Â
in g i n th e b a r r i o s . B a r r i o homes a r e c o n s t a n t l y d i s t u r b e d
by sa le s m e n , o f som etim es q u e s t i o n a b l e r e p u t e , b i l l c o l l e c Â
t o r s , w e l f a r e a g e n t s , im m ig ra tio n o f f i c i a l s s e e k in g i l l e g a l
e n t r a n t s , and o t h e r s whom t h e r e s i d e n t s h a v e le a r n e d t o
lo o k upon w ith s u s p i c i o n . V ery o f t e n b i l i n g u a l M exican
A m erican s a r e h i r e d f o r su c h o c c u p a tio n s and th u s th e r e s i Â
d e n ts a r e s u s p ic i o u s o f e v e ry o n e k n o c k in g a t t h e i r d o o r.
The fem a le i n t e r v i e w e r r e p o r t e d m ore s u c c e s s i n g a in Â
in g i n t e r v i e w s th a n d id t h e tw o m a le s . I t was a t f i r s t
c o n je c t u r e d t h a t th e r e a s o n was p e rh a p s due t o some a s p e c t
o f h e r p r e s e n t a t i o n o r a se x f a c t o r . She s p e c u l a t e d , howÂ
e v e r , t h a t i t was b e c a u s e sh e h a d b een a cco m p an ied by h e r
h u sb a n d on some o f t h e i n t e r v i e w s an d t h a t sh e h a d had more
s u c c e s s on th o s e o c c a s i o n s . F o r t h e se c o n d p i l o t s t u d y , in
a d d i t i o n t o o t h e r te c h n iq u e s t h a t w i l l be d i s c u s s e d i n th e
n e x t s e c t i o n , i t was d e c id e d t o e n l i s t t h e a i d o f th e
sp o u s e s o f th e i n t e r v i e w e r s and th u s u se m ale and fem a le
team s r a t h e r th a n a lo n e i n t e r v i e w e r . T h is d e v ic e seem ed
t o d e c r e a s e t h e s u s p i c i o n o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts and i n c r e a s e
th e num ber who a g re e d t o b e i n t e r v i e w e d . The te c h n iq u e was
t h e r e f o r e u s e d i n t h e f i n a l s t u d y .
T r a i n in g o f t h e i n t e r v i e w e r s c o n s i s t e d o f t h r e e m ee tÂ
in g s i n w h ic h i n s t r u c t i o n was p r o v id e d and p r a c t i c e s e s Â
s i o n s w ere h e ld . Two t r a i n i n g m e e tin g s w ere h e ld b e f o r e
th e f i r s t p i l o t s tu d y was c o n d u c te d . The i n s t r u c t i o n
33
p o r t i o n o f th e t r a i n i n g m e e tin g s c o n s i s t e d o f l e c t u r e and
d i s c u s s i o n o f t e c h n iq u e s o f i n t e r v i e w i n g t h a t w ere a d a p te d
p r i m a r i l y from m a t e r i a l s w r i t t e n by G i l b e r t S a x ,3 C h a r le s
F. C an n el and R o b e rt L. K a h n ,^ J . F r a n c i s Rummel,3 and
H e rb e r t H. Hyman e t - a l . ® The i n t e r v i e w e r s w ere in tr o d u c e d
t o g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s o f i n t e r v i e w i n g and w ere a l s o i n Â
s t r u c t e d on t h e t e c h n iq u e s and s p e c i f i c fo rm a t to b e f o l Â
lowed i n c o n d u c tin g t h e i n t e r v i e w . P r a c t i c e s e s s i o n s w ere
c o n d u c te d u s in g t h e " r o l e p l a y i n g " o r " r e a l i t y p r a c t i c e "
te c h n iq u e d e s c r i b e d by C a n n e ll and K ahn.^
A f t e r th e f i r s t p i l o t s tu d y a t h i r d m e e tin g was h e ld
t o d i s c u s s p ro b le m s e n c o u n t e r e d i n th e p i l o t s tu d y . The
d i s c u s s i o n c e n t e r e d on s a m p lin g p ro b le m s , im provem ent o f
th e i n t e r v i e w q u e s t i o n n a i r e , im provem ent o f i n t e r v i e w p r o Â
c e d u r e s , and im p rovem ent o f t h e r e c o r d i n g o f th e r e s p o n s e s .
In a d d i t i o n , p r i n c i p l e s a n d t e c h n iq u e s o f in te r v ie w i n g w ere
3S ax, E m p ir ic a l F o u n d a t i o n s , p p . 2 0 1 -2 1 4 .
^ C h a rle s F . C a n n e l a n d R o b e rt L. Kahn, "The C o l l e c t i o n
o f D a ta by I n t e r v i e w i n g ," i n R e s e a rc h M ethods i n t h e BehavÂ
i o r a l S c i e n c e s , e d . Leon F e s t i n g e r and D a n ie l Katz (New
York: H o lt, R i n e h a r t an d W in s to n , 1 9 6 6 ), p p . 374-378.
5J . F r a n c i s Rummel, An I n t r o d u c t i o n t o R e se a rc h P ro c e Â
d u re s i n E d u c a tio n (2nd e d . ; New Y ork: H a rp e r and Row,
P u b l i s h e r s , 1 9 6 4 ), p p . 1 0 3 -1 0 5 .
^ H e rb e r t H. Hyman e t a l . , I n t e r v i e w in g i n S o c i a l R e-
s e a r c h (C hicaqo: The U n i v e r s i t y o f C h ica g o P r e s s , 1954),
p p. 2 7 6 -2 7 7 .
^C annel and K ahn, p p . 3 7 6 -3 7 7 .
34
re v ie w e d and a f i n a l p r a c t i c e s e s s i o n was h e l d .
C o n d u c tin g t h e I n t e r v i e w s
The i n t e r v i e w s w ere c o n d u c te d i n F e b ru a ry and M arch,
1970. T h is p a r t i c u l a r tim in g a c c i d e n t a l l y , b u t h a p p i l y ,
c o in c id e d w ith t h e U n ite d S t a t e s C ensus c o l l e c t i o n . The
i n t e r v i e w e r s r e p o r t e d t h a t many p e rs o n s had e v i d e n t l y been
c o n d itio n e d by an n o u n cem en ts i n n e w sp a p ers and on r a d i o and
t e l e v i s i o n a b o u t t h e c e n s u s and w ere se e m in g ly r e c e p t i v e to
th e i d e a o f an i n t e r v i e w . The i n t e r v i e w s , w h ich h ad b e en
e x p la in e d t o and p r a c t i c e d by t h e i n t e r v i e w e r s i n th e
t r a i n i n g m e e tin g s , w e re c o n d u c te d a c c o rd in g t o th e f o llo w Â
in g fo rm a t.
The f i r s t s t e p i n c o n d u c tin g th e i n t e r v i e w was l o c a t Â
in g and v e r i f y i n g t h e c o r r e c t a d d r e s s w here t h e i n te r v ie w
was t o b e h e l d . The random s e l e c t i o n o f t h e s e a d d r e s s e s i s
d is c u s s e d i n t h e n e x t s e c t i o n o f t h i s c h a p t e r , "The P o p u la Â
t i o n S am p le."
In th e p i l o t s t u d y , t h e i n t e r v i e w e r s r e p o r t e d a p r o b Â
lem in g e t t i n g r e s p o n d e n ts t o a n sw e r t h e d o o r . In many
c a s e s , th e y b e l i e v e d t h a t som eone was a t home b u t c h o se n o t
t o re s p o n d . T h is p ro b le m p ro v e d t o be th e m o st p e r p l e x in g
o f th e s tu d y and w as n o t a d e q u a te ly s o lv e d . One s o l u t i o n
t o t h i s p ro b le m was t o v a r y th e h o u rs o f i n t e r v i e w i n g and
r e t u r n t o homes w h ere t h e r e h a d been no r e s p o n s e . T h is
h e lp e d som ew hat, an d i t w as fo u n d t h a t th o s e h o u rs a f t e r
35
s c h o o l an d on S a tu r d a y s and Sundays w ere m ore p r o d u c t i v e
th a n d a y tim e h o u r s .
I n o r d e r t o s o lv e t h e p ro b lem o f r e l u c t a n c e t o an sw er
th e d o o r , c o n s i d e r a t i o n was g iv e n t o c o n t a c t i n g t h e p a r e n t s
by m a il o r te le p h o n e t o r e q u e s t an i n t e r v i e w a p p o in tm e n t.
The m a il a p p ro a c h was r e j e c t e d on th e b a s i s o f B r e n n a n 's
8
e x p e r i e n c e . In h i s s tu d y o f M exican A m ericans i n San AnÂ
t o n i o , h e s e n t o u t 1 ,0 0 0 l e t t e r s a s k in g f o r an i n t e r v i e w
a p p o in tm e n t b u t o b t a i n e d o n ly f o u r u s a b le r e s p o n s e s . The
te le p h o n e was a l s o c o n s i d e r e d , b u t i t was d i s c o v e r e d t h a t
many o f t h e p a r e n t s on t h e sam ple l i s t s e i t h e r d i d n o t h av e
te le p h o n e s o r h a d u n l i s t e d n u m b ers. I t was f e l t t h a t t h i s
m ethod w ould d i s t o r t th e random n a t u r e o f th e sam p le and i t
was a l s o d i s c a r d e d .
To th e e x t e n t , o f c o u r s e , t h a t th o s e p e r s o n s n o t r e Â
sp o n d in g t o t h e d o o r may h av e some s i g n i f i c a n t common c h a r Â
a c t e r i s t i c s , o m i t t i n g them from t h e s tu d y may h av e a l s o
d i s t o r t e d t h e r e s u l t s . B u t t h e r e seem ed t o be no e f f e c t i v e
way o f o v e rc o m in g t h e o b s t a c l e f o r t h i s s tu d y . I t i s s u g Â
g e s t e d t h a t t h i s w eak n ess be k e p t in mind when e v a l u a t i n g
th e r e s u l t s .
A f t e r g e t t i n g an an sw er t o t h e d o o r, t h e i n t e r v i e w e r
g r e e t e d t h e p e rs o n i n S p a n is h . I t had b een d e c id e d t h a t a
S p a n is h g r e e t i n g w ould b e m ore p r e f e r a b l e f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g
^ B ren n an , p . 38, n .
36
th e c r e d i b i l i t y o f th e i n t e r v i e w e r th a n an E n g lis h o n e .
How ever, t h e i n t e r v i e w e r t r i e d t o d e te rm in e as q u i c k l y as
p o s s i b l e t h e la n g u a g e i n w h ich th e r e s p o n d e n t f e l t m o st
c o m f o r ta b le and s w itc h e d t o t h e r e s p o n d e n t 's p r e f e r e n c e .
The i n t e r v i e w e r gave h i s nam e, i n d i c a t e d t h a t he was a
s t u d e n t from C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e C o lle g e , Los A n g e le s , and
b r i e f l y d e s c r i b e d h i s p u r p o s e .
The p e r s o n who a n sw e re d t h e d o o r was th e n a sk ed i f th e
fa m ily h a d c h i l d r e n i n s c h o o l and r e q u e s te d p e r m is s io n to
sp eak t o t h e f a t h e r o f t h e f a m ily . A sking t o sp e ak t o th e
f a t h e r was d e c id e d upon a f t e r t h e p i l o t s tu d y d i s c l o s e d
t h a t l e s s th a n 5 p e r c e n t o f th o s e in te r v ie w e d w ere men.
The p i l o t s tu d y i n t e r v i e w e r s r e p o r t e d t h a t g e n e r a l l y t h e
woman o f t h e h o u se a n sw e re d th e d o o r and t h a t i f th e f a t h e r
d id a n sw e r, many tim e s he w ould e i t h e r d e c l in e t o p a r t i c i Â
p a t e o r r e q u e s t t h a t h i s w if e be i n te r v ie w e d . I t was d e Â
c id e d , t h e r e f o r e , i n t h e f i n a l s tu d y t o a sk s p e c i f i c a l l y
f o r th e f a t h e r i n o r d e r t o i n c r e a s e t h e p e rc e n ta g e o f m ale
r e s p o n d e n t s . The te c h n iq u e was n o t to o s u c c e s s f u l , b u t th e
sam ple o f m a le s f o r t h e f i n a l s tu d y was r a i s e d t o 20 p e r
c e n t .
I f t h e f a t h e r was n o t a t home o r o th e r w is e u n a v a i l a b l e
f o r an i n t e r v i e w , t h e i n t e r v i e w e r a sk e d to sp e ak t o th e
m o th e r. A f t e r s e c u r i n g a r e s p o n d e n t, th e i n t e r v i e w e r p r o Â
c e e d e d by h a n d in g t h e p a r e n t a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r o f i n t r o d u c Â
t i o n ty p e d on C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e C o lle g e , Los A n g e les s t a Â
37
t i o n e r y . (See A p p en d ix D.) The l e t t e r was w r i t t e n i n b o th
E n g lis h and S p a n is h i n o r d e r t o d e c r e a s e a n t i c i p a t e d s u s Â
p i c i o n and t o i n c r e a s e t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f th e i n t e r v i e w e r .
The i n t e r v i e w e r gave tim e f o r r e a d in g th e l e t t e r and th e n
a sk e d i f h e c o u ld h a v e a few moments o f tim e t o a sk some
q u e s t i o n s .
I t was th e n e x p la in e d t o t h e re s p o n d e n t t h a t t h e i r r e Â
s p o n s e s w o u ld re m a in a b s o l u t e l y c o n f i d e n t i a l and t h a t t h e
p u rp o s e o f t h e s tu d y was t o im p rove t h e com m un ication b e Â
tw een them a n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n 's s c h o o l. I n t h i s way i t was
hoped t h a t t h e r e s p o n d e n t w ould become i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e
p r o j e c t by r e l a t i n g i t t o an a r e a o f t h e p a r e n t 's i n t e r e s t .
N e x t, th e r e s p o n d e n t was in fo rm e d as t o how he h a d been
s e l e c t e d and a n sw e re d any q u e s t i o n s t h a t th e r e s p o n d e n t
m ig h t h av e c o n c e r n in g t h e d e s ig n o f t h e s tu d y o r i t s g o a l s .
In m ost c a s e s , t h e r e s p o n d e n t a g re e d t o t h e i n t e r v i e w .
The i n t e r v i e w e r by t h i s tim e c o u ld d e te rm in e w hich
la n g u a g e t h e r e s p o n d e n t f e l t m ost c o m fo r ta b le w i t h and s e Â
l e c t e d an i n t e r v i e w q u e s t i o n n a i r e i n t h a t la n g u a g e . To
f a c i l i t a t e s e l e c t i o n o f th e a p p r o p r i a t e i n t e r v i e w q u e s t i o n Â
n a i r e , t h e S p a n is h and E n g li s h v e r s i o n s o f t h e in s t r u m e n t
w ere m im eographed on d i f f e r e n t c o l o r s o f p a p e r . The i n t e r Â
v ie w e r r e a d t h e f i r s t m essage p ro b lem and made s u r e t h a t
th e r e s p o n d e n t u n d e r s to o d t h e n a t u r e o f th e p ro b le m and
w hat was d e s i r e d o f him i n r e g i s t e r i n g h i s p r e f e r e n c e s .
A t t h i s p o i n t t h e re s p o n d e n t was hand ed t h e l i s t o f
38
c o m m u n ica tio n c h o ic e s d i s c u s s e d e a r l i e r and i l l u s t r a t e d i n
F i g u r e 1 . Each o f t h e com m unication e le m e n ts w e re e x Â
p l a i n e d w i t h an e x am p le , i f n e c e s s a r y . T h is was e s p e c i a l l y
done f o r t h e c h a n n e l " p r i n t e d fo rm ." I f th e r e s p o n d e n t d id
n o t u n d e r s ta n d t h i s c h a n n e l, an a c t u a l exam ple w as g iv e n
him t o lo o k a t . The i n t e r v i e w e r c a r r i e d an exam ple o f th e
" p r i n t e d form " u s e d by t h e s c h o o ls f o r e a c h o f t h e f o u r
m e s s a g e s . The r e s p o n d e n t was th e n a sk e d w h ic h one i n e a c h
o f t h e f o u r com m unication c a t e g o r i e s d id he c o n s i d e r th e
" b e s t " way and t h e " w o rs t" way f o r s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l t o comÂ
m u n ic a te w i t h him . As t h e r e s p o n d e n t l i s t e d h i s p r e f e r Â
e n c e s , t h e i n t e r v i e w e r r e c o r d e d them on th e i n t e r v i e w q u e s Â
t i o n n a i r e .
M essages tw o, t h r e e , and f o u r w ere c o n d u c te d i n t h e
same m an n er. The i n t e r v i e w e r re a d th e m essage s i t u a t i o n
and a s k e d t h e r e s p o n d e n t, i n t u r n , w hich o f t h e c h a n n e ls
h e th o u g h t was b e s t and w hich he th o u g h t was w o r s t ; w h ich
o f t h e c o d es was b e s t and w o r s t; w h ich o f t h e r e c e i v e r s he
p r e f e r r e d and d i s l i k e d ; and f i n a l l y w h ich o f th e s o u r c e s
w as, i n h i s o p i n io n , t h e b e s t and t h e w o r s t.
The r e s p o n d e n t was c o n s t a n t l y a s s u r e d t h a t h i s p r e f e r Â
e n c e s w ere i m p o r t a n t and t h a t h i s h o n e s t r e a c t i o n s w e re d eÂ
s i r e d . I n t e r v i e w e r s w ere i n s t r u c t e d t o g u a rd a g a i n s t any
v e r b a l o r n o n - v e r b a l c u e s t h a t m ig h t l e a d t h e r e s p o n d e n t t o
a n sw e r i n a c e r t a i n way. They w ere a l s o t r a i n e d t o d i s -
c o u ra g e " I d o n 't know" a n sw e rs and t o p ro b e f o r a more
39
p r e c i s e r e a c t i o n u n l e s s th e r e s p o n d e n t gave an h o n e s t "no
p r e f e r e n c e " r e s p o n s e .
When th e tim e came t o g a t h e r th e d e m o g ra p h ic d a t a , t h e
i n t e r v i e w e r th a n k e d th e p e rs o n f o r h i s c o o p e r a t i o n and t o l d
him t h a t a l l t h a t was n e ed e d w ere a few more q u e s t i o n s
a b o u t him . The p e rs o n was a g a in a s s u r e d t h a t no names
w ou ld b e u se d i n t h i s s tu d y and t h a t no one a s i d e from th e
i n t e r v i e w e r and r e s e a r c h e r w ould e v e r know how he h a d an Â
s w e re d . The d e m o g ra p h ic q u e s t i o n s w ere th e n a s k e d and th e
a n sw e rs r e c o r d e d . I f t h e p e rs o n h e s i t a t e d on any o f t h e s e
q u e s t i o n s , t h e i n t e r v i e w e r e x p la in e d t h a t t h e in f o r m a ti o n
was n e e d e d t o f i n d o u t i f d i f f e r e n t c a t e g o r i e s o f p e o p le ,
s u c h as age g ro u p s p r e f e r d i f f e r e n t ways o f c o m m u n iea tin g .
H ow ever, th e i n t e r v i e w e r s w ere i n s t r u c t e d n o t t o i n s i s t on
an a n sw e r t o a p e r s o n a l q u e s t io n i f t h e p e r s o n o p e n ly d i d
n o t w a n t t o r e s p o n d .
Upon c o m p le tio n o f th e i n t e r v i e w , t h e i n t e r v i e w e r
a g a in w arm ly th a n k e d t h e r e s p o n d e n t and t o l d him how much
h i s a s s i s t a n c e was a p p r e c i a t e d . He th e n o f f e r e d t o answ er
any q u e s t io n s t h e re s p o n d e n t had a b o u t t h e p r o j e c t . ^
When he l e f t th e p r e m is e s , th e i n t e r v i e w e r f i l l e d o u t
t h e l a s t p a r t o f t h e i n t e r v i e w q u e s t i o n n a i r e e n t i t l e d
Q
I n t e r v i e w e r s r e p o r t e d t h a t q u e s t i o n s f e l l i n t o two
c a t e g o r i e s . Some p a r e n t s w an ted more r e a s s u r a n c e t h a t
t h e i r names w ou ld n o t be u s e d . O th e r v o ic e d t h e i r comÂ
p l a i n t s a g a i n s t v a r i o u s s c h o o l p o l i c i e s and a c t i v i t i e s .
40
" I n t e r v i e w e r R e s p o n s e s ." T h ese w ere a s e r i e s o f q u e s t i o n s
w h ic h c o u ld be a n sw e red by o b s e r v a t i o n and th u s sa v e i n t e r Â
view tim e . T h ere was a l s o a q u e s tio n c o n c e rn in g t h e co Â
o p e r a t i v e a t t i t u d e o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t. (See A ppendix B .)
I f t h e i n t e r v i e w e r m arked " u n c o o p e r a tiv e ," t h e i n t e r v i e w
was d i s c a r d e d from th e s t u d y . Only two o f t h e f i n a l samÂ
p l e s w ere so m arked. I f t h e i n t e r v i e w e r i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e
r e s p o n d e n t was a n y th in g o t h e r th a n a M exican A m erican o r a
M exican N a t i o n a l , t h i s i n t e r v i e w was a l s o e l i m i n a t e d . Only
f o u r o f t h e f i n a l sa m p le s f e l l i n t o t h i s c a t e g o r y .
T e le p h o n e num bers w ere a v a i l a b l e f o r some o f t h e r e Â
s p o n d e n ts and t h i s e n a b le d t h e r e s e a r c h e r t o random ly s e Â
l e c t tw e n ty , o r a b o u t 15 p e r c e n t , o f t h e i n t e r v i e w s f o r
v e r i f i c a t i o n . He p e r s o n a l l y te le p h o n e d th e s e tw e n ty , a s k e d
t h e p e r s o n i f he r e c a l l e d b e in g i n te r v ie w e d , and re c h e c k e d
t h e d a t a .
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t was d is c o v e r e d i n t h i s r e c h e c k t h a t
one o f t h e i n t e r v i e w e r s had n o t c o n d u c te d some o f t h e i n Â
t e r v i e w s an d had f a l s i f i e d some o f th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s .
Upon c o n f r o n t a t i o n , th e i n t e r v i e w e r a d m itte d th e d e c e i t b u t
was u n f o r t u n a t e l y u n a b le t o rem em ber w hich q u e s t i o n n a i r e s
h a d b e e n f a l s i f i e d . I t was d e c id e d to e l i m i n a t e a l l s e v Â
e n ty o f h i s i n t e r v i e w s a s u n t r u s t w o r t h y .
B e cau se o f f i n a n c i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s i t was n o t t h o u g h t
f e a s i b l e t o r e p l a c e t h e i n t e r v i e w s . F o r t u n a t e l y , e a c h i n Â
t e r v i e w e r h a d b e e n a s s i g n e d h a l f o f t h e i r i n t e r v i e w s i n
41
e a c h o f th e two p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y l o c a t i o n s and th u s i t
was f e l t t h a t t h e c r o s s s e c t i o n o f t h e sam ple was n o t v i o Â
l a t e d . A f t e r a l l t h e d i s c a r d i n g , f o r w h a te v e r r e a s o n , had
b e en c o m p le te d , one h u n d re d t h i r t y u s a b le i n t e r v i e w s r e Â
m ain ed . T h is num ber was c o n s id e r e d t o be an a d e q u a te samÂ
p l e f o r t h e p u rp o s e s o f t h i s s tu d y . T h ree o f th e f o u r co n Â
t r i b u t o r y s t u d i e s r e f e r r e d t o i n C h a p te r I u s e d one h u n d re d
s u b j e c t s . B rennan i n t e r v i e w e d 500 s u b j e c t s o f w hich f o r t y -
f o u r w ere d i s c a r d e d .
The P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
Names a,nd a d d r e s s e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s o f
e le m e n ta ry s c h o o l p u p i l s w ere rando m ly s e l e c t e d from f o u r
s c h o o l r o s t e r s from s c h o o ls i n E le m e n ta ry A rea E a s t d i s Â
t r i c t o f t h e Los A n g e le s C i ty S c h o o l System . Names o f
n i n e t y p a r e n t s w ere draw n from t h e r o s t e r s o f e a c h o f th e
f o u r s c h o o ls by u s in g a t a b l e o f random num bers. Only
S p a n is h su rn am es w ere i n c l u d e d i n t h e sa m p le . I t was d e Â
c id e d t h a t t h i s t o t a l o f t h r e e h u n d re d s i x t y names w o u ld be
s u f f i c i e n t t o o b t a i n two h u n d re d t e n i n t e r v i e w s , t h e o r i g i Â
n a l g o a l o f t h e s t u d y . As e x p la in e d i n th e p r e c e d i n g s e c Â
t i o n , one h u n d re d t h i r t y i n t e r v i e w s w ere f i n a l l y u s e d i n
t h e s t u d y .
M r. Jo h n L eon, a t t h a t tim e d i r e c t o r o f th e E a s t Los
A n g e le s I n s t r u c t i o n a l P la n n in g C e n te r and h i g h e s t r a n k in g
M exican A m erican e d u c a to r i n th e Los A n g e les C ity S c h o o l
42
S ystem , k i n d l y made a rra n g e m e n ts f o r u s in g t h e s c h o o l r o s Â
t e r s t o s e c u r e names o f p a r e n t s .
I t was d e c id e d t h a t p e rh a p s some u s e f u l d a ta c o u ld be
d e r i v e d by co m p arin g c o m m u n ica tio n p r e f e r e n c e s o f d i f f e r e n t
r e s i d e n t i a l l o c a t i o n s . To s e l e c t r e s i d e n t i a l l o c a t i o n s ,
t h r e e M exican A m erican e le m e n ta r y s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f
th e Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o ls who had b een r e a r e d in th e
E a s t Los A n g e le s b a r r i o s and w e re now s e r v i n g i n th e a r e a
w ere c o n s u l t e d . They u n a n im o u sly a g r e e d t h a t th e tw o a r e a s
o r b a r r i o s t h a t th e y c o n s i d e r e d t o h a v e c o n s i d e r a b le d i f Â
f e r e n c e s w ere th e E l S e re n o an d th e B e lv e d e re b a r r i o s .
They d e s c r i b e d t h e E l S e re n o b a r r i o a s more s t a b l e i n
i t s p o p u l a t i o n , l e s s S p a n is h s p e a k i n g , m ore r e s i d e n t i a l ,
h i g h e r p e r c a p i t a in c o m e , an d som ew hat m ore i n t e g r a t e d th a n
th e B e le v e d e re b a r r i o w h ic h t h e y d e s c r i b e d as t r a n s i t o r y in
i t s p o p u l a t i o n , m ore S p a n is h s p e a k in g , som ewhat i n d u s t r i a l ,
lo w er p e r c a p i t a in co m e, an d h a v in g a h i g h e r p e rc e n ta g e o f
M exican A m erican r e s i d e n t s . T h is c o m m ittee a l s o s e l e c t e d
two e le m e n ta r y s c h o o ls from e a c h a r e a w hich th e y c o n s id e r e d
t y p i c a l ,
R e s e a rc h on t h e a r e a s an d t h e s c h o o l s s e l e c t e d by t h e
co m m ittee seem ed t o s u p p o r t t h e i r e v a l u a t i o n s . A p u b l i c a Â
t i o n o f t h e O f f i c e o f U rban A f f a i r s o f t h e Los A n g e les C ity
S c h o o ls d e s c r i b e d t h e two b a r r i o s as f o llo w s :
E l S e re n o (C ity o f Los A n g e l e s ) . A r e s i d e n t i a l comÂ
m u n ity w i t h a b u s y sh o p p in g c e n t e r ; E l S e r e n o 1s b o a s t i s
Los A n g e les S t a t e C o lle g e [sic]. . . .
43
B e lv e d e re (U n in c o rp o ra te d Los A n g e le s C o u n ty ) . The
c o re o f p o p u l a t i o n o f p e r s o n s o f M exican d e s c e n t i n Los
A n g e les C ounty and C a l i f o r n i a i s i n t h i s a r e a . . . A
h ig h c o n c e n tr a ti o n o f c h i l d r e n and y o u t h . 10
In a d d i t i o n , s t a t i s t i c s o f t h e e n r o l l m e n t o f S p a n is h
surnam e p u p i l s in t h e f o u r s c h o o ls in v o lv e d seem ed t o i n d i Â
c a t e a d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e a r e a s and s u p p o r te d t h e c o n c lu Â
s i o n s o f th e c o m m itte e . The two s c h o o ls from t h e E l S e re n o
b a r r i o showed a d e n s i t y o f S p a n is h su rn am es o f 75.7 6 p e r
c e n t and 76.86 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y . The two s c h o o ls from
t h e B e lv e d e re b a r r i o , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , showed a d e n s i t y
o f 9 7 .5 8 p e r c e n t and 9 8 .1 5 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y . ^ Thus
t h e S p a n ish surnam e p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e E l S e re n o s c h o o ls was
a b o u t 76 p e r c e n t , w h ile t h e B e lv e d e r e s c h o o ls was a b o u t
9 8 p e r c e n t . T h ro u g h o u t t h e re m a in d e r o f th e s t u d y , t h e
sam p le from t h e E l S e re n o a r e a w i l l be r e f e r r e d t o as "low
d e n s i ty " and t h e sam ple from th e B e lv e d e re a r e a w i l l be r e Â
f e r r e d t o a s " h ig h d e n s i t y . "
T h ere a r e some p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le l i m i t a t i o n s t h a t
s h o u ld be k e p t in m ind when c o n s i d e r i n g t h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s
s tu d y . The f i r s t c a te g o r y o f l i m i t a t i o n s o f t h e sam ple h a s
b e en p r e v i o u s ly d i s c u s s e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r i n t h e s e c t i o n
• ^ O f f ic e o f U rban A f f a i r s , S chool-C om m unity R e la ti o n s
U n i t , Los A n g e les C ity S c h o o ls , " E a s t Los A n g e le s : N u e s tr a
Comunidad" (S eptem ber 1 9 6 7 ), p . 9 . (M im eographed.)
U los A n g e les C i t y S c h o o ls , " R a c i a l and E th n i c S u rv e y :
Los A n g eles C i ty S c h o o ls ." P e r c e n t a g e s w ere d e r i v e d by t h e
r e s e a r c h e r from raw s c o r e s fo u n d i n t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n .
44
e n t i t l e d "C o n d u c tin g th e I n t e r v i e w s , " T hese l i m i t a t i o n s
i n c l u d e d p ro b le m s e n c o u n te r e d i n g e t t i n g p e o p le t o a n sw e r
t h e i r d o o rs and g e t t i n g p e r m is s io n from m ales t o b e i n t e r Â
v ie w e d . As m e n tio n e d e a r l i e r , t h e f a i l u r e t o o b t a i n comÂ
p l e t e c o o p e r a t i o n o f a l l t h o s e c o n ta c t e d may h a v e some d i s Â
t o r t i o n e f f e c t s on t h e r e s u l t s . F o r e x am p le , i t m ig h t b e
p o s t u l a t e d t h a t th o s e who a r e r e l u c t a n t t o com m unicate i n
t h e i n t e r v i e w s i t u a t i o n m ig h t be t h o s e who a r e t h e g r e a t e s t
p ro b le m f o r th e s c h o o ls in t h e i r a tt e m p t s t o co m m u n icate.
The se co n d c a te g o r y o f l i m i t a t i o n s i s t h e n a t u r e o f
t h e sam p le s e l e c t i o n s m ade. F i r s t , o n ly p a r e n t s o f e l e Â
m e n ta ry s c h o o l p u p i l s w ere s e l e c t e d t o be i n t e r v i e w e d .
P a r e n t s i n t h i s g ro u p a r e y o u n g e r th a n t h e t o t a l a d u l t p o p Â
u l a t i o n and t h e r e f o r e may h a v e o t h e r n o n - t y p i c a l c h a r a c t e r Â
i s t i c s . S e c o n d , o n ly M exican A m erican s who r e s i d e i n a r e a s
t h a t a r e l a r g e l y p o p u la te d by M exican A m erican s w ere i n t e r Â
v ie w e d . N e a rly a l l s t u d i e s o f M exican A m erican s i n d i c a t e
t h a t t h e m ore e d u c a te d and h i g h e r incom e p o r t i o n o f t h i s
p o p u l a t i o n te n d t o move o u t o f t h e b a r r i o s and i n t o i n t e Â
g r a t e d su b u rb a n a r e a s . P a u l S h e ld o n d e s c r i b e s t h e r e s i Â
d e n ce c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e e m e rg in g m id d le c l a s s M exican
A m erican by s a y in g : "He l i v e s i n a p r e d o m in a n tly A nglo
- * - 2F o r e x am p le , se e P a u l M. S h e ld o n , "Community P a r t i c Â
i p a t i o n and t h e E m erging M id d le C l a s s , " i n La R a z a , e d .
J u l i a n Sam ora, p p . 125-12 7.
45
n e ig h b o rh o o d w ith l e s s th a n 25 p e r c e n t M exican A m erican
p o p u l a t i o n . T h i r d , o n ly p a r e n t s who h a d c h i l d r e n e n Â
r o l l e d i n p u b l i c s c h o o ls w ere i n te r v ie w e d . T h e re h a s b een
c o n s i d e r a b l e s p e c u l a t i o n t h a t t h o s e M exican A m erican s who
a t t e n d p a r o c h i a l s c h o o ls and o t h e r p r i v a t e s c h o o ls may r e p Â
r e s e n t some d i f f e r e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . Thomas C a r t e r comÂ
m en ts on t h i s p o i n t :
Roman C a t h o l i c s c h o o ls may a c t a s a b r a i n d r a i n a l s o .
I t i s r e p o r t e d t h a t p a r o c h i a l s c h o o ls p r i n c i p a l l y e n r o l l
M exican A m erican c h i l d r e n o f upw ard m o b ile o r m id d le -
c l a s s f a m i l i e s . Comments by in f o r m a n ts f o r t h i s s tu d y
v a r i e d g r e a t l y on t h i s p o i n t . Each p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l i s
d i f f e r e n t , a s i s e a c h community and i t s p u b l i c s c h o o l s .
The d e g re e t o w h ich C a t h o l i c i n s t i t u t i o n s t a k e t h e b e s t
acad em ic p r o s p e c t s m u st be d e te rm in e d by l o c a l s t u d y . 14
Type o f D ata C o l l e c t e d
Two d i s t i n c t ty p e s o f d a ta w ere g a t h e r e d from t h e i n Â
t e r v i e w s . The f i r s t c o n c e rn e d th e p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e r e Â
s p o n d e n ts f o r c o m m u n icatio n v a r i a b l e s as r e l a t e d t o f o u r
m essag e t y p e s ; t h e se c o n d r e l a t e d t o th e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i Â
a b l e s o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s .
D a ta R e g a rd in g P r e f e r e n c e s f o r
C om m unication V a r i a b l e s
The d a t a c o n c e rn in g com m unication v a r i a b l e s w ere d i Â
v id e d i n t o th e f o u r c a t e g o r i e s o f c h a n n e l, c o d e , r e c e i v e r ,
• ^ S h e ld o n , p . 150.
• ^ C a r t e r , M exican A m ericans in S c h o o l, p . 77.
46
and s o u r c e . E ach o f t h e s e w a s, i n t u r n , d iv id e d i n t o s p e Â
c i f i c s u b - a r e a s . T hese co m m u n icatio n s u b - a r e a s w ere l i s t e d
e a r l i e r i n t h i s c h a p t e r (F ig u re 1) and w i l l be o u t l i n e d
belo w .
C h a n n e l s u b - a r e a s i n c l u d e d t e l e p h o n e , c o n fe re n c e in
th e s c h o o l , c o n f e r e n c e i n t h e home, p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v Â
e r e d by m a i l , and a p r i n t e d form d e l i v e r e d by th e c h i l d .
R e sp o n d e n ts c o u ld a l s o i n d i c a t e a c h a n n e l n o t l i s t e d by
s e l e c t i n g " o t h e r " o r i f th e y d id n o t p r e f e r o r d i s l i k e any
p a r t i c u l a r c h a n n e l th e y c o u ld s e l e c t "no p r e f e r e n c e . " The
f i r s t t h r e e o f t h e s u b - c h a n n e ls l i s t e d a r e o r a l c h a n n e ls ,
w h ile p e r s o n a l l e t t e r and p r i n t e d form a r e w r i t t e n c h a n n e ls .
Code s u b - a r e a s i n c l u d e d S p a n is h , E n g li s h , b o th S p a n is h and
E n g li s h , o t h e r , and no p r e f e r e n c e . R e c e iv e r s u b - a r e a s w ere
f a t h e r , m o th e r , b o th p a r e n t s , o t h e r , and no p r e f e r e n c e .
S u b - c a t e g o r i e s f o r s o u rc e p r e f e r e n c e s w ere th e p r i n c i p a l ,
v ic e p r i n c i p a l , t e a c h e r , t e a c h e r a i d e , s c h o o l n u r s e , o t h e r ,
and no p r e f e r e n c e .
D ata R e g a rd in g D em ographic
V a r i a b l e s o f R e sp o n d e n ts
The d e m o g ra p h ic d a t a g a t h e r e d and a n a ly z e d i n c l u d e d
s i x t e e n d e s c r i p t i v e v a r i a b l e s o f t h e M exican A m erican p a r Â
e n t s who w e re i n t e r v i e w e d . T a b le 1 l i s t s th e s e v a r i a b l e s ,
g iv e s t h e d i v i s i o n s o f t h e v a r i a b l e , th e num ber o f s u b j e c t s
in e a c h d i v i s i o n , an d t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f t h e t o t a l num ber
47
TABLE 1
DESCRIPTIONS OF DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS
( C a te g o r ie s , N um bers, and P e r c e n ta g e s ) *
P o p u l a ti o n D e n s ity
H igh D e n s ity
(N = 68)
52.31%
Low D e n s ity
(N = 62)
47.69%
M ale
(N = 26)
2 0 . 00 %
Fem ale
(N = 104)
80.00%
Sex
20 t o 29
y e a r s
(N = 39)
30.47%
N o te :
30 t o 39
y e a r s
(N = 41)
32.03%
40 t o 49
y e a r s
(N = 40)
31.25%
O ver 50
y e a r s
(N = 8)
6.25%
Two s u b j e c t s w ere e l i m i n a t e d due t o in c o m p le te i n Â
f o r m a tio n .
L anguage U sed i n t h e Home
P r i m a r i l y
S p a n ish
(N = 32)
24.62%
P r i m a r i l y
E n g lis h
(N = 51)
39.23%
B oth a b o u t
t h e Same
(N = 47)
36.15%
O c c u p a tio n
S tu d e n t
N = 6)
5.04%
Unem ployed
N = 4)
3. 36%
S k i l l e d S e m i s k i l l e d U n s k il l e d
(N = 46) (N = 32) (N = 30)
38.66% 26.89% 25.21%
N o te: P r o f e s s i o n a l and m a n a g e r ia l c a t e g o r i e s had n o r e Â
s p o n d e n ts . T w elve s u b j e c t s w ere e l i m i n a t e d due t o
in c o m p le te i n f o r m a t i o n .
B i r t h p l a c e
M exico
(N = 42)
31.31%
U n ite d S t a t e s
(N = 88)
67.69%
TABLE 1— Continued
48
P a r e n t s ' B i r t h p l a c e
B oth P a r e n t s B oth P a r e n t s One P a r e n t
M exico U n ite d S t a t e s M exico
(N = 69) (N = 38) (N = 20)
54.33% 29.92% 15.75%
N o te : T h re e s u b j e c t s e l i m i n a t e d due t o in c o m p le te in f o rm a Â
t i o n .
E c o l o g i c a l B a ck g ro u n d
U rban R u r a l
(N = 112) (N = 17)
86.82% 13.18%
N o te: One s u b j e c t e l i m i n a t e d due t o in c o m p le te in fo rm a tio n ,
P a r e n t s ' E c o l o g i c a l B ackg round
B oth P a r e n t s
Urban
(N = 77)
63.64%
B oth P a r e n t s
R u ra l
(N = 35)
28.93%
One P a r e n t
U rban
(N = 9)
7.44%
N o te:
t i o n .
N ine s u b j e c t s e l i m i n a t e d due t o in c o m p le te in f o r m a -
L e n g th o f R e s id e n c e i n Los A n g e le s
0 t o 5
y e a r s
(N = 11)
8.53%
0 t o 8
y e a r s
(N = 47)
36.43%
6 t o 10
y e a r s
(N = 15)
11.63%
O ver 10
y e a r s
(N = 50)
38.76%
F o rm a l E d u c a tio n
9 t o 11
y e a r s
(N = 39)
30.23%
12 y e a r s
(N = 37)
28.68%
Born in
Los A n g e les
(N = 53)
41.09%
Some
C o lle g e
(N = 6)
4.65%
N o te: One s u b j e c t e l i m i n a t e d due t o in c o m p le te i n f o r m a t i o n .
M a r i t a l S t a t u s
M a rrie d S i n g l e P a r e n t
(N = 112) (N = 16)
87.50% 12.50%
N o te: Two s u b j e c t s e l i m i n a t e d due t o in c o m p le te in f o r m a Â
t i o n .
49
TABLE 1— Continued
Number o f C h ild r e n i n th e Home
1 c h i l d 2 o r 3 4 o r 5 6 t o 11
c h i l d r e n c h i l d r e n c h i l d r e n
(N = 11) (N = 33) (N = 53) (N = 32)
8.53% 25.58% 41.09% 24.81%
N o te : One s u b j e c t e l i m i n a t e d due t o in c o m p le te i n f o r m a tio n .
Number o f A d u lts i n t h e Home
1 a d u l t 2 a d u l t s 3 a d u l t s 4 o r 5 a d u l t s
(N = 10) (N = 101) (N = 12) (N = 7)
7.69% 77.69% 9.23% 5.39%
C hurch A f f i l i a t i o n
C a t h o l i c N o n -C a th o lic
(N = 106) (N = 22)
82.81% 17.19%
N o te : Two s u b j e c t s e l i m i n a t e d due t o in c o m p le te in fo rm a Â
t i o n .
Age a t M a rria g e
U nder 18 18 t o 21 22 t o 25 O v e r 25
y e a r s y e a r s y e a r s y e a r s
(N = 25) (N = 65) (N = 25) (N = 11)
19.84% 51.59% 19.84% 8.73%
N o te : One u n m a rrie d s u b j e c t was n o t i n c l u d e d a n d t h r e e
o t h e r s e l i m i n a t e d due t o in c o m p le te i n f o r m a t i o n .
* P e r c e n ta g e s i n e a c h o f th e c a t e g o r i e s l i s t e d r e f e r t o
t h e t o t a l num ber o f r e s p o n d e n ts who s u p p l i e d c o m p le te i n Â
f o r m a tio n a b o u t t h a t p a r t i c u l a r d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r . I f
i n f o r m a ti o n was in c o m p le te on a p a r t i c u l a r f a c t o r , t h a t i n Â
t e r v i e w was e l i m i n a t e d from t h e c a l c u l a t i o n s .
50
o f s u b j e c t s i n e a c h d i v i s i o n , and t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f t h e
t o t a l num ber o f r e s p o n d e n ts i n e a c h v a r i a b l e t h a t t h a t p a r Â
t i c u l a r d i v i s i o n c o n ta in e d . E ach o f th e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i Â
a b l e s w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d s e p a r a t e l y b e lo w .
P o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y . — Two p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y sam p les
w e re ta k e n f o r t h i s s tu d y . The h ig h d e n s i t y s a m p le , i d e n Â
t i f i e d e a r l i e r i n t h i s c h a p t e r as s c h o o ls w h ere a b o u t 9 8
p e r c e n t o f t h e c h i l d r e n e n r o l l e d h a d S p a n is h su rn a m e s,
c o n s i s t e d o f s i x t y - e i g h t r e s p o n d e n t s . The low d e n s i t y samÂ
p l e was d e s c r i b e d e a r l i e r a s a m ore i n t e g r a t e d a r e a , i n
w h ic h a b o u t 75 p e r c e n t o f t h e c h i l d r e n e n r o l l e d i n th e
s c h o o l s s t u d i e d h a d S p a n is h su rn a m e s. As s e e n i n T a b le 1,
t h e low d e n s i t y sam p le c o n s i s t e d o f s i x t y - t w o r e s p o n d e n t s .
S e x . — I n t h i s s t u d y , fe m a le s a c c o u n te d f o r 10 4 o f t h e
i n t e r v i e w s w h ile m ale r e s p o n d e n ts a c c o u n te d f o r 26 o f t h o s e
i n t e r v i e w e d .
A g e . — The age ra n g e f o r t h o s e i n te r v ie w e d f o r t h i s
s tu d y w as from tw e n ty t o s e v e n t y - f o u r y e a r s . F o u r age d i Â
v i s i o n s , a s shown i n T a b le 1 , w ere e s t a b l i s h e d i n o r d e r t o
a n a ly z e t h e ag e f a c t o r . Only two p e rs o n s d i d n o t re s p o n d
t o t h e ag e i n q u i r y and t h e i r d a t a w ere e l i m i n a t e d from t h e
c a l c u l a t i o n s o f t h i s d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r . The o t h e r r e Â
s p o n d e n ts w e re d i v id e d a s f o llo w s : (1) t h e 20 t o 29 y e a r s
age b r a c k e t a c c o u n te d f o r o v e r 30 p e r c e n t , (2) th e 30 t o
51
39 y e a r s age b r a c k e t i n c l u d e d a b o u t 32 p e r c e n t , (3) t h e 40
t o 49 y e a r s age b r a c k e t o v e r 31 p e r c e n t , and (4) t h e 50
y e a r s an d o v e r age b r a c k e t i n c l u d e d o v e r 6 p e r c e n t .
L anguage u s e d i n th e hom e. — L anguage u sa g e i n t h e home
was i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s tu d y a s a d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r t o d e Â
te r m in e i f t h e r e w ere any co m m u nication p r e f e r e n c e v a r i a Â
t i o n s i n t h e s e g r o u p s . M exican A m erican p a r e n t s who w ere
i n te r v ie w e d w ere a s k e d t o s e l e c t one o f f i v e c a t e g o r i e s t o
d e s c r i b e t h e i r home la n g u a g e u s a g e : S p a n is h o n l y , E n g lis h
o n l y , m o s tly S p a n is h , m o s tly E n g li s h , and E n g li s h an d SpanÂ
i s h a b o u t t h e sam e. The f i r s t two c a t e g o r i e s , E n g li s h o n ly
and S p a n is h o n l y , w ere som ewhat s m a ll f o r a n a l y s i s and i t
w a s, t h e r e f o r e , d e c id e d t o com bine th e d a t a i n t o t h r e e c a t Â
e g o r i e s : (1) p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h , (2) p r i m a r i l y E n g l i s h , and
(3) E n g li s h and S p a n is h a b o u t th e sam e. T hose who sp o k e
p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h num bered t h i r t y - t w o o r a lm o s t 25 p e r c e n t
o f th e s a m p le . The p r i m a r i l y E n g lis h s p e a k e r s num bered
f i f t y - o n e o r o v e r 39 p e r c e n t and s p e a k e r s who u se d b o th
la n g u a g e s e q u a l l y num bered f o r t y - s e v e n o r s l i g h t l y o v e r 36
p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l .
O c c u p a tio n . — F o r t h i s s t u d y , r e s p o n d e n ts w ere a s k e d
t h e k i n d o f w ork th e y d i d and a s c l o s e l y a s p o s s i b l e t h i s
was a d a p te d t o t h e o c c u p a t i o n a l c a t e g o r i e s and c l a s s i f i c a -
52
t i o n s o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s D ep artm en t o f L a b o r. I n t h e
c a s e o f a h o u s e w if e , who d i d n o t work o u t s i d e t h e hom e, th e
o c c u p a tio n o f h e r h u sb a n d was u se d f o r t h i s s tu d y . The
c a t e g o r i e s s e l e c t e d w e re : (1) P r o f e s s i o n a l and M a n a g e r ia l
o c c u p a t i o n s , (2) S k i l l e d o c c u p a ti o n s , (3) S e m i s k i l l e d o c c u Â
p a t i o n s , and (4) U n s k i l l e d o c c u p a tio n s . I n a d d i t i o n , c a t e Â
g o r i e s o f (5) S t u d e n t, and (6) Unemployed w ere a d d ed t o
t h o s e d e r i v e d from t h e D e p artm en t o f L ab o r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s .
I n t h i s sa m p le , none o f th e r e s p o n d e n ts c o u ld be c l a s Â
s i f i e d i n t o t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l and m a n a g e r ia l c a t e g o r y .
F o r t y - s i x o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts o r a b o u t 39 p e r c e n t w ere
c l a s s i f i e d a s s k i l l e d , t h i r t y - t w o o r a b o u t 27 p e r c e n t a s
s e m i s k i l l e d , and t h i r t y o r a b o u t 25 p e r c e n t a s u n s k i l l e d .
I n a d d i t i o n , s i x o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts o r a b o u t 5 p e r c e n t
w ere s t u d e n t s and f o u r o r o v e r 3 p e r c e n t w ere u n em p lo y ed .
Tw elve r e s p o n d e n ts w ere e l i m i n a t e d from t h i s sam p le b e c a u s e
o f i n a b i l i t y t o d e te r m in e t h e e x a c t n a t u r e o f t h e i r o c c u p a Â
t i o n . A c c o rd in g t o i n t e r v i e w e r r e a c t i o n s , i t may b e t h a t
some o f t h e s e tw e lv e w ere unem ployed.
B i r t h p l a c e . — One d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r t h a t i s o f t e n menÂ
t i o n e d a s an i m p o r t a n t d i v i s i o n w i t h in t h e M exican A m erican .
com m unity i s t h e m a t t e r o f im m ig ra tio n . T h e r e f o r e , f o r
l ^ U . S . , D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r, D i c ti o n a r y o f O ccupaÂ
t i o n a l T i t l e s , V o l. I (2nd e d . ; W ash in g to n , D .C .: G o v e rn -
m ent P r i n t i n g O f f i c e , 1 9 4 9 ).
53
t h i s s t u d y , t h e q u e s t i o n o f b i r t h p l a c e was in c l u d e d .
F o r ty - tw o o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts o r o v e r 32 p e r c e n t l i s t e d
M exico a s t h e i r b i r t h p l a c e , w h ile a b o u t 6 8 p e r c e n t o r
e i g h t y - e i g h t s a i d th e y w ere b o rn i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
P a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e . — The b i r t h p l a c e o f th e p a r e n t s o f
t h e r e s p o n d e n ts was a l s o a s k e d i n o r d e r t o d e te rm in e i f t h e
im m ig ra tio n f a c t o r on t h i s l e v e l was r e l e v a n t t o com m unicaÂ
t i o n p r e f e r e n c e s . In t h i s sa m p le , i t was foun d t h a t o v e r
54 p e r c e n t o f t h e p e rs o n s who re s p o n d e d t o t h i s q u e s t i o n
i n d i c a t e d t h a t b o th t h e i r p a r e n t s w ere b o rn i n M exico, a l Â
m o st 30 p e r c e n t s a i d b o th p a r e n t s w ere b o rn in th e U n ite d
S t a t e s , and a b o u t 16 p e r c e n t h a d one p a r e n t b o rn i n M exico
and one i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s . C om plete in f o r m a ti o n was n o t
a v a i l a b l e f o r t h r e e o f th e r e s p o n d e n ts an d t h e s e w ere e x Â
c lu d e d from t h e c a l c u l a t i o n s .
E c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d . —A n o th e r d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r r e Â
l a t i n g t o p l a c e o f b i r t h and b a c k g ro u n d i s th e f a c t o r o f
u rb a n o r r u r a l o r i g i n s . E c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d i s o f t e n
m e n tio n e d i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e c o n c e rn in g M exican A m erican s a s
an i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r t h a t may have r e le v a n c e t o v a lu e s y s Â
tem s and c o n s e q u e n tly t o co m m u n ica tio n . The movement o f
M exican A m e ric an s from r u r a l t o u rb a n l o c a t i o n s h a s b e e n
v e r y p ro n o u n c e d i n t h e p a s t few y e a r s . 15 In an e f f o r t t o
1 5F or a s tu d y o f r u r a l - u r b a n t r e n d s se e Jo a n W. Moore
54
d e te r m in e i f t h i s f a c t o r was r e l e v a n t , q u e s t i o n s w ere i n Â
c lu d e d t o d i s c o v e r t h e u rb a n o r r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d s o f t h e
r e s p o n d e n t s .
I t was f i r s t d e te r m in e d i f t h e p e rs o n i n te r v ie w e d w ere
b o rn i n Los A n g e le s . I f n o t , he was th e n a s k e d i f th e
p l a c e from w h ich h e moved was a c i t y , farm , o r s m a ll tow n.
I n c a l c u l a t i n g t h e r e s p o n s e s , farm and s m a ll town w ere comÂ
b in e d u n d e r th e h e a d in g o f r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d . D a ta w ere n o t
a v a i l a b l e on t h i s f a c t o r from one o f th o s e i n te r v ie w e d and
was e l i m i n a t e d from t h e c a l c u l a t i o n s . By f a r th e g r e a t e s t
p e r c e n t a g e o f r e s p o n d e n ts who an sw e red t h i s q u e s t i o n , a l Â
m ost 87 p e r c e n t , i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e i r b a c k g ro u n d s w ere
p r i m a r i l y u r b a n , w h i l e a l i t t l e o v e r 13 p e r c e n t s a i d th e y
w ere from r u r a l b a c k g r o u n d s .
P a r e n t s 1 e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g r o u n d . — The u r b a n - r u r a l b a c k Â
g ro u n d o f t h e p a r e n t s o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts was a l s o c o n s i d Â
e r e d i n t h i s s tu d y t o s e e i f t h i s m ig h t b e a r e l e v a n t c h a r Â
a c t e r i s t i c r e l a t e d t o co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s . Of t h e
p e r s o n s i n t e r v i e w e d , n i n e d i d n o t h av e c o m p le te i n f o r m a ti o n
on t h e u rb a n o r r u r a l n a t u r e o f t h e p l a c e s w here t h e i r p a r Â
e n t s l i v e d b e f o r e com ing t o Los A n g e le s and w ere e l i m i n a t e d
an d F ra n k G. M i t t e l b a c h , R e s i d e n t i a l S e g r e g a tio n i n th e UrÂ
b an S o u th w e s t, M ex ican -A m erican S tu d y P r o j e c t , Advance
R e p o rt No. 4 (Los A n g e le s , C a l i f . : U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r Â
n i a a t Los A n g e le s , G ra d u a te S c h o o l o f B u s in e s s A d m in is tr a Â
t i o n , D i v i s i o n o f R e s e a r c h , 1 9 6 6 ).
55
from t h i s s a m p le . From t h e re m a in in g i n t e r v i e w s , i t was
fo u n d t h a t b o t h t h e p a r e n t s o f s e v e n ty - s e v e n o r a b o u t 6 4
p e r c e n t o f t h o s e i n t e r v i e w e d l i v e d i n u rb a n s u r r o u n d in g s
e i t h e r i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s o r i n M exico. B oth p a r e n t s o f
t h i r t y - f i v e r e s p o n d e n t s o r a lm o s t 29 p e r c e n t l i v e d i n r u Â
r a l a r e a s . N in e p e r s o n s o r o v e r 7 p e r c e n t i n d i c a t e d t h a t
one o f t h e i r p a r e n t s l i v e d i n a r u r a l a r e a and th e o t h e r i n
an u rb a n s e t t i n g .
L e n g th o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s . — I t was th o u g h t
t h a t , p e r h a p s , t h e l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s m ig h t
h av e some r e l e v a n c e t o c o m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s . I t was
s p e c u l a t e d t h a t l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e m ig h t b e r e l a t e d t o
more f a m i l i a r i t y w ith t h e s c h o o l sy ste m and t h e r e f o r e c o n Â
c e p t s a b o u t co m m u n ica tio n m ig h t p r e v a i l . Thus t h e t o t a l
sam p le was d i v i d e d i n t o c a t e g o r i e s o f th o s e who h a d l i v e d
i n Los A n g e le s f i v e y e a r s o r l e s s , betw een s i x and te n
y e a r s , t h o s e who h a d l i v e d i n t h e c i t y o v e r t e n y e a r s , and
t h o s e b o r n i n Los A n g e le s . T hose who l i v e d h e r e f i v e y e a r s
o r l e s s a c c o u n te d f o r a b o u t 9 p e r c e n t o f t h e s a m p le , th o s e
b e tw ee n s i x an d t e n y e a r s a c c o u n te d f o r a b o u t 12 p e r c e n t ,
and t h o s e o v e r t e n y e a r s w ere 39 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l .
Those b o rn i n Los A n g e le s c o m p rise d a l i t t l e o v e r 41 p e r
c e n t o f t h e s a m p le . L e n g th o f r e s i d e n c e i n f o r m a tio n was
n o t a v a i l a b l e f o r one r e s p o n d e n t and t h i s i n t e r v i e w was
e l i m i n a t e d from t h e c a l c u l a t i o n s .
56
F o rm a l e d u c a t i o n . — I n o r d e r t o a s c e r t a i n i f th e am ount
o f e d u c a ti o n h a s some r e l e v a n c e t o co m m u n icatio n , a q u e s Â
t i o n w as a s k e d t o e l i c i t t h i s i n f o r m a ti o n . The am ount o f
fo rm a l e d u c a ti o n ra n g e d from none t o two y e a r s o f c o l l e g e .
C a te g o r ie s w e re e s t a b l i s h e d and t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e p e r c e n t Â
ages o f t h e t o t a l w ere a s f o llo w s : (1) z e r o to e i g h t y e a r s
o f s c h o o l i n g , o v e r 36 p e r c e n t ; (2) n i n e t o e le v e n y e a r s ,
o v e r 30 p e r c e n t ; (3) tw e lv e y e a r s , a b o u t 29 p e r c e n t ; and
(4) some c o l l e g e e d u c a t i o n , a b o u t 5 p e r c e n t . E d u c a ti o n a l
a t t a i n m e n t w as n o t a v a i l a b l e f o r one r e s p o n d e n t and t h i s
i n t e r v i e w was d i s c a r d e d from t h e sa m p le .
M a r i t a l s t a t u s . — By f a r t h e b u lk o f t h e sa m p le , a b o u t
88 p e r c e n t , w e re m a r r ie d and l i v i n g i n t h e same home w ith
t h e i r s p o u s e s . The num bers f o r th e o t h e r c a t e g o r i e s : s e p Â
a r a t e d , w idow ed, d i v o r c e d , and s i n g l e , w ere so s m a ll t h a t
th e y w e re com bined i n t o one sam p le c e l l . T h is g ro u p , w hich
was c a l l e d a s i n g l e - p a r e n t home, a c c o u n te d f o r o v e r 12 p e r
c e n t o f t h e t o t a l . Two p e rs o n s d e c l i n e d t o re s p o n d t o t h i s
q u e s t i o n and w e re rem oved from th e sa m p le .
Number o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e hom e. — The num ber o f c h i l Â
d ren i n th e homes o f th o s e p e r s o n s i n te r v ie w e d ra n g e d from
one t o e l e v e n . F o u r c a t e g o r i e s w ere e s t a b l i s h e d . The
f i r s t c a t e g o r y c o n s i s t e d o f s i n g l e - c h i l d hom es. E le v e n r e Â
s p o n d e n ts o r a b o u t 9 p e r c e n t f e l l i n t o t h i s b r a c k e t . The
seco n d c a t e g o r y w as o f homes w ith two o r t h r e e c h i l d r e n .
57
T h ir ty - r th r e e o r a b o u t 26 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts w ere
i n t h i s g ro u p . The t h i r d g ro u p c o n s i s t e d o f homes w ith
f o u r o r f i v e c h i l d r e n . I n t h i s g ro u p t h e r e w e re f i f t y -
t h r e e r e s p o n d e n ts o r a l i t t l e o v e r 41 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l .
The l a s t g ro u p c o n s i s t e d o f homes w ith o v e r s i x c h i l d r e n .
T h ir ty ^ tw o o r a lm o s t 25 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l w e re i n t h i s
g ro u p . I n f o r m a t io n was n o t a v a i l a b l e f o r one r e s p o n d e n t
and t h i s i n t e r v i e w was rem oved from t h e sam p le.
Number o f a d u l t s i n t h e hom e. — The ra n g e f o r t h e numÂ
b e r o f a d u l t s l i v i n g i n t h e home was from one t o f i v e . By
f a r th e g r e a t e s t p e r c e n t a g e , a b o u t 78 p e r c e n t , w ere homes
w i t h two a d u l t s . A b o u t 8 p e r c e n t o f th e r e s p o n d e n ts w ere
from homes w i t h on e a d u l t , o v e r 9 p e r c e n t from homes w ith
t h r e e a d u l t s and o v e r 5 p e r c e n t from homes w ith f o u r o r
f i v e a d u l t s .
C hu rch a f f i l i a t i o n . — The r e s p o n d e n ts w ere a s k e d two
q u e s t i o n s c o n c e r n in g t h e i r c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n . The f i r s t
q u e s t i o n t r i e d t o d e te r m in e i f th e p e rs o n was a member o f a
c h u rc h . A lm o st 94 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e re s p o n d in g t o t h i s
q u e s t i o n s a i d th e y w e re members o f some c h u rc h . The se c o n d
q u e s t i o n a tte m p te d t o d e te r m in e w ith w h ich c h u rc h th e y w ere
a f f i l i a t e d . Of t h o s e a f f i l i a t e d w ith some c h u rc h , m ost
d e s g i n a t e d t h e C a t h o l i c c h u rc h and t h i s l e f t o n ly a s m a ll
am ount a f f i l i a t e d w i t h a P r o t e s t a n t c h u rc h . In o r d e r t o
o b t a i n a l a r g e r sam ple f o r a n a l y s i s , t h e n o n - a f f i l i a t e d
58
s u b j e c t s w e re com bined w i t h t h e P r o t e s t a n t sa m p le . T h is
d i v i s i o n was c a l l e d t h e n o n - C a th o lic s a m p le . T ab le 1 shows
t h e s e two d i v i s i o n s . C a t h o l i c s num bered one h u n d red s i x o r
a b o u t 83 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , w h ile n o n - C a th o lic s numÂ
b e r e d tw e n ty -tw o o r a l i t t l e m ore th a n 17 p e r c e n t .
Age a t m a r r i a g e . — The d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r o f m a rria g e
age was i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s t u d y , b e c a u s e i t was th o u g h t t h a t
age a t w h ic h one m a r r i e s may h a v e some i m p l i c a t i o n s r e l a t Â
in g t o su c h t h i n g s a s econom ic l e v e l and am ount o f e d u c a Â
t i o n and th u s m ig h t p o s s i b l y a f f e c t com m unicatio n p r e f e r Â
e n c e s . The ag e a t m a r r ia g e r a n g e d from f o u r t e e n to f o r t y
y e a r s f o r t h i s s t u d y . One u n m a rrie d s u b j e c t was a l s o r e Â
c o rd e d and t h r e e p e r s o n s d e c l i n e d t o a n sw e r t h i s q u e s t i o n .
E x c lu d in g t h e s e f o u r from t h e c a l c u l a t i o n s , i t was fo u n d
t h a t a lm o s t 20 p e r c e n t o f t h e sam ple w ere m a r r ie d u n d e r
th e age o f e i g h t e e n , a b o u t 52 p e r c e n t w ere m a r r ie d b e tw ee n
e ig h t e e n and tw e n ty - o n e , a lm o s t 20 p e r c e n t betw een tw e n ty -
two and t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s , and a lm o s t 9 p e r c e n t o v e r th e
age o f t w e n t y - f i v e .
A n a ly s is o f D ata
D ata w ere p r e s e n t e d from two d i f f e r e n t p o i n t s o f v iew .
The f i r s t t r e a t m e n t i n v o lv e d c o m p arin g t h e dem o g rap h ic
v a r i a b l e s o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts w i t h t h e i r com m unication p r e f Â
e r e n c e s t o d e te r m in e any n o t a b l e p a t t e r n s . C om parisons
w ere made f o r e a c h o f t h e f o u r m essage t y p e s : (1) p r o g r e s s
59
m essa g e, (2) a c t i v i t y a n n o u n ce m e n t, (3) d i s c i p l i n e m essa g e,
and (4) p r a i s e m e s s a g e . The s e c o n d t r e a t m e n t o f t h e d a ta
a n a ly z e d t h e s t r e n g t h s and w e a k n e s s e s o f th e d i f f e r e n t
c h a n n e ls , c o d e s , r e c e i v e r s , a n d s o u r c e s i n te rm s o f t h e
p r e f e r e n c e s e x p r e s s e d by M exican A m erican p a r e n t s .
The m ethod o f c a l c u l a t i n g t h e d a t a was a s f o l l o w s .
F i r s t , a p e r c e n ta g e o f p r e f e r e n c e was d e te r m in e d f o r e ac h
com m unication e le m e n t f o r e a c h m essag e f o r t h e t o t a l sam ple
o f one h u n d re d t h i r t y r e s p o n d e n t s . F o r e x a m p le , t h e mesÂ
sa g e c o n c e rn in g p r o g r e s s i n s c h o o l was c o n s i d e r e d f i r s t . A
p e r c e n ta g e o f t h e t o t a l sa m p le was d e te rm in e d f o r e a c h o f
t h e p o s s i b l e c h a n n e ls o f co m m u n ica tio n f o r t h e p r o g r e s s
m essa g e. T h a t i s , t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f p a r e n t s who p r e f e r r e d
t h e te le p h o n e , t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , th e home c o n fe r e n c e
and so on was e s t a b l i s h e d . The same p r o c e d u r e was th e n
u s e d f o r t h e v a r i o u s p o s s i b l e co m m u n icatio n c o d e s , communiÂ
c a t i o n r e c e i v e r s , and s o u r c e s . Then o t h e r p e r c e n t a g e s f o r
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple w e re made in l i k e f a s h i o n f o r
e a c h o f th e o t h e r t h r e e m essa g e t y p e s .
A f t e r p e r c e n t a g e s w ere d e te r m in e d f o r th e t o t a l popuÂ
l a t i o n sam ple a s d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , th e p o r t i o n o f t h e t o t a l
sam ple r e p r e s e n t i n g e a c h o f t h e v a r i o u s d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s ,
d i s c u s s e d e a r l i e r i n t h i s c h a p t e r , was s u b j e c t e d t o t h e
same t r e a t m e n t . In t h i s w ay, f o r e x a m p le , t h e p e r c e n ta g e
o f m ales i n te r v ie w e d who p r e f e r r e d t h a t a p a r t i c u l a r c h an Â
n e l , su c h a s t h e t e l e p h o n e , b e u se d f o r s e n d in g a p a r t i c u l a r
6Q
m essag e t o them , su c h as an a n n o u n cem en t o f a s c h o o l a c t i v Â
i t y , was d e te r m in e d . P e r c e n ta g e s w e r e , i n t u r n , d e te rm in e d
f o r e a c h o f t h e d i v i s i o n s o f e a c h o f t h e s e d e m o g ra p h ic f a c Â
t o r s in t h e same m ethod t h a t th e y h a d b e en d e te r m in e d f o r
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le .
P e r c e n t a g e s th u s d e r i v e d f o r e a c h d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r
w ere th e n com pared w ith t h e p e r c e n t a g e s f o r t h e t o t a l popuÂ
l a t i o n sa m p le . Where s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l
p o p u l a t i o n sam p le w ere o b s e r v e d , th e y w ere p r e s e n t e d and
d i s c u s s e d .
D e te r m in a tio n o f " s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n " from t h e t o Â
t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le was b a s e d on tw o c r i t e r i a . F i r s t ,
t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r e a c h co m m u n icatio n e le m e n t w ere p la c e d
i n ra n k o r d e r . The r a n k in g s f o r t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n samÂ
p l e w ere th e n com pared w i t h t h e r a n k i n g s f o r e a c h demoÂ
g r a p h i c v a r i a b l e . I f t h e r e w ere m a jo r v a r i a t i o n s b etw een
t h e t o t a l sam ple and a p a r t i c u l a r d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e ,
e s p e c i a l l y i n f i r s t and se c o n d c h o i c e s , t h e s e v a r i a t i o n s
w e re d i s c u s s e d .
S e c o n d ly , t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e s f o r e a c h e l e Â
m ent w ere com pared. A g a in , i f l a r g e v a r i a t i o n s from t h e
p e r c e n t a g e s fo u n d i n th e t o t a l sam ple w ere n o t e d , t h e s e
w ere a l s o d i s c u s s e d . In some c a s e s , v a r i a t i o n s w ere fou nd
i n v e ry s m a ll sam ple c e l l s b u t w ere n o t r e p o r t e d s i n c e th e
v a r i a t i o n s may have b e en a t t r i b u t a b l e t o t h e sam ple s i z e
r a t h e r th a n t o t h e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e . P e r c e n ta g e s w ere
61
ro u n d e d t o th e n e a r e s t one h u n d r e d th and i n some c a s e s th e
com bined p e r c e n t a g e s f o r a p a r t i c u l a r a r e a may n o t t o t a l t o
e x a c t l y one h u n d re d p e r c e n t .
CHAPTER I I I
A MESSAGE CONCERNING PROGRESS OF THE PUPIL
T h is c h a p t e r w i l l c o n s id e r t h e c o m m u n icatio n p r e f e r Â
e n c e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l d e Â
s i r e t o in fo rm them a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n i n
s c h o o l . F o u r c a t e g o r i e s o f co m m u n ica tio n p r e f e r e n c e s w i l l
be c o v e re d : (1) com m unication c h a n n e l s , (2) com m unication
c o d e s , (3) com m unication r e c e i v e r s , an d (4) com m unication
s o u r c e s .
E ach c a te g o r y w i l l be r e l a t e d , i n t u r n , to t h e demoÂ
g r a p h i c v a r i a b l e s o f th e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s . In e a c h
c a s e , t h e t o t a l sam ple w i l l be a n a ly z e d f i r s t and th e n
th o s e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s t h a t show s i g n i f i c a n t d e p a r Â
t u r e s from t h e t o t a l sam ple w i l l be d i s c u s s e d . D em ographic
v a r i a b l e s t o be c o n s id e re d w ere d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I u n Â
d e r th e s e c t i o n e n t i t l e d "D ata R e g a rd in g D em ographic V a r i Â
a b le s o f R e s p o n d e n ts ."
C om m unication C h a n n e ls
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sample
T a b le 2 shows t h e p e r c e n ta g e s o f t h e t o t a l sam p le o f
one h u n d re d t h i r t y r e s p o n d e n ts who p r e f e r r e d e ac h o f th e
62
63
TABLE 2
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
(N = 130)
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h oosing
C h a n n el B e s t C h a n n el W o rst C h an n el
T ele p h o n e 7 .6 9 33. 85
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 45.3 9 3 .0 8
Home C o n fe re n c e 8.4 6 5 .3 9
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 1 4 .6 2 7 .6 9
R e p o rt C ard 2 3 .8 5 1 2 .3 1
O th e r 0 .0 0 1 .5 4
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 3 6 .1 5
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
v a r i o u s c h a n n e ls o f co m m u nication f o r a m essag e c o n c e rn in g
t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e i r c h i l d i n s c h o o l . I t a l s o r e p o r t s th e
p e r c e n t a g e s o f t h e t o t a l sam p le f o r t h o s e c h a n n e ls o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n w h ic h w ere l e a s t p r e f e r r e d . The c h a n n e l o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n by w h ich th e l a r g e s t num ber o f p a r e n t s w ould
p r e f e r t o be n o t i f i e d o f t h e i r c h i l d ' s p r o g r e s s was by way
o f a c o n fe r e n c e i n s c h o o l. The se c o n d m o st p r e f e r r e d ch an Â
n e l , b u t t r a i l i n g t h e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e c o n s i d e r a b l y , was
t h e r e p o r t c a r d b r o u g h t home by th e c h i l d . T h is was a s u r Â
p r i s i n g r e s u l t i n l i g h t o f t h e t r a d i t i o n o f t h e r e p o r t card .
The v e ry h ig h f i g u r e o f o v e r 45 p e r c e n t o f th e p a r e n t s who
64
f a v o r e d a c o n fe re n c e i n s c h o o l was a l s o u n e x p e c te d . N e a rly
tw ic e a s many p a r e n t s f a v o r e d a s c h o o l c o n fe re n c e as th o s e
who f a v o r e d th e r e p o r t c a r d c h a n n e l. F o r t h e t h i r d m ost
p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l, a b o u t 15 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts s e Â
l e c t e d a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by m a il a s t h e i r f a v o r e d
c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n icatio n f o r a m essag e c o n c e rn in g t h e p r o Â
g r e s s o f t h e i r c h i l d i n s c h o o l . The o t h e r two c h a n n e ls
s t u d i e d , t h e te le p h o n e and c o n f e r e n c e i n t h e home, g a in e d
l i t t l e s u p p o r t from t h o s e i n t e r v i e w e d .
The w o rs t p r e f e r e n c e c a t e g o r y g e n e r a l l y , f o r th e e n Â
t i r e s t u d y , i s unknown b e c a u s e m o st o f th e r e s p o n d e n t s , f o r
a l l o f t h e f a c t o r s o f c o m m u n ic a tio n , i n d i c a t e d "no p r e f e r Â
e n ce " f o r t h i s c a t e g o r y . As w i l l b e s e e n l a t e r i n t h i s
c h a p t e r i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n s o f c o d e , r e c e i v e r , and s o u rc e
and a l s o i n t h e n e x t c h a p t e r s when th e o t h e r m essag es a r e
d i s c u s s e d , l a r g e num bers o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s , up t o 82 p e r
c e n t , h a d no p r e f e r e n c e r e g a r d i n g t h e w o r s t m ethod o f comÂ
m u n ic a tin g . How ever, i n s e l e c t i n g a c h a n n e l o f communicaÂ
t i o n f o r t r a n s m i t t i n g m e ssa g e s o f p r o g r e s s , a r a t h e r l a r g e
num ber, n e a r l y 34 p e r c e n t , i d e n t i f i e d t h e te le p h o n e a s t h e
w o r s t c h a n n e l f o r co m m u n icatin g w i t h them a b o u t t h e i r c h i l Â
d r e n 's p r o g r e s s . T h is f i g u r e was u n u s u a l ly h ig h i n r e l a Â
t i o n t o t h e d e s i g n a t i o n s o f w o r s t c h o ic e s made i n th e r e s t
o f t h e s tu d y .
T h ere was a l s o some o p p o s i t i o n , o v e r 12 p e r c e n t , t o
th e r e p o r t c a r d as a c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ica tio n . L i t t l e
65
o p p o s i t i o n was r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r , co n Â
f e r e n c e in th e home, and c o n f e r e n c e i n t h e s c h o o l .
P o p u la tio n D e n s ity
As shown i n T a b le 3, some d e v i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l
p o p u l a t i o n sam ple w ere a p p a r e n t i n t h e two d e n s i t y s a m p le s .
B oth o f th e s e sa m p le s a g re e d t h a t a c o n fe r e n c e i n th e
s c h o o l was th e b e s t c h a n n e l o f co m m u n icatio n b u t by f a r
d i f f e r e n t p e r c e n t a g e s . The h ig h d e n s i t y sam ple showed t h a t
o v e r 51 p e r c e n t o f th e r e s p o n d e n t s f a v o r e d t h e c o n fe re n c e
i n s c h o o l as c o n t r a s t e d t o a b o u t 39 p e r c e n t o f t h e low
d e n s i t y sa m p le . The low d e n s i t y r e s p o n d e n ts r e g i s t e r e d
n e a r l y an e q u a l p r e f e r e n c e , 37 p e r c e n t , f o r t h e r e p o r t
c a r d a s f o r a s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , w h ile t h e h ig h d e n s i t y
sam ple gave t h i s c h a n n e l o f co m m u n ica tio n l e s s th a n a 12
p e r c e n t p r e f e r e n c e . The h ig h d e n s i t y gro u p ra n k e d th e
p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s a m ore p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l th a n t h e r e p o r t
c a r d .
C o r r e l a t i n g w ith t h e s e p r e f e r e n c e s w ere t h e " w o rst"
s e l e c t i o n s . B o th d e n s i t y sa m p le s a g r e e d w ith t h e t o t a l
p o p u l a t i o n sam ple on a d i s l i k e o f t h e t e l e p h o n e f o r t r a n s Â
m i t t i n g m essag es r e l a t i n g t o t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n
i n s c h o o l b u t t h e h ig h d e n s i t y sa m p le showed l e s s d i s l i k e
f o r t h e home c o n fe r e n c e and m ore d i s l i k e f o r t h e r e p o r t c a rd
th a n d i d t h e low d e n s i t y sa m p le .
66
TABLE 3
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE POPULATION DENSITY SAMPLES
FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
H igh D e n s ity Sam ple Low D e n s ity Sam ple
C om m unication (N = 68) (N = 62)
C h a n n el P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W o rst B e s t W o rst
T elep h o n e 7 .3 5 3 5 .2 9 8 .0 6 32.26
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 5 1 .4 7 2 .9 4 3 8 .7 1 3 .2 3
Home C o n fe re n c e 11.76 2 .9 4 4 .8 4 8 .0 6
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 17.65 7 .3 5 1 1.2 9 8.06
R e p o rt C ard 11.76 1 4 .7 1 3 7 .1 0 9 .6 8
O th e r 0 .0 0 1 .4 7 0 .0 0 1 .6 1
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 3 5 .2 9 0 .0 0 37.10
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
Sex
T a b le 4 g iv e s t h e m ale an d fe m a le b reak d o w n s f o r p r e f Â
e r e n c e s o f c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ica tio n . In b o th t h e b e s t and
w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e c a t e g o r i e s , m a le s t e n d e d t o b e m ore p o l a r Â
i z e d and t h i s may a c c o u n t f o r some o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e s in
t h e p e r c e n t a g e s b etw een m ale and fe m a le p r e f e r e n c e s . I n
g e n e r a l , b o th m ales an d fe m a le s h a d t h e same r a n k in g f o r
p r e f e r r e d a n d n o n - p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e ls b u t t h e r e w e re a few
n o t a b l e e x c e p ti o n s .
None o f t h e m ale r e s p o n d e n ts s e l e c t e d t h e te le p h o n e as
t h e i r p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ica tio n b u t n e a r l y 10 p e r
67
c e n t o f th e fe m a le s s e l e c t e d t h i s c h a n n e l. A n o th e r d i f f e r Â
e n c e n o te d r e l a t i n g t o t h e se x f a c t o r was t h e l a r g e r num ber
o f m a le s , o v e r 19 p e r c e n t , who p r e f e r r e d a c o n f e r e n c e i n
t h e home i n c o m p a riso n t o l e s s th a n 6 p e r c e n t o f t h e f e Â
m a le s who p r e f e r r e d t h i s c h a n n e l. No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a Â
t i o n s w ere n o te d i n t h e w o r s t c h a n n e l s e l e c t i o n s o t h e r th a n
t h e more p o l a r i z e d s e l e c t i o n s o f t h e m a le s d i s c u s s e d a b o v e .
TABLE 4
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE SEXES
FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
C om m unication
C h a n n el
M ales (N = 26)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
F em ales (N = 104)
P e r C e n t C hoosing:
B e s t W orst
T e le p h o n e 0 .0 0 2 6 .9 2 9 .6 2 3 5 .5 8
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 3 8 .4 6 0 .0 0 4 7 .1 1 3 .8 5
Home C o n fe re n c e 1 9 .2 3 0 .0 0 5 .7 7 6 .7 3
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 1 5 .3 8 1 1 .5 4 14.4 2 6 .73
R e p o rt C ard 2 6 .9 2 1 9 .2 3 2 3 .0 8 1 0 .5 8
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 1 .9 2
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 4 2 .3 1 0 .0 0 34.6 2
N o te: P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g ,
The r a n k in g s o f p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e ls w ere g e n e r a l l y t h e
same f o r a l l f o u r age g ro u p s s t u d i e d a n d c o r r e l a t e d c l o s e l y
w i t h th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . Some d i f f e r e n c e s w ere
68
n o t e d , h o w e v er. The two y o u n g e s t age b r a c k e t s o f p a r e n t s
show ed h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e s c h o o l co n Â
f e r e n c e th a n d i d t h e two o l d e r b r a c k e t s . P e r s o n s i n t h e
f o r t y t o f o r t y - n i n e y e a r s o l d age b r a c k e t show ed m ore i n Â
t e r e s t i n a home c o n fe r e n c e th a n d i d t h e o t h e r age c a t e Â
g o r i e s , a lth o u g h th e y r e t a i n e d th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n c h a r a c Â
t e r i s t i c o f s e l e c t i n g th e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e an d t h e r e p o r t
c a r d f o r t h e i r f i r s t two p r e f e r e n c e s . No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i Â
a t i o n from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple was n o t e d i n th e
c h o ic e s f o r t h e w o r s t c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ic a tio n .
L anguage U sed i n t h e Home
P r e f e r e n c e s f o r c h a n n e ls o f co m m u n ica tio n f o r t h i s
v a r i a b l e a r e shown i n T a b le 5 . M ajo r v a r i a t i o n s from t h e
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple a r e found i n t h e p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h
s p e a k in g g ro u p and t h e s p e a k e rs o f b o th la n g u a g e s . The
S p a n is h s p e a k in g g ro u p f a v o r e d th e u se o f r e p o r t c a r d s o v e r
a s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , a lth o u g h t h e r e was a lm o s t a s much su p Â
p o r t f o r t h e c o n f e r e n c e . The p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a l s o r e c e i v e d
m ore s u p p o r t from t h i s g ro u p , w hich w ould l e a d t o t h e s p e c Â
u l a t i o n t h a t t h i s g ro u p m ig h t g e n e r a l l y f a v o r w r i t t e n c h an Â
n e l s o f co m m u n icatio n o v e r o r a l c h a n n e ls f o r t h i s k in d o f
m e s s a g e .
The g ro u p w h ich u se d E n g lis h an d S p a n is h a b o u t th e
same s e l e c t e d t h e home c o n fe re n c e a s t h e i r s e c o n d c h o ic e ;
h o w e v e r, th e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e was o v e rw h e lm in g ly t h e i r
CHANNEL PREFERENCES
TABLE 5
OF HOM E LANGUAGE USAGE FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
C om m unication
C h an n el
P r im a r ily
(N =
P e r C e n t
B e s t
S p a n is h
32)
C h o o sin g :
W orst
P r i m a r i l y E n g lis h
(N = 51)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
B oth L anguages
(N = 47)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
T elep h o n e ' 1 5.63 2 1 .8 8 5 .8 8 4 1 .1 8 4 .2 6 3 4 .0 4
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 2 8 .1 3 6 .2 5 47.06 1 .9 6 55.3 2 2 .1 3
Home C o n fe re n c e 3 .1 3 9 .3 8 3.92 5 .8 8 1 7.02 2 .1 3
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 2 1 .8 8 0 .0 0 1 3.73 1 3.7 3 1 0 .6 4 6 .3 8
R e p o rt C ard 3 1 .25 3 .1 3 2 9 .4 1 9 .8 0 1 2 .7 7 2 1 .2 8
O th e r 0 .0 0 3 .1 3 0 .0 0 1 .9 6 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 5 6 .2 5 0 .0 0 2 5 .49 0 .0 0 3 4 .0 4
N o te: P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
< y >
VO
70
f i r s t c h o ic e . No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s w ere o b s e rv e d i n
th e " w o rs t" c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s .
M a r i t a l S t a t u s
P r e f e r e n c e s f o r b o th t h e m a r r ie d an d s i n g l e p a r e n t
g ro u p s w ere e s s e n t i a l l y t h e same as f o r th e t o t a l p o p u la Â
t i o n . The o n ly v a r i a t i o n n o te d was t h a t th e r e s p o n d e n ts
from t h e s i n g l e p a r e n t homes ra n k e d t h e r e p o r t c a r d a s t h e i r
l a s t p r e f e r e n c e i n s t e a d o f i t s u s u a l p la c e m e n t o f se co n d by
th e r e s t o f t h e s a m p le .
Number o f C h ild r e n i n t h e Home
The o n ly v a r i a t i o n from th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple
n o te d f o r t h i s d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r was t h e som ewhat h ig h
p e r c e n t a g e s by w h ic h b o t h t h e one c h i l d and th e two o r
t h r e e c h i l d r e n g r o u p in g s f a v o r e d t h e s c h o o l c o n fe re n c e as
th e p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ica tio n . P r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e
s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e w as i n v e r s e l y r e f l e c t e d by th e g ro u p s w ith
l a r g e r num bers o f c h i l d r e n who a l s o p r e f e r r e d t h e sc h o o l
c o n fe r e n c e b u t by s m a l l e r p e r c e n t a g e s th a n t h e g ro u p in g s
w ith s m a l l e r num bers o f c h i l d r e n .
C hurch A f f i l i a t i o n
S in c e t h e sam p le from C a t h o l i c a f f i l i a t e s was so l a r g e ,
t h e i r c h a n n e l o f co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s w ere n e a r l y id e n Â
t i c a l w i t h t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . A s l i g h t d i f f e r Â
e n c e was n o te d i n t h e c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s o f n o n - C a t h o l i c s .
71
T h is g ro u p p l a c e d s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e as t h e i r f i r s t c h o ic e
b u t t h e i r s e c o n d c h o ic e was t h e home c o n fe r e n c e r a t h e r th a n
t h e r e p o r t c a r d , w h ic h h a d b e e n i d e n t i f i e d as se c o n d c h o ic e
by th e C a t h o l i c sam p le a s w e l l a s th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sa m p le .
F a c t o r s w i t h No V a r ia n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No n o t a b l e v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple
w ere o b s e r v e d i n th e p r e f e r e n c e s o f c h a n n e ls o f communicaÂ
t i o n f o r t h e f o l lo w in g d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s : o c c u p a tio n ,
b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e , e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d ,
p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e in Los
A n g le s , fo rm a l e d u c a t i o n , num ber o f a d u l t s i n th e home, and
age a t m a r r ia g e .
C om m unication Codes
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
T a b le 6 show s t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d and l e a s t p r e f e r r e d
co m m u nicatio n c o d e s o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple f o r a
m essage c o n c e r n in g p u p i l p r o g r e s s i n t h e s c h o o l. The f a - ,
v o re d c o d e , s e l e c t e d b y o v e r 3 8 p e r c e n t o f th o s e i n t e r Â
v iew ed , was E n g li s h u s e d a l o n e , b u t t h i s p r e f e r e n c e was
fo llo w e d c l o s e l y by m e s sa g e s s e n t i n b o th E n g lis h and SpanÂ
i s h , w h ic h was p r e f e r r e d by a l i t t l e o v e r 36 p e r c e n t o f
th e t o t a l sa m p le . P a r e n t s d e s i r i n g m essag es t o be s e n t i n
S p a n is h a lo n e a c c o u n te d f o r a lm o s t 25 p e r c e n t o f t h e sample.
72
TABLE 6
CODE PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
C N = 130)
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
Code B e s t Code W orst Code
S p a n is h 2 4 .6 2 1 0 .0 0
E n g li s h 3 8 .4 6 2 0 .0 0
B oth L anguages 3 6 .1 5 0 .0 0
O th e r 0 .0 0 3 .0 8
No P r e f e r e n c e .7 7 6 6 .9 2
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
In th e l e a s t p r e f e r r e d c a t e g o r i e s , two o u t o f t h r e e o f
t h e r e s p o n d e n ts r e g i s t e r e d "no p r e f e r e n c e " f o r th e la n g u a g e
th e y c o n s id e r e d p o o r e s t . Tw enty p e r c e n t o f t h e sam ple
th o u g h t t h a t E n g lis h u s e d a lo n e was t h e l e a s t d e s i r a b l e
code and 10 p e r c e n t i n d i c a t e d S p a n is h u s e d a lo n e was l e a s t
d e s i r a b l e . None o f th e r e s p o n d e n t s f e l t t h a t a d u a l l a n Â
guage m essag e was u n d e s i r a b l e . To r e i n f o r c e t h i s i d e a ,
t h r e e o f th e f o u r p e rs o n s who i n d i c a t e d " o th e r " f o r t h e i r
w o r s t code p r e f e r e n c e m e n tio n e d t h a t s e n d in g su c h a m essage
i n o n ly one lan g u a g e w o u ld be t h e w o r s t way. Even th o u g h
E n g li s h was p r e f e r r e d by some 38 p e r c e n t o f t h e sa m p le , 20
p e r c e n t o b j e c t e d t o u s in g E n g l i s h a lo n e and a n o th e r 10 p e r
c e n t o b j e c t e d t o u s in g S p a n is h a l o n e .
73
The code p r e f e r e n c e s o f th e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s
s t u d i e d i n t h i s r e s e a r c h seem t o have no c o r r e l a t i o n w ith
t h e f o u r ty p e s o f m essa g es w h ich w ere c o n s i d e r e d . The p e r Â
c e n ta g e s d i s c u s s e d above and l i s t e d i n T a b le 6 a r e a lm o s t
i d e n t i c a l w ith t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e s fo u n d f o r th e
o t h e r t h r e e m essa g es t o be c o n s id e r e d i n C h a p te r s IV , V,
and V I. I n a d d i t i o n , th e ra n k o r d e r o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r l a n Â
g u a g e s was e x a c t l y t h e same and th e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r Â
e n ce w ere n e a r l y t h e same f o r e a c h o f t h e d i v i s i o n s o f a l l
t h e d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s exam ined i n t h e s t u d y . T h e r e f o r e ,
t h e f o llo w in g d i s c u s s i o n s o f d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r v a r i a t i o n s
w i l l n o t be r e p e a t e d i n C h a p te r s IV, V, and V I, w hich a r e
c o n c e rn e d w ith t h e o t h e r t h r e e m essa g es s t u d i e d i n t h i s
r e s e a r c h . I n s t e a d t h e r e a d e r o f t h e s e t h r e e c h a p t e r s w i l l
be r e f e r r e d t o t h i s c h a p t e r f o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e demoÂ
g r a p h i c v a r i a b l e s t h a t r e l a t e t o code p r e f e r e n c e s .
P o p u l a ti o n D e n s ity
The h ig h d e n s i t y sam ple ra n k e d E n g li s h a s t h e i r f i r s t
c h o ic e and show ed a lm o s t th e same p e r c e n t a g e o f p e rs o n s who
f a v o r e d E n g lis h as t h e code t o b e u s e d i n s e n d in g s c h o o l
p r o g r e s s m essa g es as d i d t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n s a m p le . HowÂ
e v e r , t h i s g ro u p , a s shown i n T a b le 7, r e v e r s e d t h e i r s e c Â
ond and t h i r d p l a c e p r e f e r e n c e s . T h ese d a ta t e n d t o be
c o n s i s t e n t w ith t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s a r e a h a s m ore S p a n is h
s p e a k e r s and m ore r e c e n t im m ig ra n ts from M ex ico . Rank o r d e r
74
TABLE 7
CODE PREFERENCES OF THE POPULATION DENSITY SAMPLES
FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
H igh D e n s ity Sam ple Low D e n s ity Sam ple
C om m unication (N = 68) (N = 62)
Code P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W o rst B e s t W o rst
S p a n is h 3 5.29
E n g l i s h 3 8 .2 4
B oth L an guag es 2 5 .0 0
O th e r 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 1 .4 7
1 3 .2 4 1 2 .9 0 6 .4 5
2 5 .0 0 3 8 .7 1 1 4.52
0 .0 0 4 8.39 0 .0 0
1 .4 7 0 .0 0 4 .8 4
6 0 .2 9 0 .0 0 7 4 .1 9
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
o f t h e s e l e c t i o n s made i n t h e w o r s t c a t e g o r i e s by t h e h ig h
d e n s i t y g ro u p a r e t h e same a s t h o s e o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
s a m p le , b u t r e f l e c t a l a r g e r p e r c e n t a g e o f p e r s o n s who d i s Â
l i k e t h e u sa g e o f E n g li s h o n ly and S p a n is h o n ly .
O ver 48 p e r c e n t o f t h e low d e n s i t y gro u p f a v o r e d t h e
u sa g e o f b o th S p a n is h and E n g li s h and th u s r e v e r s e d t h e
p r e f e r e n c e o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple who f a v o r e d EngÂ
l i s h a s t h e i r f i r s t c h o ic e . Only a b o u t 13 p e r c e n t o f t h e
low d e n s i t y g ro u p , c o n t r a s t e d w ith a b o u t 35 p e r c e n t o f t h e
h i g h d e n s i t y g ro u p , f a v o r e d t h e u s e o f S p a n is h . I t w ould
a p p e a r t h a t t h e r e a r e m ore b i l i n g u a l p e r s o n s i n low d e n s i t y
n e ig h b o rh o o d s . C o r r e s p o n d in g ly s m a l l e r p e r c e n t a g e s o f t h e
75
low d e n s i t y sam p le d i s l i k e d e i t h e r S p a n is h o r E n g li s h u s e d
a lo n e a n d a l a r g e r p e r c e n t a g e h a d no p r e f e r e n c e as t o w h ich
was t h e w o r s t code t h a t c o u ld b e u se d f o r a m essage a b o u t
t h e i r c h i l d ' s s c h o o l p r o g r e s s .
Sex
The co d e p r e f e r e n c e s o f fe m a le s te n d e d t o c o rre s p o n d
r a t h e r c l o s e l y w i t h t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple p r e f e r e n c e s .
The f i r s t an d se c o n d p r e f e r e n c e s o f m a le s , h o w ev er, w ere
r e v e r s e d from t h o s e o f t h e t o t a l p o p u la tio n sa m p le . F i f t y
p e r c e n t o f t h e m a le s p r e f e r r e d t h e u sa g e o f b o th la n g u a g e s
a s c o n t r a s t e d t o a b o u t 33 p e r c e n t o f t h e fe m a le s . A l i t t l e
l e s s t h a n 2 7 p e r c e n t o f t h e m a le s p r e f e r r e d E n g lis h b u t
o v e r 41 p e r c e n t o f t h e fe m a le s p r e f e r r e d t h i s c o d e. T h is
may p r o v i d e some s u p p o r t f o r t h e o b s e r v a tio n som etim es
h e a r d i n t h e M exican A m erican comm unity t h a t women a r e t h e
b e t t e r l i n g u i s t s i n t h e f a m ily . The p e r c e n ta g e o f p r e f e r Â
e n c e f o r S p a n is h was a b o u t e q u a l t o th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam ple f o r b o t h m a le s and fe m a le s . T h ere w ere no s i g n i f i Â
c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple f o r th e
l e a s t d e s i r a b l e code f o r e i t h e r m ales o r fe m a le s .
T a b le 8 r e p o r t s t h e code p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e v a r io u s
ag e g r o u p s . The ag e g ro u p s show a p e r f e c t p r o g r e s s i o n i n
la n g u a g e p r e f e r e n c e . The y o u n g e r g ro u p s te n d t o f a v o r EngÂ
l i s h w h ile t h e o l d e r g ro u p s t e n d t o f a v o r S p a n is h . E n g li s h ,
TABLE 8
CODE PREFERENCES OF AGE GROUPS FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
Ages 20 t o 29 Ages 30 t o 39 Ages 40 t o 49 O ver 50
C om m unication (N = 39) (N = 41) (N = 40) (N = 8)
Code % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g :
B e s t W o rst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst
S p a n is h 1 0.26 1 7.9 5 1 9 .5 1 7.32 37.5 0 5 .0 0 5 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
E n g lis h 46 .1 5 10.26 41.46 1 4 .6 3 30.00 32.50 2 5 .0 0 37.50
B oth L anguages 4 3.59 0 .0 0 39.02 0 .0 0 3 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 2 5 .0 0 0 .0 0
O th e r 0 .0 0 7.69 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 2 .5 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 6 4 .1 0 0 .0 0 78.0 5 2 .5 0 6 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 6 2.50
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
cr>
77
f o r e x am p le, i s p r e f e r r e d by a b o u t 46 p e r c e n t o f t h e twenty
t o tw e n ty - n in e y e a r o l d s , o v e r 41 p e r c e n t o f t h e t h i r t y to
t h i r t y - n i n e y e a r o l d s , 30 p e r c e n t o f t h e f o r t y t o f o r t y -
n in e y e a r o l d s , and 25 p e r c e n t o f th o s e o v e r f i f t y y e a r s
o l d . The same p a t t e r n s a r e fo u n d w i t h th o s e who p r e f e r th e
u sa g e o f b o th la n g u a g e s and i n r e v e r s e by th o s e who p r e f e r
S p a n is h .
The same p a t t e r n s a r e a l s o fo u n d i n t h o s e e x p r e s s in g
t h e i r w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s f o r c o d es t o b e u s e d w ith t h i s m esÂ
s a g e . The t h r e e r e s p o n d e n t s , m e n tio n e d e a r l i e r , who i n d i Â
c a t e d " o th e r " f o r t h e i r w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e and s a i d t h a t
s e n d in g a m essag e i n o n ly one la n g u a g e w ou ld be t h e w o r s t
w ay, w ere a l l i n t h e y o u n g e s t c a t e g o r y o f r e s p o n d e n t s .
T h is p e r f e c t p r o g r e s s i o n o f code p r e f e r e n c e , d e s c r i b e d
a b o v e , s u p p o r t s t h e c o n c e p t t h a t some a c c u l t u r a t i o n i s o c Â
c u r r i n g i n y o u n g e r g ro u p s o f M exican A m e ric a n s . I n th e
p a s t , many s c h o o ls r e s o r t e d t o u n f o r t u n a t e and many tim e s
v i c i o u s p r a c t i c e s ^ - i n o r d e r t o a c c u l t u r a t e M exican A m erican
p u p i l s . "No S p a n is h r u l e s " w e re common and i n some p l a c e s
s c h o o ls a r b i t r a r i l y a n g l i c i z e d S p a n is h g iv e n nam es. F a i l Â
u r e s o f t h e s e p r a c t i c e s a r e r e f l e c t e d i n h ig h d r o p o u t r a t e s
and o t h e r e d u c a t i o n a l d e f i c i e n c i e s . However, a s t h e d a t a
i n t h i s sam ple i n d i c a t e , t h e r e h a s b e e n a s te a d y i n c r e a s e
i n th e p e r c e n t a g e o f E n g li s h s p e a k e r s a n d , t r a g i c a l l y , many
•^See C a r t e r , M exican A m e ric an s i n S c h o o l, p p . 9 7 -1 0 6 .
78
o f t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n can s p e a k l i t t l e o r no S p a n is h a t
a l l .
L anguage Used i n th e Home
The la n g u a g e p a r e n t s u se d i n t h e home c o r r e l a t e d v e ry
c l o s e l y w i t h t h e i r code p r e f e r e n c e s f o r r e c e i v i n g m essa g es
from t h e s c h o o l . More th a n 59 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e who sp e a k
p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h in t h e home p r e f e r t h e i r m e ssa g e s from
t h e s c h o o l t o be in S p a n is h . L ik e w ise a lm o s t 53 p e r c e n t
o f th o s e who sp e a k p r i m a r i l y E n g li s h i n t h e home p r e f e r
E n g li s h u s e d i n t h e i r s c h o o l m e s s a g e s . The s e c o n d m o st f a Â
v o re d code f o r b o th g ro u p s was d u a l la n g u a g e u s a g e . Those
who i n d i c a t e d th e y u se S p a n is h and E n g li s h a b o u t t h e same
i n t h e i r hom es, chose E n g lis h a s t h e i r f i r s t code p r e f e r Â
e n c e . H ow ever, t h i s p r e f e r e n c e was c l o s e l y f o llo w e d by
th o s e who p r e f e r r e d h a v in g m essag es s e n t i n b o th la n g u a g e s .
T h ere was a l s o a c o n s i d e r a b le p o r t i o n o f t h i s g ro u p , a b o u t
26 p e r c e n t , who fa v o r e d m essag es s e n t i n S p a n is h .
O c c u p a tio n
T a b le 9 shows th e code p r e f e r e n c e s o f o c c u p a t i o n a l
g r o u p s . S k i l l e d w o rk e rs o r t h e i r w iv e s t e n d e d t o f o llo w
t h e p r e f e r e n c e s o f th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le v e ry c lo s e ly .
T h e i r p r e f e r e n c e s f o r c o d es w ere f i r s t , E n g l i s h ; fo llo w e d
by b o t h la n g u a g e s , and i n t h i r d p l a c e , S p a n is h . The p r e f Â
e r e n c e s o f t h e s e m i s k i l l e d gro u p w e re f i r s t , b o t h lan g u a g es;
th e n E n g l i s h ; and f i n a l l y , S p a n is h . The l a r g e s t num ber o f
TABLE 9
CODE PREFERENCES OF OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
S k i l l e d
(N = 46)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
S e m is k il l e d
(N = 32)
P e r C e n t C h oo sing
B e s t W orst
•
U n s k il l e d
(N = 30)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
S p a n is h 2 3 .9 1 1 0 .8 7 9 .3 8 1 2.50 4 6 .6 7 3 .3 3
E n g lis h 3 9 .1 3 17.39 43.75 9 .3 8 30 .0 0 40.00
B oth L anguages 36.9 6 0 .0 0 4 6 .8 8 0 .0 0 2 3 .3 3 0 .0 0
O th e r 0 .0 0 2 .1 7 0 .0 0 3 .1 3 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 6 9 .5 7 0 .0 0 75.0 0 0 .0 0 5 6 .6 7
N o te: P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
VO
80
u n s k i l l e d w o rk e rs f a v o r e d S p a n is h , t h e n e x t l a r g e s t s e l e c te d
E n g l i s h , and th e t h i r d l a r g e s t gro u p f a v o r e d b o th la n g u a g e s
f o r th e code t o r e c e i v e s c h o o l m e s sa g e s.
Two o t h e r g r o u p s , s t u d e n t s and unem ployed , w ere e l i m i Â
n a te d i n T a b le 9 b e c a u s e t h e i r num bers w ere n o t l a r g e
enough t o w a r r a n t an a d e q u a te a n a l y s i s . As m e n tio n e d i n
C h a p te r I I , no ne o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts c o u ld be c a t e g o r i z e d
u n d e r th e p r o f e s s i o n a l and m a n a g e r ia l c a te g o r y o f o c c u p a Â
t i o n a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s .
B i r t h p l a c e
T a b le 10 shows t h a t r e s p o n d e n ts b o rn in M exico o v e r Â
w h e lm in g ly , by o v e r 64 p e r c e n t , fa v o r e d S p a n is h ; w h ile 50
p e r c e n t o f t h o s e b o rn i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s f a v o r e d E n g lis h
f o r t h e i r co m m u n icatio n c o d e . U n ite d S t a t e s b o rn re s p o n Â
d e n ts a l s o show ed c o n s i d e r a b l y m ore i n t e r e s t i n d u a l l a n Â
guage m e ssa g e s th a n d i d t h o s e b o rn i n M exico.
P a r e n t s ' B i r t h p l a c e
A n a l y s i s o f t h e b i r t h p l a c e o f t h e p a r e n t s o f th e r e Â
s p o n d e n ts r e v e a l e d t h e same g e n e r a l t r e n d s d i s c o v e r e d i n
a n a ly z in g t h e b i r t h p l a c e d a ta o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s . T a b le 11
shows t h a t o f t h o s e r e s p o n d e n ts whose p a r e n t s w ere b o rn i n
M exico, 43 p e r c e n t f a v o r e d S p a n is h and a l i t t l e o v e r 23
p e r c e n t f a v o r e d E n g l i s h . Of t h o s e r e s p o n d e n ts whose p a r Â
e n t s w ere b o t h b o rn i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s , o v e r 63 p e r c e n t
fa v o r e d E n g li s h and l e s s th a n 3 p e r c e n t f a v o r e d S p a n is h .
81
TABLE 10
CODE PREFERENCES BY BIRTHPLACE FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
M exico U n ite d S t a t e s
C om m unication (N = 42) (N = 88)
Code P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W o rst B e s t W orst
S p a n is h 6 4 .2 9
E n g li s h 1 4 .2 9
B oth L an g u ag es 2 1 .4 3
O th e r 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0
2 .3 8 5 .6 8 1 3 .6 4
4 7 .6 2 5 0.0 0 6 .8 2
0 .0 0 4 3 .1 8 0 .0 0
0 .0 0 0 .0 0 4 .5 5
5 0 .0 0 1 .1 4 7 5 .00
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
T hose who h a d one p a r e n t b o rn in- M exico and one b o rn i n th e
U n ite d S t a t e s f o llo w e d t h e same p a t t e r n a s th o s e who h a d
b o th p a r e n t s b o rn i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s .
Even th o u g h t h e same g e n e r a l t r e n d s o f code p r e f e r e n c e
a r e a p p a r e n t i n t h e r e s p o n d e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e d a ta and t h e
p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e d a t a , a c o m p a riso n o f T a b le s 10 and 11
i l l u s t r a t e s t h a t t h e s e t r e n d s w e re te m p e re d by m ore p r e f e r Â
e n ce f o r E n g l i s h and a c o r r e s p o n d in g l e s s e r p r e f e r e n c e f o r
S p a n is h i n e a c h c a t e g o r y . T h ese d a ta te n d t o s u p p o r t t h e
c o n c lu s io n t h a t some a c c u l t u r a t i o n , i n th e form o f la n g u a g e
a c q u i s i t i o n , i s d e v e lo p in g i n t h e c h i l d r e n and g r a n d c h ild r e n
o f im m ig ra n ts .
TABLE 11
CODE PREFERENCES BY PARENTS' BIRTHPLACE FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
C om m unication
Code
B oth M exico
(N = 69)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
B oth U n ite d S t a t e s
(N = 38)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
One M exico
(N = 20)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
S p a n is h 4 2 .0 3 7.2 5 2 .6 3 13.16 5 .0 0 1 5.00
E n g lis h 2 3 .1 9 33.3 3 6 3 .1 6 5 .2 6 5 0 .0 0 5 .0 0
B oth L anguages 3 4 .7 8 0 .0 0 34.12 0 .0 0 45.00 0 .0 0
O th e r 0 .0 0 1 .4 5 0 .0 0 5 .2 6 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 5 7 .9 7 0 .0 0 76.32 0 .0 0 80.00
N o te: P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
C O
to
83
L e n g th o f R e s id e n c e
i n Los A n g e le s
P r e f e r e n c e s f o r co m m u n icatio n co d es f o r t h i s demoÂ
g r a p h i c f a c t o r f o llo w e d t h e same g e n e r a l p a t t e r n s fo u n d i n
b i r t h p l a c e and p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e f a c t o r s . T a b le 12 shows
t h a t a l l t h r e e o f t h e c a t e g o r i e s o f im m ig ra n ts f a v o r e d
S p a n is h a s t h e i r f i r s t c h o ic e b u t by s m a ll e r p e r c e n t a g e s a s
t h e l e n g t h o f tim e s i n c e t h e i r im m ig ra tio n i n c r e a s e d .
T hose b o rn i n Los A n g e le s , on th e o t h e r h a n d , f a v o r e d EngÂ
l i s h . A ls o , n o t one s i n g l e r e s p o n d e n t o u t o f t h e f i f t y -
t h r e e i n t e r v i e w e d who w ere b o rn i n Los A n g e le s p r e f e r r e d
S p a n is h .
T h is p r o g r e s s i o n to w a rd E n g li s h p r e f e r e n c e may be j u s t
a n o th e r view o f t h e b i r t h p l a c e f a c t o r s d i s c u s s e d i n th e two
p r e c e d in g s e c t i o n s , b u t t h e p e r c e n t a g e s w ere r a t h e r s t r i k Â
in g i n t h e i r p r o g r e s s i o n to w a rd E n g li s h s p e a k in g p r e f e r e n c e .
O nly a b o u t 18 p e r c e n t o f th e m ost r e c e n t im m ig ra n ts f a Â
v o re d E n g l i s h , f o llo w e d by 20 p e r c e n t o f t h e n e x t g ro u p ,
30 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e who h a d l i v e d i n Los A n g e le s o v e r t e n
y e a r s , and a lm o s t 55 p e r c e n t o f th o s e who w ere b o rn i n Los
A n g e le s . I t s h o u ld b e b o rn e i n m ind, h o w ev er, t h a t o t h e r
th a n t h e Los A n g e le s b o m g ro u p t h e r e a r e s t i l l s i z e a b l e
num bers in. e a c h c a t e g o r y who p r e f e r a la n g u a g e o t h e r th a n
t h e p r e v a i l i n g one f o r t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r g ro u p .
F o rm al E d u c a tio n
The am ount o f fo rm a l e d u c a tio n c o r r e l a t e d w ith an
TABLE 12
CODE PREFERENCES BASED UPON LENGTH OF RESIDENCE IN LOS ANGELES
FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
0 t o 5 Y ears 6 t o 10 Y ears O ver 10 Y e ars Born Los A n g e les
C om m unication (N = 11) (N = 15) (N = 50) (N = 53)
Code % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g % C h o o sin g : % C h oosing
B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst
S p a n is h 5 4 .5 5 0 .0 0 4 6.67 6 .6 7 38.0 0 8 .0 0 0 .0 0 1 3 .2 1
E n g lis h 1 8 .1 8 36 .36 2 0 .0 0 4 0.00 30 .0 0 30.0 0 54 .72 1.89
B oth L anguages 2 7 .2 7 0 .0 0 3 3 .3 3 0 .0 0 30.00 0 .0 0 4 5 .2 8 0 .0 0
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 7 .5 5
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 6 3 .6 4 0 .0 0 53. 33 2 .00 6 2 .0 0 0 .0 0 77.36
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
00
85
i n d i c a t e d p r e f e r e n c e f o r u sa g e o f E n g lis h . The more e d u c a Â
t i o n , t h e l a r g e r p e r c e n t a g e t h a t p r e f e r r e d E n g lis h was
fo u n d i n e a c h c a t e g o r y . F o r e x a m p le , none o f th o s e who h ad
some c o l l e g e e d u c a ti o n an d o n ly one p e rs o n who had comÂ
p l e t e d h ig h s c h o o l p r e f e r r e d S p a n is h . On t h e o t h e r h a n d ,
f o r t h o s e who h a d c o m p le te d e le m e n ta r y s c h o o l o r l e s s ,
n e a r l y 60 p e r c e n t p r e f e r r e d S p a n is h .
Number o f C h i l d r e n i n t h e Home
L i t t l e v a r i a t i o n from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple was
fo u n d i n t h e c a t e g o r i e s o f num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e hom e.
A bout t h e o n ly v a r i a t i o n was t h a t t h e p a r e n t s from a s i n g l e
c h i l d home t e n d t o p u t much e m p h a sis on d u a l la n g u a g e m esÂ
s a g e s . A lm o st 73 p e r c e n t o f t h i s group p r e f e r r e d b o th
la n g u a g e s t o be u s e d i n m essa g es a b o u t t h e i r c h i l d ' s p r o Â
g r e s s i n s c h o o l .
P a r e n t s w i t h o v e r s i x c h i l d r e n i n th e home a g re e d w i t h
t h e t o t a l sa m p le i n p r e f e r r i n g E n g li s h a s t h e i r f i r s t
c h o ic e b u t a s a se c o n d c h o ic e a l a r g e r p e r c e n ta g e p r e f e r r e d
S p a n is h th a n was fo u n d i n t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . A
p e r f e c t p r o g r e s s i o n was fo u n d i n th o s e who p r e f e r S p a n is h
a s r e l a t e d t o t h e num ber o f c h i l d r e n in th e home. A l i t t l e
o v e r 9 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts w ith one c h i l d f a v o r e d
S p a n is h , a l i t t l e o v e r 15 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e w i t h two o r
t h r e e c h i l d r e n , o v e r 26 p e r c e n t o f th o s e w ith f o u r o r f i v e
c h i l d r e n , a n d a b o u t 38 p e r c e n t o f th o s e w ith s i x o r more
c h i l d r e n . ________________________________________________________________
86
F a c t o r s w i t h No V a r ia n c e from
The T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam ple w ere o b s e r v e d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r co m m unicatio n
c o d es in t h e f o l lo w in g d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s : e c o l o g i c a l
b a c k g ro u n d , p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , m a r i t a l s t a t u s ,
num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e hom e, c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n , and age
a t m a r r ia g e .
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
T a b le 13 shows t h e b e s t and w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s o f th e
e n t i r e sam ple o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s i n te r v ie w e d i n
t h i s s tu d y f o r t h e p e r s o n i n th e f a m ily who s h o u ld be th e
r e c i p i e n t o f a m essag e r e l a t i n g t o t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e i r
c h i l d r e n i n s c h o o l . The ov erw h elm in g r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e
o f t h i s s a m p le , a lm o s t 67 p e r c e n t , f o r t h i s k in d o f commuÂ
n i c a t i o n i s b o th p a r e n t s . A c o n s i d e r a b ly s m a ll e r num ber o f
t h o s e i n t e r v i e w e d , b u t s t i l l a b o u t 27 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l ,
th o u g h t t h a t t h e m o th e r i s t h e p e r s o n who s h o u ld be c o n Â
t a c t e d and a much s m a l l e r num ber, l e s s th a n 5 p e r c e n t ,
f e l t t h e f a t h e r s h o u ld be t h e co m m u n icatio n r e c e i v e r .
T h ere h a s b e e n s p e c u l a t i o n t h a t b e c a u s e o f t h e d o m in an t
r o l e o f t e n a s c r i b e d t o th e m ale i n t h e M exican A m erican famÂ
i l y t h a t c o m m u n ica tio n from t h e s c h o o ls w ould be r e c e i v e d
more e f f e c t i v e l y i f d i r e c t e d t o t h e f a t h e r o f th e f a m ily .
87
TABLE 13
RECEIVER PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
R e c e iv e r B e s t R e c e iv e r W o rst R e c e iv e r
F a t h e r 4 .6 2 5 .3 9
M other 2 6 .9 2 6 .9 2
B oth P a r e n t s 6 6 .9 2 3 .0 8
O th e r 1 .5 4 5 .3 9
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 7 9 .2 3
N o te: P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
T h is c o n c e p t o f m ale d o m in a n ce , som etim es c a l l e d "m achism o,"
h a s , o f c o u r s e , many m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o t h e r th a n th o s e c o n -
s x d e re d i n t h i s s t u d y . H ow ever, a s u p p o s i t i o n som etim es
a d v an c ed i s t h a t m e ssa g e s from t h e s c h o o l s h o u ld be d i Â
r e c t e d t o t h e m ale member o f th e f a m ily . T h is s tu d y d i d
n o t s u p p o r t t h a t s u p p o s i t i o n . An a n a l y s i s o f a l l f o u r o f
t h e m essage ty p e s c o n s i d e r e d i n t h i s s tu d y show t h a t none
o f them r e c e i v e d f a v o r a b l e s u p p o r t f o r t h e f a t h e r t o b e t h e
s o l e r e c i p i e n t o f t h a t m e s sa g e . The p e r c e n ta g e s f o r a l l
f o u r o f t h e m e ssa g e s w e re v e ry s i m i l a r t o t h o s e fo u n d i n
T a b le 13.
O
F o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f "m achism o" s e e C a r t e r , M exican
A m erican s i n S c h o o l, p p . 3 9 -4 2 .
8 8
M ost o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s , a l i t t l e o v e r 79 p e r c e n t ,
i n d i c a t e d '*no p r e f e r e n c e " a s t o whom th e y c o n s id e r e d th e
w o r s t p e rs o n t o r e c e i v e t h e m e s sa g e . Of th o s e who i n d i Â
c a t e d a w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e , a b o u t 7 p e r c e n t o f th e t o t a l
sam ple i n d i c a t e d t h e m o th e r a lo n e w ould be t h e p o o r e s t
c h o ic e f o r t h e r e c e i v e r o f t h e m essage and a l i t t l e o v e r 5
p e r c e n t i d e n t i f i e d t h e f a t h e r . A l i t t l e o v e r 5 p e r c e n t
o f t h e sam p le i n d i c a t e d " o th e r " f o r t h e i r p o o r e s t c h o ic e .
An e x a m in a tio n o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s o f th o s e who i n d i c a t e d
" o th e r " f o r t h e i r w o r s t c h o ic e r e v e a l e d t h a t a l l e x c e p t one
m e n tio n e d t h a t t h e w o r s t c h o ic e w o u ld b e t o se n d th e mesÂ
sa g e t o o n ly one p a r e n t and n o t t o b o th o f th e p a r e n t s .
R e c e iv e r p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts q u e r ie d in
t h i s s tu d y seem t o h a v e l i t t l e c o r r e l a t i o n w ith t h e m essage
ty p e t h a t i s b e in g t r a n s m i t t e d . The ra n k o r d e r and th e
p e r c e n t a g e s o f r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e f o r a l l f o u r o f t h e mesÂ
sa g e s s e l e c t e d f o r t h i s s tu d y w e re n e a r l y t h e same as th o s e
shown i n T a b le 13. The b reak d o w n s b a s e d on d em o g rap h ic
f a c t o r s w ere a l s o q u i t e s i m i l a r an d th e o n ly v a r i a t i o n o f
r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s fo u n d w h ich r e l a t e d t o t h e m essage
ty p e was t h e s e x f a c t o r , w h ich i s t o b e e x p la in e d l a t e r i n
t h i s c h a p t e r .
B e ca u se o f t h i s c o n fo r m ity th r o u g h o u t th e f o u r m essage
t y p e s , t h e f o l lo w in g d i s c u s s i o n s o f dem o g rap h ic f a c t o r
v a r i a t i o n s w i l l n o t be r e p e a t e d i n C h a p te rs IV , V, and V I,
w hich a re c o n c e rn e d w i t h t h e o t h e r t h r e e m essag es e x p la in e d
89
i n t h i s s t u d y . I n s t e a d , t h e r e a d e r o f t h o s e t h r e e c h a p t e r s
w i l l be r e f e r r e d t o t h i s c h a p t e r f o r a n a l y s i s o f th e demoÂ
g r a p h ic v a r i a b l e s t h a t r e l a t e t o r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e .
P o p u l a ti o n D e n s ity
T h ere was l i t t l e v a r i a t i o n b e tw ee n th e d e n s i t y sam p les
and t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e r e c e i v e r i n t h e fa m ily and
th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n s a m p le . B o th t h e low an d h ig h d e n s i t y
sa m p le s ra n k e d t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e s i n th e same o r d e r a s th e
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n s a m p le . Some v a r i a t i o n s w ere n o te d in t h e
p e r c e n t a g e s f a v o r i n g t h e s e p r e f e r e n c e s , h o w e v e r. In th e
low d e n s i t y sa m p le , a h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e , a l i t t l e o v e r 74
p e r c e n t , f a v o r e d b o th p a r e n t s as t h e r e c e i v e r . The h ig h
d e n s i t y sam ple showed a lo w e r p e r c e n ta g e p r e f e r e n c e , a l i t Â
t l e o v e r 60 p e r c e n t a s com pared t o a b o u t 6 7 p e r c e n t o f
th e t o t a l sa m p le , f o r b o t h p a r e n t s as t h e r e c e i v e r and a
c o r r e s p o n d in g ly h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e , o v e r 32 p e r c e n t , f o r
th e m o th e r a s th e r e c e i v e r . The h ig h d e n s i t y sam ple a ls o
i n d i c a t e d a s l i g h t l y h i g h e r p e r c e n ta g e o f p r e f e r e n c e , a l Â
m ost 6 p e r c e n t , f o r t h e f a t h e r t o b e th e r e c e i v e r o f a
m essage o f p r o g r e s s . None o f th e w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e
two d e n s i t y sa m p le s show ed n o t a b l e d e v i a t i o n s from t h e w o rs t
p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e t o t a l sa m p le .
Sex
As i n d i c a t e d i n T a b le 1 4 , v a r i a t i o n s w ere fo u n d i n r e Â
c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s when s e x c a t e g o r i e s o f t h e p a r e n t s w ere
90
TABLE 14
RECEIVER PREFERENCES OF THE SEXES
FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
C om m unication
R e c e iv e r
M ales (N = 26)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W o rst
F em ales (N = 104)
P e r C e n t C hoosing:
B e s t W orst
F a t h e r
M other
B oth P a r e n t s
O th e r
No P r e f e r e n c e
1 9 .2 3
7 .6 9
6 9 .2 3
3. 85
0.00
0.00
2 3 .0 8
0.00
3 .8 5
7 3 .0 8
.96
31.73
66 .3 5
.96
0.00
6 .7 3
2 . 88
3 .8 5
5 .7 7
80.77
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
e x am in e d . The l a r g e s t num bers o f b o th t h e m ale and fem ale
sam p les p r e f e r r e d b o th p a r e n t s a s t h e i r f i r s t c h o ic e f o r
th e r e c e i v e r o f p r o g r e s s m e ssa g e s an d by a p p ro x im a te ly th e
same p e r c e n t a g e s a s w e re fo u n d i n t h e t o t a l sa m p le .
How ever, se c o n d c h o ic e s by b o th m ale and fe m a le samÂ
p l e s r e f l e c t e d d e c id e d l o y a l t y t o t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e s e x .
M ales s e l e c t e d t h e f a t h e r a s t h e i r s e c o n d m o st p r e f e r r e d
r e c e i v e r , w h ile f e m a le s s e l e c t e d t h e m o th e r by a somewhat
l a r g e r p e r c e n t a g e th a n was shown i n t h e t o t a l sa m p le . Only
two m a le s s e l e c t e d t h e m o th e r a s t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d r e Â
c e i v e r a n d o n ly one fe m a le s e l e c t e d th e f a t h e r f o r t h i s
com m unication r o l e , t h u s a c c o u n ti n g f o r th e s m a ll p e r c e n t Â
age i n t h e s e two b r a c k e t s . C o r re s p o n d in g w i t h t h i s s e x u a l
91
l o y a l t y , a r a t h e r h ig h nu m ber, 23 p e r c e n t , o f t h e m a le s
i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e y f e l t t h e m o th e r was t h e w o r s t p e rs o n to
r e c e iv e su c h m e s sa g e s.
The s e x v a r i a b l e was t h e o n ly d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r t o
change i n r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e f o u r m essa g es c o n s i d e r e d i n
t h i s s tu d y . Even h e r e no r a n k o r d e r change was n o t i c e d ,
b u t o n ly r a t h e r l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e c h an g e s i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l
p r e f e r e n c e c a t e g o r i e s . In t h e c a s e o f a m essag e a n n o u n cin g
a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y , w h ich w i l l b e a n a ly z e d i n th e n e x t c h ap Â
t e r , m ales showed c o n s i d e r a b l y l e s s i n t e r e s t i n t h e f a t h e r
a s a r e c e i v e r o f c o m m u n ic a tio n .
In th e p r o g r e s s m e s sa g e , d i s c u s s e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r ,
o v e r 19 p e r c e n t o f t h e m a le s s e l e c t e d t h e f a t h e r a s t h e
com m unication r e c e i v e r th u s m aking th e f a t h e r th e se c o n d
m ost p o p u la r r e c e i v e r f o r m a le s . H ow ever, w i t h t h e a c t i v Â
i t y announcem ent m e s sa g e , a s shown i n T a b le 21 i n C h a p te r
IV, o n ly a b o u t 8 p e r c e n t o f t h e m a le s s e l e c t e d t h e f a t h e r
a s th e p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r , w h ic h was t h e e x a c t same num ber
who s e l e c t e d th e m o th e r a s t h e p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r . C o r r e Â
s p o n d in g ly , a som ewhat s m a l l e r p e r c e n t a g e o f fe m a le s s e Â
l e c t e d t h e m o th e r a s t h e f a v o r e d r e c i p i e n t o f s c h o o l a c t i v Â
i t y announcem ents th a n was s e l e c t e d f o r t h e p r o g r e s s m esÂ
s a g e . A b o u t 32 p e r c e n t o f t h e fe m a le s s e l e c t e d t h e m o th er
a s th e p r e f e r r e d r e c i p i e n t o f a c h i l d ' s p r o g r e s s m e ssa g e ,
w h ile a b o u t 2 8 p e r c e n t o f t h e fe m a le s s e l e c t e d t h e m o th e r
i n th e s c h o o l a c t i v i t y annou ncem ent m e ssa g e .
92
T h ere w ere c o rr e s p o n d in g p a t t e r n s f o r t h e o t h e r two
m essa g es s t u d i e d i n t h i s r e s e a r c h . R e c e iv e r p r e f e r e n c e s
f o r t h e t h i r d m essag e s t u d i e d , a d i s c i p l i n e m essa g e t o be
c o n s id e r e d i n C h a p te r V, w ere v e ry s i m i l a r t o t h o s e fo u n d
i n th e p r o g r e s s m essage d i s c u s s e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r , w h ile
th e r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e f o u r t h m e s sa g e , a p r a i s e
m essage t o b e ex am in ed i n C h a p te r V I, w ere v e r y s i m i l a r t o
th e p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e announcem ent m essage d i s c u s s e d i n
C h a p te r IV.
I t m ig h t b e s p e c u l a t e d t h a t t h e f i r s t a n d t h i r d m esÂ
s a g e s , w hich c o n c e rn th e p r o g r e s s and t h e d i s c i p l i n e o f th e
c h i l d , m ig h t be c o n s id e r e d more v i t a l an d t h u s a c c o u n t f o r
t h e i n c r e a s e o f b o th th e m o th e r and t h e f a t h e r a s p r e f e r r e d
r e c e i v e r s i n b o th o f t h e s e m e s sa g e s. The s e c o n d and f o u r t h
m e s s a g e s , an a c t i v i t y announcem ent and a p r a i s e m e s sa g e ,
p e rh a p s do n o t h av e as g r e a t a d e g re e o f u rg e n c y and t h e r e Â
f o r e c o u ld more a p p r o p r i a t e l y be r e c e i v e d by b o th p a r e n t s .
I t s h o u ld be k e p t i n m in d , ho w ev er, t h a t i n a l l f o u r o f th e
m e s s a g e s , b o th p a r e n t s w ere t h e p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r by
r a t h e r w ide m a r g i n s .
L anguage Used i n t h e Home
L i t t l e v a r i a t i o n from t h e r a n k in g s o f t h e t o t a l popuÂ
l a t i o n sam ple was n o te d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s r e g i s t e r e d by
t h e v a r i o u s la n g u a g e u sa g e c a t e g o r i e s e s t a b l i s h e d f o r t h i s
s tu d y . A l l t h r e e g ro u p s , p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h , p r i m a r i l y E ng-
93
l i s h , an d S p a n is h an d E n g li s h a b o u t t h e sam e, s e l e c t e d b o th
p a r e n t s a s t h e i r f i r s t c h o ic e and t h e m o th e r a s t h e i r s e c Â
ond c h o ic e f o r t h e r e c e i v e r o f a m essage o f s c h o o l p r o g r e s s .
T h e re w e r e , h o w ev er, some v a r i a t i o n s i n t h e p e r c e n t Â
a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e . More th a n 78 p e r c e n t o f t h e g ro u p
w h ich sp o k e p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h i n th e home i n d i c a t e d t h a t
b o th p a r e n t s w ould b e t h e p r e f e r r e d com m un ication r e c e i v e r
a s com pared t o a b o u t 63 and 6 4 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y o f
th o s e who sp o k e p r i m a r i l y E n g lis h and th o s e who u s e d b o th
la n g u a g e s a b o u t t h e sam e. The p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h s p e a k in g
g ro u p gave a c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y s m a l l e r p e r c e n ta g e o f p r e f e r Â
e n c e t o th e m o th e r a s a r e c e i v e r th a n d i d e i t h e r o f t h e
o t h e r tw o la n g u a g e u sa g e g ro u p s .
P a r e n t s ' E c o l o g i c a l B ackground
A l l t h r e e o f t h e c a t e g o r i e s d e r i v e d t o d e s c r i b e t h e
u rb a n o r r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d s o f t h e p a r e n t s o f t h e r e s p o n Â
d e n ts w e re c o n s i s t e n t w ith t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le i n
t h e i r r a n k i n g s o f co m m un ication r e c e i v e r s . H ow ever, t h e r e
w e re some v a r i a t i o n s i n p e r c e n t a g e s o f t h e p r e f e r e n c e s .
T hose r e s p o n d e n t s whose p a r e n t s w ere b o th from u rb a n b a c k Â
g ro u n d s f a v o r e d b o th p a r e n t s a s th e r e c e i v e r o f com m unicaÂ
t i o n by m ore th a n 75 p e r c e n t a s com pared t o a b o u t 67 p e r
c e n t o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . On th e o t h e r h a n d ,
th o s e r e s p o n d e n ts whose p a r e n t s w ere b o th from r u r a l b a c k Â
g ro u n d s and t h o s e who h a d one p a r e n t from r u r a l a r e a s
94
f a v o r e d b o th p a r e n t s a s a r e c e i v e r by a b o u t 51 p e r c e n t and
56 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y .
M a r i t a l S t a t u s
The t o t a l sam p le was d i v i d e d i n t o two g ro u p s i n o r d e r
t o a n a ly z e m a r i t a l s t a t u s r e l a t i o n s h i p s t o r e c e i v e r p r e f e r Â
e n c e s . The g ro u p c o n s i s t i n g o f tw o - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s showed
l i t t l e v a r i a t i o n from t h e t o t a l p o p u la tio n sam ple e x c e p t a
s l i g h t l y h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e , a l i t t l e o v e r 73 p e r c e n t , f a Â
v o r in g b o th p a r e n t s a s t h e com m unication r e c e i v e r and a
c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y s m a l l e r p e r c e n t a g e , a b o u t 20 p e r c e n t , f a Â
v o r in g t h e m o th e r a s t h e r e c e i v e r o f a m essage o f s c h o o l
p r o g r e s s .
The o t h e r g ro u p c o n s i s t e d o f o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s . In
t h i s g ro u p , t h e m o th e r was t h e f a v o re d com m unication r e Â
c e i v e r w i t h 75 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts m aking t h i s d e s Â
i g n a t i o n . The re m a in in g 25 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p s e l e c t e d
b o th p a r e n t s a s t h e f a v o r e d com m unication r e c e i v e r and none
o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s s e l e c t e d t h e f a t h e r as t h e r e c e i v e r o f
p r o g r e s s m e s s a g e s . The r e s p o n d e n ts r e p r e s e n t i n g o n e - p a r e n t
f a m i l i e s a l s o r e g i s t e r e d t h i s same p r e f e r e n c e p a t t e r n i n
t h e i r r e s p o n s e s t o t h e w o r s t r e c e i v e r c a t e g o r i e s . A lm ost
19 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p i n d i c a t e d th e f a t h e r as t h e w o r s t
r e c e i v e r f o r t h e s c h o o l p r o g r e s s m essag e.
T h is e x tre m e d e v i a t i o n from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sample
i s m o st l i k e l y due t o an e x p r e s s i o n o f p e r s o n a l p r e f e r e n c e .
95
M ost o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts r e p r e s e n t i n g o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s
w ere s e p a r a t e d , w idow ed, o r d i v o r c e d women and th u s t h e i r
h ig h p r e f e r e n c e f o r th e m o th e r a s t h e c o m m u n icatio n r e c e i v e r
r e f l e c t s a p e r s o n a l r e s p o n s e .
Number o f A d u lts i n th e Home
A s i m i l a r p a t t e r n t o t h a t d e s c r i b e d i n t h e p r e c e d in g
s e c t i o n was a l s o fo u n d i n an a n a l y s i s o f t h e num ber o f
a d u l t s i n th e home. The homes w i t h o n ly one a d u l t f a v o r e d
t h e m o th e r as t h e r e c e i v e r o f t h i s m essag e by 90 p e r c e n t
and o n ly 10 p e r c e n t f a v o r e d b o t h p a r e n t s a s t h e r e c e i v e r .
Homes w ith two a d u l t s h ad a lm o s t i d e n t i c a l p r e f e r e n c e s as
t h e tw o - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e p r e c e d i n g s e c t i o n .
Homes w ith more th a n two a d u l t s w ere s i m i l a r t o t h e t o t a l
p o p u l a t i o n sam ple i n t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e s . A g a in , p e r s o n a l
p r e f e r e n c e s p r o b a b ly a c c o u n t f o r t h e s e s t a t i s t i c s . The r e Â
s p o n d e n t i n o n e - a d u l t homes was g e n e r a l l y a w idow ed, s e p a Â
r a t e d o r d iv o r c e d woman.
Age a t M a rria g e
I n g e n e r a l , m a rr ia g e ag e a n a l y s e s f o llo w e d th e t r e n d s
e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . One m a jo r e x Â
c e p t io n was fo u n d , h o w ev er, i n t h o s e r e s p o n d e n ts who w ere
m a r r ie d when th e y w ere u n d e r e i g h t e e n y e a r s o f a g e . More
th a n h a l f o f t h i s g ro u p , 52 p e r c e n t , f a v o r e d t h e m o th e r as
t h e com m unication r e c e i v e r an d 44 p e r c e n t d e s i g n a t e d b o th
p a r e n t s a s t h e p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r . A ls o , 12 p e r c e n t o f
96
t h i s g ro u p i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e f a t h e r was th e w o r s t r e c e i v e r
f o r m essa g es o f t h i s n a t u r e . T hose m a r r i e d when t h e y w ere
o v e r t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s o f ag e f a v o r e d b o th p a r e n t s a s t h e i r
p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r by a c o n s i d e r a b ly h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e , a l Â
m o st 82 p e r c e n t , th a n d id t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n s a m p le .
F a c t o r s w ith No V a r ia n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam p le w ere o b s e r v e d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r co m m u n icatio n
r e c e i v e r s i n t h e f o llo w in g d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s : a g e , o cÂ
c u p a t io n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e , e c o l o g i c a l b a c k Â
g ro u n d , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e in Los A n g e le s , fo r m a l e d u c a Â
t i o n , num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n th e home, and c h u rc h a f f i l i a Â
t i o n .
C om m unication S o u rc e s
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
T a b le 15 i n d i c a t e s t h e b e s t and w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s o f
t h e e n t i r e sam p le o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d
f o r t h e p e rs o n i n th e s c h o o l who s h o u ld o r i g i n a t e a m essag e
c o n c e rn in g t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e i r c h i l d i n s c h o o l. The
l a r g e s t num ber o f p a r e n t s , o v e r 79 p e r c e n t , s e l e c t e d th e
t e a c h e r a s t h e s c h o o l p e r s o n who s h o u ld g iv e t h e p a r e n t s
t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n . A c o n s i d e r a b ly s m a l l e r p e r c e n t a g e ,
s l i g h t l y o v e r 13 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l f o r t h i s
t a s k .
97
TABLE 15
SOURCE PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A PROGRESS MESSAGE
(N = 130)
C om m unication P e r C en t C h o o sin q P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
S o u rc e B e s t S o u rc e W orst S o u rc e
P r i n c i p a l 1 3 .0 8 2 4 .6 2
V ic e P r i n c i p a l 3 .0 8 3 . 85
T e a c h e r 7 9 .2 3 .77
A id e 0 .0 0 3 .0 8
N u rse 0 .0 0 1 2 .3 1
O th e r 2 .3 1 .77
No P r e f e r e n c e 2 .3 1 5 4 .6 2
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
A g a in , m o st o f th e p a r e n t s , a b o u t 55 p e r c e n t , had no
p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e p e r s o n th e y c o n s id e r e d th e w o r s t s o u rc e
o f su c h c o m m u n ic a tio n . H ow ever, a lm o s t 25 p e r c e n t i n d i Â
c a t e d t h a t t h e p r i n c i p a l w ould b e t h e w o r s t c h o ic e . I f t h e
v i c e p r i n c i p a l i s com bined w ith t h e p r i n c i p a l a s r e p r e s e n Â
t a t i v e o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t h e f i g u r e i s r a i s e d t o o v e r
28 p e r c e n t . O nly one p e rs o n i n d i c a t e d t h e t e a c h e r as t h e
w o r s t c h o ic e .
I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t none o f th e p a r e n t s s e l e c t e d
t h e t e a c h e r 's a i d e a s a co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e . Some s c h o o ls
h a v e i n s t i t u t e d t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e a id e a s a l i a i s o n
98
b etw een t h e p a r e n t an d t h e t e a c h e r b u t e v i d e n t l y th e p r a c Â
t i c e i s e i t h e r n o t w e l l en o u g h known by t h o s e p a r e n t s i n Â
t e r v ie w e d o r t h e p a r e n t s w o u ld r a t h e r d e a l d i r e c t l y w ith
t h e t e a c h e r f o r i n f o r m a ti o n c o n c e r n in g t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e i r
c h i l d i n s c h o o l. A few p a r e n t s ev en d e s i g n a t e d th e a id e as
t h e w o r s t p e rs o n t o t r a n s m i t su c h m e s s a g e s .
In summary, i t w ould a p p e a r r a t h e r c l e a r l y from t h i s
s tu d y t h a t th e m ost a c c e p t a b l e p e r s o n t o m o st o f th e p a r Â
e n t s t o in fo rm them a b o u t t h e i r c h i l d ' s p r o g r e s s i n s c h o o l
i s t h e c h i l d 's t e a c h e r .
P o p u l a ti o n D e n s ity
L i t t l e v a r i a t i o n was o b s e r v e d b e tw ee n t h e t o t a l popuÂ
l a t i o n sam ple a n d t h e two p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y sa m p le s t h a t
w ere t a k e n . B o th t h e h ig h d e n s i t y and low d e n s i t y sa m p le s
ra n k e d t h e t e a c h e r a s th e p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e f o r communicaÂ
t i o n a b o u t th e c h i l d ' s p r o g r e s s i n s c h o o l . Some v a r i a t i o n
was n o t e d , h o w ever, i n th e d e g r e e o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r th e
p r i n c i p a l as a c o m m u n icatio n s o u r c e . A l i t t l e o v e r 16 p e r
c e n t o f th e h ig h d e n s i t y sa m p le p r e f e r r e d t h e p r i n c i p a l as
a com m unication s o u r c e , w h i l e l e s s th a n .10 p e r c e n t o f t h e
low d e n s i t y sam ple i n d i c a t e d t h i s p r e f e r e n c e .
The w o rs t p r e f e r e n c e c h o ic e s a l s o r e f l e c t e d t h i s d i f Â
f e r e n c e betw een th e tw o d e n s i t y s a m p le s . A l i t t l e o v e r 37
p e r c e n t o f t h e low d e n s i t y g ro u p d e s i g n a t e d th e p r i n c i p a l
as th e w o r s t co m m u n icato r s o u r c e , w h ile o n ly a l i t t l e o v e r
99
13 p e r c e n t made t h i s d e s i g n a t i o n i n th e h ig h d e n s i t y g ro u p .
T h ese f i n d i n g s w ould t e n d t o s u p p o r t th e s p e c u l a t i o n
by some t h a t t h o s e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s who a r e l e s s
a c c u l t u r a t e d show a h i g h e r d e g re e o f r e s p e c t to w a rd a u t h o r -
i t y f i g u r e s th a n do th o s e who h av e become " A m e r ic a n iz e d .1 1
I n t h i s c a s e , t h e h ig h d e n s i t y sam p le who w ere d e s c r i b e d
e a r l i e r a s a g ro u p w i t h more r e c e n t im m ig ra n ts show ed m ore
i n t e r e s t i n t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e o f
c o m m u n ic a tio n . H ow ever, i t s h o u ld b e k e p t i n m ind t h a t th e
t e a c h e r i s by f a r t h e p e r s o n w ith t h e m o st s o u r c e c r e d i b i l Â
i t y f o r t h i s ty p e o f m e ssa g e .
Age
Age g ro u p s a l s o te n d e d t o f o llo w t h e p a t t e r n e s t a b Â
l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . The o n ly v a r i a t i o n s
n o t e d w ere i n t h e y o u n g e s t and o l d e s t age g ro u p s . B oth o f
t h e s e g ro u p s r e g i s t e r e d more d i s l i k e o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a
c o m m u n ica tio n s o u r c e f o r t h i s k in d o f m essage th a n d i d
o t h e r ag e g r o u p s . The age g ro u p b e tw ee n tw e n ty an d tw e n ty -
n i n e y e a r s o f ag e r e c o r d e d o v e r 38 p e r c e n t o f t h e i r t o t a l
o p p o se d t o th e p r i n c i p a l as a s o u r c e f o r m essa g es c o n c e rn -
^ S e e , f o r e x a m p le , R uth L a n d e s, C u ltu r e i n A m erican
E d u c a tio n ; A n t h r o p o l o g ic a l A p p ro a ch e s t o M in o r ity and DomÂ
i n a n t G roups i n t h e S c h o o ls (New Y ork: Jo h n W iley and
S o n s, I n c . , 1 9 6 5 ), p p . 2 9 6 -3 0 0 . A ls o an a r t i c l e by R alp h
Guzman d e s c r i b e s t h e c h a n g in g a t t i t u d e s o f t h e y o u n g e r
M exican to w a rd t h e d o m in a n t s o c i e t y . R alph Guzman, "The
G e n tle R e v o l u t i o n n a r i e s ; Brown P o w e r," Los A n g e le s Tim es
W est M a g a z in e , J a n u a r y 25, 1 96 9, p p . 9 - l T l
100
in g th e p r o g r e s s o f t h e c h i l d i n s c h o o l , w h ile t h o s e o v e r
f i f t y y e a r s o f age r e g i s t e r e d o v e r 50 p e r c e n t o p p o sed t o
th e p r i n c i p a l .
L en g th o f R e s id e n c e
in Los A n g e le s
A g a in , l i t t l e v a r i a t i o n from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
p r e f e r e n c e s w ere o b s e rv e d i n t h i s d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r . P e r Â
so n s who had l i v e d i n Los A n g e le s l e s s th a n f i v e y e a r s ,
h o w ev er, i n d i c a t e d a g r e a t e r d e s i r e t o b e com m unicated w ith
by th e p r i n c i p a l th a n d i d o t h e r c a t e g o r i e s b a s e d upon r e s i Â
d en ce i n Los A n g e le s . S l i g h t l y more th a n 2 7 p e r c e n t o f
t h i s g ro u p s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s com pared w ith 13 p e r
c e n t o f th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . R e f l e c t i n g t h i s p r e f Â
e r e n c e , o n ly a l i t t l e o v e r 9 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e who had
l i v e d i n Los A n g e le s l e s s th a n f i v e y e a r s i n d i c a t e d t h a t
th e p r i n c i p a l w ould be t h e w o r s t co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e as
com pared t o a lm o s t 25 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam p le.
T hese v a r i a t i o n s a r e p r o b a b ly o n ly a n o t h e r d im e n sio n
o f th e a c c u l t u r a t i o n f a c t o r d i s c u s s e d i n t h e p o p u l a t i o n
d e n s i t y s e c t i o n a b o v e . The s t a t i s t i c s i n t h i s s e c t i o n
w ould t e n d t o s u p p o r t t h e i d e a t h a t t h e l e s s a c c u l t u r a t i o n ,
th e more c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s g iv e n t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r a s a
co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e .
101
F a c t o r s w ith No V a ria n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u la tio n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam ple w ere o b s e rv e d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r co m m u n ica tio n
s o u r c e s i n t h e f o llo w in g d em o g rap h ic v a r i a b l e s : s e x , l a n Â
guage u s e d i n t h e home, o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s 1
b i r t h p l a c e , e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i c a l
b a c k g ro u n d , fo rm a l e d u c a ti o n , m a r i t a l s t a t u s , num ber o f
c h i l d r e n i n th e home, num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home, c h u rc h
a f f i l i a t i o n , and age a t m a r r ia g e .
Summary
T h is c h a p t e r r e p o r t e d t h e com m unication p r e f e r e n c e s
o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l s e e k t o
com m unicate w i t h them a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n
i n s c h o o l . The c h a p t e r a n a ly z e d f o u r c a t e g o r i e s o f commuÂ
n i c a t i o n p r e f e r e n c e s .
A n a ly s is o f t h e f i r s t c a te g o r y , c o m m u n icatio n c h a n n e ls ,
r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e was th e m o st p r e f e r r e d
c h a n n e l and t h a t t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e p o r t c a r d was n e x t i n
p r e f e r e n c e b u t c o n s i d e r a b ly b e h in d th e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e .
Some v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le w ere obÂ
s e r v e d i n some o f t h e d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s , n o t a b l y la n g u a g e
u s e d i n t h e home and age g ro u p s , b u t t h e p a t t e r n e s t a b Â
l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n was g e n e r a l l y s u s t a i n e d .
In t h e se c o n d c a t e g o r y , com m un ication c o d e s , i t was
fo u n d t h a t S p a n is h , E n g li s h , and b o th la n g u a g e s a l l h a d
102
l a r g e num bers o f a d h e r e n t s . P e rh a p s th e m ost e f f e c t i v e
com m unication w o u ld make u se o f d u a l la n g u a g e codes i n a s Â
much as t h e r e a r e l a r g e se g m en ts o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n who obÂ
j e c t t o t h e u sa g e o f e i t h e r S p a n is h o r E n g li s h a lo n e . Many
v a r i a t i o n s w ere fo u n d i n th e a n a l y s i s o f d em o g rap h ic f a c Â
t o r s . Age g r o u p s , f o r e x am p le , showed a p e r f e c t p r o g r e s Â
s io n f o r t h e p r e f e r e n c e o f la n g u a g e . The o l d e r t h e g ro u p ,
t h e more p r e f e r e n c e was shown f o r u s in g S p a n is h . O nly a
few o f t h e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s u s e d i n t h i s s tu d y d i d n o t
show some c o r r e l a t i o n w i t h code p r e f e r e n c e s . B ecause t h e
o t h e r t h r e e m essag e t y p e s h a v e su c h s i m i l a r code p r e f e r Â
e n c e s t o t h o s e d e s c r i b e d f o r t h i s m e ssa g e , t h e s e c t i o n o f
t h i s c h a p t e r on co d e p r e f e r e n c e s w i l l be u s e d f o r th e d i s Â
c u s s io n o f code p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e n e x t t h r e e c h a p t e r s .
C om m unication r e c e i v e r s was t h e t h i r d c a te g o r y o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n e le m e n ts a n a ly z e d . I n t h i s c a t e g o r y i t was
fo u n d t h a t b o th p a r e n t s was t h e m ost p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r f o r
a m essage o f t h e c h i l d ' s p r o g r e s s i n s c h o o l. The m o th e r
was th e se c o n d m o st p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r and t h e f a t h e r was a
v e ry rem o te t h i r d p o s s i b i l i t y . N ot to o many v a r i a t i o n s
from th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le w ere fo u n d i n t h e a n a l y s i s
o f d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s . An a n a l y s i s o f r e c e i v e r p r e f e r Â
e n c e s as r e l a t e d t o t h e s e x o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s , h o w ev er,
d i d r e v e a l some v a r i a t i o n from t h e t o t a l sa m p le . M ales
te n d e d t o f a v o r t h e f a t h e r som ewhat more and fe m a le s te n d e d
t o f a v o r t h e m o th e r a l i t t l e m ore a s r e c e i v e r s f o r a
103
p r o g r e s s m e ssa g e . B oth m a le s an d f e m a le s , h o w e v er, s t i l l
gave g r e a t e s t p r e f e r e n c e t o b o th p a r e n t s a s t h e r e c e i v e r
o f t h i s m e ssa g e . A g a in , b e c a u s e o f t h e s i m i l a r i t y o f t h e
r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s in a l l f o u r m essa g es s t u d i e d , t h i s
s e c t i o n o f t h i s c h a p t e r w i l l be u s e d f o r t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f
r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e n e x t t h r e e c h a p t e r s .
The f o u r t h c a t e g o r y o f co m m u n icatio n e le m e n ts a n a ly z e d
was com m un ication s o u r c e s . The t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple i n Â
d i c a t e d t h a t t h e t e a c h e r i s o v e rw h e lm in g ly t h e m o st p r e Â
f e r r e d s o u r c e f o r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s o f th e
c h i l d i n s c h o o l . The p r i n c i p a l h a d t h e h i g h e s t p e r c e n ta g e
o f r e s p o n s e s as t h e w o r s t s o u r c e o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . Only
m in o r p e r c e n t a g e v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l sam p le w ere
fo u n d i n a n a l y z i n g t h e v a r i o u s d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s . M ost
o f t h e s e v a r i a t i o n s c o n c e rn e d t h e d e g re e o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r
th e p r i n c i p a l a s a c o m m u n ica tio n s o u r c e .
CHAPTER IV
A MESSAGE ANNOUNCING A SCHOOL ACTIVITY
T h is c h a p t e r w i l l a n a ly z e t h e co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r Â
e n c e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l
w ish t o in fo rm them o f a c t i v i t i e s sp o n s o re d by t h e s c h o o l.
T hese a c t i v i t i e s m ig h t c o n s i s t o f s c h o o l p r o g ra m s , open
h o u s e s , P a r e n t T e a c h e r A s s o c ia t io n m e e tin g s , c u l t u r a l p r o Â
g ram s, and t h e l i k e . P o u r c a t e g o r i e s o f c o m m u n ic a tio n
p r e f e r e n c e s w i l l b e ex am in ed : (1) c o m m u n icatio n c h a n n e ls ,
(2) co m m u n icatio n c o d e s , (3) com m unication r e c e i v e r s , and
(4) c o m m u n icatio n s o u r c e s .
E ach c a t e g o r y w i l l be r e l a t e d , i n t u r n , t o t h e d a ta
c o n c e rn in g d em o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s o f t h e M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s w h ic h w e re c o l l e c t e d in th e i n t e r v i e w s . I n e a c h
c a s e , t h e t o t a l sam ple w i l l b e a n a ly z e d f i r s t and t h e n th o se
d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s w hich s i g n i f i c a n t l y d e p a r t fro m th e
t o t a l sam p le w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d . D em ographic v a r i a b l e s w ere
d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I u n d e r th e s e c t i o n e n t i t l e d "D ata
R e g a rd in g D em ographic V a r ia b l e s o f R e s p o n d e n ts ."
C om m unication C h a n n e ls
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
T a b le 16 r e p o r t s t h e com m unication c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s
_________________________________ 104_________________ __________________
105
TABLE 16
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL PROPULATION SAMPLE
FOR AN ACTIVITY ANNOUNCEMENT
(N = 130)
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
C h an n el B e s t C h a n n el W o rst C h an n el
T elep h o n e 7 .6 9 2 4 .6 2
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 7 .6 9 5 .3 9
Home C o n fe re n c e 4 .6 2 8 .4 6
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 3 3 .0 8 1 .5 4
P r i n t e d Form 4 6 .9 2 4 .6 2
O th e r 0 .0 0 1 .5 4
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 5 3 .8 5
N ote: P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
o f t h e e n t i r e sa m p le o f one h u n d re d t h i r t y M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s . T h is t a b l e a l s o shows t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p a r e n t s
who i n d i c a t e d l e a s t p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e ls o f co m m u n icatio n .
The m o st p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f com m un ication f o r a
s c h o o l a c t i v i t y m essa g e was a p r i n t e d form d e l i v e r e d by t h e
c o n c e rn e d c h i l d . A lm o st 47 p e r c e n t o f a l l t h e p a r e n t s
s e l e c t e d t h i s t r a d i t i o n a l co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e l. C lo s e ly
f o llo w in g t h i s c h a n n e l was t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by
m a il; a l i t t l e m ore th a n 33 p e r c e n t o f th e p a r e n t s p r e Â
f e r r e d t h i s m e th o d . I f t h e s e two c h a n n e ls a r e com bined, 80
p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s p r e f e r some m ethod o f w r i t t e n com-
106
m u n ic a tio n t o f i n d o u t a b o u t s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s . The t h r e e
o r a l com m unication c h a n n e ls w ere p r e f e r r e d by o n ly s m a ll
p e r c e n t a g e s o f p a r e n t s .
The te le p h o n e was s e l e c t e d a s th e w o r s t c h a n n e l f o r
co m m u n icatin g announ cem ents o f s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s by a lm o s t
25 p e r c e n t o f th e p a r e n t s . L e ss th a n 5 p e r c e n t o f th e
p a r e n t s o p p o sed t h e p r i n t e d form and a l i t t l e o v e r 5 p e r
c e n t o p p o se d th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r . I t w o u ld a p p e a r t h a t th e
t r a d i t i o n a l m ethod o f u s in g a p r i n t e d fo rm o r some k in d o f
w r i t t e n com m unication f o r n o t i f y i n g p a r e n t s a b o u t s c h o o l
a c t i v i t i e s m eets w ith g e n e r a l a c c e p ta n c e by th e p a r e n t s i n Â
te r v ie w e d i n t h i s s tu d y .
P o p u l a ti o n D e n s ity
A lth o u g h b o th sa m p le s o f p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y fo llo w e d
t h e ra n k o r d e r o f p r e f e r e n c e s e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l po pÂ
u l a t i o n sa m p le , t h e r e w e re some s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s i n
th e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e . The low d e n s i t y g ro u p f a Â
v o re d p r i n t e d form s d e l i v e r e d by t h e c h i l d by o v e r 56 p e r
c e n t a s com pared t o a l i t t l e o v e r 3 8 p e r c e n t f o r t h e h ig h
d e n s i t y sa m p le . The h ig h d e n s i t y g ro u p c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y f a Â
v o re d th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by m a il som ew hat more
th a n d id t h e low d e n s i t y p a r e n t s . T h e re w e re no s i g n i f i c a n t
v a r i a t i o n s i n th e l e a s t p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ic a tio n .
Sex
F em ales showed a v e r y s i m i l a r p a t t e r n i n t h e i r c h a n n e l
107
p r e f e r e n c e s t o th o s e e x p r e s s e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n .
T a b le 17 , h o w e v er, i l l u s t r a t e s c o n s i d e r a b le v a r i a t i o n among
m ale p r e f e r e n c e s . M ales r e v e r s e d t h e r a n k in g s o f t h e
p r i n t e d form and th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s fo u n d i n t h e t o t a l
sam p le and a l s o t h e fe m a le sa m p le . They a l s o showed c o n Â
s i d e r a b l e m ore d i s l i k e o f th e p r i n t e d form an d no d i s l i k e
o f t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r i n c o n t r a s t t o th e fe m a le s a m p le .
TABLE 17
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE SEXES FOR
AN ACTIVITY ANNOUNCEMENT
C om m unication M ales (N = 26) F em ales (N = 104)
C h a n n e l P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst B e s t W o rst
T e le p h o n e 1 1 .5 4 1 9.23 6 .7 3 2 5 .9 6
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 3 .8 5 7.69 8 .6 5 4 .8 1
Home C o n fe re n c e 3 .8 5 3.85 4 .8 1 9 .6 2
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 4 2 .3 1 0 .0 0 3 0 .7 7 1 .9 2
P r i n t e d Form 3 8 .46 1 5.3 8 4 9 .0 4 1 .9 2
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 1 .9 2
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 53.85 0 .0 0 5 3 .8 5
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
M a r i t a l S t a t u s
R e sp o n se s o f t h e m a r r i e d group showed v e r y s i m i l a r r e
s p o n s e s t o t h o s e made b y t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . The
108
o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s , h o w e v er, d e v i a t e d s l i g h t l y . T h is
group f a v o r e d th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by m a il o v e r
th e p r i n t e d form d e l i v e r e d by t h e c h i l d . A lm o st 44 p e r
c e n t o f t h e o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s s e l e c t e d t h e p e r s o n a l l e t Â
t e r a s com pared t o t h e a lm o s t 38 p e r c e n t who s e l e c t e d t h e
p r i n t e d form . A lso t h i s g ro u p r e g i s t e r e d a v e ry h ig h p e r Â
c e n ta g e , o v e r 56 p e r c e n t , o f o p p o s i t i o n t o th e te le p h o n e
as a c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n icatio n f o r a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y an Â
nouncem ent.
Number o f C h ild r e n i n t h e Home
T a b le 18 l i s t s t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s
f o r d i f f e r e n t s i z e f a m i l i e s . The tw o m id d le c a t e g o r i e s ,
f a m i l i e s w ith two o r t h r e e c h i l d r e n and f a m i l i e s w ith f o u r
o r f i v e c h i l d r e n , fo llo w e d t h e r a n k o r d e r p a t t e r n s e s t a b Â
l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . I n t h e s e two groups,
h o w ev er, t h e r e w ere c o n s i d e r a b l e p e r c e n t a g e v a r i a t i o n s . A
n o t a b l e v a r i a t i o n was t h e v e ry h ig h p e r c e n t a g e , a lm o s t 70
p e r c e n t , o f t h e p a r e n t s o f f o u r o r f i v e c h i l d r e n f a m i l i e s
who f a v o r e d t h e p r i n t e d form a s a c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ica tio n .
A lso n o t a b l e was t h e h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e o f p r e f e r e n c e g iv e n
t o th e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e and home c o n fe r e n c e by th e p a r e n t s
o f two o r t h r e e c h i l d r e n f a m i l i e s .
The m o st d i s t i n c t v a r i a t i o n s , h o w e v er, w ere fo u n d i n
th o s e f a m i l i e s w ith o n ly one c h i l d and i n t h e f a m i l i e s w ith
o v e r s i x c h i l d r e n . B o th o f t h e s e g ro u p s r e v e r s e d t h e ra n k
TABLE 18
CHANNEL PREFERENCES ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE HOM E FOR
AN ACTIVITY ANNOUNCEMENT
One C h ild 2 o r 3 C h ild r e n 4 o r 5 C h ild r e n O ver 6 C h ild r e n
C om m unication (N = 11) (N = 33) (N = 53) (N = 32)
C h an n el % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W o rst B e s t W orst
T elep h o n e 0 .0 0 36.36 6.06 30.30 5 .6 6 1 8 .8 7 1 5 .6 3 2 1 .8 8
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 0 .0 0 9 .0 9 1 8 .1 8 9 .0 9 5 .6 6 5 .6 6 3 .1 3 0 .0 0
Home C o n fe re n c e 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 1 5.15 6 .0 6 1.89 11.32 0 .0 0 9 .3 8
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 72.7 3 9 .0 9 2 7 .2 7 0 .0 0 1 6 .9 8 1 .8 9 5 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
P r i n t e d Form 2 7 .2 7 0 .0 0 3 3 .3 3 3 .0 3 69. 81 3 .7 7 3 1.2 5 9 .3 8
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 6 .0 6 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 4 5.45 0 .0 45.45 0 .0 0 5 8 .4 9 0 .0 0 5 9 .3 8
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
o
v o
1 1 0
o r d e r o f f u l l sa m p le p r e f e r e n c e s f o r p r i n t e d form and p e r Â
s o n a l l e t t e r . The o n e - c h i l d f a m i l i e s r a n k e d th e p e r s o n a l
l e t t e r f i r s t by a lm o s t 73 p e r c e n t and ra n k e d t h e p r i n t e d
form se c o n d by a l i t t l e o v e r 27 p e r c e n t . T h is g ro u p had
no o t h e r p r e f e r e n c e s . The f a m i l i e s w ith s i x c h i l d r e n o r
m ore a l s o r e v e r s e d t h e o r d e r o f p r e f e r e n c e e s t a b l i s h e d by
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le .
Number o f A d u lts i n t h e Home
The break d o w n s o f t h e number o f a d u l t s i n th e home d id
n o t d i s c l o s e any v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u la tio n samÂ
p l e e x c e p t f o r homes w i t h o n ly one a d u l t . The p a t t e r n s o f
t h i s c a t e g o r y f o llo w e d r a t h e r c l o s e l y t h e p a t t e r n e s t a b Â
l i s h e d by o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s in t h e d e s c r i p t i o n g iv e n e a r Â
l i e r u n d e r " M a r it a l S t a t u s . " The p e r s o n a l l e t t e r was s e Â
l e c t e d by 50 p e r c e n t o f th e p a r e n t s i n o n e - a d u l t homes and
t h e p r i n t e d form was s e l e c t e d by 40 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p .
T h is g ro u p a l s o h ad 70 p e r c e n t o f i t s members who d e s i g Â
n a te d th e t e l e p h o n e a s t h e w o r s t c h a n n e l o f com m unication
t o n o t i f y them o f s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s .
C hurch A f f i l i a t i o n
T hose p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d who w e re a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e
C a t h o l i c c h u rc h r e g i s t e r e d p r e f e r e n c e s f o r com m unication
c h a n n e ls w h ic h w ere v e r y s i m i l a r t o th o s e o f t h e t o t a l samÂ
p l e . The n o n - C a th o l i c p o r t i o n o f t h e s a m p le , h ow ever,
show ed some v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple
Ill
p a t t e r n . T h is g ro u p , by a lm o s t 41 p e r c e n t , s e l e c t e d th e
p e r s o n a l l e t t e r as t h e m ost p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f communicaÂ
t i o n . The se c o n d m ost p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l, s e l e c t e d by a l Â
m o st 32 p e r c e n t , was th e p r i n t e d form m ethod o f a n n o u n c in g
a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y . T h is grou p a l s o r e g i s t e r e d som ew hat
l a r g e r o p p o s i t i o n , a lm o s t 14 p e r c e n t , t o t h e p r i n t e d form
t h a n d id t h e C a t h o l i c s who had o n ly a b o u t 3 p e r c e n t who
o p p o sed t h e p r i n t e d form a s a c h a n n e l o f co m m u n ica tio n f o r
a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y announcem ent.
F a c t o r s w i t h No V a ria n c e from
th e T o ta l P o p u la tio n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam ple w ere n o te d i n th e p r e f e r e n c e s o f c h a n n e ls o f commuÂ
n i c a t i o n f o r t r a n s m i t t i n g a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y an no u n cem en t
f o r th e f o llo w in g dem o g rap h ic v a r i a b l e s : a g e , la n g u a g e
u s e d i n t h e home, o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h Â
p l a c e , e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i c a l b a c k Â
g ro u n d , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s , fo rm a l e d u c a Â
t i o n , and age a t m a r r ia g e .
C om m unication Codes
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sample
T a b le 19 shows t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e la n g u a g e t o be
u s e d i n t r a n s m i t t i n g a m essage a n n o u n cin g s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s .
A c o m p a riso n o f T a b le 19 w ith T a b le 6 i n C h a p te r I I I w i l l
show n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l lan g u a g e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e two
1 1 2
TABLE 19
CODE PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR AN ACTIVITY ANNOUNCEMENT
(N = 130)
C ommuni c a t i on
â– Code
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
B e s t Code
P e r C ent C h o o sin g
W o rst Code
S p a n ish
E n g lis h
2 6 .1 5
3 8.4 6 18.46
1 0.77
B oth L anguages 33. 85 77
O th e r 0.00 2 .3 1
No P r e f e r e n c e 1 .5 4 6 7.6 9
N o te: P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
d i f f e r e n t m e s s a g e s . I n f a c t , a c o n s i s t e n c y i n t h e code
p r e f e r e n c e s was fo u n d f o r a l l f o u r o f th e m essage ty p e s e x Â
am ined i n t h i s s t u d y .
The f a v o r e d c o d e , a g a i n , was E n g lis h b u t i t was f o l Â
low ed c l o s e l y by p a r e n t s d e s i r i n g an a c t i v i t y announcem ent
t o b e s e n t i n b o th E n g li s h and S p a n is h . As w i t h m essag es
c o n c e rn in g t h e c h i l d ' s p r o g r e s s i n s c h o o l , a b o u t o n e - f o u r t h
o f t h e p a r e n t s w a n te d t h e an nouncem ent t o be s e n t in SpanÂ
i s h . The w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s e l e c t i o n s a l s o c o in c id e d w ith
t h o s e d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I I w ith some o p p o s i t i o n b e in g
r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t b o th E n g li s h and S p a n is h when u se d a lo n e
and p r a c t i c a l l y n o o p p o s i t i o n made a g a i n s t m essag es s e n t i n
b o th la n g u a g e s . M ost M exican A m erican p a r e n t s seem t o p r e -
113
f e r b i l i n g u a l m essa g es f o r announcem ent o f s c h o o l a c t i v i Â
t i e s .
F a c t o r s w ith V a ria n c e from th e
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
As d i s c u s s e d i n t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le a n a l y s i s ,
th e la n g u a g e p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d i n t h i s
s tu d y made l i t t l e chan ge r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e f o u r m essage
ty p e s w hich w ere c o n s i d e r e d . T h is c o n s i s t e n c y and s i m i l a r Â
i t y o f code p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e t o t a l sam p le was a l s o s u s Â
t a i n e d i n e a c h o f t h e d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s . The d em o g rap h ic
f a c t o r s w hich showed v a r i a t i o n from t h e t o t a l sam p le i n a
s c h o o l a c t i v i t y announcem ent fo llo w e d e x a c t l y t h e same
v a r i a t i o n s fou n d i n a m essag e o f s c h o o l p r o g r e s s a s d i s Â
c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I I . No d i f f e r e n c e s i n ra n k o r d e r w ere
fo u n d i n any d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r and o n ly m in o r d i f f e r e n c e s
w ere fo u n d i n p e r c e n t a g e s a s c r i b e d t o a p a r t i c u l a r communiÂ
c a t i o n c o d e . T h e r e f o r e , i t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t f o r an a n a ly Â
s i s o f t h e d em o g rap h ic i n f l u e n c e s on code p r e f e r e n c e t h e
s e c t i o n i n C h a p te r I I I , e n t i t l e d "C om m unication C o d e s," be
c o n s u l te d .
Those d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s w h ic h show ed v a r i a t i o n s from
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple and a r e d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r
I I I a r e : p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , s e x , a g e , la n g u a g e u s e d i n
th e home, o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e ,
l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s , fo rm a l e d u c a t i o n , and
num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e home.
114
F a c t o r s w ith No V a ria n c e from
th e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam p le w ere o b s e rv e d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r com m unicatio n
c o d es f o r a s c h o o l announcem ent m essage in t h e f o llo w in g
d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s : e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , p a r e n t s '
e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g r o u n d ,' m a r i t a l s t a t u s , num ber o f a d u l t s i n
th e hom e, c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n , and age a t m a r r ia g e . T hese
w ere t h e same f a c t o r s w h ich were fo u n d t o h a v e no s i g n i f i Â
c a n t v a r i a t i o n from th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple d i s c u s s e d
i n C h a p te r I I I when a m essage o f p r o g r e s s was c o n s id e r e d .
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
As e x p la in e d i n C h a p te r I I I , r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s f o r
a l l f o u r o f th e m essa g es in c lu d e d i n t h i s s tu d y showed a
g r e a t d e a l o f s i m i l a r i t y . Thus th e d i s c u s s i o n fo u n d i n
C h a p te r I I I c o n c e rn in g com m unication r e c e i v e r s i s a l s o r e l
e v a n t h e r e and s h o u ld be c o n s u l te d . T a b le 20 shows th e
b e s t and w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s o f th e e n t i r e sam ple o f M exican
A m erican p a r e n t s i n te r v ie w e d in t h i s s tu d y f o r t h e p e rs o n
i n t h e f a m ily who s h o u ld b e th e r e c e i v e r o f a m essage anÂ
n o u n c in g a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y . Showing a s i m i l a r i t y t o th e
p r e f e r e n c e s fo u n d i n T a b le 13, C h a p te r I I I , o v e r 72 p e r
c e n t o f th e t o t a l sam ple s e l e c t e d b o th p a r e n t s a s t h e b e s t
r e c e i v e r f o r an announcem ent m essag e. A bout 2 4 p e r c e n t
115
s e l e c t e d th e m o th e r a s t h e b e s t r e c e i v e r and j u s t o v e r 2
p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d th e f a t h e r . N ot to o much o p p o s i t i o n was
e x p r e s s e d to w a rd any o f t h e s e t h r e e r e c e i v e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s
s i n c e m ost p e r s o n s , o v e r 82 p e r c e n t , r e g i s t e r e d a "no
p r e f e r e n c e " c h o ic e i n t h i s c a t e g o r y .
TABLE 20
RECEIVER PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR AN ACTIVITY ANNOUNCEMENT
(N = 130)
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
R e c e iv e r B e s t R e c e iv e r W o rst R e c e iv e r
F a t h e r 2 .3 1 3 .0 8
M o th er 2 3 .8 5 6 .9 2
B oth P a r e n t s 7 2 .3 1 2 .3 1
O th e r 1 .5 4 5 .3 9
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 8 2 .3 1
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
F a c to r s w i t h V a r ia n c e from t h e
T o t a l P o p u la tio n Sam ple
A c o m p a riso n o f T a b le 20 w ith T a b le 13 w i l l show t h e
h ig h d e g re e o f s i m i l a r i t y b e tw e e n r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s f o r
t h i s a c t i v i t y an nouncem ent m essag e and th e p r o g r e s s m essage
d i s c u s s e d in C h a p te r I I I . A l l f o u r o f t h e m essa g es a n a Â
ly z e d f o r t h i s s tu d y show ed a lm o s t i d e n t i c a l r e c e i v e r p r e f Â
e r e n c e s and i t w ould th u s be r e p e t i t i o u s t o d i s c u s s t h e
116
same d em o g rap h ic v a r i a t i o n s i n e a c h o f t h e f o u r c h a p t e r s .
I t i s s u g g e s te d , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t r e f e r e n c e b e made t o t h e
"C om m unication R e c e iv e rs " s e c t i o n i n C h a p te r I I I f o r a n a l y Â
s i s o f t h o s e d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s w h ich v a r i e d from t h e t o Â
t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le .
D em ographic f a c t o r s w h ic h showed v a r i a t i o n s from th e
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple and w ere t h e r e f o r e d i s c u s s e d i n
C h a p te r I I I a r e : p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , s e x , la n g u a g e u s e d i n
t h e home, p a r e n t s ’ e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , m a r i t a l s t a t u s ,
num ber o f a d u l t s in t h e home, and age a t m a r r ia g e .
As e x p la in e d in C h a p te r I I I , s e x i s t h e o n ly f a c t o r
t h a t showed some v a r i a t i o n b etw een th e m essage u n d e r c o n Â
s i d e r a t i o n h e r e , an an nouncem ent o f s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s , and
t h e m essag e o f s c h o o l p r o g r e s s d i s c u s s e d i n t h a t c h a p t e r .
In b r i e f , m a le s show ed c o n s i d e r a b l y l e s s i n t e r e s t i n t h e
f a t h e r a s a r e c e i v e r f o r an a c t i v i t y anno uncem ent m essage
th a n th e y d id f o r t h e m essage c o n c e rn in g t h e p r o g r e s s o f
t h e c h i l d i n s c h o o l. Fem ales a l s o r e f l e c t e d t h i s same
s h i f t b u t n o t by su c h l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e s as d i d th e m a le s .
A c o m p a riso n o f T a b le 21 w ith T a b le 14 i n C h a p te r I I I demÂ
o n s t r a t e s t h e s e s h i f t s b a s e d upon m essage v a r i a b l e s .
F a c t o r s w i t h No V a ria n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u la tio n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam p le w ere o b s e rv e d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r com m un ication
r e c e i v e r s f o r a s c h o o l an nouncem ent m essag e i n t h e fo llo w in g
117
TABLE 21
RECEIVER PREFERENCES OF THE SEXES
FOR AN ACTIVITY ANNOUNCEMENT
C om m unication
R e c e iv e r
M ales (N = 26)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
F em ales (N = 104)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g ;
B e s t W o rst
F a t h e r
M o th er
B o th P a r e n t s
O th e r
No P r e f e r e n c e
7.69
7.69
80.7 7
3 .8 5
0.00
0.00
2 6 .9 2
0.00
0.00
7 3 .0 8
.96
2 7 .8 8
70.19
.96
0.00
3. 85
1 .9 2
2.88
6 . 73
84.6.1
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s : a g e , o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s '
b i r t h p l a c e , e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , l e n g th o f r e s i d e n c e i n
Los A n g e le s , fo rm a l e d u c a t i o n , num ber o f c h i l d r e n in t h e
hom e, and c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n . T hese w ere th e same f a c t o r s
w h ic h w ere fo u n d t o h a v e no s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from th e
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple d i s c u s s e d in C h a p te r I I I when a
m essag e o f p r o g r e s s was c o n s id e r e d .
C om m unication S o u rc e s
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
T a b le 22 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e b e s t and w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s o f
a l l t h e r e s p o n d e n ts i n te r v ie w e d f o r t h e p e rs o n i n s c h o o l
who s h o u ld o r i g i n a t e a m essage c o n c e rn in g some a c t i v i t y
118
TABLE 22
SOURCE PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR AN ACTIVITY ANNOUNCEMENT
(N = 130)
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
S o u rc e B e s t S o u rc e W o rst S o u rc e
P r i n c i p a l 3 4 .6 2 6 .1 5
V ice P r i n c i p a l 2 .3 1 0 .0 0
T e a c h e r 4 8 .4 6 1 .5 4
A ide .7 7 5 .3 9
N urse 0 .0 0 1 0 .0 0
O th e r 9 .2 3 1 .5 4
No P r e f e r e n c e 4 .6 2 7 5.39
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
b e in g s p o n s o r e d by th e s c h o o l . O ver 48 p e r c e n t o f th e
p a r e n t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h i s s h o u ld be th e f u n c t i o n o f th e
t e a c h e r b u t t h i s r e s u l t was fo llo w e d by a b o u t 35 p e r c e n t
o f th e p a r e n t s who d e s i g n a t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e p r e Â
f e r r e d o r i g i n a t o r o f su c h m e s s a g e s . The v i c e p r i n c i p a l r e Â
c e iv e d o n ly a b o u t 2 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n s e s f o r t h i s m esÂ
s a g e . T h is m essage p ro m p te d a r a t h e r l a r g e num ber o f th e
p a r e n t s , a b o u t 75 p e r c e n t , t o r e c o r d a "no p r e f e r e n c e "
c h o ic e f o r th e w o r s t s o u r c e o f s c h o o l a n n o u n ce m e n ts.
Q u ite l i k e l y , t h e i n c o n c l u s i v e n e s s o f s o u r c e p r e f e r Â
e n c e s f o r t h i s m essage can b e t r a c e d t o t h e r a t h e r l a r g e
119
num ber an d v a r i e t y o f su c h m essa g es t h a t come from t h e
s c h o o l t o p a r e n t s . Each p a r e n t i n t e r v i e w e d , t h e n , may h av e
b e en t h i n k i n g o f a p a r t i c u l a r m essage su c h a s an i n v i t a t i o n
t o v i s i t th e c la s s ro o m o f h i s c h i l d o r p e rh a p s a m essage
a n n o u n cin g an a l l s c h o o l p ro g ram o f some s o r t . The num ber
o f su c h m essa g es and t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r d i f f e r e n t commuÂ
n i c a t o r s o u r c e s a r e m y ria d . The r a t h e r h ig h p e r c e n t a g e ,
o v e r 9 p e r c e n t , o f r e s p o n d e n ts who m arked " o th e r " f o r
t h e i r b e s t com m unicator s o u r c e may g iv e some s u p p o r t t o t h i s
a n a l y s i s . Upon e x a m in in g th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s o f t h e tw e lv e
p a r e n t s who gave t h e " o th e r " r e s p o n s e f o r t h e b e s t communiÂ
c a t i o n s o u r c e , i t was fo u n d t h a t t e n made some i n d i c a t i o n
t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t th e p e rs o n i n c h a rg e o f t h e p a r t i c u l a r
a c t i v i t y s h o u ld be th e one who s h o u ld i n i t i a t e t h e announceÂ
m en t. In any c a s e , th e t e a c h e r , ev en i n t h i s ty p e o f s i t u Â
a t i o n , s t i l l seems t o h av e t h e h i g h e s t s o u r c e c r e d i b i l i t y
w i t h M exican A m erican p a r e n t s .
P o p u l a ti o n D e n s ity
A lm o st no v a r i a t i o n was fo u n d b e tw ee n th e two p o p u la Â
t i o n d e n s i t y sam p les and th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n s a m p le . The
same v a r i a t i o n t h a t was fo u n d i n t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e p r o Â
g r e s s m essage d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I I was a l s o n o te d i n th e
announcem ent m e ssa g e . The h ig h d e n s i t y sam ple seem ed t o
a c c o r d m ore c r e d i b i l i t y t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s th a n d i d t h e low
d e n s i t y sa m p le . O ver 41 p e r c e n t o f t h e h ig h d e n s i t y gro u p
1 2 0
s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l o r v i c e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e i r p r e f e r r e d
co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e f o r t h i s m e ssa g e . A l i t t l e o v e r 32
p e r c e n t o f t h e low d e n s i t y gro up made t h i s same s e l e c t i o n .
The w o r s t r e c e i v e r c h o ic e s a l s o r e f l e c t e d t h i s p a t t e r n .
O ver 11 p e r c e n t o f t h e h ig h d e n s i t y gro u p s e l e c t e d t h e
p r i n c i p a l a s t h e w o r s t com m unication s o u r c e w h ile o n ly
a b o u t 1 p e r c e n t o f t h e low d e n s i t y g ro u p made t h e same
c h o ic e .
T h u s , t h e s p e c u l a t i o n t h a t g r e a t e r r e s p e c t i s shown t o
a u t h o r i t y f i g u r e s by l e s s a c c u l t u r a t e d M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s i s g iv e n some s u p p o r t by t h e s e f i g u r e s . A g a in ,
h o w e v e r, i t s h o u ld be k e p t i n m ind t h a t t h e t e a c h e r i s th e
m o st f a v o r e d s o u r c e by a l l g ro u p s .
Age
I n g e n e r a l , age g ro u p s fo llo w e d th e p a t t e r n e s t a b Â
l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u la tio n sa m p le . The o n ly v a r i a t i o n
n o te d w as i n t h e o l d e s t age g ro u p . T h is g ro u p , c o n s i s t i n g
o f t h o s e f i f t y y e a r s o f age and o l d e r , r e v e r s e d t h e o r d e r
o f p r e f e r e n c e by s e l e c t i n g t h e p r i n c i p a l as t h e p r e f e r r e d
co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e . A lm o st 63 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p
d e s i g n a t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l and o n ly 25 p e r c e n t named t h e
t e a c h e r a s t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e s o u rc e o f annou ncem ent
ty p e m e s s a g e s .
L anguage U sed i n t h e Home
A lm o st 69 p e r c e n t o f t h e p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h s p e a k in g
1 2 1
g ro u p s e l e c t e d t h e t e a c h e r a s t h e b e s t s o u rc e as com pared
to a b o u t 48 p e r c e n t o f th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . A lÂ
th o u g h t h e ra n k o r d e r a g re e d w ith th e t o t a l sa m p le , th e
p e r c e n t a g e was c o n s i d e r a b ly h i g h e r . P a r e n t s who u s e d b o th
la n g u a g e s a b o u t t h e same t i e d i n t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e s b e tw ee n
th e t e a c h e r and t h e p r i n c i p a l . B oth o f t h e s e p o s s i b l e comÂ
m u n ic a tio n s o u r c e s r e c e i v e d o v e r 40 p e r c e n t o f t h e d e s i g Â
n a t i o n s o f t h i s la n g u a g e g ro u p . No o t h e r v a r i a t i o n s from
th e t o t a l sa m p le w ere n o te d .
E c o l o g i c a l B a ck g ro u n d
A r a t h e r s i z e a b l e v a r i a t i o n from th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam ple was o b s e r v e d i n t h e s o u r c e p r e f e r e n c e s r e c o r d e d by
th e r u r a l - b o r n g ro u p . The u r b a n - b o r n g ro u p was i n r e a s o n Â
a b ly c l o s e a g re e m e n t w ith t h e t o t a l sa m p le . The r u r a l
g ro u p , h o w e v e r, r e v e r s e d th e ra n k o r d e r o f p r e f e r e n c e e s Â
t a b l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . A lm ost 65 p e r
c e n t o f t h e r u r a l g ro u p d e s i g n a t e d th e p r i n c i p a l a s th e
p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e £ o r announcem ent ty p e m e ssa g e s. The
t e a c h e r was s e l e c t e d by a b o u t 18 p e r c e n t and th u s was much
lo w e r i n p r e f e r e n c e th a n t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . A l l
o t h e r c a t e g o r i e s g e n e r a l l y a g re e d w ith th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sa m p le .
P a r e n t s 1 E c o l o g i c a l B ackground
The g ro u p o f r e s p o n d e n ts t h a t h ad b o th p a r e n t s from
u rb a n b a c k g ro u n d s fo llo w e d th e p a t t e r n e s t a b l i s h e d by th e
1 2 2
t o t a l sam p le and t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e p r i n c i p a l w ere
som ew hat lo w e r. O ver 5 8 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p s e l e c t e d
t h e t e a c h e r and a b o u t 25 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s
t h e i r p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e f o r o r i g i n a t i n g an a c t i v i t y announceÂ
m e n t.
On th e o t h e r h a n d , th o s e r e s p o n d e n ts who h ad b o th p a r Â
e n t s from a r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d o r had one p a r e n t from a r u r a l
b a c k g ro u n d r e v e r s e d t h e ra n k o r d e r p a t t e r n e s t a b l i s h e d by
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . A bout 49 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e Â
s p o n d e n ts whose p a r e n t s w ere b o th from r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d s
s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l , w h ile o n ly a l i t t l e o v e r 37 p e r
c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p s e l e c t e d t h e t e a c h e r . S i m i l a r p e r c e n t Â
a g es w ere fo u n d i n t h e g ro u p w ith one p a r e n t from r u r a l >
o r i g i n s . A bout 44 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d th e p r i n c i p a l and
a b o u t 33 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e t e a c h e r as t h e i r p r e f e r r e d
s o u r c e s f o r c o m m u n ica tin g an a c t i v i t y an n o u n cem en t.
F a c t o r s w i t h No V a r ia n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam ple w ere fo u n d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r com m unication
s o u r c e s i n t h e f o l lo w in g d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s : s e x , o c cu Â
p a t i o n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e , l e n g t h o f r e s i Â
d e n c e i n L os A n g e le s , fo rm a l e d u c a t i o n , m a r i t a l s t a t u s ,
num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n th e home, num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e
home, c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n , and age a t m a r r ia g e .
123
Summary
T h is c h a p t e r was c o n c e rn e d w ith t h e co m m u n icatio n p r e f Â
e r e n c e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l
se e k t o n o t i f y them o f some a c t i v i t y s p o n s o r e d by t h e
s c h o o l . The c h a p t e r a n a ly z e d f o u r c a t e g o r i e s o f com m unicaÂ
t i o n p r e f e r e n c e .
A n a l y s i s o f t h e f i r s t c a te g o r y , co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e ls ,
r e v e a l e d t h a t w r i t t e n com m unication was t h e f a v o r e d m ethod
o f r e c e i v i n g in f o r m a ti o n a b o u t a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e s c h o o l .
The t r a d i t i o n a l p r i n t e d form b ro u g h t home by c h i l d r e n r e Â
c e iv e d t h e m o st s u p p o r t and t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d
by m a il was n e x t i n o r d e r o f p r e f e r e n c e . O ra l c h a n n e ls h a d
o n ly a l i m i t e d num ber o f a d h e r e n t s . V a r i a t i o n s n o te d i n
d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s w e re l a r g e l y r e v e r s a l s o f t h e o r d e r o f
p r e f e r e n c e b e tw ee n th e two l e a d i n g c h a n n e ls o f com m unicaÂ
t i o n , t h e p r i n t e d form and t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r .
The se c o n d c a te g o r y o f com m unication v a r i a b l e s c o n s i d Â
e r e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r was com m unication c o d e s . The r a n k o r Â
d e r and p e r c e n t a g e s o f la n g u a g e p r e f e r e n c e fo u n d f o r an
a c t i v i t y announ cem ent m essage w ere so s i m i l a r t o t h e p r e f Â
e r e n c e s r e c o r d e d f o r t h e p r o g r e s s m essage d i s c u s s e d i n
C h a p te r I I I t h a t r e a d e r s w ere r e f e r r e d t o t h a t c h a p t e r f o r
an a n a l y s i s o f t h e d em o g rap h ic v a r i a t i o n s . A lth o u g h EngÂ
l i s h i s t h e la n g u a g e f a v o r e d by o v e r 38 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e Â
s p o n d e n ts , a lm o s t 34 p e r c e n t o f th e p a r e n t s f a v o r b o t h
la n g u a g e s and 26 p e r c e n t f a v o r S p a n is h . T h e re a r e a l s o
124
a b o u t 2 9 -p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s who o b j e c t t o e i t h e r SpanÂ
i s h o r E n g li s h i f u se d a lo n e .
The t h i r d c a te g o r y o f co m m u nicatio n e le m e n ts a n a ly z e d
in t h i s c h a p t e r was t h e r e c e i v e r s o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . By a
m a rg in o f a lm o s t 50 p e r c e n t , th e m ost p o p u l a r com m unicaÂ
t i o n r e c e i v e r was b o th p a r e n t s . The m o th e r was t h e se c o n d
m ost p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r and t h e f a t h e r was a d i s t a n t t h i r d
c h o ic e . F in d in g s f o r an a c t i v i t y announcem ent m essa g e w ere
n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l w i t h th o s e o f a p r o g r e s s m e s s a g e . The
r e a d e r was a g a in r e f e r r e d to C h a p te r I I I f o r a d i s c u s s i o n
o f t h e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s r e l a t i n g t o co m m u n ica tio n r e Â
c e i v e r s . The d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r o f s e x was t h e o n ly one
t h a t show ed any v a r i a t i o n from th e p a t t e r n s e s t a b l i s h e d i n
th e p r o g r e s s m essag e d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I I . I n an a n Â
n o u n c em en t m e ssa g e , m ales and fe m a le s show ed l e s s s e x u a l
l o y a l t y th a n th e y h a d shown w ith t h e m essag e c o n c e r n in g t h e
p r o g r e s s o f t h e c h i l d i n s c h o o l. M ales and fe m a le s b o th
gave m ore p r e f e r e n c e t o b o th p a r e n t s o v e r t h e m o th e r o r
f a t h e r a s a r e c e i v e r th a n th e y d i d w ith t h e p r o g r e s s m esÂ
sa g e .
The f i n a l c a te g o r y o f com m unication e le m e n ts c o n s id e re d
i n t h i s c h a p t e r was com m unication s o u r c e s . The t e a c h e r i s
th e m o st p o p u l a r s o u r c e f o r m essa g es a b o u t s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s
b u t b y a 30 p e r c e n t s m a lle r m a rg in th a n was fo u n d f o r m esÂ
s a g e s a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e c h i l d i n s c h o o l . The p r i n Â
c i p a l was d e s i g n a t e d by 21 p e r c e n t m ore o f t h o s e i n t e r -
125
v iew ed a s t h e p e rs o n t o i n i t i a t e m essa g es o f t h i s s o r t .
Many p e r s o n s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e s o u rc e o f co m m u n icatio n
s h o u ld be t h e one who i s m ost d i r e c t l y i n c h a rg e o f t h e a c Â
t i v i t y . The v a r i a t i o n s fo u n d w h ich r e l a t e d t o d e m o g ra p h ic
f a c t o r s w ere m o s tly c o n c e rn e d w i t h t h e r e l a t i v e r o l e o f th e
p r i n c i p a l a s t h e s o u r c e o f c o m m u n ica tio n . Some g r o u p s ,
n o t a b l y t h e h ig h d e n s i t y p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le , t h e o l d e r - a g e d ,
and t h o s e from r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d s gave th e p r i n c i p a l more
p r e f e r e n c e th a n th e t e a c h e r a s t h e o r i g i n a t o r o f communicaÂ
t i o n f o r an ann ouncem ent o f s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s .
CHAPTER V
A MESSAGE CONCERNING DISCIPLINE OF THE PUPIL
T h is c h a p t e r w i l l a n a ly z e t h e co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r Â
e n c e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when i t becom es n e c e s s a r y
f o r s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l t o com m unicate w ith them a b o u t th e
d i s c i p l i n e o f t h e i r c h i l d . The c h a p t e r w i l l a n a ly z e f o u r
c a t e g o r i e s o f co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s : (1) co m m u n icatio n
c h a n n e ls , (2) co m m u n icatio n c o d e s , (3) co m m u n ica tio n r e Â
c e i v e r s , and (4) com m unication s o u r c e s .
E ach c a te g o r y w i l l b e r e l a t e d , i n t u r n , t o t h e demoÂ
g r a p h i c v a r i a b l e s o f th e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s w h ich
w e re c o l l e c t e d i n t h e i n t e r v i e w s . In e a c h c a s e , t h e t o t a l
sa m p le w i l l be a n a ly z e d f i r s t and th e n t h o s e d e m o g ra p h ic
v a r i a b l e s w h ich show s i g n i f i c a n t d e p a r t u r e s from t h e t o t a l
sam p le w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d . The d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s w ere
d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I i n th e s e c t i o n e n t i t l e d "D ata ReÂ
g a r d i n g D em ographic V a r i a b l e s o f R e s p o n d e n ts ."
C om m unication C h a n n e ls
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
T a b le 22 shows t h e com m unication c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s
o f t h e e n t i r e sam ple o f one h u n d re d t h i r t y M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s . T h is t a b l e a l s o shows t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p a r e n t s
126___________________________
127
TABLE 2 3
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A DISCIPLINE MESSAGE
C om m unication
C h a n n e l
P e r C e n t C h oosing
B e s t C h an n el
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
W o rst C h a n n el
T e le p h o n e 34.62 2 2 .3 1
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 3 1 .5 4 0 .0 0
Home C o n fe re n c e 1 1 .5 4 0 .0 0
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 1 9 .2 3 6 .9 2
P r i n t e d Form 3 .0 8 23. 85
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 46.92
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
who i n d i c a t e d w h a t th e y c o n s id e r e d th e w o r s t c h a n n e l o f
c o m m u n ica tio n f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essage The m o st p r e f e r r e d
c h a n n e l o f co m m u n icatio n f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essage was t h e
t e l e p h o n e . N e a rly 35 p e r c e n t o f t h e sam ple s e l e c t e d t h i s
c h a n n e l, b u t c l o s e l y f o llo w in g t h i s p r e f e r e n c e was a c o n Â
f e r e n c e i n th e s c h o o l w ith a lm o s t 32 p e r c e n t o f th e sa m p le .
The t h i r d p l a c e p r e f e r e n c e was a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r w i t h a b o u t
19 p e r c e n t , th e n a c o n f e r e n c e i n t h e home w ith a b o u t 12
p e r c e n t , and f i n a l l y a p r i n t e d form d e l i v e r e d by t h e c h i l d
w i t h 3 p e r c e n t .
I f t h e two c o n fe re n c e m ethods a r e com bined, t h e r e a p -
p e a r s t o be r a t h e r s t r o n g p r e f e r e n c e f o r d i r e c t f a c e - t o -
12 8
f a c e co m m u n icatio n . A l i t t l e o v e r 43 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l
sam ple s e l e c t e d one o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e m ethods a s a c h a n n e l
t o com m unicate a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n .
A lso r e i n f o r c i n g t h i s f a c e - t o - f a c e p r e f e r e n c e i s th e f a c t
t h a t n e i t h e r o f th e c o n fe r e n c e c h a n n e ls was ju d g e d th e
w o r s t c h a n n e l by any o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s . On t h e o t h e r hand,
o v e r 22 p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s o b j e c t e d t o t h e te le p h o n e
a s a c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n icatio n f o r t h i s k in d o f m e ssa g e . ,
A lm ost 24 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s o b j e c t e d t o th e
p r i n t e d form a s a way o f l e a r n i n g a b o u t t h e i r c h i l d ' s d i s Â
c i p l i n e p ro b le m s i n s c h o o l . The s m a ll num ber who s e l e c t e d
t h i s c h a n n e l a s th e b e s t m ethod o f com m un icating a b o u t a
d i s c i p l i n e p ro b lem a l s o i n d i c a t e d a d i s l i k e o f su c h fo rm s.
When p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e t h r e e o r a l c h a n n e ls , t e l e Â
p h o n e , s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , an d home c o n f e r e n c e , a r e com bined,
a b o u t 78 p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s a r e a c c o u n te d f o r . The
m ost f a v o r e d w r i t t e n c h a n n e l, p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by
m a i l , a l s o r e f l e c t s a s t r o n g d e s i r e f o r p e r s o n a l and d i r e c t
co m m u n icatio n . Im p e rs o n a l p r i n t e d fo rm s, su c h a s b e h a v io r
n o t i c e s , r e t e n t i o n a f t e r s c h o o l fo rm s , and t h e l i k e seem t o
have l i t t l e v a lu e a s a c h a n n e l o f com m unication f o r t h i s
ty p e o f m e s sa g e .
P o p u la tio n D e n s ity
T a b le 24 p r e s e n t s th e c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e two
d e n s i t y s a m p le s . B oth s a m p le s v a r y t o some e x t e n t from th e
129
p r e f e r e n c e s by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n s a m p le . P a r e n t s from
t h e low d e n s i t y a r e a s gave h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e
t o t h e te le p h o n e and t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r th a n d i d t h e h ig h
d e n s i t y sam ple o r th e t o t a l sa m p le . T h is g ro u p r e g i s t e r e d
c o n s i d e r a b l e o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e p r i n t e d form a s a c h a n n e l
f o r d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e s. T hese s t a t i s t i c s i n d i c a t e , p e r Â
h a p s , t h a t t h i s g ro u p p u t s l e s s e m p h a sis on f a c e - t o - f a c e
c h a n n e ls b u t s t i l l i s c o n c e rn e d w ith m ore d i r e c t and p e r Â
s o n a l co m m u n icatio n a s fo u n d i n t h e te le p h o n e and t h e p e r Â
s o n a l l e t t e r .
TABLE 24
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE POPULATION DENSITY SAMPLES
FOR A DISCIPLINE MESSAGE
H igh D e n s ity Sam ple Low D e n s ity Sam ple
C om m unication (N = 6 8) (N = 62)
C h an n el P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W o rst B e s t W orst
T e lep h o n e 2 7 .9 4 2 5 .0 0 4 1 .9 4 1 9 .3 5
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 3 9 .7 1 0 .0 0 22 .58 0 .0 0
Home C o n fe re n c e 1 4 .7 1 0 .0 0 8 .0 6 0 .0 0
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 1 4 .7 1 10.2 9 2 4 .1 9 3 .2 3
P r i n t e d Form 2 .9 4 11.7 6 3 .2 3 37.10
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 5 2 .9 4 0 .0 0 40.3 2
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
130
H igh d e n s i t y a r e a p a r e n t s , on th e o t h e r h a n d , gave
m ore e m p h a sis t o t h e s c h o o l and home c o n fe r e n c e and l e s s t o
t h e te l e p h o n e and p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s p o s s i b l e com m unication
c h a n n e ls . The s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e ra n k e d th e h i g h e s t f o r th e
h ig h d e n s i t y sam ple w ith n e a r l y 40 p e r c e n t o f th e p a r e n t s
f a v o r i n g t h i s m ethod o f co m m u n icatin g a b o u t t h e i r c h i l d 's
d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s . ' The h ig h d e n s i t y sa m p le , th e n , a p Â
p e a r s t o p r e f e r more f a c e - t o - f a c e com m unication a s fo u n d in
a c o n f e r e n c e s i t u a t i o n and p u t s l e s s e m p h a sis on th e t e l e Â
p h o n e , p e r s o n a l l e t t e r , an d p r i n t e d form th a n e i t h e r t h e
low d e n s i t y p a r e n t s o r t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le .
Age
V a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l sam ple w ere fou nd i n a l l
f o u r o f t h e age g r o u p in g s e s t a b l i s h e d f o r t h i s s tu d y . Three
o f t h e g r o u p i n g s , t h e tw e n ty t o tw e n ty - n in e y e a r o l d s , th e
t h i r t y t o t h i r t y - n i n e y e a r o l d s , and t h o s e o v e r f i f t y y e a r s
o l d , a l l ra n k e d t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e as t h e i r f i r s t c h o ic e
c h a n n e l o f co m m u n icatio n and t h e te le p h o n e a s t h e i r seco n d
p r e f e r e n c e f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e . T h is was a r e v e r s a l
o f t h e o r d e r made by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . The p e r Â
c e n ta g e s o f t h e s e d e v i a t i o n s , h o w ev er, w ere n o t to o g r e a t .
The f o r t y t o f o r t y - n i n e y e a r o ld age g ro u p ra n k e d t h e
te l e p h o n e f i r s t b u t by a much l a r g e r p e r c e n t a g e , a b o u t 48
p e r c e n t a s com pared t o a b o u t 35 p e r c e n t , th a n t h e t o t a l
p o p u l a t i o n . T h is g ro u p a l s o r a n k e d th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r as
131
t h e i r se c o n d c h o ic e i n s t e a d o f t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , w hich
was t h e seco n d c h o ic e o f th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n s a m p le . Only
15 p e r c e n t o f t h e f o r t y t o f o r t y - n i n e y e a r o ld s s e l e c t e d
t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , w h e re a s 32 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l
p o p u l a t i o n sam ple s e l e c t e d t h i s c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ica tio n .
The y o u n g e s t g ro u p , t h e tw e n ty t o tw e n ty - n in e y e a r
o l d s , showed t h e m ost i n t e r e s t i n t h e c o n f e r e n c e m ethod o f
d i s c u s s i n g th e d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n .
A bout 44 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p s e l e c t e d t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r Â
e n c e and a b o u t 13 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e home c o n f e r e n c e .
T h is gro u p a ls o showed t h e m ost d i s l i k e o f th e te le p h o n e
and t h e p r i n t e d form a s c h a n n e ls o f co m m u n icatio n f o r a
d i s c i p l i n e m essa g e. A bout 31 p e r c e n t o f th e y o u n g e s t
g ro u p d e s i g n a t e d t h e te le p h o n e and o v e r 2 8 p e r c e n t t h e
p r i n t e d form a s th e w o r s t c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ic a tio n .
L anguage Used i n t h e Home
T a b le 25 shows th e p e r c e n t a g e s o f c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e
f o r t h e v a r io u s la n g u a g e u sa g e g r o u p in g s e s t a b l i s h e d f o r
t h i s s t u d y . A c o m p a riso n w ith T a b le 2 3 w i l l i l l u s t r a t e
t h a t th o s e who u s e p r i m a r i l y E n g li s h v a r i e d o n ly s l i g h t l y
from th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e i r c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s .
The p o r t i o n o f t h e sam ple t h a t u s e s p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h
a g re e d w ith th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le i n s e l e c t i n g th e
te le p h o n e a s t h e i r f i r s t c h o ic e b u t d i d so by a much l a r g e r
p e r c e n t a g e . A bout 35 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
TABLE 25
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF HOME LANGUAGE USAGE FOR A DISCIPLINE MESSAGE
P r i m a r i l y S p a n is h P r i m a r i l y E n g lis h B oth L anguages
C om m unication (N = 32) (N = 51) (N = 47)
C h a n n el P e r C ent C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C hoosing:
B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst
T elep h o n e 5 0.00 6 .2 5 39.22 2 3 .5 3 19.15 3 1 .9 1
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 15.63 0 .0 0 31.3 7 0 .0 0 42.55 0 .0 0
Home C o n fe re n c e 6 .2 5 0 .0 0 9 .8 0 0 .0 0 1 7.02 0 .0 0
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 2 8 .1 3 0 .0 0 17.6 5 5 .8 8 1 4 .89 1 2 .7 7
P r i n t e d Form 0 .0 0 2 8 .1 3 1.9 6 3 3 .3 3 6 .3 8 1 0 .6 4
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 6 5 .6 3 0 .0 0 37.2 5 0 .0 0 4 4 .6 8
N o te: P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
132
133
s e l e c t e d t h e te le p h o n e b u t 50 p e r c e n t o f t h e S p a n is h
s p e a k e r s made t h i s s e l e c t i o n . More S p a n is h s p e a k e r s a l s o
s e l e c t e d t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r th a n d i d t h e t o t a l sa m p le . On
t h e o t h e r h a n d , S p a n is h s p e a k e r s w ere much l e s s i n t e r e s t e d
i n t h e c o n fe re n c e as a c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ica tio n . Only
a b o u t 16 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e and a b o u t
6 p e r c e n t t h e home c o n f e r e n c e . T h is g ro u p showed l i t t l e
o p p o s i t io n t o any c h a n n e l e x c e p t t h e p r i n t e d fo rm . A bout
66 p e r c e n t o f t h e S p a n is h s p e a k e r s made a "no p r e f e r e n c e "
c h o ic e f o r t h e i r w o r s t c h a n n e l s e l e c t i o n .
S p e a k e rs who u se d b o th E n g li s h and S p a n is h a b o u t
e q u a l l y h ad by f a r t h e m ost i n t e r e s t i n t h e c o n f e r e n c e chanÂ
n e l s o f co m m u n ica tio n . The l a r g e s t num ber o f p e rs o n s i n
t h i s g ro u p , a b o u t 43 p e r c e n t , s e l e c t e d t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r Â
e n c e and a n o th e r 17 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e home c o n f e r e n c e .
The te le p h o n e was c h o se n by 19 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts
o f t h i s g ro u p a s t h e b e s t c h a n n e l, b u t 32 p e r c e n t d e s i g Â
n a te d th e te le p h o n e a s t h e w o r s t c h a n n e l o f co m m u n ica tio n .
T h ere was a l s o some o p p o s i t i o n , 13 p e r c e n t , t o t h e p e rs o n a l
l e t t e r f o r com m unicating a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s .
E n g lis h and b i l i n g u a l s p e a k e r s a r e c o n s i d e r a b ly more
i n t e r e s t e d i n d i r e c t f a c e - t o - f a c e s i t u a t i o n s f o r communiÂ
c a t i n g a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s th a n a r e p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h
s p e a k e r s . I t may be t h a t S p a n is h s p e a k e r s f e e l some h e s i Â
ta n c y i n a f a c e - t o - f a c e s i t u a t i o n , b e c a u s e o f la n g u a g e , in
d e a l i n g w ith a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t e a c h e r s who sp e ak p r i m a r il y
134
o r o n ly E n g l i s h .
M a r i t a l S t a t u s
The r e s p o n s e s o f th e m a r r ie d g ro u p showed v e ry s i m i l a r
r e s p o n s e s t o th o s e made by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le .
The p r e f e r e n c e s o f o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s , h o w ev er, d id show
some d e v i a t i o n s . T h is g ro u p r a t e d t h e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e
and t h e home c o n fe r e n c e c o n s i d e r a b ly h i g h e r th a n d i d th e
m a r r i e d g ro u p o r t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . The s c h o o l
c o n f e r e n c e was ra n k e d f i r s t w ith a b o u t 44 p e r c e n t o f th e
o n e - p a r e n t r e s p o n d e n ts m aking t h i s p r e f e r e n c e . Home conÂ
f e r e n c e and p e r s o n a l l e t t e r w ere ra n k e d s e c o n d , b o th w ith
a b o u t 19 p e r c e n t o f t h e o n e - p a r e n t r e s p o n d e n ts m aking t h i s
c h o ic e . The te le p h o n e was s e l e c t e d by o n ly a b o u t 13 p e r
c e n t a s t h e b e s t c h o ic e , b u t 50 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p d e s Â
i g n a t e d t h e te le p h o n e a s t h e w o r s t c h o ic e . I n summary, i t
w ould a p p e a r t h a t o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s a r e c o n s i d e r a b ly more
i n t e r e s t e d i n f a c e - t o - f a c e com m unication c h a n n e ls th a n a re
t h e t w o - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s o r t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n .
Number o f C h ild r e n i n t h e Home
T a b le 26 i n d i c a t e s t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f c h a n n e l p r e f e r Â
e n c e s f o r t h e breakdow ns o f t h o s e i n te r v ie w e d a c c o r d in g t o
t h e num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e f a m i ly . The two g ro u p s w ith
t h e l a r g e s t num bers o f c h i l d r e n a g re e d w ith t h e s e l e c t i o n
o f th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple o f t h e te le p h o n e as t h e m ost
p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f co m m u nicatio n f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e .
TABLE 26
CHANNEL PREFERENCES ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE HOME
FOR A DISCIPLINE MESSAGE
One C h ild 2 o r 3 C h ild r e n 4 o r 5 C h ild r e n O ver 6 C h ild r e n
C om m unication (N = 11) (N = 33) (N = 53) (N = 32)
C h an n el % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g :
â–
B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst
T elep h o n e 36.36 1 8 .1 8 1 8 .1 8 33.33 39.62 15.09 43.75 2 1 .8 8
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 45.45 0 .0 45.45 0 .0 3 2 .0 8 0 .0 0 12.50 0 .0 0
Home C o n fe re n c e 9 .0 9 0 .0 2 1 .2 1 0 .0 5 .6 6 0 .0 0 12.50 0 .0 0
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 9 .0 9 9 .0 9 1 5.15 6 .0 6 1 5 .0 9 7 .5 5 3 1.25 6 .2 5
P r i n t e d Form 0 .0 0 36.36 0 .0 0 1 8 .1 8 7.5 5 33.96 0 .0 0 9 .3 8
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .00 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .00
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 36.3 6 0 .0 0 42.42 0 .0 0 43.40 0 .0 0 6 2 .5 0
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
u >
U1
136
The g ro u p w ith t h e l a r g e s t num ber o f c h i l d r e n , h o w e v e r, s e Â
l e c t e d t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s t h e i r se c o n d m o st p r e f e r r e d
c h a n n e l. T h is g ro u p a l s o gave th e l e a s t p r e f e r e n c e t o conÂ
f e r e n c e ty p e com m unication c h a n n e ls .
T hose r e s p o n d e n ts who h a d th e s m a l l e s t num ber of. c h i l Â
d r e n i n t h e i r homes h a d more i n t e r e s t i n f a c e - t o - f a c e comÂ
m u n ic a tio n c h a n n e ls and c o r r e s p o n d in g ly l e s s i n t e r e s t i n
t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s a m ethod o f c o m m u n icatin g a b o u t
t h e i r c h i l d r e n 's d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s . O p p o s itio n was shown
p r i m a r i l y to w a rd t h e te le p h o n e and t h e p r i n t e d form and
t h e r e w ere s i z e a b l e num bers i n e a c h g ro u p in g who d e s i g n a t e d
t h e s e a s t h e w o r s t com m unication c h a n n e ls . In g e n e r a l , th e
s m a l l e r t h e num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e f a m ily , t h e m ore
p r e f e r e n c e was shown f o r a s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e and t h e l a r g e r
t h e num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n th e f a m ily , th e m ore i n t e r e s t was
shown i n a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r o r th e te le p h o n e a s a c h a n n e l o f
co m m u n icatio n f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e .
Number o f A d u lts i n t h e Home
The b reakdow ns o f th e num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home d i d
n o t d i s c l o s e any v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n samÂ
p l e e x c e p t f o r homes w i t h o n ly one a d u l t and homes w ith
t h r e e a d u l t s . The o n e - a d u l t homes fo llo w e d a p a t t e r n v e ry
s i m i l a r t o t h e o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s d i s c u s s e d above u n d e r
t h e h e a d in g o f " M a r it a l S t a t u s . " As i n o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s ,
t h e o n e - a d u l t homes showed much i n t e r e s t , 50 p e r c e n t , i n
137
t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , and a c o n s i d e r a b le d i s l i k e , 60 p e r
c e n t , f o r t h e t e l e p h o n e . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from t h r e e - a d u l t
homes show ed an above a v e ra g e p r e f e r e n c e , a b o u t 42 p e r c e n t,
f o r t h e home c o n f e r e n c e a s t h e i r p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e .
F a c t o r s w i t h No V a r ia n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sa m p le w ere n o t e d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s o f c h a n n e ls o f commuÂ
n i c a t i o n f o r t r a n s m i t t i n g a d i s c i p l i n e m essage f o r t h e
f o l lo w in g d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s : s e x , o c c u p a ti o n , b i r t h Â
p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e , e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , p a r e n t s '
e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s ,
fo r m a l e d u c a t i o n , c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n , and age a t m a r r i a g e .
C om m unication Codes
T o t a l P o p u l a t i o n Sam ple
T a b le 27 shows t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e la n g u a g e t o b e
u s e d i n t r a n s m i t t i n g a m essage c o n c e rn in g t h e d i s c i p l i n e o f
t h e c h i l d i n s c h o o l . A c o m p a riso n o f T a b le 27 w i t h T a b le 6
i n C h a p te r I I I w i l l d e m o n s tra te t h e a lm o s t i d e n t i c a l l a n Â
guage p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e two d i f f e r e n t m e s s a g e s . In f a c t ,
as i n d i c a t e d i n C h a p te r I I I , a l l f o u r o f th e m essa g es co n Â
s i d e r e d i n t h i s s tu d y h a d n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l code p r e f e r e n c e s
f o r t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n and f o r a l l th e v a r i o u s dem ographic
f a c t o r s .
138
TABLE 27
CODE PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A DISCIPLINE MESSAGE
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
Code B e s t Code W orst Code
S p a n is h 26.92 1 1 .5 4
E n g li s h 39.2 3 1 6 .1 5
B oth L anguages 33.0 8 0 .0 0
O th e r 0 .0 0 2 .3 1
No P r e f e r e n c e .77 70.0 0
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
The m o st p r e f e r r e d code was E n g li s h b u t t h i s r e s u l t
was f o llo w e d c l o s e l y by p a r e n t s d e s i r i n g d i s c i p l i n e m esÂ
s a g e s t o b e s e n t i n b o th E n g lis h and S p a n is h . As i n th e
m essa g es d i s c u s s e d i n t h e two p r e v io u s c h a p t e r s , a l i t t l e
o v e r o n e - f o u r t h o f t h e p a r e n t s w a n ted d i s c i p l i n e m essag es
s e n t i n S p a n is h . The w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s e l e c t i o n s showed
o p p o s i t i o n r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t b o th E n g li s h and S p a n is h when
u s e d a lo n e and n o o p p o s i t i o n a t a l l t o m essag es s e n t i n both
la n g u a g e s .
F a c t o r s w i t h V a r ia n c e from th e
T o t a l P o p u l a t i o n Sam ple
The la n g u a g e p r e f e r e n c e s o f th e p a r e n t s i n te r v ie w e d i n
t h i s s tu d y show ed l i t t l e change among t h e f o u r d i f f e r e n t
m essa g es w h ich w ere c o n s i d e r e d . T h is c o n s i s t e n c y and
139
s i m i l a r i t y o f code p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e t o t a l sam ple was
a l s o s u s t a i n e d i n e a c h o f t h e d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s . T h e re Â
f o r e , i t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t f o r an a n a l y s i s o f t h e demoÂ
g r a p h i c v a r i a b l e s and t h e i r e f f e c t on code p r e f e r e n c e s t h a t
t h e s e c t i o n e n t i t l e d "C om m unication C odes" i n C h a p te r I I I
b e c o n s u l t e d .
T hose d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s w h ic h showed v a r i a t i o n s from
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le and w ere d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r
I I I a r e : p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , s e x , a g e , la n g u a g e u se d i n
t h e hom e, o c c u p a ti o n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e ,
l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s , fo rm a l e d u c a ti o n , and
num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e home.
F a c t o r s w ith No V a r ia n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam p le w ere o b s e r v e d i n t h e p r e f e r n c e s f o r com m unication
c o d es f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essag e i n t h e f o llo w in g d e m o g ra p h ic
v a r i a b l e s : e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i c a l
b a c k g ro u n d , m a r i t a l s t a t u s , num ber o f a d u l t s i n th e home,
c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n , and age a t m a r r i a g e . T hese w ere t h e
same f a c t o r s w h ic h w ere fo u n d ’ t o h a v e no s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i Â
a t i o n from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r
I I I when a m essag e o f p r o g r e s s was c o n s i d e r e d .
140
C om m unication R e c e iv e rs
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
As e x p l a i n e d in C h a p te r I I I , t h e r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s
f o r a l l f o u r m e ssa g e s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s tu d y showed a g r e a t
d e a l o f s i m i l a r i t y . Thus t h e d i s c u s s i o n fo u n d in C h a p te r
I I I c o n c e rn in g c o m m u n ica tio n r e c e i v e r s i s a l s o r e l e v a n t
h e r e and s h o u ld b e c o n s u l t e d . T a b le 2 8 shows th e b e s t and
w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e e n t i r e sam ple o f M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d i n t h i s s tu d y f o r t h e p e rs o n i n th e
f a m ily who s h o u l d be t h e r e c e i v e r o f a d i s c i p l i n e m essa g e.
TABLE 2 8
RECEIVER PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A DISCIPLINE MESSAGE
(N = 130)
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
R e c e iv e r B e s t R e c e iv e r W o rst R e c e iv e r
F a t h e r 4 .6 2 4.62
M other 2 6 .9 2 6 .9 2
B oth P a r e n t s 6 6 .9 2 2 .3 1
O th e r 1 .5 4 4 .6 2
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 81.5 4
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
Showing a s i m i l a r i t y t o th e r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s fo u n d
in T a b le 13, C h a p te r I I I , a b o u t 67 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l
sam ple s e l e c t e d b o th p a r e n t s as t h e b e s t r e c e i v e r f o r t h i s
141
m essa g e. A bout 2 7 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d th e m o th e r a s th e b e s t
r e c e i v e r and a b o u t 5 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e f a t h e r . N ot to o
much o p p o s i t io n was e x p r e s s e d to w a rd any o f t h e s e t h r e e
r e c e i v e r s , b e c a u s e m ost o f t h e p a r e n t s , a b o u t 82 p e r c e n t ,
r e g i s t e r e d a "no p r e f e r e n c e " c h o ic e i n t h i s c a t e g o r y .
F a c to r s w ith V a r ia n c e from t h e
T o ta l P o p u la tio n Sam ple
A co m p ariso n o f T a b le 2 8 w i t h T a b le 13 w i l l show th e
h ig h d e g re e o f s i m i l a r i t y b e tw e e n th e r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s
f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essag e and t h e p r o g r e s s m essage d i s c u s s e d
i n C h a p te r I I I . A l l f o u r o f t h e m essa g es a n a ly z e d f o r t h i s
s tu d y showed a lm o s t i d e n t i c a l r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s and i t
w ould th u s be r e p e t i t i o u s t o d i s c u s s t h e same m a t e r i a l i n
e a c h o f t h e f o u r c h a p t e r s . I t i s s u g g e s t e d , t h e r e f o r e ,
t h a t r e f e r e n c e be made t o t h e s e c t i o n i n C h a p te r I I I e n Â
t i t l e d "C om m unication R e c e iv e r s " f o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f th o s e
d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s w h ich v a r i e d from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sa m p le .
T hose d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s w h ich showed v a r i a t i o n s from
th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le , and w ere t h e r e f o r e d i s c u s s e d in
C h a p te r I I I , a r e : p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , s e x , la n g u a g e u se d
i n th e home, p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , m a r i t a l s t a t u s ,
num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home, and age a t m a r r ia g e . I t
s h o u ld be n o te d t h a t t h e r e was some s h i f t i n t h e p e r c e n ta g e
o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h i s m essage b a s e d upon s e x u a l l o y a l t y .
As i n t h e p r o g r e s s m e ssa g e , m a le s i n c r e a s e d t h e i r p e r c e n t Â
142
age o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r th e f a t h e r t o be th e s o l e r e c e i v e r o f
th e d i s c i p l i n e m essage and fe m a le s i n c r e a s e d t h e i r p e r c e n t Â
age f o r t h e m o th e r t o be th e s o l e r e c e i v e r . H ow ever, b o th
m a le s and fe m a le s s t i l l s e l e c t e d b o th p a r e n t s by l a r g e m arÂ
g in s t o be t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r o f a d i s c i p l i n e m esÂ
s a g e . C h a p te r I I I d i s c u s s e s t h i s f i n d i n g i n m ore d e t a i l .
F a c t o r s w ith No V a r ia n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sample
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam ple w ere o b s e rv e d i n th e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r co m m u n icatio n
r e c e i v e r s f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essag e i n t h e f o l lo w in g demoÂ
g r a p h i c f a c t o r s : a g e , o c c u p a ti o n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s '
b i r t h p l a c e , e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n
Los A n g e le s , fo rm a l e d u c a ti o n , num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e
home, and c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n . T h ese w ere t h e same f a c t o r s
w h ic h w ere fo u n d t o hav e no s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n from t h e
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I I when a
m essag e o f p r o g r e s s was c o n s id e r e d .
C om m unication S o u rc e s
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
T a b le 29 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e b e s t and w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s o f
a l l t h e r e s p o n d e n ts in te r v ie w e d f o r t h e p e rs o n i n s c h o o l
who s h o u ld o r i g i n a t e a m essage c o n c e rn in g d i s c i p l i n e .
A bout 65 p e r c e n t o f th e t o t a l sam ple f e l t t h a t t h e c h i l d ' s
t e a c h e r s h o u ld f u l f i l l t h i s f u n c t i o n . T h is i s a som ew hat
143
TABLE 29
SOURCE PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A DISCIPLINE MESSAGE
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h oosing
S o u rc e B e s t S o u rc e W orst S ource
P r i n c i p a l 2 2 .3 1 15.39
V ice P r i n c i p a l 6 .1 5 0 .0 0
T e a c h e r 6 4 .6 2 .77
A ide .7 7 4 .6 2
N urse 0 .0 0 1 3.85
O th e r 2 .3 1 3.85
No P r e f e r e n c e 3. 85 6 1 .5 4
N o te: P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
s u r p r i s i n g f i n d i n g i n l i g h t o f th e f a c t t h a t d i s c i p l i n e i s
p a r t o f t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r o l e o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r .
O ver 22 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e i n te r v ie w e d d i d s e l e c t th e
p r i n c i p a l an d a n o t h e r 6 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e v i c e p r i n c i Â
p a l . T h is 6 p e r c e n t was t h e h i g h e s t p e r c e n ta g e r e c e i v e d
by t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l i n any o f t h e f o u r m essa g es s t u d i e d .
T h is s l i g h t i n c r e a s e o f s o u r c e p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e v ic e
p r i n c i p a l may be a c c o u n te d f o r , b e c a u s e one o f th e t r a d i Â
t i o n a l d u t i e s o f t h a t a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o s i t i o n i s h a n d lin g
d i s c i p l i n e p r o b le m s . T h e re was no o p p o s i t i o n t o th e v i c e
p r i n c i p a l a s a s o u r c e o f d i s c i p l i n e c o m m u n ica tio n , b u t o v e r
15 p e r c e n t o f t h e sam p le o b j e c t e d t o t h e p r i n c i p a l f o r _____
144
t h i s f u n c t i o n . As i n p r e v i o u s m e s s a g e s , t h e s c h o o l n u r s e
and t h e t e a c h e r a id e w ere a l s o i d e n t i f i e d by some o f t h e
p a r e n t s a s t h e w o r s t com m unication s o u r c e . I n sum m ary, t h e
t e a c h e r a g a in seem s t o h av e v e ry h ig h s o u r c e p r e f e r e n c e
w ith M exican A m erican p a r e n t s .
Sex
Rank o r d e r and p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r b o th
m a le s and fe m a le s w ere n e a r l y t h e same a s t h e t o t a l p o p u la Â
t i o n s a m p le . The o n ly s l i g h t d i f f e r e n c e fo u n d was t h a t
m a le s s e l e c t e d t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l by a f a r g r e a t e r p e r c e n t Â
age th a n e i t h e r t h e fe m a le s o r th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n and
gave t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l t h e h i g h e s t p r e f e r e n c e fo u n d i n any
d e m o g ra p h ic d i v i s i o n . More th a n 15 p e r c e n t o f t h e m a le s
i n d i c a t e d t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l a s th e b e s t s o u r c e f o r d i s c i Â
p l i n e m e ssa g e s a s com pared t o a b o u t 4 p e r c e n t o f t h e f e Â
m a le s and 6 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l sa m p le .
B i r t h p l a c e
V ery l i t t l e v a r i a t i o n was found i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s o f
e i t h e r o f th e b i r t h p l a c e d i v i s i o n s e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h i s
s t u d y . The o n ly n o t a b l e d i f f e r e n c e was i n t h e s e l e c t i o n o f
t h e w o r s t s o u r c e o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . T hose b o rn i n t h e U n ited
S t a t e s h a d a h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e o f d i s l i k e f o r t h e p r i n c i p a l ,
o v e r 18 p e r c e n t , th a n d id t h o s e b o rn i n M exico, a b o u t 10
p e r c e n t . I n c i d e n t a l l y , a l l o f th e r e s p o n d e n ts who s e Â
l e c t e d t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e b e s t s o u rc e o f com m unica-
145
t i o n w ere b o rn i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s .
P a r e n t* s B i r t h p l a c e
R e sp o n d e n ts w hose p a r e n t s w ere b o th b o rn i n t h e U n ite d
S t a t e s a l s o show ed g r e a t e r o p p o s i t i o n , n e a r l y 2 4 p e r c e n t ,
t o th e p r i n c i p a l th a n d i d t h o s e whose p a r e n t s w ere b o th
b o rn in M e x ico , a l i t t l e o v e r 10 p e r c e n t . Those who h a d
one p a r e n t b o rn i n M exico and one i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s f e l l
b etw een t h e o t h e r two g ro u p s and a g re e d w ith t h e t o t a l samÂ
p l e . E x a c tl y 15 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p d e s i g n a t e d th e
p r i n c i p a l a s t h e w o r s t s o u r c e o f co m m un ication f o r a d i s c i Â
p l i n e m e ssa g e .
E c o l o g ic a l B ackgro und
As shown i n T a b le 3 0 , t h e u rb a n g ro u p and th e r u r a l
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a g r e e g e n e r a l l y i n t h e i r ra n k o r d e r o f th e
b e s t s o u r c e s o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . T h ere i s d is a g r e e m e n t, howÂ
e v e r , i n t h e p e r c e n t a g e s a s c r i b e d t o e a c h o f t h e c a t e g o r i e s .
T hose who s e l e c t e d t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l as th e b e s t s o u r c e
w ere r e s p o n d e n ts w i t h u rb a n b a c k g ro u n d s .
A c o m p a riso n o f T a b le 30 w ith T a b le 29 w i l l show t h a t
t h e u rb a n b a c k g ro u n d sam p le a g r e e s r a t h e r c l o s e l y w ith th e
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . The r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d g ro u p , howÂ
e v e r , g i v e s c o n s i d e r a b l y more p r e f e r e n c e , o v e r 35 p e r c e n t ,
t o t h e p r i n c i p a l th a n d o e s t h e u rb a n sa m p le . N e a r ly 17 p e r
c e n t o f t h e u r b a n i t e s s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e w o r s t
s o u r c e a s com pared t o a b o u t 6 p e r c e n t o f th o s e from r u r a l
b a c k g ro u n d s .____________________________________________________________
146
TABLE 30
SOURCE PREFERENCES RELATED TO ECOLOGICAL BACKGROUNDS
FOR A DISCIPLINE MESSAGE
C om m unication
S ource
U rban (N
P e r C e n t
B e s t
= 112)
C h o o sin g :
W o rst
R u r a l (N = 17)
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
P r i n c i p a l 2 0 .5 4 1 6 .9 6 3 5 .2 9 5 .8 8
V ic e P r i n c i p a l 6 .2 5 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
T e a c h e r 6 6 .0 7 .89 58.8 2 0 .00
A ide .89 3 .5 7 0 .0 0 11.76
N u rse 0 .0 0 1 4 .2 9 0 .0 0 5 .8 8
O th e r 1.79 2 .6 8 5 .8 8 11.76
No P r e f e r e n c e 4 .4 6 6 1 .6 1 0 .0 0 6 4 .7 1
N ote: P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
P a r e n t s 1 E c o l o g i c a l B ackground
The p a t t e r n e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e e c o l o g i c a l breakdow n o f
t h e r e s p o n d e n ts was s u s t a i n e d by t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e e c o Â
l o g i c a l d i v i s i o n s o f th e p a r e n t s o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s . A
l a r g e r num ber, o v e r 32 p e r c e n t , o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts whose
p a r e n t s w ere b o th from r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d s s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n Â
c i p a l th a n d i d th o s e r e s p o n d e n t s whose p a r e n t s w e re b o th
from u rb a n o r i g i n s . O nly a b o u t 12 p e r c e n t o f t h e l a t t e r
g ro u p s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l as t h e i r c h o ic e f o r t h e b e s t
s o u r c e o f com m unication a b o u t t h e i r c h i l d ' s d i s c i p l i n e .
The w o r s t s o u rc e s e l e c t i o n s a l s o c o in c id e d w i t h th e
147
b e s t c h o i c e s . W here b o th p a r e n t s w ere from u rb a n b a c k Â
g r o u n d s , a lm o s t 21 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts d e s i g n a t e d
t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e w o r s t s o u r c e and w here b o th p a r e n t s
w ere fro m r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d s o n ly a b o u t 6 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d
t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e w o r s t co m m u n icato r s o u r c e f o r a d i s Â
c i p l i n e m e s sa g e .
The g r o u p in g com posed o f one p a r e n t from r u r a l a n d th e
o t h e r p a r e n t from u rb a n b a c k g ro u n d s showed t h e m o st i n t e r Â
e s t , o v e r 44 p e r c e n t , i n t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e b e s t s o u rc e
f o r d i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e s . T h is g ro u p r e v e r s e d th e o r d e r o f
p r e f e r e n c e e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple by
s e l e c t i n g t h e p r i n c i p a l a s f i r s t c h o ic e and t h e t e a c h e r as
t h e s e c o n d m ost p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e o f com m unicatio n a b o u t a
d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m . O nly a b o u t 33 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p
s e l e c t e d t h e t e a c h e r a s t h e b e s t s o u r c e a s com pared t o
a b o u t 65 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le .
L e n g th o f R e s id e n c e i n
L os A n g e le s
An i n t e r e s t i n g p r o g r e s s i o n , a g a in r e l a t i n g t o t h e a c Â
c e p t a b i l i t y o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a com m unication s o u r c e , was
fo u n d i n t h e l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r . As
shown i n T a b le 31, no one i n te r v ie w e d who h a d l i v e d i n Los
A n g e le s u n d e r s i x y e a r s o r b etw een s i x and t e n y e a r s o b Â
j e c t e d t o t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e com m unication s o u r c e . Of
t h o s e who h ad l i v e d i n Los A n g e le s o v e r te n y e a r s , 16 p e r
c e n t l i s t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e w o r s t s o u rc e and o f t h o s e
TABLE 31
SOURCE PREFERENCES BASED UPON LENGTH OF RESIDENCE IN LOS ANGELES
FOR A DISCIPLINE MESSAGE
0 t o 5 Y ears 6 t o 10 Y ears O ver 10 Y e ars B om Los A n g e les
C om m unication (N = 11) (N = 15) (N = 50) (N = 53)
Code % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst B e s t W o rst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst
P r i n c i p a l 1 8 .1 8 0 .0 0 2 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 2 2 .0 0 1 6 .0 0 2 4 .5 3 2 2 .6 4
V ic e P r i n c i p a l 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 6 .0 0 0 .0 0 7 .5 5 0 .0 0
T e a c h e r 7 2 .7 3 0 .0 0 80.00 0 .0 0 6 4 .00 0 .0 0 6 0 .3 8 1 .8 9
A ide 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 2 .0 0 4 .0 0 0 .0 0 7 .5 5
N urse 0 .0 0 9 .0 9 0 .0 0 6 .6 7 0 .0 0 14.00 0 .0 0 15.0 9
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 2 .0 0 6 .0 0 3 .7 7 3 .7 7
No P r e f e r e n c e 9 ,0 9
9 0 .9 1
0 .0 0 9 3 .3 3 4 .0 0 60.0 0 3 .7 7 49.06
N o te: P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
148
149
b o rn i n Los A n g e le s, a b o u t 23 p e r c e n t w ere o p p o sed t o th e
p r i n c i p a l a s a s o u rc e o f co m m u n icatio n a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e
p ro b le m s . I n o t h e r w o rd s , t h e r e was a d e f i n i t e p r o g r e s s o f
d i s l i k e o f th e p r i n c i p a l b a s e d upon t h e l e n g t h o f tim e one
l i v e d i n t h e c i t y .
On th e o t h e r h a n d , t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f t h o s e who s e Â
l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l as t h e b e s t c o m m u n icatio n s o u r c e f o r a
d i s c i p l i n e m essage s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s e d as t h e l e n g t h o f r e s Â
id e n c e i n Los A n g e les i n c r e a s e d . Of t h o s e who h a d l i v e d i n
Los A n g e le s f i v e y e a r s o r l e s s , 18 p e r c e n t d e s i g n a t e d th e
p r i n c i p a l a s th e b e s t c h o ic e . Of t h o s e who h a d l i v e d i n
th e c i t y b etw een s i x and t e n y e a r s , 20 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d
t h e p r i n c i p a l , w h ile 22 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e who l i v e d t h e r e
o v e r t e n y e a r s made t h i s s e l e c t i o n . A lm o st 25 p e r c e n t o f
th o s e b o rn i n Los A n g e le s p r e f e r r e d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s th e
b e s t s o u rc e o f d i s c i p l i n e c o m m u n ic a tio n . A ls o , t h e v i c e
p r i n c i p a l was n o t s e l e c t e d by any o f th e r e s p o n d e n ts o f th e
two m ost r e c e n t a r r i v a l g r o u p in g s b u t was s e l e c t e d by 6 p e r
c e n t and a b o u t 8 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t i v e l y , o f t h e two g ro u p Â
in g s w ith t h e l o n g e s t r e s i d e n c e i n L os A n g e le s .
I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o e x p l a i n t h i s t r e n d to w a rd p o l a r i z e d
a t t i t u d e s - e x c e p t t o s a y t h a t p e r h a p s a s p a r e n t s become m ore
a c q u a in te d w ith t h e com m unity, th e y h a v e m ore c o n t a c t s w ith
t h e s c h o o l and e s p e c i a l l y w ith t h e p r i n c i p a l and th u s form
more d e f i n i t e o p i n io n s . T hose who a r e new er t o t h e c i t y
may hav e had l e s s c o n t a c t and a r e t h u s m ore l i k e l y t o
150
e m p h a size t h e t e a c h e r a s t h e i r s o u r c e o f c o n t a c t . T h is
c o n c e p t i s g iv e n some s u p p o r t i n t h a t th e two g ro u p s m o st
r e c e n t l y e m ig r a te d i n t o th e c i t y had e x tre m e ly h ig h p e r Â
c e n t a g e s , 91 and 93 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t i v e l y , o f "no p r e f e r Â
e n ce " s e l e c t i o n s i n th e w o r s t com m un ication s o u r c e c a te g o r y .
Thus i n d i c a t i n g a l a c k o f p o l a r i z e d o p in io n .
C hurch A f f i l i a t i o n
The C a t h o l i c sam p le p r e f e r e n c e s w ere v e ry c l o s e t o th e
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . N o n -C a th o lic r e s p o n d e n ts gave
more e m p h a sis t o t h e p r i n c i p a l and v i c e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e
p r e f e r r e d co m m u n icatio n s o u rc e f o r d i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e s .
A bout 32 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l and
a n o th e r 18 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d th e v i c e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e b e s t
co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e . The t e a c h e r r e c e i v e d o n ly 45 p e r
c e n t o f t h e n o n - C a th o l i c p r e f e r e n c e s com pared t o 69 p e r
c e n t o f t h e C a t h o l i c sa m p le . W o rst s o u rc e p r e f e r e n c e s a l s o
r e f l e c t e d t h i s o r d e r o f p r i o r i t y . Only a b o u t 5 per. c e n t o f
t h e n o n - C a th o l i c sam ple s e l e c t e d th e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e w o r s t
s o u r c e b u t a lm o s t 18 p e r c e n t o f th e C a t h o l i c sam p le d e s i g Â
n a te d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s th e m ost u n d e s i r a b l e s o u r c e o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essa g e.
F a c t o r s w i t h No V a ria n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No m e a n in g fu l v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam p le w ere fo u n d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r co m m u n icatio n
151
s o u r c e s i n t h e f o l lo w in g d em o g rap h ic v a r i a b l e s : p o p u l a t i o n
d e n s i t y , a g e , la n g u a g e u se d i n t h e home, o c c u p a tio n , fo rm a l
e d u c a t i o n , m a r i t a l s t a t u s , num ber o f c h i l d r e n in t h e home,
num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home, and ag e a t m a r r ia g e .
Summary
T h is c h a p t e r was c o n c e rn e d w i t h t h e com m unication
p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when s c h o o l p e r s o n Â
n e l w is h t o c o n t a c t them a b o u t a d i s c i p l i n e p ro b lem o f t h e
c h i l d . The c h a p t e r a n a ly z e d f o u r c a t e g o r i e s o f communicaÂ
t i o n p r e f e r e n c e .
A n a l y s i s o f t h e f i r s t c a t e g o r y , com m unication c h a n n e ls ,
r e v e a l e d t h a t o r a l co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e ls w e re th e m ost f a Â
v o re d m ethods o f b e in g c o n t a c t e d a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s .
F o r t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n , th e te le p h o n e was t h e m o st f a Â
v o re d c h a n n e l c l o s e l y fo llo w e d by t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e .
The p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a l s o r e c e i v e d some e x p r e s s io n o f p r e f Â
e r e n c e and t h e home c o n f e r e n c e was a l s o a c c e p t a b l e to some
p a r e n t s . The p r i n t e d form d e l i v e r e d by t h e c h i l d r e c e i v e d
v e ry l i t t l e i n t e r e s t a s a com m unication c h a n n e l f o r a d i s Â
c i p l i n e m e s sa g e . V a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n samÂ
p l e fo u n d i n t h e a n a l y s i s o f d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s f o c u s s e d
l a r g e l y on t h e r e l a t i v e i n t e r e s t shown i n t h e te le p h o n e and
t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e a s th e m ost p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n .
The se c o n d c a t e g o r y o f c o m m u n icatio n v a r i a b l e s c o n s i d -
152
e r e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r was co m m u n ica tio n c o d e s . The r a n k o r Â
d e r and p e r c e n ta g e s o f la n g u a g e p r e f e r e n c e f o r a d i s c i p l i n e
m essage w ere so s i m i l a r t o th e p r o g r e s s m essag e d i s c u s s e d
i n C h a p te r I I I t h a t r e a d e r s w ere r e f e r r e d t o t h a t c h a p t e r
f o r an a n a l y s i s o f th e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a t i o n s . A lth o u g h
E n g li s h i s t h e la n g u a g e f a v o r e d by 39 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e Â
s p o n d e n ts , 33 p e r c e n t p r e f e r m e ssa g e s s e n t i n b o th l a n Â
g u a g e s and 27 p e r c e n t p r e f e r S p a n is h . T h ere a r e a l s o
a b o u t 28 p e r c e n t who o b j e c t t o e i t h e r S p a n is h o r E n g li s h
i f u s e d a lo n e .
The t h i r d c a te g o r y o f c o m m u n ica tio n e le m e n ts a n a ly z e d
i n t h i s c h a p t e r was t h e r e c e i v e r s o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . By a
l a r g e m a rg in , th e m ost p o p u l a r co m m u n icatio n r e c e i v e r was
b o th p a r e n t s . The m o th e r was t h e s e c o n d m o st p r e f e r r e d r e Â
c e i v e r and t h e f a t h e r was a d i s t a n t t h i r d c h o ic e . The
f i n d i n g s f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essage w e re n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l
w i t h t h o s e o f a p r o g r e s s m e s s a g e . The r e a d e r was a g a in r e Â
f e r r e d t o C h a p te r I I I f o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e d em o g rap h ic
v a r i a b l e s r e l a t i n g t o c o m m u n ica tio n r e c e i v e r s .
The f i n a l c a te g o r y o f co m m u n icatio n e le m e n ts c o n s id Â
e r e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r was co m m u n ica tio n s o u r c e s . The t e a c h e r
was t h e m ost p r e f e r r e d c o m m u n icatio n s o u r c e f o r a d i s c i Â
p l i n e m e ssa g e , a lth o u g h t h e m a jo r s o u r c e o f d i s c i p l i n e comÂ
m u n ic a tio n t r a d i t i o n a l l y h a s b e e n t h e s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r .
The v i c e p r i n c i p a l r e c e i v e d s l i g h t l y m ore p r e f e r e n c e i n
t h i s m essage th a n i n o t h e r s b u t s t i l l d i d n o t f i g u r e to o
153
i m p o r t a n t l y i n t h e o v e r a l l p i c t u r e . The v a r i a t i o n s from
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple w hich r e l a t e d t o d e m o g ra p h ic
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w ere l a r g e l y c o n c e rn e d w ith th e r e l a t i v e
r o l e o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a s th e s o u rc e o f c o m m u n ica tio n . Some
g r o u p s , n o t a b l y t h o s e b o rn i n M exico, th o s e whose p a r e n t s
w e re from r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d s , and n o n - C a th o lic s gave t h e
p r i n c i p a l g r e a t e r p r e f e r e n c e as t h e o r i g i n a t o r o f communiÂ
c a t i o n f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essage th a n d id t h e i r o p p o s i t e
g r o u p in g s . I t w ould a p p e a r t h a t t h e r e i s a d e f i n i t e p r o Â
g r e s s i o n o f l o s s o f t h e p r i n c i p a l ' s c r e d i b i l i t y f o r d i s c i Â
p l i n e m essa g e s w ith c a t e g o r i e s r e l a t e d t o a c c u l t u r a t i o n .
As p a r e n t s become m ore a c c u l t u r a t e d , th e y te n d t o h a v e l e s s
i n t e r e s t i n t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a b e s t s o u r c e and a l s o s e l e c t
him more a s t h e w o r s t s o u r c e f o r d i s c i p l i n e m e s sa g e s.
The f i n d i n g s o f s te a d y d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f th e p r i n c i p a l ' s
e th o s was c o n t r a d i c t o r y when l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n L os AnÂ
g e l e s was a n a ly z e d . G ro u p in g s o f t h i s d em o graphic f a c t o r
showed a p r o g r e s s i o n o f d i s l i k e f o r t h e p r i n c i p a l c o r r e Â
l a t e d w ith th e l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n t h e c i t y . The p r o Â
g r e s s i o n was t h a t t h e lo n g e r a p a r e n t l i v e d in Los A n g e le s ,
t h e m ore l i k e l y he was t o s e l e c t th e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e w o r s t
s o u r c e f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e . The o p p o s i t e t r e n d w as
fo u n d , h o w ev er, when s e l e c t i n g a b e s t s o u r c e f o r th e commuÂ
n i c a t i o n o f d i s c i p l i n e m e s sa g e s. A d e c id e d p r o g r e s s i o n was
fo u n d t h a t showed t h e lo n g e r th e p a r e n t l i v e d i n Los A n g e le ^
th e m ore l i k e l y he was t o f a v o r th e p r i n c i p a l as
f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e .
source
CHAPTER VI
A MESSAGE CONCERNING PRAISE OF THE PUPIL
T h is c h a p t e r w i l l d i s c u s s t h e co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r Â
e n c e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l d e Â
s i r e t o n o t i f y them a b o u t some s p e c i a l h o n o r w h ich t h e i r
c h i l d h a s a c h ie v e d . I n a s e a r c h p r e l i m i n a r y t o c o n d u c tin g
t h i s s t u d y , o n ly a few e x am p le s o f t h i s ty p e o f m essage
w ere fo u n d w h ic h w ere a c t u a l l y b e in g u s e d i n t h e s c h o o l s .
T h ere seem s t o be no s t a n d a r d p o l i c y on t h e p a r t o f t h e Los
A n g e le s C ity S c h o o ls a d m i n i s t r a t i o n f o r s e n d in g p r a i s e m esÂ
s a g e s . The few ex am p le s t h a t w e re fo u n d w ere m essa g es s e n t
by i n d i v i d u a l t e a c h e r s . U n d o u b te d ly some m e ssa g e s o f t h i s
n a t u r e a r e t r a n s m i t t e d o r a l l y from t e a c h e r o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r
t o p a r e n t s and th u s w r i t t e n ex am p le s do n o t e x i s t .
The c h a p t e r w i l l a n a ly z e f o u r c a t e g o r i e s o f communicaÂ
t i o n p r e f e r e n c e : (1) c o m m u n ica tio n c h a n n e ls , (2) communiÂ
c a t i o n c o d e s , (3) co m m u n icatio n r e c e i v e r s , and (4) communiÂ
c a t i o n s o u r c e s . E ach c a te g o r y w i l l be r e l a t e d , i n t u r n , t o
t h e d em o g rap h ic v a r i a b l e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s w hich
w ere c o l l e c t e d i n th e i n t e r v i e w s . In e a c h c a s e , t h e t o t a l
sam p le w i l l b e a n a ly z e d f i r s t an d th e n th o s e d em o g ra p h ic
v a r i a b l e s w h ich show s i g n i f i c a n t d e p a r t u r e s from t h e t o t a l
155
156
sam p le w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d . The d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s w ere
d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I i n th e s e c t i o n e n t i t l e d "D a ta ReÂ
g a r d in g D em ographic V a r ia b l e s o f R e s p o n d e n ts ."
C om m unication C h an n els
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
T a b le 32 shows t h e com m unication c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s
o f th e e n t i r e sam ple o f one, h u n d re d t h i r t y M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s f o r a m essage o f p r a i s e . T h is t a b l e a l s o shows t h e
p e r c e n t a g e s o f p a r e n t s who i n d i c a t e d w hat th e y c o n s i d e r e d
t o be t h e w o r s t c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ica tio n . The m o st p r e Â
f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f com m unication f o r a p r a i s e m essa g e was
t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by m a i l . O ver 46 p e r c e n t o f
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n s e l e c t e d t h i s c h a n n e l. The n e a r e s t
r i v a l t o t h i s c h a n n e l was t h e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e w i t h a b o u t
19 p e r c e n t f a v o r i n g t h i s m ethod o f b e in g n o t i f i e d a b o u t an
h o n o r w h ich t h e i r c h i l d had e a r n e d . The p r i n t e d form d e Â
l i v e r e d by t h e c h i l d and t h e te le p h o n e , f o llo w e d t h e s c h o o l
c o n fe r e n c e c l o s e l y w ith 12 p e r c e n t and 14 p e r c e n t , r e Â
s p e c t i v e l y . The home c o n fe re n c e r e c e i v e d a l i t t l e o v e r 6
p e r c e n t o f t h e p r e f e r e n c e d e s i g n a t i o n s o f t h e p a r e n t s .
I f t h e two w r i t t e n com m unication c h a n n e ls , p e r s o n a l
l e t t e r and p r i n t e d form , a r e com bined t h e r e a p p e a r s t o be
r a t h e r s t r o n g p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h i s m ethod o f r e c e i v i n g a
p r a i s e m e s sa g e . E x a c tly 60 p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s s e Â
l e c t e d one o r t h e o t h e r o f t h e s e two m e th o d s. I n a d d i t i o n ,
157
TABLE 32
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A PRAISE MESSAGE
C om m unication P e r C e n t C h o o sin g P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
C h an n el B e s t C h a n n el W orst C h a n n el
T e lep h o n e 1 2 .3 1 23. 85
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 1 9 .2 3 0 .0 0
Home C o n fe re n c e 6 .1 5 2 .3 1
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 46.1 5 3 .0 8
P r i n t e d Form 13. 85 13.85
O th e r .77 .77
No P r e f e r e n c e 1 .5 4 5 6 .1 5
N o te : P e r c e n t a g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
t h e r e was n o t much o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e w r i t t e n c h a n n e ls . A lÂ
th o u g h a b o u t 14 p e r c e n t o f th o s e i n te r v ie w e d th o u g h t a
p r i n t e d form was t h e w o r s t way o f co m m u n icatin g t h i s i n Â
f o r m a t io n , o n ly 3 p e r c e n t o b j e c t e d t o t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r .
The m o st o p p o s i t i o n was r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t th e te le p h o n e
w i t h a b o u t 2 4 p e r c e n t o f t h e sam p le s e l e c t i n g t h i s as th e
w o r s t c h a n n e l o f co m m u n icatio n f o r a m essage o f p r a i s e .
The p erm an en cy f a c t o r i s p r o b a b ly i m p o r t a n t i n t h i s
ty p e o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . A p e r s o n a l l e t t e r can b e r e t a i n e d
by p a r e n t s and shown t o o t h e r s . The 19 p e r c e n t who s e Â
l e c t e d th e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e a s a p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l i s
som ewhat d i f f i c u l t t o e x p l a i n w ith t h i s a n a l y s i s . P e rh a p s
15 8
t h i s g ro u p was c o n c e rn e d a b o u t r e c e i v i n g m ore d e t a i l s conÂ
c e r n in g t h e n a t u r e and b a c k g ro u n d o f t h e p r a i s e s i t u a t i o n .
P o p u la tio n D e n s ity
T a b le 33 i n d i c a t e s th e c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e two
d e n s i t y s a m p le s . B oth sa m p le s v a ry t o some e x t e n t from th e
p r e f e r e n c e s e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n f o r th e
b e s t co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e l. T h e re a r e o n ly v e ry s l i g h t
p e r c e n ta g e v a r i a t i o n s , h o w e v e r, b e tw ee n t h e two sam p les and
th e t o t a l sam p le i n t h e w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s f o r a communicaÂ
t i o n c h a n n e l. P a r e n t s fro m t h e low d e n s i t y a r e a f a v o r e d
th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r much m ore th a n d id t h o s e p a r e n t s from
th e h ig h d e n s i t y a r e a , a lth o u g h b o th g ro u p s ra n k e d t h i s
c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ica tio n f i r s t i n p r e f e r e n c e . The low d en Â
s i t y sam p le a l s o f a v o r e d t h e p r i n t e d form d e l i v e r e d by th e
c h i l d m ore th a n e i t h e r t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple o r th e
h ig h d e n s i t y sa m p le . T h ese two c h a n n e ls t o g e t h e r a c c o u n te d
f o r a b o u t 73 p e r c e n t o f t h e p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h i s g ro u p .
The h ig h d e n s i t y s a m p le , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , p u t more
e m p h asis on t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , a lm o s t 2 8 p e r c e n t , th a n
d id t h e p a r e n t s o f t h e low d e n s i t y g ro u p , o n ly 10 p e r c e n t
o f whom s e l e c t e d t h i s m ethod o f co m m u n icatin g a b o u t a
p r a i s e m e ssa g e . The h ig h d e n s i t y g ro u p a l s o f a v o r e d th e
home c o n f e r e n c e m ore th a n t h e low d e n s i t y p a r e n t s .
W hereas w r i t t e n c h a n n e ls a c c o u n te d f o r a b o u t 73 p e r
c e n t o f t h e p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e low d e n s i t y sa m p le , th e y a c -
159
TABLE 33
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE POPULATION DENSITY SAMPLES
FOR A PRAISE MESSAGE
High D e n s ity Sam ple Low D e n s ity Sam ple
C om m unication (N = 6 8) (N = 62)
C h a n n el P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e st W orst B e s t W o rst
T e le p h o n e 11.76 2 3 .5 3 1 2 .9 0 2 4 .1 9
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 2 7 .9 4 0 .0 0 9 .6 8 0 .0 0
Home C o n fe re n c e 8.82 1 .4 7 3 .2 3 3 .2 3
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 38.24 4 .4 1 5 4 .8 4 1 .6 1
P r i n t e d Form 10.29 1 3 .2 4 1 7 .7 4 1 4 .5 2
O th e r 1 .4 7 1 .4 7 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 1.47 5 5 .8 8 1 .6 1 5 6 .4 5
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
c o u n te d f o r o n ly a b o u t 49 p e r c e n t o f t h e h i g h d e n s i t y
g ro u p . A lm ost an i d e n t i c a l num ber, 49 p e r c e n t , o f t h e
h ig h d e n s i t y g ro u p s e l e c t e d o r a l c o m m u n ica tio n c h a n n e ls .
I t w ould s t i l l seem m e a n in g fu l, h o w e v er, t o c o n s i d e r t h e
p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s th e m ost p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f communicaÂ
t i o n f o r b o th s a m p le s . E s p e c i a l l y , i f one c o n s i d e r s t h e
h i g h p e r c e n ta g e o f w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s g iv e n t o b o th t h e
te le p h o n e and t h e p r i n t e d fo rm , th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r g a in s
m ore s u p p o r t f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
160
Sex
Rank o r d e r o f b e s t and w o r s t c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s f o r
b o th m a le s and fe m a le s was t h e same as t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sa m p le . The p e r c e n t a g e s f o r fe m a le s was a l s o v e ry s i m i l a r
t o t h o s e o f t h e t o t a l sa m p le . P e r c e n ta g e s f o r m ale p r e f e r Â
e n c e s , h o w e v e r, d i d v a ry t o some e x t e n t . Over 65 p e r c e n t
o f t h e m a le s p r e f e r r e d th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s a c h a n n e l f o r
m e s sa g e s o f p r a i s e as com pared t o o v e r 41 p e r c e n t o f th e
f e m a le s . A l l o t h e r m ale p r e f e r e n c e s w ere som ewhat l e s s
t h a n t h o s e o f t h e fe m a le s and t h e t o t a l sa m p le .
L anguage Used i n t h e home
T a b le 34 p r e s e n t s t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f c h a n n e l p r e f e r Â
e n c e f o r t h e v a r i o u s c a t e g o r i e s o f la n g u a g e u s e r s e s t a b Â
l i s h e d f o r t h i s s t u d y . None o f th e t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s a g re e d
w i t h t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le i n e i t h e r ra n k o r d e r o r i n
t h e p e r c e n t a g e s f o r th e b e s t c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s . The
w o r s t c h a n n e l p r e f e r e n c e s f o r a l l t h r e e g r o u p in g s w ere sim Â
i l a r t o t h e t o t a l sa m p le .
The p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h s p e a k in g gro u p ra n k e d t h e p e r Â
s o n a l l e t t e r f i r s t b u t by a c o n s i d e r a b ly h ig h e r p e r c e n t a g e
th a n d i d t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n . T h is g ro u p a l s o gave th e
t e l e p h o n e a h i g h e r p e r c e n ta g e o f p r e f e r e n c e th a n e i t h e r t h e
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n o r any o f t h e o t h e r two la n g u a g e u sa g e
g r o u p i n g s . T h e re was a l s o n o t a s much o b j e c t i o n t o t h e
t e l e p h o n e a s was fo u n d i n t h e o t h e r two g ro u p s .
TABLE 34
CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF HOME LANGUAGE USAGE FOR A PRAISE MESSAGE
P r i m a r i l y S p a n is h P r i m a r i l y E n g lis h B oth L anguages
C om m unication (N = 32) (N = 51) (N = 47)
C h an n el P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst
T elep h o n e 18.7 5 15.63 9 .8 0 2 1 .5 7 1 0 .6 4 3 1 .9 1
S c h o o l C o n fe re n c e 9 .3 8 0 .0 0 7 .8 4 0 .0 0 3 8.30 0 .0 0
Home C o n fe re n c e 0 .0 0 3 .1 3 1 .9 6 3.92 14. 89 0 .0 0
P e r s o n a l L e t t e r 5 6 .2 5 0 .0 0 6 0 .7 8 3.92 2 3 .4 0 4 .2 6
P r i n t e d Form 12.50 12.50 17.6 5 11.76 1 0 .6 4 17.02
O th e r 0 .0 0 0 .0 0 1.96 1 .9 6 0 .0 0 0 .0 0
No P r e f e r e n c e 3 .1 3 6 8 .7 5 0 .0 0 5 6 .8 6 2 .1 3 46. 81
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o ro u n d in g .
161
162
The p r i m a r i l y E n g lis h s p e a k in g p a r e n t s a l s o showed
s t r o n g f a v o r i t i s m to w a rd t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s a m ethod o f
co m m u n icatin g a b o u t p r a i s e s i t u a t i o n s . T h is g ro u p a l s o had
t h e h i g h e s t p e r c e n t a g e o f i n t e r e s t in t h e p r i n t e d form and
ra n k e d t h i s c h a n n e l as t h e i r se c o n d m o st p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l.
A l l o t h e r c h a n n e ls o f com m unication w ere g iv e n s m a l l e r p e r Â
c e n ta g e s by t h i s g ro u p th a n d id t h e t o t a l sa m p le .
R e sp o n d e n ts who u se S p a n is h and E n g li s h a b o u t t h e same
i n t h e i r homes r e v e r s e d t h e o r d e r o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam ple by s e l e c t i n g t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e f o r t h e i r f i r s t
c h o ic e and t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s t h e i r se c o n d m o st p r e Â
f e r r e d c h a n n e l.
The p e r s o n a l l e t t e r was s e l e c t e d by a c o m p a r a tiv e ly
s m a ll p e r c e n t a g e , a b o u t 23 p e r c e n t , a s com pared t o t h e 56
p e r c e n t o f S p a n is h s p e a k e r s and 61 p e r c e n t o f E n g lis h
s p e a k e r s . The home c o n fe r e n c e was o f m ore i n t e r e s t t o th e
b i l i n g u a l s p e a k e r s and a lm o s t a l l o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts who
s e l e c t e d t h i s c h a n n e l w ere b i l i n g u a l s p e a k e r s .
Age a t M a rria g e
A l l m a r r ia g e age c a t e g o r i e s e x c e p t t h o s e m a r r ie d u n d e r
t h e age o f e i g h t e e n g e n e r a l l y fo llo w e d t h e ra n k o r d e r p a t Â
t e r n e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . T hose who
w ere u n d e r t h e age o f e ig h t e e n a t t h e tim e o f t h e i r m arÂ
r i a g e , h o w e v er, s e l e c t e d t h e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e a s t h e i r
f i r s t p r e f e r e n c e by 32 p e r c e n t . The se c o n d m o st p r e f e r r e d
16 3
c h a n n e l o f co m m u n icatio n f o r a p r a i s e m essage f o r t h i s
g ro u p was t h e p r i n t e d form w i t h 24 p e r c e n t o f t h e s e p a r Â
e n t s m aking t h i s r e s p o n s e . The p e r s o n a l l e t t e r , w hich was
s e l e c t e d by a l l o t h e r g r o u p in g s a s t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d ch an Â
n e l , was c h o se n by o n ly 20 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p and was
ra n k e d t h i r d i n t h e i r o r d e r o f p r e f e r e n c e .
F a c t o r s w i t h No V a r ia n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam p le w e re n o te d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s o f c h a n n e ls o f commuÂ
n i c a t i o n f o r t r a n s m i t t i n g p r a i s e m essa g es f o r th e f o llo w in g
d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s : a g e , o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r Â
e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e , e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i Â
c a l b a c k g ro u n d , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s , fo rm a l
e d u c a t i o n , m a r i t a l s t a t u s , num ber o f c h i l d r e n in t h e home,
num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home, and c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n .
C om m unication Codes
T o t a l P o p u l a t i o n Sam ple
T a b le 35 show s t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e la n g u a g e t o be
u se d i n t r a n s m i t t i n g a m essag e o f p r a i s e f o r t h e c h i l d i n
s c h o o l . A c o m p a ris o n o f T a b le 35 w ith T a b le 6 in C h a p te r
I I I w i l l d e m o n s tr a te t h e n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l lan g u a g e p r e f e r Â
e n c e s f o r t h e two d i f f e r e n t m e s sa g e s. I n f a c t , as i n d i Â
c a t e d i n C h a p te r I I I , a l l f o u r o f th e m essa g es c o n s id e r e d
i n t h i s s tu d y h a d n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l code p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e
16 4
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n and f o r a l l t h e v a r i o u s d em o g rap h ic f a c Â
t o r s r
The m ost p r e f e r r e d code was E n g li s h b u t t h i s was f o l Â
low ed c l o s e l y by p a r e n t s d e s i r i n g p r a i s e m essag es t o be
s e n t i n b o th E n g lis h and S p a n is h . As i n m essag es d i s c u s s e d
i n t h e t h r e e p r e v io u s c h a p t e r s , a l i t t l e o v e r o n e - f o u r t h o f
t h e p a r e n t s w a n ted re w a rd m e ssa g e s s e n t i n S p a n is h . The
w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s e l e c t i o n s show ed o p p o s i t i o n b e in g r e g i s Â
t e r e d a g a i n s t b o th E n g li s h and S p a n is h when u se d a lo n e and
no o p p o s i t i o n a t a l l a g a i n s t m e ssa g e s s e n t i n b o th l a n Â
g u a g e s .
TABLE 35
CODE PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A PRAISE MESSAGE
(N = 130)
C om m unication
Code
P e r C en t C h o o sin g
B e s t Code
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
W orst Code
S p a n is h 2 6 .1 5 1 0 .0 0
E n g lis h 3 9 .2 3 1 9 .2 3
B oth L anguages 3 3 .0 8 0 .0 0
O th e r 0 .0 0 1 .5 4
No P r e f e r e n c e 1 .5 4 6 9 .2 3
N o te : P e r c e n ta g e s may n o t t o t a l 100 due t o r o u n d in g .
165
F a c t o r s w i t h V a r ia n c e from th e
T o ta l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
L anguage p r e f e r e n c e s o f th e p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d i n
t h i s s tu d y show ed l i t t l e change among th e f o u r d i f f e r e n t
m e ssa g e s w h ich w ere c o n s id e r e d . T h is c o n s i s t e n c y a n d s i m i Â
l a r i t y o f code p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e t o t a l sam ple was a l s o
s u s t a i n e d i n e a c h o f t h e dem o g rap h ic f a c t o r s . T h e r e f o r e ,
i t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t f o r an a n a l y s i s o f t h e d e m o g ra p h ic
v a r i a b l e s and t h e i r e f f e c t on code p r e f e r e n c e s t h e s e c t i o n
e n t i t l e d "C om m unication Codes" i n C h a p te r I I I b e c o n s u l t e d .
T hose d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s w h ich showed v a r i a t i o n s from
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le , and w hich w ere d i s c u s s e d i n
C h a p te r I I I , a r e : p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , s e x , a g e , la n g u a g e
u s e d i n t h e home, o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h Â
p l a c e , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s , fo rm a l e d u c a tio n ,
a n d num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e home.
F a c t o r s w ith No V a r ia n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam p le w ere o b s e rv e d i n th e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r c o m m u n ica tio n
c o d e s f o r a m essage o f p r a i s e i n th e f o llo w in g d e m o g ra p h ic
v a r i a b l e s : e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i c a l
b a c k g ro u n d , m a r i t a l s t a t u s , num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home,
c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n , and age a t m a r r i a g e . T h ese w e re t h e
same f a c t o r s w h ich w ere fo u n d t o have no s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a Â
t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r
166
I I I when a m essag e o f p r o g r e s s was c o n s id e r e d .
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
T o t a l P o p u l a t i o n Sam ple
As e x p l a i n e d i n C h a p te r I I I / r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s f o r
a l l f o u r m e ssa g e s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s tu d y w ere n e a r l y i d e n Â
t i c a l .
Thus t h e d i s c u s s i o n , i n C h a p te r I I I , c o n c e rn in g commuÂ
n i c a t i o n r e c e i v e r s i s a l s o r e l e v a n t h e r e and s h o u ld be conÂ
s u l t e d . T a b le 36 show s t h e b e s t and w o rs t p r e f e r e n c e s o f
t h e e n t i r e sam ple o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s i n te r v ie w e d
i n t h i s s t u d y f o r t h e p e rs o n i n t h e fa m ily who s h o u ld be
th e r e c e i v e r o f a p r a i s e m e ssa g e .
TABLE 36
RECEIVER PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A PRAISE MESSAGE
(N = 130)
C om m unication
R e c e iv e r
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
B e s t R e c e iv e r
P e r C e n t C h oosing
W o rst R e c e iv e r
F a t h e r 2 .3 1 3.85
M other 2 3 .0 8 4.62
B oth P a t e n t s 7 3 .0 8 2 .3 1
O th e r 1 .5 4 3.85
No P r e f e r e n c e 0 .0 0 85.39
Note: Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.
-167
Show ing a s i m i l a r i t y t o th e r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s found
i n T a b le 20, C h a p te r IV , a b o u t 73 p e r c e n t o f th e t o t a l
sam ple s e l e c t e d b o th p a r e n t s as t h e b e s t r e c e i v e r f o r t h i s
k in d o f m e ssa g e . A bout 23 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d th e m o th e r a s
th e b e s t r e c e i v e r and a l i t t l e o v e r 2 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d th e
f a t h e r . N ot to o much o p p o s i t i o n was e x p r e s s e d to w a rd any
o f t h e s e t h r e e r e c e i v e r s ? m o st p e r s o n s , o v e r 85 p e r c e n t ,
r e g i s t e r e d a "no p r e f e r e n c e " c h o ic e f o r t h i s c a te g o r y .
F a c t o r s w ith V a r ia n c e from t h e
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
A c o m p a riso n o f T a b le 36 w ith T a b le 13 w i l l show th e
h ig h d e g re e o f s i m i l a r i t y b e tw ee n th e r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s
f o r a p r a i s e m essage and t h e p r o g r e s s m essage d i s c u s s e d i n
C h a p te r I I I . A lso a c o m p a riso n o f T a b le 36 w i t h T a b le 20
i n C h a p te r IV w i l l show e v en g r e a t e r p e r c e n ta g e s i m i l a r i Â
t i e s when an announcem ent m essag e was c o n s i d e r e d . A l l f o u r
o f t h e m essag es a n a ly z e d f o r t h i s s tu d y showed a lm o s t i d e n Â
t i c a l r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s and i t w ould th u s be r e p e t i t i o u s
t o d i s c u s s t h e same d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a t i o n s i n e ac h o f t h e
f o u r c h a p t e r s . I t i s s u g g e s t e d , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t r e f e r e n c e
b e made t o t h e s e c t i o n i n C h a p te r I I I e n t i t l e d "CommunicaÂ
t i o n R e c e iv e r s " f o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h o s e d em o g rap h ic f a c Â
t o r s w h ich v a r i e d from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le .
T hose d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s w h ich show ed v a r i a t i o n s from
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n s a m p le , w hich w ere t h e r e f o r e d i s c u s s e d
i n C h a p te r I I I , a r e : p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , s e x , la n g u a g e
168
u se d i n t h e home, p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , m a r i t a l
s t a t u s , num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home, and a g e a t m a r r ia g e .
As e x p la in e d in C h a p te r I I I , t h e d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r o f
s e x i s th e o n ly f a c t o r t h a t show ed some v a r i a t i o n among th e
f o u r m essa g es s t u d i e d . I n b r i e f , m a le s show ed c o n s i d e r a b ly
l e s s i n t e r e s t i n th e f a t h e r a s a r e c e i v e r o f an a c t i v i t y
an n o u n cem en t, c o n s id e r e d i n C h a p te r IV , and o f a p r a i s e
m e ssa g e , c o n s id e r e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r , th a n th e y d id f o r p r o Â
g r e s s and d i s c i p l i n e m essa g es w h ich w ere c o n s i d e r e d in
C h a p te rs I I I and V, r e s p e c t i v e l y . F em ales a l s o r e f l e c t e d
t h i s same s h i f t b u t n o t by su c h l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e s a s d i d
th e m a le s .
F a c t o r s w i t h No V a ria n c e from
t h e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
No s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n s from th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n
sam ple w ere o b s e rv e d i n t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r co m m u n icatio n
r e c e i v e r s f o r a p r a i s e m essage i n th e f o l lo w in g d em o g rap h ic
f a c t o r s : a g e , o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e ,
e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s ,
fo rm a l e d u c a ti o n , num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e home, and
c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n . T h ese w ere th e same f a c t o r s w hich w ere
fo u n d t o h a v e no s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a t i o n from t h e t o t a l p o p u Â
l a t i o n sam ple d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I I when a m essag e o f
p r o g r e s s was c o n s id e r e d .
C om m unication S o u rc e s
T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sam ple
T a b le 37 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e b e s t and w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s o f
a l l th e r e s p o n d e n ts i n te r v ie w e d f o r t h e p e rs o n i n s c h o o l
who s h o u ld o r i g i n a t e a m essage p r a i s i n g th e c h i l d . A bout
68 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l sam ple f e l t t h a t t h e c h i l d ' s
t e a c h e r s h o u ld f u l f i l l t h i s com m unication f u n c t i o n . A bo ut
27 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e i n te r v ie w e d s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l and
a n o t h e r 2 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d th e v ic e p r i n c i p a l . The s c h o o l
n u r s e was s e l e c t e d by none o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts and t h e
t e a c h e r a id e was i d e n t i f i e d by l e s s th a n 1 p e r c e n t o f
t h o s e i n t e r v i e w e d .
TABLE 37
SOURCE PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR A PRAISE MESSAGE
(N = 130)
Communi c a t i o n
S o u rc e
P e r C e n t C hoosing
B e s t S o u rce
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g
W o rst S o u rc e
P r i n c i p a l 2 6 .9 2 1 5 .3 9
V ic e P r i n c i p a l 2 .3 1 .77
T e a c h e r 68.4 6 1 .5 4
A ide .77 4 .6 2
N u rse 0 .0 0 16.1 5
O th e r 0 .0 0 2 .3 1
No P r e f e r e n c e 1 .5 4 5 9 .2 3
Note: Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.
170
The m ost o p p o s i t i o n f o r t h i s m essage was r e c o r d e d
a g a i n s t t h e s c h o o l n u r s e w ith a l i t t l e o v e r 16 p e r c e n t .
The p r i n c i p a l , h o w e v e r, f o llo w e d c l o s e l y w ith o v e r 15 p e r
c e n t o f th e p a r e n t s s e l e c t i n g him a s t h e w o r s t s o u rc e f o r a
m essage o f p r a i s e . The t e a c h e r a i d e , t e a c h e r , and v ic e
p r i n c i p a l h a d o n ly m in im a l am ounts o f o p p o s i t i o n . In sumÂ
m ary , t h e t e a c h e r a g a in seem s t o h av e v e ry h ig h s o u rc e
c r e d i b i l i t y w i t h M exican A m erican p a r e n t s .
Number o f C h ild r e n i n t h e Home
The g r o u p in g s e s t a b l i s h e d f o r t h i s s tu d y b a s e d upon
num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e home a g re e d w ith th e ra n k o r d e r
o f p r e f e r e n c e e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple
e x c e p t th o s e p a r e n t s who h a d b e tw ee n s i x and e le v e n c h i l Â
d re n i n th e hom e. T h is g ro u p o f r e s p o n d e n ts t i e d i n t h e i r
p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e t e a c h e r and th e p r i n c i p a l a s th e commuÂ
n i c a t i o n s o u r c e f o r a p r a i s e m e ssa g e . An e q u a l num ber o f
p a r e n t s , a b o u t 47 p e r c e n t , s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l and t h e
!t e a c h e r a s t h e b e s t s o u r c e f o r s e n d in g a m essage o f p r a i s e
1
]
I t o th em . Com pared t o t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le and th e
o t h e r g r o u p in g s f o r num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e f a m ily , th e
l a r g e num ber o f c h i l d r e n g ro u p gave c o n s i d e r a b ly more p r e f Â
e r e n c e t o t h e p r i n c i p a l and l e s s t o t h e t e a c h e r a s a commuÂ
n i c a t i o n s o u r c e . T h is g ro u p a l s o r e c o r d e d l e s s o p p o s i t io n
t o t h e p r i n c i p a l w i t h o n ly a b o u t 6 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n Â
d e n ts o p p o sed t o t h e p r i n c i p a l as com pared w i t h a b o u t 15
171
p e r c e n t o f th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le .
Number o f A d u lts i n t h e Home
The d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r o f num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home
d i s p l a y e d a s i m i l a r p a t t e r n t o t h a t o f t h e num ber o f c h i l Â
d re n i n t h e home d i s c u s s e d a b o v e . A l l o f t h e g ro u p in g s
I
fo llo w e d t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n p a t t e r n w i t h t h e e x c e p tio n o f
t h e g roup w i t h t h e l a r g e s t num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home.
T h is group o f p a r e n t s , who r e p r e s e n t e d homes w ith f o u r o r
f i v e a d u l t s , s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e i r f i r s t c h o ic e
f o r a s o u r c e o f c o m m u n icatio n c o n c e rn in g p r a i s e o f t h e
c h i l d i n s c h o o l . A lm ost 86 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n ts o f
t h i s group s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l an d a b o u t 14 p e r c e n t s e Â
l e c t e d th e t e a c h e r . None o f t h e p e rs o n s i n t e r v i e w e d i n
t h i s g ro u p in g i n d i c a t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e w o r s t c h o ic e
a s a com m unication s o u r c e f o r a p r a i s e m e ssa g e .
C hurch A f f i l i a t i o n
The C a t h o l i c g ro u p in g o f t h i s s tu d y d i s p l a y e d a ra n k
i o r d e r and p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e v e ry s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f
th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . The n o n - C a th o l i c g r o u p , howÂ
e v e r , r e v e r s e d t h i s o r d e r o f p r e f e r e n c e by s e l e c t i n g th e
j p r i n c i p a l a s t h e b e s t s o u r c e o f co m m u n icatio n f o r a p r a i s e
m essa g e. A bo ut 55 p e r c e n t o f t h i s g ro u p d e s i g n a t e d th e
p r i n c i p a l a s t h e b e s t s o u r c e a s com pared t o a b o u t 21 p e r
c e n t o f t h e C a t h o l i c s . The t e a c h e r r e c e i v e d 41 p e r c e n t o f
t h e b e s t s o u rc e d e s i g n a t i o n s a s com pared t o 75 p e r c e n t g iv en
172
by th e C a t h o l i c g ro u p .
F a c t o r s w ith No V a ria n c e from
th e T o t a l P o p u l a ti o n Sample
No m e a n in g fu l v a r i a t i o n s from t h e r a n k o r d e r p a t t e r n s
e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l p o p u la tio n sam ple w ere fo u n d i n
i
i
i t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r com m un ication s o u r c e s i n t h e f o l lo w in g
d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s : p o p u la tio n d e n s i t y , s e x , a g e , l a n Â
guage u s e d i n t h e home, o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ’
b i r t h p l a c e , e c o l o g i c a l b a c k g ro u n d , p a r e n t s ' e c o l o g i c a l
b a c k g ro u n d , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e i n Los A n g e le s , fo r m a l ed u Â
c a t i o n , m a r i t a l s t a t u s , and age a t m a r r ia g e .
Summary
T h is c h a p t e r was c o n c e rn e d w ith t h e co m m u n icatio n
p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when s c h o o l p e r s o n Â
n e l w is h t o in fo rm them a b o u t an h o n o r o r aw ard t h a t t h e i r
c h i l d h a s a c h ie v e d . The c h a p t e r a n a ly z e d f o u r c a t e g o r i e s
o f co m m un ication p r e f e r e n c e s .
| A n a ly s is o f t h e f i r s t c a te g o r y , co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e ls ,
f *
i
i r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by m a il was t h e
i
m o st f a v o r e d c h a n n e l o f com m unication f o r t h i s k in d o f mesÂ
s a g e . T h ere was a l s o some i n t e r e s t e x p r e s s e d i n t h e s c h o o l
c o n f e r e n c e , p r i n t e d fo rm , and t h e te le p h o n e as p o s s i b l e
c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ica tio n . The m ost o p p o s i t i o n was r e g i s Â
t e r e d a g a i n s t t h e t e l e p h o n e , b u t a s i z e a b l e num ber o f th e
p a r e n t s a l s o s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n t e d form d e l i v e r e d by t h e
173
c h i l d as t h e w o r s t c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ica tio n . V ery few
v a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple w ere found i n
t h e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s and t h e s e w ere p r i m a r i l y in t h e
a r e a o f t h e r e l a t i v e ra n k o r d e r o f t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r and
j t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e as th e p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f communi-
i c a t i o n .
The se c o n d c a t e g o r y o f co m m u nication v a r i a b l e s c o n s id Â
e r e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r was c o m m u n icatio n c o d e s . Rank o r d e r
and p e r c e n t a g e s o f la n g u a g e p r e f e r e n c e f o r a p r a i s e m essage
i
w e re so s i m i l a r t o t h e p r o g r e s s m essage d i s c u s s e d i n ChapÂ
t e r I I I t h a t r e a d e r s w ere r e f e r r e d t o t h a t c h a p t e r f o r an
a n a l y s i s o f t h e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a t i o n s . In t h e a n a l y s i s
fo u n d i n t h a t c h a p t e r , i t was d e te r m in e d t h a t a lth o u g h EngÂ
l i s h i s t h e la n g u a g e f a v o r e d by t h e l a r g e s t num ber o f r e Â
s p o n d e n ts , t h e r e a r e s i g n i f i c a n t num bers o f p a r e n t s who f a Â
v o r S p a n is h o r b o th la n g u a g e s . T h ere a r e a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t
num bers who o b j e c t t o e i t h e r S p a n is h o r E n g li s h when u se d
j a l o n e .
The t h i r d c a t e g o r y o f co m m u n icatio n e le m e n ts a n a ly z e d
!i n t h i s c h a p t e r was t h e r e c e i v e r s o f co m m u n ica tio n . By a
l a r g e m a rg in , t h e m o st p o p u l a r com m unication r e c e i v e r was
b o th p a r e n t s . The m o th e r was t h e se c o n d m ost p r e f e r r e d r e Â
c e i v e r and t h e f a t h e r was a d i s t a n t t h i r d c h o ic e . The
f i n d i n g s f o r a p r a i s e m essag e w ere n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l w ith
t h o s e o f a p r o g r e s s m e s sa g e . The r e a d e r was a g a in r e f e r r e d
t o C h a p te r I I I f o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e d em o g rap h ic v a r i a b l e s
| 174
l
r e l a t i n g t o com m un ication r e c e i v e r s .
|
! The f i n a l c a t e g o r y o f c o m m u n icatio n e le m e n ts c o n s id e r e d
I
I
jin t h i s c h a p t e r was co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e s . The t e a c h e r ,
1
|a g a i n , was th e m o st p r e f e r r e d c o m m u n ica tio n s o u rc e f o r a
I p r a i s e m e ssa g e . The p r i n c i p a l was t h e se c o n d m ost p r e f e r r e d
s o u r c e b u t a c o n s i d e r a b l e g u l f s e p a r a t e d t h e tw o. O th e r
p o s s i b l e s o u r c e s r e c e i v e d o n ly a modicum o f t h e p a r e n t s '
p r e f e r e n c e s . V a r i a t i o n s from t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple
jw hich r e l a t e d t o t h e d em o g rap h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w ere
j
|l a r g e l y c o n c e rn e d w ith th e r e l a t i v e r o l e o f th e p r i n c i p a l
I
I
a s t h e s o u r c e o f co m m u n ica tio n . A few g r o u p s , n o t a b l y th o se
w ith l a r g e num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e home, th o s e w ith l a r g e
i
I
!num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home, an d n o n - C a th o l i c s p r e f e r r e d
th e p r i n c i p a l as a co m m unication s o u r c e t o a much g r e a t e r
e x t e n t th a n d id o t h e r d em o g ra p h ic g r o u p in g s .
CHAPTER VII
ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS
T h is c h a p t e r w i l l a p p ro a c h th e d a t a g a th e r e d i n t h e
i n t e r v i e w s w ith M exican A m erican p a r e n t s from a d i f f e r e n t
p o i n t o f v ie w . The f o u r p r e v io u s c h a p t e r s c o n s id e r e d t h e s e
d a t a i n r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e m essage w h ich t h e s c h o o l p e rs o n
m ig h t w ish t o se n d t o t h e p a r e n t s . T h is c h a p t e r w i l l c o n Â
s i d e r t h e in f o r m a ti o n g a t h e r e d from t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f t h e
v a r i o u s e le m e n ts o f t h e com m un ication p r o c e s s t h a t w ere s e Â
l e c t e d f o r t h i s r e s e a r c h .
The c h a p t e r w i l l b e d i v id e d a c c o rd in g t o t h e f o u r maÂ
j o r d i v i s i o n s o f co m m u n icatio n s t u d i e d , (1) com m un ication
c h a n n e ls , (2) co m m u n icatio n c o d e s , (3) com m unication r e Â
c e i v e r s , and (4) co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e s . V a rio u s a s p e c t s o f
e a c h o f t h e s e m a jo r d i v i s i o n s w i l l be c o n s id e r e d i n d i v i d Â
u a l l y i n an a t t e m p t t o g iv e some i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e r e l a t i v e
u s e f u l n e s s o f e a c h f o r com m unicating w ith M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s .
C om m unication C h a n n e ls
O r a l C h a n n e ls
The t h r e e o r a l c h a n n e ls o f com m unication s e l e c t e d f o r
t h i s s tu d y w ere th e t e l e p h o n e , s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , an d home
___________________________________ 115___________________________________
176
c o n fe r e n c e . T a b le 3 8 show s t h e com bined p e r c e n t a g e s f o r
a l l who ch o se one o f t h e s e t h r e e as t h e b e s t o r a l c h a n n e l
f o r e a c h o f t h e f o u r m e s sa g e s s e l e c t e d f o r t h i s s t u d y . The
t a b l e a l s o shows t h e com bined p e r c e n t a g e s f o r a l l who s e Â
l e c t e d one o f t h e s e t h r e e as t h e w o r s t c h a n n e l o f communi-
i
i c a t i o n f o r e a c h o f t h e f o u r m e s s a g e s .
TABLE 3 8
ORAL CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
i FOR ALL MESSAGES
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g : P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
M essage B e s t C h a n n el W o rst C h a n n el
i
P r o g r e s s
A c t i v i t y
D i s c i p l i n e
P r a i s e
| The two m e ssa g e s w h ere o r a l c h a n n e ls w ere m ost p r e -
|f e r r e d w ere t h e p r o g r e s s and t h e d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e . The
d i s c i p l i n e m essag e r e c e i v e d an e s p e c i a l l y h ig h p e r c e n t a g e
o f i n t e r e s t and a l s o r e c e i v e d t h e l e a s t num ber o f " w o rs t"
r e s p o n s e s from t h e p a r e n t s . I t w o u ld a p p e a r t h a t t h e p a r Â
e n t s a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n a d i r e c t c o m m u n icatio n sy ste m f o r
t h i s k in d o f m essag e s i t u a t i o n .
P a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d i n t h i s s tu d y showed l e s s i n t e r e s t
i n o r a l c h a n n e ls f o r b o th t h e a c t i v i t y and t h e p r a i s e m es-
6 1 .5 4
20.00
7 7 .7 0
3 7 .6 9
4 2.32
38.4 7
22 .31
26 .16
177
s a g e . I t m ig h t be c o n j e c t u r e d t h a t co m m unication o f a more
p e rm a n e n t n a t u r e i s d e s i r e d i n t h e s e s i t u a t i o n s and th u s
w r i t t e n com m unication i s p r e f e r r e d . As w i l l be se e n i n th e
n e x t s e c t i o n , th e o p p o s i t i o n r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t o r a l c h a n -
j n e l s i n a l l f o u r o f t h e m e ssa g e s was l a r g e l y o p p o s i t i o n
r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t th e t e l e p h o n e .
T elep h o n e
I n g e n e r a l , t h e te le p h o n e was n o t t o o p o p u l a r a s a
co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e l f o r t h e m e ssa g e s s t u d i e d i n t h i s r e Â
s e a r c h . O nly i n th e d i s c i p l i n e m essag e d i d a s i z e a b l e numÂ
b e r o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s s e l e c t t h e te le p h o n e a s a
|p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . F o r t h i s m essage a b o u t
j 35 p e r c e n t o f th e t o t a l sam p le s e l e c t e d th e te le p h o n e f o r
t h e i r p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l. I t m ig h t b e h y p o th e s iz e d t h a t f o r
t h i s m e ssa g e , p a r e n t s d e s i r e m ore im m e d ia te in f o r m a ti o n and
t h e te le p h o n e can s u p p ly t h i s m o st e f f e c t i v e l y . A bout 12
i
|p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s s e l e c t e d t h e te le p h o n e a s t h e b e s t
! c h a n n e l f o r a p r a i s e m e ssa g e , b u t i t r a n k e d f o u r t h o u t o f
t h e f i v e p o s s i b l e c h a n n e ls w h ich c o u ld h av e b een s e l e c t e d .
| C o n s id e r a b le o p p o s i t io n was r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t th e
|t e l e p h o n e i n e a c h o f t h e f o u r m e s s a g e s . The l e a s t o p p o s i -
|
t i o n was fo u n d in th e d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e , b u t even h e r e 22
p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s s e l e c t e d t h e te le p h o n e a s t h e w o r s t
c h a n n e l f o r co m m u n ica tio n . The h i g h e s t num ber, 34 p e r c e n t ,
o f r e s p o n d e n ts t o s e l e c t t h e te le p h o n e a s t h e w o r s t c h a n n e l
178
was fo u n d i n t h e p r o g r e s s m essa g e. C o n s id e r in g t h e g e n e r -
i a l l y l a r g e num ber o f p a r e n t s who s e l e c t e d a "no p r e f e r e n c e "
j
jr e s p o n s e i n t h e w o r s t c a t e g o r y , t h e s e p e r c e n t a g e s o f o ppo-
|
I s i t i o n t o t h e te le p h o n e f o r a l l f o u r m essa g es w ould a p p e a r
|
I t o b e m e a n in g f u l.
C o n fe re n c e s
Two t y p e s o f f a c e - t o - f a c e c o n fe r e n c e s i t u a t i o n s w ere
l i s t e d a s c h o ic e s f o r t h e r e s p o n d e n ts t o c o n s i d e r as b e s t
and w o r s t co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e ls . The c o n fe r e n c e i n t h e
s c h o o l was f a r m ore f a v o r e d th a n t h e c o n fe r e n c e i n t h e home
a s a b e s t com m unication c h a n n e l and a l s o r e c e i v e d fe w e r
I
" w o rs t" d e s i g n a t i o n s from th o s e i n te r v ie w e d . In g e n e r a l ,
t h e home c o n fe r e n c e was n o t p o p u la r f o r any o f th e f o u r
m e s s a g e s . I t g a in e d i t s h i g h e s t s u p p o r t from p a r e n t s f o r
I
t h e d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e , b u t ev en h e re l e s s th a n 12 p e r c e n t
o f t h e p a r e n t s s e l e c t e d i t .
C o n fe re n c e s r e c e i v e d t h e i r g r e a t e s t s u p p o r t a s t h e
j p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f com m unication f o r t h e m essag e c o n -
j c e r n e d w i t h t h e p r o g r e s s o f th e c h i l d i n s c h o o l . O ver 45
p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e s c h o o l c o n fe re n c e and a n o th e r 8 p e r
c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e home c o n f e r e n c e , m aking a com bined t o t a l
o f a lm o s t 54 p e r c e n t o f a l l t h e p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d who
th o u g h t t h e c o n fe r e n c e was t h e b e s t way t o com m unicate about
t h e i r c h i l d ' s p r o g r e s s . In a d d i t i o n , o n ly s l i g h t o p p o s iÂ
t i o n , a b o u t 8 p e r c e n t , was r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t c o n f e r e n c e s
179
f o r t h i s m e s s a g e . T h is was a r a t h e r s u r p r i s i n g f i n d i n g i f
one c o n s i d e r s t h e t r a d i t i o n o f th e r e p o r t c a r d , w hich i s
g e n e r a l l y u s e d f o r t h i s ty p e o f co m m u n icatio n . C o n fe re n c e s
|a l s o r e c e i v e d some s u p p o r t , and a b s o l u t e l y no o p p o s i t io n
| f o r u sa g e i n t h e d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e . A bout 32 p e r c e n t o f
th e p a r e n t s s e l e c t e d th e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e and l e s s th a n 12
p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e home c o n fe r e n c e f o r a com bined t o t a l
o f a b o u t 43 p e r c e n t . As m e n tio n e d , n o t one re s p o n d e n t s e -
]
i l e c t e d e i t h e r o f t h e s e two a s t h e w o r s t c h a n n e l f o r a d i s -
!
j c i p l i n e m e s s a g e .
| A p r a i s e m essa g e a l s o g a r n e r e d some s u p p o r t , a b o u t 25
! p e r c e n t , f o r t h e u sa g e o f c o n f e r e n c e c h a n n e ls . How ever,
j
| th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r f a r o u t d i s t a n c e d th e c o n fe r e n c e as t h e
i
) p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l f o r t h e p r a i s e m essa g e. C o n fe re n c e c h a n -
i
I n e l s w ere t h e l e a s t p o p u l a r f o r an announcem ent o f s c h o o l
I
a c t i v i t y m e s s a g e . A bout 12 p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s s e Â
l e c t e d t h e c o n f e r e n c e s a s t h e b e s t c h a n n e l, b u t a n o th e r 14
j p e r c e n t d e s i g n a t e d them a s t h e w o r s t c h a n n e l f o r a n n o u n c -
!
| in g s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s .
j
W r i t te n C h a n n e ls
T a b le 39 show s t h e com bined p e r c e n ta g e s f o r th e two
w r i t t e n c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ica tio n , t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r s e n t
by m a il and t h e p r i n t e d form d e l i v e r e d by th e c h i l d , w h ic h
w ere s e l e c t e d a s w r i t t e n c h a n n e l c h o ic e s f o r t h i s s t u d y .
A bout 47 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n t e d form and a n o th e r
180
33 p e r c e n t t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r t o make a t o t a l o f 80 p e r
! c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s who p r e f e r r e d a w r i t t e n c h a n n e l o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n a s t h e b e s t way f o r l e a r n i n g a b o u t a s c h o o l a c Â
t i v i t y . As se e n i n T a b le 39, t h e r e was o n ly s l i g h t o p p o s i-
| t i o n t o t h i s m e ssa g e .
TABLE 39
WRITTEN CHANNEL PREFERENCES OF
THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE
FOR ALL MESSAGES
M essage
P e r C e n t C hoo sing:
B e s t C h a n n el
P e r C e n t C hoosing:
W orst C h a n n el
P r o g r e s s
A c t i v i t y
D i s c i p l i n e
P r a i s e
3 8 .4 7
80.00
2 2 .3 1
6 0 .0 0
20.00
6 .1 6
30. 77
1 6 .9 3
The p r a i s e m essa g e a l s o d e v e lo p e d s u p p o r t f o r w r i t t e n
; co m m unication c h a n n e ls . M ost o f t h e 6 0 p e r c e n t who s e -
| l e c t e d a w r i t t e n c h a n n e l, s e l e c t e d th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r f o r
| t h i s m e ssa g e . A l i t t l e o v e r 46 p e r c e n t o f a l l th e p a r e n t s
i
l s e l e c t e d th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a n d a l i t t l e u n d e r 14 p e r c e n t
d e s i g n a t e d t h e p r i n t e d f o r a a s t h e b e s t c h a n n e l f o r a
p r a i s e m e ssa g e . The same num ber who f a v o r e d th e p r i n t e d
form , 14 p e r c e n t , a l s o o b j e c t e d t o i t s u sa g e in t h i s s i t u Â
a t i o n . I t w ould a p p e a r t h a t f o r t h i s k in d o f m essage t h e
p a r e n t s d e s i r e a m ore p e rm a n e n t form o f com m un ication a s
181
p r o v id e d by w r i t t e n c o m m u n ic a tio n , b u t th e y a l s o d e s i r e
| more p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t w h ic h i s p r o v id e d by t h e l e t t e r d e Â
l i v e r e d by m a i l . As m e n tio n e d i n an e a r l i e r c h a p t e r , t h e r e
j do es n o t seem t o b e w id e s p r e a d u sa g e o f p r a i s e m essag es by
any m ethod i n th o s e s c h o o l s s t u d i e d .
Only l i m i t e d i n t e r e s t and m ore o p p o s i t i o n was re c o r d e d
f o r th e u sa g e o f t h e tw o w r i t t e n c h a n n e ls in p r o g r e s s and
d i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e s . A b o u t 24 p e r c e n t o f th o s e i n t e r -
j view ed d i d s e l e c t t h e p r i n t e d form o r i n t h i s c a s e t h e r e Â
p o r t c a r d f o r l e a r n i n g a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e i r c h i l d in
s c h o o l, b u t t h i s was s t r o n g l y o u tw e ig h e d by p r e f e r e n c e f o r
j
| th e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e . T h ere was a l s o some o p p o s i t i o n ,
I
j a b o u t 12 p e r c e n t , t o t h e r e p o r t c a r d .
j A lth o u g h th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a t t r a c t e d 19 p e r c e n t o f
th e p a r e n t s a s a p o s s i b l e co m m unication c h a n n e l, w r i t t e n
c h a n n e ls w ere n o t to o p o p u l a r f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essa g e.
I
J A bout 31 p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s o b j e c t e d t o w r i t t e n commu-
; n i c a t i o n f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e . M ost o f t h i s o p p o s itio n ,
I 2 4 p e r c e n t , was d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t t h e p r i n t e d form . The
Los A n g e le s C i ty S c h o o ls do make u se o f a p r i n t e d form t o
n o t i f y p a r e n t s o f p ro b le m s i n s u b j e c t m a t t e r o r c i t i z e n s h i p
! w hich t h e i r c h i l d i s e x p e r i e n c i n g . T h is fo rm , w hich p r o Â
v i d e s b la n k s t o f i l l i n t h e name o f th e c h i l d and n a t u r e o f
th e p ro b le m , a l s o h a s a s e c t i o n w h ich r e q u e s t s a s c h o o l
c o n fe r e n c e w ith t h e p a r e n t . I t w ould a p p e a r from t h i s r e Â
s e a r c h t h a t su c h a form m ig h t n o t be t h e m ost e f f e c t i v e
182
m ethod o f com m unication f o r t h i s ty p e o f s i t u a t i o n .
i
j
i C om m unication C odes
|
| The t h r e e p o s s i b l e cod e s e l e c t i o n s f o r t h i s s tu d y w ere
S p a n is h , E n g li s h , and b o th o f t h e s e la n g u a g e s u se d t o g e t h e r .
|T a b le 40 i n d i c a t e s t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p a r e n t s who s e l e c t e d
i
|o n e o f th e s e c o d es f o r e a c h o f t h e f o u r m essa g es u se d i n
|
| t h i s s tu d y . An e x a m in a tio n o f T a b le 40 w i l l r e v e a l t h e
|c o n s i s t e n c y w h ich p a r e n t s m a i n t a i n e d i n r e g a r d t o t h e i r
ila n g u a g e p r e f e r e n c e s and d i s l i k e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e f o u r m es-
|s a g e s .
| The l a r g e s t p e r c e n t a g e o f p a r e n t s , a b o u t 39 p e r c e n t ,
|
|p r e f e r r e d E n g lis h a lo n e t o b e u se d i n t h e m e ssa g e s th e y r e -
i
] c e iv e d from t h e s c h o o l s , b u t t h i s was c l o s e l y fo llo w e d by
j t h o s e who p r e f e r r e d t h a t m essa g es b e s e n t i n some b i l i n -
i
|g u a l form . I t s h o u ld a l s o b e n o te d t h a t a l a r g e p e r c e n ta g e
i o f p a r e n t s , a b o u t 26 p e r c e n t , p r e f e r r e d m essa g es t o be
I s e n t i n S p a n is h o n ly .
A n o th e r im p o r ta n t p o i n t t o n o t e i s t h e w o r s t p r e f e r -
|e n c e s w hich w ere made by t h e p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d . P r a c -
j t i c a l l y no o p p o s i t io n was made t o b i l i n g u a l m essa g es b u t
|c o n s i d e r a b l e o p p o s i t i o n was r e c o r d e d a g a i n s t u s in g e i t h e r
|
S p a n is h o r E n g lis h a lo n e . T h is o p p o s i t i o n was e s p e c i a l l y
p ro n o u n c e d a g a i n s t u s in g E n g li s h a l o n e . I n g e n e r a l , a b o u t
i
tw ic e a s many p a r e n t s o b j e c t e d t o E n g l i s h a lo n e a s o b j e c t e d
t o S p a n ish a lo n e .
CODE
TABLE 40
PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE FOR ALL MESSAGES
M essage
Only S p a n is h
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
Only E n g lis h
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
B oth L anguages
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
P r o g r e s s 2 4 .6 2 10.00 38.4 6 2 0 .0 0 36 .1 5 0 .0 0
A c t i v i t y 2 6 .1 5 1 0 .7 7 38.4 6 18.46 33.85 .77
D i s c i p l i n e 26 .9 2 1 1.5 4 3 9 .2 3 16.15 3 3 .0 8 0 .0 0
P r a i s e 2 6 .1 5 10.0 0 3 9 .2 3 1 9 .2 3 3 3 .0 8 0 .0 0
H
CD
ID
184
Th.o$e who p r e f e r b i l i n g u a l m e ssa g e s a r e , i n m o st c a s e s ,
n a t i v e S p a n is h s p e a k e r s . M ost M exican A m erican s who sp e a k
b o t h la n g u a g e s , l e a r n e d S p a n is h a t home as t h e i r f i r s t l a n -
| g u ag e and t h e n l e a r n e d E n g li s h l a t e r o u t s i d e t h e home o r i n
s c h o o l . Many b i l i n g u a l s p e a k e r s h a v e had l i t t l e o r no f o r Â
m al i n s t r u c t i o n i n t h e i r n a t i v e S p a n is h and th u s t h e r e may '
b e d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h r e a d in g and w r i t i n g S p a n is h . T h e ir
o r a l S p a n is h , h o w e v er, may be e x tr e m e ly w e l l d e v e lo p e d .^ -
|
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
The t h r e e p o s s i b l e r e c e i v e r s e l e c t i o n s f o r t h i s s tu d y
w e re t h e f a t h e r , t h e m o th e r, and b o th p a r e n t s . T a b le 41
i n d i c a t e s t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p a r e n t s who s e l e c t e d one o f
t h e s e r e c e i v e r s f o r e a c h o f t h e f o u r m essa g es u s e d i n t h i s
s tu d y . An e x a m in a tio n o f T a b le 41 w i l l show t h e g e n e r a l
c o n s i s t e n c y w h ic h t h e r e s p o n d e n ts m a in ta in e d i n r e g a r d t o
t h e i r r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s and d i s l i k e s th r o u g h o u t t h e f o u r
m e s sa g e s.
| The p r o g r e s s and t h e d i s c i p l i n e m essag e a r e v e ry s i m i Â
l a r and t h e a c t i v i t y and p r a i s e m essag e f o llo w a s i m i l a r
p a t t e r n . As n o te d i n C h a p te r I I I , t h i s v a r i a t i o n was due
p r i m a r i l y t o t h e d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r o f s e x . I t a p p e a re d
â– *-The r e s e a r c h on la n g u a g e and t h e M exican A m erican h a s ,
u n f o r t u n a t e l y , b een s p o r a d i c . See M anuel H. G u e r r a , "A
Summary A n a ly s is o f M exican -A m erican P s y c h o l i n g u i s t i c and
S o c i o l i n g u i s t i c P ro b le m s and T a l e n t s , " ( U n i v e r s it y o f
S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , n . d . ) . (M im eographed.)
TABLE 41
RECEIVER PREFERENCES 'OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE FOR ALL MESSAGES
M essage
F a t h e r
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
M other
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
B oth P a r e n t s
P e r C e n t C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst
P r o g r e s s 4 .6 2 5 .3 9 26.9 2 6 .9 2 66.9 2 3 .0 8
A c t i v i t y 2 .3 1 3 .0 8 2 3 .8 5 6 .9 2 7 2 .3 1 2 .3 1
D i s c i p l i n e 4 .6 2 4.62 26.9 2 6 .9 2 66.9 2 2 .3 1
P r a i s e 2 .3 1 3 .8 5 2 3 .0 8 4.62 7 3 .0 8 2 .3 1
I- 1
oo
( j i
186
t h a t w i t h t h e p r o g r e s s and t h e d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e , b o th o f
w h ich m ig h t be c o n s i d e r e d a s m ore s i g n i f i c a n t m e s s a g e s ,
t h e r e was a te n d e n c y f o r b o th m a le s and fe m a le s t o s e l e c t ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y , t h e f a t h e r o r t h e m o th e r a s t h e i r p r e f e r r e d
r e c e i v e r . T h ere a r e o n ly s m a ll p e r c e n ta g e d i f f e r e n c e s ,
h o w ev er, among a l l f o u r o f t h e m e s sa g e s.
In a l l f o u r o f t h e m e s s a g e s , b o th p a r e n t s i s t h e f a Â
v o re d r e c e i v e r by a v e r y l a r g e m a rg in . An a v e ra g e o f a b o u t
70 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s t o t h i s i n t e r v i e w made t h i s
s e l e c t i o n . An a v e r a g e o f a b o u t 25 p e r c e n t o f th o s e i n t e r Â
view ed s e l e c t e d t h e m o th e r and an a v e ra g e o f a b o u t 3 p e r
c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e f a t h e r . Some o p p o s i t i o n i s r e g i s t e r e d
a g a i n s t a l l t h r e e r e c e i v e r s b u t s l i g h t l y m ore a g a i n s t th e
m o th e r th a n t h e f a t h e r and th e l e a s t am ount a g a i n s t b o th
p a r e n t s . V ery l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e s o f r e s p o n d e n ts r e g i s t e r e d
"no p r e f e r e n c e " s e l e c t i o n s f o r th e w o r s t r e c e i v e r .
In o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e s u g g e s t i o n s o f som e, a s d i s c u s s e d
i n C h a p te r I I I , t h a t t h e f a t h e r s h o u ld be t h e s o l e r e c e i v e r
o f m essag es from t h e s c h o o l s , t h i s s tu d y i n d i c a t e d t h a t
b o t h p a r e n t s i s t h e m o st e f f e c t i v e r e c e i v e r c h o ic e f o r
s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l t o u s e . S p e c i a l c a s e s o f o n e - p a r e n t fa m iÂ
l i e s , o f c o u r s e , w o u ld r e q u i r e m o d if i c a t io n o f t h i s p o l i c y .
C om m unication S o u rc e s
The f i v e p o s s i b l e s o u rc e s e l e c t i o n s f o r t h i s s tu d y
w e re t h e p r i n c i p a l , v i c e p r i n c i p a l , t e a c h e r , t e a c h e r a i d e ,
187
and th e s c h o o l n u r s e . F o r t h e p u rp o s e o f t h i s a n a l y s i s ,
t h e p r i n c i p a l and v i c e p r i n c i p a l w i l l be com bined i n t o a
s i n g l e " a d m i n i s t r a t o r " h e a d in g . Thus f o u r p o s s i b l e s o u r c e s
w i l l be c o n s id e r e d : (1) t e a c h e r , (2) a d m i n i s t r a t o r , (3)
t e a c h e r a i d e , and (4) s c h o o l n u r s e .
T a b le 42 shows t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f r e s p o n d e n ts who s e Â
l e c t e d one o f t h e s e f o u r s o u r c e c a t e g o r i e s f o r e a c h o f th e
f o u r m essag es u s e d i n t h i s s t u d y .
T e a c h e r
As w i l l b e se e n i n T a b le 4 2 , i n a l l f o u r m essag es th e
t e a c h e r i s t h e p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e o f co m m u nication f o r t h e
p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d . As w i l l a l s o be s e e n t h e r e a re o n ly
v e ry s m a ll p e r c e n t a g e s o f p a r e n t s who r e g a r d t h e t e a c h e r a s
t h e w o r s t s o u r c e o f co m m u n ica tio n f o r a l l o f t h e m e ssa g e s.
The t e a c h e r i s m o st p o p u l a r a s a com m un ication s o u rc e w ith
t h e m essage c o n c e r n in g p r o g r e s s o f t h e p u p i l i n s c h o o l .
P a r e n t s a r e i n t e r e s t e d a p p a r e n t l y i n d i s c u s s i n g t h e i r
c h i l d 's s c h o o l work w i t h t h e t e a c h e r , th e p e rs o n m ost
c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n .
The t e a c h e r a l s o r e c e i v e d v e ry h ig h p e r c e n t a g e s as
b e s t s o u rc e o f c o m m u n ica tio n i n t h e p r a i s e and d i s c i p l i n e
m e s s a g e s . A g a in , c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o t h e c h i l d may hav e
b e en th e d e c i s i v e f a c t o r i n m aking t h e s e d e c i s i o n s . A lÂ
th o u g h s t i l l th e m ost p r e f e r r e d c o m m u n icatio n s o u r c e , th e
t e a c h e r 's p e r c e n t a g e f o r t h e a c t i v i t y announcem ent was n o t
TABLE 42
SOURCE PREFERENCES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SAMPLE FOR ALL MESSSAGES
T e a c h e r A d m i n i s t r a t o r T e a c h e r A ide S c h o o l N u rse
M essage % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g : % C h o o sin g :
B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst B e s t W orst
P r o g r e s s 7 9.2 3 .77 1 6.16 2 8 .4 7 0 .0 0 3 .0 8 0 .0 0 1 2 .3 1
A c t i v i t y 4 8.46 1 .5 4 3 6 .9 3 6 .1 5 .77 5 .3 9 0 .0 0 1 0 .0 0
D i s c i p l i n e 64.6 2 .77 2 8 .4 6 15.39 .77 4 .6 2 0 .0 0 1 3 .8 5
P r a i s e 68.4 6 1 .5 4 2 9 .2 3 16.16 .77 4 .6 2 0 .0 0 1 6 .1 5
188
189
a s h ig h a s i t was f o r t h e o t h e r t h r e e m e s s a g e s . Some o f
th e p a r e n t s i n te r v ie w e d f e l t t h a t t h e p e rs o n i n c h a rg e o f
w h a te v e r a c t i v i t y was b e in g an n o u n ced s h o u ld be t h e s o u r c e
o f t h e m essa g e.
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s
A d m i n is tr a t o r s w ere th e se c o n d m o st p o p u l a r s o u rc e o f
c o m m u n icatio n f o r t h e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d .
I t s h o u ld b e m e n tio n e d t h a t t h e p r i n c i p a l a t t r a c t e d f a r
more r e s p o n s e s th a n d id t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l a s e i t h e r t h e
b e s t o r w o r s t s o u rc e o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . T h is w ould seem t o
i n d i c a t e t h a t th e p a r e n t s e i t h e r a r e n o t enough aw are o f
t h e i r s c h o o l t o make a d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw e e n t h e p r i n c i p a l
and v i c e p r i n c i p a l o r t h a t th e y p r e f e r m e ssa g e s from t h e
p e rs o n th e y c o n s id e r t o b e a c t u a l l y i n c h a r g e .
As can be se en i n T a b le 42, t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s g a in e d
t h e i r h i g h e s t p e r c e n ta g e o f p r e f e r e n c e a s a " b e s t" communiÂ
c a t i o n s o u r c e i n th e a c t i v i t y an nouncem ent m e s sa g e . A d i s Â
c i p l i n e m e ssa g e , w hich h a s b e e n one o f t h e t r a d i t i o n a l
r o l e s o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r , g a in e d some p a r e n t a l s u p p o r t
b u t n o t as much as m ig h t h av e b e en e x p e c te d . T h ere was
a l s o some o p p o s i t io n to t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r f u l f i l l i n g t h i s
r o l e . A g ain t h e t e a c h e r was t h e f a v o r e d s o u r c e . The p r a i s e
m essage a l s o g a in e d o n ly l i m i t e d s u p p o r t an d some o p p o s iÂ
t i o n f o r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . The lo w e s t p e r c e n t a g e g iv e n
th e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a s t h e b e s t co m m u n icatio n s o u rc e was
190
fo u n d i n t h e p r o g r e s s m e ssa g e . H ere th e p a r e n t s overw helm Â
i n g l y s e l e c t e d th e t e a c h e r and a l s o gave t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
a g e n e r a l l y h ig h p e r c e n ta g e o f " w o rs t" p r e f e r e n c e s e l e c Â
t i o n s .
As a g e n e r a l t r e n d , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s seem ed t o be s u f Â
f e r i n g from a s o u r c e c r e d i b i l i t y p ro b le m . Some o f t h e
d e m o g ra p h ic g ro u p s a n a ly z e d , n o t a b l y t h o s e b o rn i n M exico,
t h o s e from r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d s , and th o s e w hose p a r e n t s w ere
from r u r a l b a c k g r o u n d s , gave t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r h i g h e r p e r Â
c e n ta g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e th a n d id t h e i r o p p o s i t e d em o g ra p h ic
g r o u p in g s . The c o u n t e r p a r t s , t h e U n ite d S t a t e s b o r n , th o s e
w i t h u rb a n b a c k g ro u n d s and so o n , a l s o te n d e d t o show m ore
d i s l i k e f o r th e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n t h e s e l e c t i o n s f o r w o r s t
co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e . T h ere seem s t o be a d e f i n i t e t r e n d
on t h e p a r t o f p a r e n t s t h a t a s th e y become m ore a c c u l t u r -
a t e d , th e y a l s o te n d t o show l e s s c r e d i b i l i t y to w a rd th e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r as a s o u r c e o f c o m m u n ica tio n . The d e t e r i o r a Â
t i o n o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r 's p r e s t i g e as a c o m m u n icatio n
s o u r c e may be p a r t i a l l y e x p l a i n e d , b e c a u s e a s t h e p a r e n t s
become m ore a c c u l t u r a t e d th e y hav e more c o n t a c t w ith th e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n , p e r h a p s , u n p l e a s a n t s i t u a t i o n s .
T e a c h e r A id e
The t e a c h e r a id e i s a r e l a t i v e l y new s t a f f p o s i t i o n
w h ic h h a s b een i n s t i t u t e d i n t o some s c h o o l s . The p o s i t i o n
i s n o t u n i v e r s a l and t h i s may p a r t i a l l y a c c o u n t f o r t h e
191
e x tr e m e ly s m a ll p e r c e n ta g e o f p r e f e r e n c e g iv e n t h i s commuÂ
n i c a t i o n s o u r c e . The t e a c h e r a id e i s g e n e r a l l y a p e rs o n
from th e com m unity, i n t h i s c a s e a M exican A m e ric an , who i s
h i r e d t o h e lp t h e t e a c h e r i n th e c la s s ro o m and t o p r o v id e
some l i a i s o n w ith th e com m unity.
As shown i n T a b le 42, t h e r e was n o t to o much s e l e c t i o n
o f t h e t e a c h e r a id e as th e w o r s t s o u r c e o f c o m m u n icatio n
e i t h e r . The w o r s t s o u r c e p e r c e n ta g e s w ere c o n s i d e r a b ly
h i g h e r , h o w e v e r, th a n t h e p e r c e n t a g e s t h e t e a c h e r a id e r e Â
c e iv e d a s t h e b e s t com m unication s o u r c e . C o n s id e r in g t h e
low p e r c e n t a g e s w h ich t h e a id e r e c e i v e d i n b o th t h e b e s t
and w o r s t c a t e g o r i e s , i t w ould a p p e a r t h a t t h i s p o s i t i o n a t
t h e tim e t h e s e d a t a w ere c o l l e c t e d h a s n o t b e e n f u l l y
enough d e v e lo p e d t o be a v i a b l e co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e b e Â
tw e en t h e s c h o o ls and t h e M exican A m erican com m unity.
S c h o o l N urse
The s c h o o l n u r s e was in c lu d e d i n t h i s s tu d y b e c a u s e i t
was f e l t by s e v e r a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s d u r in g t h e p la n n in g
s t a g e o f t h e s tu d y t h a t many tim e s th e n u r s e d o e s s e r v e a s
a c o m m u n icatio n l i n k b etw een th e s c h o o l and t h e com m unity.
I n te rm s o f t h e m essa g es s t u d i e d i n t h i s r e s e a r c h t h a t d i d
n o t seem t o b e t h e c a s e . The n u r s e was n o t s e l e c t e d a s th e
b e s t co m m u n icatio n s o u rc e by any o f t h e p a r e n t s i n te r v ie w e d .
H ow ever, u n l i k e th e t e a c h e r a id e d i s c u s s e d a b o v e , t h e p o s i Â
t i o n o f t h e n u r s e d id seem t o be known by t h e p a r e n t s . As
192
shown i n T a b le 42, b etw een 10 and 16 p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r Â
e n t s s e l e c t e d t h e n u r s e as th e w o r s t c o m m u n icatio n s o u r c e
f o r e a c h o f t h e f o u r m essag es s t u d i e d . T h is w o u ld i n d i c a t e
t h a t some p a r e n t s , a t l e a s t , a r e aw are o f t h e n u r s e 's p o s i Â
t i o n , b u t d id n o t f e e l t h a t sh e was th e c o r r e c t s o u r c e o f
co m m u n icatio n f o r t h e p a r t i c u l a r m essag es p r o p o s e d i n t h i s
s t u d y . T h a t i s n o t t o s a y , o f c o u r s e , t h a t t h e n u r s e m ig h t
n o t be an i m p o r t a n t com m unicator s o u rc e f o r o t h e r m e s s a g e s .
Summary
T h is c h a p t e r a n a ly z e d th e d a ta from t h e p o i n t o f view
o f t h e v a r i o u s e le m e n ts o f th e com m unication p r o c e s s . The
c h a p t e r was d e s ig n e d t o p r o v id e th e r e a d e r w i t h an o v e rv ie w
o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e a s p e c t s o f c o m m u n ica tio n
d e a l t w i t h i n t h i s s tu d y .
C om m unication c h a n n e ls w ere a n a ly z e d by f i r s t ex am in Â
i n g t h e t h r e e o r a l c h a n n e ls s e l e c t e d f o r t h i s s t u d y . I t
w as e m p h a siz e d t h a t o r a l c h a n n e ls w ere m o st p r e f e r r e d f o r
d i s c i p l i n e and p r o g r e s s m e s sa g e s. The te l e p h o n e w as th e n
d i s c u s s e d s e p a r a t e l y and i t was p o i n te d o u t t h a t f o r th e
t y p e s o f m essa g es c o n s id e r e d i n t h i s s t u d y , t h e t e l e p h o n e ,
i n g e n e r a l , was n o t to o p o p u l a r . H ow ever, t h e t e l e p h o n e
w as t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d s i n g l e c h a n n e l f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m esÂ
s a g e . Two ty p e s o f c o n f e r e n c e s w ere c o n s i d e r e d a s communiÂ
c a t i o n c h a n n e ls . The s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e was m ore f a v o r e d
th a n was t h e home c o n f e r e n c e . The s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e was
193
e s p e c i a l l y p o p u l a r f o r t h e p r o g r e s s m essage and t o some e x Â
t e n t t h e d i s c i p l i n e m e s sa g e . W r itte n c h a n n e ls i n c l u d e d a
p e r s o n a l l e t t e r s e n t by m a il and th e p r i n t e d fo rm . The
p e r s o n a l l e t t e r was m o st p r e f e r r e d i n p r a i s e m e ssa g e s and
t h e p r i n t e d form was m ost p r e f e r r e d i n a c t i v i t y a n n o u n ce Â
m ents .
The co m m u n icatio n c o d es c o n s id e r e d i n t h i s s tu d y w ere
S p a n is h , E n g l i s h , and b o th la n g u a g e s . Code p r e f e r e n c e s
te n d e d t o re m a in c o n s t a n t f o r a l l f o u r m essa g es s t u d i e d .
A lth o u g h E n g l i s h w as t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d c o d e , v e ry l a r g e
num bers p r e f e r r e d t h a t m essa g es be s e n t i n S p a n is h o r i n
b o th la n g u a g e s . T h e re was c o n s i d e r a b l e o p p o s i t i o n e x p re ss e d
a g a i n s t e i t h e r t h e m o th e r o r t h e f a t h e r b e in g t h e s o l e r e Â
c e i v e r o f m e s s a g e s .
C om m unication s o u r c e s c o n s id e r e d w ere th e t e a c h e r , adÂ
m i n i s t r a t o r s , t e a c h e r a i d e , and s c h o o l n u r s e . The t e a c h e r
was th e l e a d i n g c o m m u n ica tio n s o u rc e f o r a l l f o u r o f t h e
m essag es s t u d i e d . A d m i n i s t r a t o r s , h o w e v er, w ere a f a i r l y
c lo s e s e c o n d f o r an a c t i v i t y announcem ent m e ssa g e . The
t e a c h e r a id e a n d t h e s c h o o l n u r s e g a in e d p r a c t i c a l l y no
s u p p o r t a s c o m m u n ica tio n s o u r c e s f o r th e f o u r m e ssa g e s
s t u d i e d i n t h i s r e s e a r c h . The m o st o p p o s i t io n was r e g i s Â
t e r e d a g a i n s t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and th e s c h o o l n u r s e a s commuÂ
n i c a t i o n s o u r c e s .
CHAPTER VIII
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
T h is c h a p t e r (1) d e s c r i b e s t h e p ro b lem and t h e m ethodÂ
o lo g y , (2) re v ie w s t h e f i n d i n g s o f t h e s t u d y , (3) p r e s e n t s
c o n c lu s io n s o f t h e s tu d y by d i s c u s s i n g i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r i n -
t e r c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ica tio n t h e o r y and recom m ending f u r t h e r
r e s e a r c h , and (4) s u g g e s t s s p e c i f i c te c h n iq u e s f o r im provÂ
in g c o m m u n ica tio n b e tw ee n s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l and M exican
A m erican p a r e n t s .
Summary o f P ro b le m and M ethodology
The p ro b le m f o r t h i s s tu d y was t o d i s c o v e r th e commuÂ
n i c a t i o n p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s when th e y
a r e b e in g com m un icated w ith by p e r s o n n e l o f t h e p u b l i c e l e Â
m e n ta ry s c h o o ls o f Los A n g e le s .
The b a s i c m eth o d o lo g y em ployed t o d i s c o v e r t h e s e comÂ
m u n ic a tio n p r e f e r e n c e s was t h e i n t e r v i e w . I n t e r v i e w s w ere
c o n d u c te d w i t h one h u n d re d t h i r t y S p a n is h surnam ed p a r e n t s
who h a d c h i l d r e n e n r o l l e d i n Los A n g e le s C i t y p u b l i c e l e Â
m e n ta ry s c h o o l s . The one h u n d re d t h i r t y s u b j e c t s w ere r a n Â
domly s e l e c t e d from tw o p o p u l a t i o n s . A sam ple o f s i x t y -
e i g h t p a r e n t s was draw n from two e le m e n ta r y s c h o o ls i n
w h ic h th e d e n s i t y o f S p a n is h surnam e e n r o llm e n t was a b o u t
194
195
98 p e r c e n t . A n o th e r sam ple o f s i x t y - t w o p a r e n t s was drawn
from two s c h o o ls i n w h ich th e d e n s i t y o f S p a n is h surnam e
e n r o llm e n t was a b o u t 76 p e r c e n t .
The i n t e r v i e w in s tr u m e n t w as d e v e lo p e d w i t h t h e a i d o f
p r e v io u s s t u d i e s and s u g g e s t i o n s from a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and
t e a c h e r s w o rk in g i n th e M exican A m erican b a r r i o s . The i n Â
s tr u m e n t was t r a n s l a t e d i n t o S p a n is h u s i n g " c o o p e r a t i v e
t r a n s l a t i o n " and "back t r a n s l a t i o n " t e c h n i q u e s i n o r d e r t o
a s s u r e v a l i d i t y o f th e S p a n ish an d E n g l i s h v e r s i o n s o f t h e
i n s t r lament.
The i n t e r v i e w s w ere c o n d u c te d by c o o r d i n a t e b i l i n g u a l s
who w ere s e l e c t e d on t h e b a s i s o f t h e i r know ledge and a c Â
q u a in ta n c e w ith t h e s u b j e c t g r o u p . A s e r i e s o f t h r e e
t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n s and tw o p i l o t s t u d i e s w e re c o n d u c te d i n
o r d e r t o im prove and s t a n d a r d i z e t h e i n t e r v i e w m eth o d o lo g y .
The i n t e r v i e w s w ere c o n c e rn e d w i t h e l i c i t i n g two ty p e s
o f d a t a . The f i r s t ty p e o f d a t a was t h e p a r t i c u l a r c h a n n e l,
c o d e , r e c e i v e r , and s o u r c e th e p a r e n t s p r e f e r r e d f o r s c h o o l
p e r s o n n e l t o u s e when c o m m u n icatin g f o u r d i f f e r e n t ty p e s o f
m essag es t o them . T hese fo u r m e ssa g e t y p e s w e re : (1) p r o Â
g r e s s o f t h e c h i l d i n h i s s c h o o l w o rk , (2) announcem ent o f
a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y , (3) d i s c i p l i n e o f t h e c h i l d , and (4)
p r a i s e o f th e c h i l d . P a r e n ts w e re a l s o a s k e d t o i n d i c a t e
w hat th e y th o u g h t was t h e w o rs t c h a n n e l, c o d e , r e c e i v e r ,
and s o u rc e f o r e a c h o f th e s e m e s s a g e s .
The se c o n d ty p e o f d a ta d e r i v e d fro m t h e i n t e r v i e w s
196
c o n c e rn e d s i x t e e n d e m o g ra p h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e p a r Â
e n t s . I n a d d i t i o n t o p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , m e n tio n e d e a r l i e r ,
t h e f o l lo w in g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w ere d e te rm in e d : s e x , a g e ,
la n g u a g e sp o k en i n th e home, o c c u p a tio n , b i r t h p l a c e , p a r Â
e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e , u rb a n o r r u r a l b a c k g ro u n d s , p a r e n t s ' u r Â
ban o r r u r a l b a c k g r o u n d s , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e in Los AngeÂ
l e s , fo rm a l e d u c a t i o n a l a t t a i n m e n t , m a r i t a l s t a t u s , num ber
o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e home, num ber o f a d u l t s i n t h e home,
c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n , and age a t m a r r ia g e .
D a ta d e r i v e d from t h e i n t e r v i e w s w ere p r e s e n t e d from
two d i f f e r e n t p o i n t s o f v iew . The f i r s t t r e a t m e n t in v o lv e d
c o m p a rin g t h e s i x t e e n d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s w ith t h e b e s t
and w o r s t co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s f o r e a c h o f t h e f o u r
m e s sa g e s t o d e te r m in e any n o t a b l e p a t t e r n s t h a t m ig h t e x i s t .
The se c o n d t r e a t m e n t o f t h e d a t a a n a ly z e d t h e s t r e n g t h s and
w e a k n e s s e s o f t h e d i f f e r e n t c h a n n e ls , c o d e s , r e c e i v e r s , and
s o u r c e s i n te rm s o f t h e p r e f e r e n c e s e x p r e s s e d by t h e p a r Â
e n t s .
The m ethod o f c a l c u l a t i n g t h e d a ta was by f i r s t d e t e r Â
m in in g a p e r c e n t a g e o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e t o t a l sam p le o f
one h u n d re d t h i r t y r e s p o n d e n ts f o r e a c h com m unication e l e Â
m ent f o r e a c h o f th e f o u r m e s s a g e s . N e x t, t h e p o r t i o n o f
t h e t o t a l sam p le r e p r e s e n t i n g e a c h o f t h e s i x t e e n demoÂ
g r a p h i c v a r i a b l e s was s u b j e c t e d t o th e same t r e a t m e n t .
T h ese p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i Â
a b l e s w ere th e n com pared w ith t h e p e r c e n t a g e s c a l c u l a t e d
197
f o r th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sa m p le . Where s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a Â
t i o n s from t h e t o t a l sam p le w ere o b s e r v e d , th e y w ere p r e Â
s e n t e d and d i s c u s s e d .
R eview o f F in d in g s
C om m unication P r e f e r e n c e s
f o r t h e F o u r M essag es
P r o g r e s s m e s s a g e . — The p r o g r e s s m essage was d e s c r i b e d
as one u s e d when s c h o o l p e o p le w ish t o n o t i f y p a r e n t s a b o u t
th e acad em ic d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h e c h i l d . T h is n o t i f i c a t i o n
h a s b een a c c o m p lis h e d t r a d i t i o n a l l y th r o u g h t h e medium o f
th e r e p o r t c a r d s e n t t o p a r e n t s p e r i o d i c a l l y d u r in g th e
s c h o o l y e a r .
T h is s tu d y d e te r m in e d t h a t f o r t h e t o t a l sam ple o f
M exican A m erican r e s p o n d e n t s , t h e p r e f e r r e d com m unication
c h a n n e l was a c o n f e r e n c e h e l d i n s c h o o l . The p r e f e r r e d
code was E n g l i s h b u t o n ly by a s m a ll m a rg in o v e r a b i l i n Â
g u a l c o d e . O n e - f o u r th o f t h e p a r e n t s d e s i r e d t h a t S p a n is h
be u s e d . The p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r s e l e c t e d by t h e v a s t maÂ
j o r i t y o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s was b o th p a r e n t s and
th e p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e f o r co m m u n icatio n a b o u t t h e c h i l d 's
s c h o o l p r o g r e s s was t h e t e a c h e r , a g a in by a v e ry l a r g e maÂ
j o r i t y .
The w o r s t co m m u n icatio n s e l e c t i o n s made by th e t o t a l
sam ple o f p a r e n t s i d e n t i f i e d t h e te le p h o n e a s t h e m ost unÂ
s a t i s f a c t o r y c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . E n g li s h and S p a n is h ,
19 8
i f u s e d a lo n e , w ere i d e n t i f i e d by some p a r e n t s a s t h e w o r s t
c o d es t o be u s e d . T hese w o r s t code s e l e c t i o n s r e i n f o r c e
reco m m en d atio n s t o u s e a b i l i n g u a l c o d e . The w o r s t c h o ic e
f o r a r e c e i v e r o f a p r o g r e s s m essa g e was i n c o n c l u s i v e s i n c e
m o st p a r e n t s i n d i c a t e d no p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e p o o r e s t r e Â
c e i v e r . S m all num bers o f p a r e n t s s a i d t h a t t h e m o th e r o r
th e f a t h e r a s t h e s o l e r e c e i v e r was t h e i r w o r s t r e c e i v e r
c h o ic e . The p r i n c i p a l was s e l e c t e d by a b o u t o n e - f o u r t h o f
t h o s e in te r v ie w e d a s t h e w o r s t c o m m u n ica tio n s o u r c e f o r a
m essag e o f p r o g r e s s .
T h ere w ere some v a r i a t i o n s from t h e p r e f e r e n c e s o f th e '
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n when d e m o g ra p h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w ere a n a Â
ly z e d . The d em o g rap h ic v a r i a t i o n s r e l a t e d t o c h a n n e l p r e f Â
e r e n c e w ere l a r g e l y c o n c e rn e d w i t h t h e r e l a t i v e i n t e r e s t i n
th e r e p o r t c a r d and t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e . N o ta b le v a r i a Â
t i o n s w ere fo u n d e s p e c i a l l y i n p r e f e r e n c e s f o r th e code t o
be u s e d . In g e n e r a l , th e y o u n g e r t h e r e s p o n d e n t , t h e
lo n g e r he h a d l i v e d i n Los A n g e le s , an d i f h e and h i s p a r Â
e n t s w ere b o rn i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s , t h e m ore l i k e l y h e was
t o p r e f e r E n g l i s h . The d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a t i o n s fo u n d f o r
p r e f e r e n c e s f o r c o m m u n icatio n r e c e i v e r c o n c e rn e d t h e s e x o f
t h e r e s p o n d e n t. M ales te n d e d t o f a v o r t h e f a t h e r som ew hat
m ore as a r e c e i v e r th a n d i d f e m a le s . H ow ever, b o th m a le s
and fe m a le s p r e f e r r e d b o th p a r e n t s a s t h e i r f i r s t c h o ic e a s
a r e c e iy e ;r . D em ographic v a r i a t i o n s r e l a t e d t o com m unication
s o u r c e s w ere l a r g e l y c o n c e rn e d w i t h t h e r e l a t i v e p o p u l a r i t y
199
o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a s o u r c e f o r t h e p r o g r e s s m e ssa g e .
A nnouncem ent m e s s a g e . — The anno uncem ent m essage was
d e s c r i b e d a s t h e m essage t h a t s c h o o ls u se t o n o t i f y p a r e n t s
o f some e v e n t i n t h e s c h o o l su c h a s a m e e tin g , open h o u s e ,
p ro g ra m , and so f o r t h . T r a d i t i o n a l l y , t h e s e m essa g es have
b e en d u p l i c a t e d w r i t t e n m essa g es s e n t home by way o f t h e
c h i l d .
F o r t h e t o t a l sam ple o f p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d , t h e p r e Â
f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f co m m u n icatio n was t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p r i n t e d
form s e n t home w ith t h e c h i l d . T h e re was a l s o some s u p p o r t
f o r a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r f o r t h i s k in d o f m e s sa g e . The p r e Â
f e r r e d code was a g a in E n g li s h b u t t h i s p r e f e r e n c e was
c l o s e l y fo llo w e d by a d e s i r e f o r b i l i n g u a l m e s s a g e s . The
p r e f e r r e d r e c e i v e r was a g a in b o th p a r e n t s and t h e p r e f e r r e d
s o u r c e f o r an announcem ent m essage was t h e t e a c h e r . The
p r i n c i p a l g a in e d m ore s u p p o r t , h o w ev er, a s a s o u r c e f o r
t h i s m essag e th a n h e d id f o r o t h e r m e s s a g e s .
The w o r s t co m m un ication s e l e c t i o n s made by t h e t o t a l
p o p u l a t i o n sam ple f o r an announcem ent m essage i n c l u d e d t h e
te le p h o n e a s t h e p o o r e s t c h a n n e l t o u se f o r su c h a m e ssa g e .
The q u e s t i o n o f a w o r s t c h o ic e f o r a com m un ication code
e l i c i t e d r e s p o n s e s from s i z e a b l e num bers o f th o s e i n t e r Â
v iew ed a g a i n s t b o th E n g lis h and S p a n is h i f u se d a l o n e .
O nly s m a ll num bers o f p a r e n t s r e g i s t e r e d o p p o s i t i o n t o any
o f t h e p o s s i b l e r e c e i v e r s . L ik e w is e , i n t h e w o r s t c h o ic e s
200
f o r a co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e m o st o f t h o s e in te r v ie w e d s e Â
l e c t e d t h e "no p r e f e r e n c e " r e s p o n s e f o r t h i s q u e s t i o n .
D em ographic f a c t o r v a r i a t i o n s from t h e p r e f e r e n c e s o f
t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le fo llo w e d a s i m i l a r p a t t e r n t o
t h a t fo u n d i n a p r o g r e s s m e s sa g e . C h an n el p r e f e r e n c e v a r i Â
a t i o n s w ere c o n f in e d l a r g e l y t o t h e o r d e r o f p r e f e r e n c e b e Â
tw een t h e two m ost p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e ls : t h e p r i n t e d form
an d t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r . P r e f e r e n c e s f o r a code a g a in
show ed much v a r i a t i o n when d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s w ere a n a Â
l y z e d . A ge, e d u c a t i o n l e v e l s , r e s i d e n c y , and o t h e r f a c t o r s
a f f e c t e d t h e p r e f e r e n c e s f o r la n g u a g e . C om m unication r e Â
c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s a l s o show ed t h e same p a t t e r n as fo u n d in
t h e p r o g r e s s m essag e e x c e p t t h a t m a le s d i d n o t show a s much
i n t e r e s t i n t h e f a t h e r b e in g t h e s o l e r e c e i v e r f o r th e a n Â
n o u n cem en t m essage a s t h e y had i n t h e p r o g r e s s m e ssa g e .
D em ographic v a r i a t i o n s w ere a g a in c o n c e rn e d w ith t h e popuÂ
l a r i t y o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a co m m u n icatio n s o u rc e o f a c t i v Â
i t y a n n o u n c e m e n ts.
D i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e . — The d i s c i p l i n e m essage i s u s e d t o
n o t i f y p a r e n t s o f some d i f f i c u l t y t h a t t h e c h i l d i s h a v in g
i n b e h a v i o r i n s c h o o l . T r a d i t i o n a l l y , t h i s m essage h a s
b e e n d e l i v e r e d by t e l e p h o n e , by p r i n t e d form s s e n t home by
t h e c h i l d , and by s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e .
The t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple o f one h u n d re d t h i r t y
p a r e n t s s e l e c t e d t h e te le p h o n e as t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d commuÂ
201
n i c a t i o n c h a n n e l. H ow ever, t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e f o llo w e d
c l o s e l y w ith th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r n o t t o o f a r b e h in d t h e s e
tw o. The p r e f e r r e d com m unicatio n code w as a g a i n E n g lis h
b u t fo llo w e d v e ry c l o s e l y by b i l i n g u a l c o d e s . The f a v o r e d
com m unication r e c e i v e r was b o th p a r e n t s and th e f a v o r e d
c om m unication s o u r c e was t h e t e a c h e r . The v i c e p r i n c i p a l
g a in e d m ore p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h i s m essag e th a n he d id on
o t h e r s b u t t h i s was s t i l l o n ly a s m a ll p e r c e n t a g e .
The w o r s t s e l e c t i o n s made by t h e t o t a l sam ple i n c l u d e d
t h e p r i n t e d form , c l o s e l y fo llo w e d by t h e te le p h o n e as t h e
w o r s t co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e l. The w o r s t code s e l e c t i o n s
a g a in w e re aim ed a t E n g lis h and S p a n is h when u s e d a lo n e .
The p o o r e s t r e c e i v e r f o r t h i s m e s s a g e , f o l lo w in g t h e p a t Â
t e r n s o f a l l o t h e r m e s sa g e s, was i n c o n c l u s i v e . M ost p a r Â
e n t s g ave a "no p r e f e r e n c e " r e s p o n s e t o t h i s q u e s t i o n . The
w o r s t s o u r c e f o r c o m m u n icatio n f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m essage was
a g a in t h e p r i n c i p a l .
D em ographic f a c t o r v a r i a t i o n s w e re fo u n d i n t h e f o l Â
lo w in g a r e a s . C h an n el o f co m m u n icatio n v a r i a t i o n s w ere
f o c u s s e d l a r g e l y on th e r e l a t i v e i n t e r e s t shown i n th e
te le p h o n e and th e s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e a s t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d
c h a n n e l. P r e f e r e n c e s f o r a code w ere d e p e n d e n t upon t h e
d e m o g ra p h ic v a r i a b l e s and show ed t h e same p a t t e r n s a s a l l
o t h e r m e s sa g e s. P r e f e r e n c e s f o r S p a n is h o r E n g lis h o r b o th
la n g u a g e s was r e l a t e d t o su c h t h i n g s a s p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y ,
s e x , a g e , la n g u a g e u se d i n t h e home and so o n . P r e f e r e n c e s
202
f o r a c o m m u n ica tio n r e c e i v e r fo llo w e d t h e same p a t t e r n s a s
o t h e r m e ssa g e s i n r e g a r d t o d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s . L ik e t h e
p r o g r e s s m e s sa g e , e s p e c i a l l y , t h e m ales showed a l i t t l e
m ore i n t e r e s t i n t h e f a t h e r a s a r e c e i v e r . V a r i a t i o n s from
t h e t o t a l sa m p le a s r e l a t e d t o d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s f o r t h e
s o u r c e o f d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e s was l a r g e l y c o n c e rn e d w i t h
t h e r e l a t i v e p o p u l a r i t y o f th e p r i n c i p a l . A s te a d y d e t e r i Â
o r a t i o n o f t h e p r i n c i p a l ' s com m unication s o u r c e e th o s f o r a
d i s c i p l i n e m essage was fo u n d i n d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s t h a t
r e l a t e d t o a c c u l t u r a t i o n . In g e n e r a l , t h e more a c c u l t u r -
a t e d t h e p a r e n t , t h e m ore h e te n d e d t o d i s l i k e th e p r i n c i Â
p a l a s a c o m m u n icatio n s o u r c e .
P r a i s e m e s s a g e . — The p r a i s e m essage was d e s c r i b e d as
t h a t t y p e o f c o m m u n icatio n u s e d t o n o t i f y p a r e n t s o f a s p e Â
c i a l a c c o m p lish m e n t o f t h e i r c h i l d . A lm ost none o f t h i s
ty p e o f c o m m u n icatio n was b e in g t r a n s m i t t e d a s an e s t a b Â
l i s h e d an d s a n c t i o n e d m essage ty p e in t h o s e s c h o o ls s t u d i e d .
The t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le o f one h u n d re d t h i r t y p a r Â
e n t s s e l e c t e d t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r a s t h e m ost p r e f e r r e d
c h a n n e l f o r t h i s m e ssa g e . The m o st p r e f e r r e d c o m m u n icatio n
r e c e i v e r was a g a in b o th p a r e n t s . The p r e f e r r e d c o d e , a s i n
o t h e r m e s s a g e s , was E n g li s h b u t b o th la n g u a g e s was a v e ry
c l o s e s e c o n d . The t e a c h e r was t h e m ost p r e f e r r e d communiÂ
c a t i o n s o u r c e a s sh e was i n t h e o t h e r t h r e e m essa g es
s t u d i e d .
203
The w o r s t co m m u n icatio n s e l e c t i o n s made by t h e t o t a l
sam ple f o r a p r a i s e m essag e i n c l u d e d t h e te le p h o n e a s t h e
p o o r e s t c o m m u n icatio n c h a n n e l. The q u e s t i o n o f a w o r s t
co m m u n icatio n code e l i c i t e d r e s p o n s e s from s i z e a b l e num bers
o f t h o s e i n t e r v i e w e d a g a i n s t b o th E n g lis h and S p a n is h .
A g a in , o n ly s m a ll num bers o f p a r e n t s r e g i s t e r e d o p p o s i t i o n
t o any o f t h e p o s s i b l e r e c e i v e r s s e l e c t e d f o r t h i s s t u d y .
The s c h o o l n u r s e r e c e i v e d t h e m ost o p p o s i t i o n as a communiÂ
c a t i o n s o u r c e f o r t h i s m essag e b u t was c l o s e l y fo llo w e d by
t h e p r i n c i p a l a s t h e m o st u n p o p u la r c o m m u n icato r.
V a r i a t i o n s from t h e p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e t o t a l p o p u la Â
t i o n sam ple r e l a t i n g t o d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s f o llo w e d a sim Â
i l a r p a t t e r n t o t h a t fo u n d i n a p r o g r e s s m e ssa g e . C h an n el
p r e f e r e n c e v a r i a t i o n s w ere c o n f in e d l a r g e l y t o th e r e l a t i v e
ra n k o r d e r o f t h e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r and th e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e
as t h e p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . P r e f e r e n c e s f o r
a code a g a in show ed much v a r i a t i o n s when d em o g rap h ic f a c Â
t o r s w ere a n a ly z e d . C om m unication r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s
a l s o showed t h e same p a t t e r n a s fo u n d i n t h e o t h e r t h r e e
m e s s a g e s . D em ographic v a r i a t i o n s w ere p r i m a r i l y c o n c e rn e d
w ith t h e p o p u l a r i t y o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a com m unicatio n
s o u r c e o f p r a i s e m e s s a g e s .
E le m e n ts o f C om m unication
C om m unication c h a n n e l s . — I n g e n e r a l , t h e M exican AmerÂ
i c a n p a r e n t s ' p r e f e r e n c e f o r a c h a n n e l o f com m unication was
204
p r i m a r i l y i n f l u e n c e d by t h e m essag e ty p e t h a t was b e in g
s e n t . D em ographic f a c t o r s h a d some s e c o n d a ry i n f l u e n c e on
t h e c h o ic e o f w hich c h a n n e l t h e p a r e n t s p r e f e r r e d b u t t h e s e
v a r i a t i o n s w ere g e n e r a l l y c o n f in e d t o m in o r p e r c e n t a g e
c h an g e s and i n m o st c a s e s t h e r e was n o t to o much d i f f e r e n c e
b e tw ee n th e t o t a l sam p le p r e f e r e n c e s and any d e m o g ra p h ic
d i v i s i o n .
O ra l c h a n n e ls w ere m o st p r e f e r r e d f o r p r o g r e s s and
d i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e s . The t e l e p h o n e was n o t to o p o p u l a r f o r
t h e m essa g es u se d i n t h i s s tu d y b u t was m o st p r e f e r r e d f o r
t h e d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e . M ost o f t h e o p p o s i t i o n r e g i s t e r e d
a g a i n s t o r a l c h a n n e ls was d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t t h e te le p h o n e i n
e a c h o f th e f o u r m e s s a g e s . The s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e was e s p e Â
c i a l l y p o p u la r f o r th e p r o g r e s s m essag e and a l s o t o a
l e s s e r e x t e n t f o r t h e d i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e . The home c o n f e r Â
e n c e was n o t s e l e c t e d by t o o many p a r e n t s f o r any o f t h e
m e ssa g e s in t h i s s tu d y .
W r itte n c h a n n e ls o f c o m m u n ica tio n w ere f a v o r e d f o r th e
a c t i v i t y announcem ent and p r a i s e m e s s a g e s . The p e r s o n a l
l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by m a il was m o st p r e f e r r e d f o r th e p r a i s e
m essage and th e p r i n t e d form d e l i v e r e d by t h e c h i l d was
m o st p r e f e r r e d f o r an a c t i v i t y a n n o u n cem en t. O p p o s itio n t o
w r i t t e n c h a n n e ls was fo u n d e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e d i s c i p l i n e and
t h e p r o g r e s s m e s sa g e s. I n b o t h c a s e s , t h e o p p o s i t i o n was
d i r e c t e d p r i m a r i l y a g a i n s t t h e p r i n t e d fo rm .
205
C om m unication c o d e s . — Code p r e f e r e n c e s t e n d e d t o r e Â
m ain c o n s t a n t f o r a l l f o u r o f th e m essa g es s t u d i e d i n t h i s
r e s e a r c h . V a r i a t i o n s i n p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e la n g u a g e t o be
u s e d w ere p r e v a l e n t , ho w ev er, when d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s w ere
c o n s i d e r e d .
E n g li s h was t h e code m ost f a v o r e d by t h e l a r g e s t numÂ
b e r o f a l l t h e p a r e n t s i n te r v ie w e d b u t p r e f e r e n c e s f o r b o th
la n g u a g e s an d f o r S p a n is h c l o s e l y f o llo w e d . T h e re was a l s o
c o n s i d e r a b l e o p p o s i t i o n re c o r d e d a g a i n s t u s in g e i t h e r SpanÂ
i s h o r E n g li s h a l o n e . P r a c t i c a l l y no o p p o s i t i o n w as r e g i s Â
t e r e d a g a i n s t t h e u sa g e o f b i l i n g u a l m e s s a g e s .
M ost o f t h e d em o g rap h ic f a c t o r s a n a ly z e d r e v e a l e d some
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e p a r e n t s w hich a l t e r e d t h e o r d e r o f
code p r e f e r e n c e e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e t o t a l sam ple o f p a r e n t s .
The c h o ic e o f a la n g u a g e o r code d ep en d s p r i m a r i l y upon t h e
d e m o g ra p h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e p a r e n t s t u d i e d . In g en Â
e r a l , t h o s e p a r e n t s who p r e f e r r e d t h a t S p a n is h be u s e d i n
V
m e ssa g e s s e n t t o them h a d d em o g rap h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a s s o Â
c i a t e d w i t h l e s s a c c u l t u r a t i o n .
The h ig h d e n s i t y sam ple f a v o r e d u s i n g S p a n is h a lo n e
m ore th a n d i d t h e low d e n s i t y g ro u p . The low d e n s i t y samÂ
p l e f a v o r e d b i l i n g u a l m essag es o v e r E n g li s h u s e d a l o n e . A
p e r f e c t p r o g r e s s i o n was fo u n d in age g ro u p p r e f e r e n c e s .
The y o u n g e r t h e p a r e n t , t h e more l i k e l y h e was t o p r e f e r
E n g li s h and i d e n t i f y S p a n is h as t h e w o r s t c o d e . C o n v e r s e ly ,
t h e o l d e r t h e p a r e n t , t h e m ore l i k e l y he was t o f a v o r
206
S p a n is h and d i s l i k e E n g l i s h .
B i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e , l e n g t h o f r e s i d e n c e
i n Los A n g e le s , fo rm al, e d u c a ti o n , and num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n
t h e f a m ily w ere a l l fo u n d t o be d em o g rap h ic i n d i c e s o f l a n Â
guage p r e f e r e n c e . T hose b o rn i n M exico te n d e d t o f a v o r
S p a n is h by h ig h p e r c e n t a g e s . T hose b o rn i n t h e U n ite d
S t a t e s te n d e d t o f a v o r E n g l i s h . I f b o th p a r e n t s o f t h e r e Â
s p o n d e n t w ere b o rn i n M exico o r t h e U n ite d S t a t e s , t h e s e
t r e n d s w ere i n t e n s i f i e d . The lo n g e r a p a r e n t l i v e d i n Los
A n g e le s , t h e m ore l i k e l y he p r e f e r r e d E n g l i s h . The more
fo rm a l e d u c a t i o n and t h e fe w e r c h i l d r e n i n t h e f a m i ly , th e
m ore p r e f e r e n c e f o r E n g li s h was d i s c o v e r e d .
C om m unication r e c e i v e r s . — The p r e f e r e n c e s f o r who i n
t h e f a m ily s h o u ld r e c e i v e a m essage was t h e m o st s t a b l e
co m m u n icatio n f a c t o r s t u d i e d . L i t t l e v a r i a t i o n i n p r e f e r Â
e n c e s was fo u n d w h ic h c o u ld be t r a c e d t o e i t h e r m essag e o r
d e m o g ra p h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
I t h a s b e e n s u g g e s te d by some t h a t i n d e f e r e n c e t o th e
s o - c a l l e d "m achism o" t r a i t o f M exican A m erican m a l e s , m esÂ
s a g e s s h o u ld be s e n t t o t h e f a t h e r o f a M exican A m erican
f a m ily . T h is s tu d y d i d n o t s u p p o r t t h a t c o n c e p t f o r any o f
t h e f o u r m e ssa g e s s t u d i e d . I t was fo u n d t h a t m essa g es
s h o u ld g e n e r a l l y be s e n t t o b o th p a r e n t s u n l e s s s p e c i a l
c i r c u m s t a n c e s , su c h a s o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s , w ould i n d i c a t e
o t h e r w i s e .
207
T h ere was some s h i f t i n r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s when s e x
r o l e s w ere a n a ly z e d . M ales te n d e d t o f a v o r t h e f a t h e r a
l i t t l e m ore as a r e c e i v e r and fe m a le s te n d e d t o f a v o r t h e
m o th e r a l i t t l e m ore. B o th m a le s and f e m a le s , h ow ever,
o v e rw h e lm in g ly f a v o r e d b o t h p a r e n t s a s t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d
r e c e i v e r . P a r e n t s who sp o k e p r i m a r i l y S p a n is h fa v o re d b o th
p a r e n t s a s a r e c e i v e r m ore th a n b i l i n g u a l s o r th o s e who
sp o k e p r i m a r i l y E n g l i s h .
C om m unication s o u r c e s . — The p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exican
A m erican p a r e n t s f o r w h ic h p e rs o n s h o u ld i n i t i a t e m e ssa g e s
d ep en d ed p r i m a r i l y on t h e ty p e o f m e ssa g e , b u t was a l s o r e Â
l a t e d t o t h e d e m o g ra p h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e p a r e n t s .
The t e a c h e r was o v e rw h e lm in g ly t h e p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e
f o r a l l f o u r o f t h e m e ssa g e s c o n s i d e r e d i n t h i s s t u d y . The
t e a c h e r was e s p e c i a l l y p r e f e r r e d a s a s o u rc e i n t h e p r o Â
g r e s s m essage an d t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t i n t h e p r a i s e and d i s Â
c i p l i n e m e s s a g e s . A lth o u g h s t i l l th e m ost p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e ,
t h e t e a c h e r r e c e i v e d h e r lo w e s t p e r c e n ta g e o f p r e f e r e n c e in
t h e a c t i v i t y a n n o u n cem en t m e ssa g e .
The p r i n c i p a l was t h e n e x t f a v o r e d s o u rc e o f communiÂ
c a t i o n , b u t th e p r i n c i p a l a l s o u s u a l l y r e c e i v e d th e l a r g e s t
num ber o f w o r s t p r e f e r e n c e s a s a co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e . The
p r i n c i p a l r e c e i v e d h i s h i g h e s t p e r c e n t a g e s o f p r e f e r e n c e s
a s a b e s t s o u r c e i n t h e a c t i v i t y announ cem ent m essa g e.
A bout o n e - f o u r t h o f t h e p a r e n t s s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l a s
208
t h e b e s t s o u rc e f o r th e p r a i s e m essa g e and a som ewhat
s m a l l e r num ber s e l e c t e d h im f o r t h e d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e .
The s m a l l e s t p e rc e n ta g e o f p r e f e r e n c e w as r e c e i v e d by t h e
p r i n c i p a l i n th e p r o g r e s s m e s s a g e . The w o r s t s o u r c e p r e f Â
e r e n c e s r e f l e c t e d t h e b e s t p r e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e p r i n c i p a l .
The h i g h e s t p e r c e n ta g e o f o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e p r i n c i p a l was
fou n d i n t h e p r o g r e s s m e s sa g e . L e s s e r p e r c e n t a g e s o f oppoÂ
s i t i o n w ere found i n th e d i s c i p l i n e and p r a i s e m e ssa g e s and
o n ly a v e ry low p e r c e n ta g e o f o p p o s i t i o n was fo u n d i n th e
a c t i v i t y announcem ent m e ssa g e .
T h ere seemed t o be m ore c o n t r o v e r s y s u r r o u n d in g th e
p r i n c i p a l a s a com m unicator s o u r c e th a n f o r any o t h e r
s c h o o l p e r s o n . D em ographic f a c t o r v a r i a t i o n s from th e t o Â
t a l sam ple w ere c o n c e rn e d p r i m a r i l y w i t h t h e r e l a t i v e popuÂ
l a r i t y o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a s o u r c e o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . Some
g r o u p s , n o ta b ly t h e h ig h d e n s i t y r e s p o n d e n t s , th o s e b o rn i n
M exico, t h e o ld e r aged, a n d t h o s e fro m r u r a l b a ck g ro u n d s
gave t h e p r i n c i p a l g r e a t e r p r e f e r e n c e a s a com m unication
s o u r c e .
T h is c o n tr o v e r s y was e s p e c i a l l y p ro n o u n c e d i n t h e d i s Â
c i p l i n e m essag e. I n t h i s m e s s a g e , a d e f i n i t e t r e n d c o u ld
be o b s e rv e d on t h e p a r t o f p a r e n t s t h a t a s th e y becam e more
a c c u l t u r a t e d , th e y a ls o t e n d e d t o show l e s s c r e d i b i l i t y i n
t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a so u rc e o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . The d e t e r i o r a Â
t i o n o f th e p r i n c i p a l 's im age o r p r e s t i g e as a com m unication
s o u r c e f o r d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e s may b e p a r t i a l l y e x p la in e d ,
209
b e c a u s e a s p a r e n t s become more a c c u l t u r a t e d th e y h ave more
c o n t a c t w ith t h e p r i n c i p a l i n t h e s e u n p l e a s a n t s i t u a t i o n s .
The r o l e o f t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l a s a co m m u n icato r
s o u r c e i s e i t h e r n o t u n d e rs to o d o r i s i g n o r e d . The v i c e
p r i n c i p a l r e c e i v e d r e c o g n i t i o n a s e i t h e r t h e b e s t o r w o r s t
s o u r c e from o n ly s m a ll p e r c e n t a g e s o f p a r e n t s . He r e c e i v e d
h i s h i g h e s t p e r c e n t a g e , a b o u t 6 p e r c e n t , as a b e s t s o u r c e
i n th e d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e .
The r o l e o f t h e t e a c h e r a id e was e i t h e r n o t known o r
was r e j e c t e d a s a s o u r c e o f com m unication f o r t h e m essag es
o f t h i s s t u d y . Few r e s p o n d e n ts s e l e c t e d t h e a i d e a s th e
b e s t co m m u n icato r f o r any m e s sa g e . A few p a r e n t s s e l e c t e d
t h e a id e as t h e w o r s t s o u r c e , h o w e v e r. The t e a c h e r a id e
was a r e l a t i v e l y new c o n c e p t a t th e tim e t h e s e d a t a w ere
c o l l e c t e d and a l l t h e s c h o o ls sa m p le d i n t h i s s tu d y had n o t
i n s t i t u t e d t h e p ro g ra m . T hus, p a r e n t a l p r e f e r e n c e s may have
c h an g ed s i n c e t h a t tim e .
The s c h o o l n u r s e was r e j e c t e d a s a c o m m u n ica to r f o r th e
f o u r m e ssa g e s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s t u d y . N ot one s i n g l e r e Â
s p o n d e n t s e l e c t e d t h e n u r s e as t h e b e s t s o u r c e f o r any o f
t h e m e s s a g e s . S i z e a b l e num bers d e s i g n a t e d t h e n u r s e , howÂ
e v e r , as t h e w o r s t s o u rc e f o r c o m m u n icatio n o f t h e s e m esÂ
s a g e s . T h is i s n o t t o s a y , ho w ev er, t h a t t h e n u r s e m ig h t
n o t be u s e f u l as a com m un icator f o r o t h e r s c h o o l m e s s a g e s .
210
D em og raphic V a r i a b l e s
I n f o r m a t io n a b o u t p e r s o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e MexÂ
i c a n A m erican p a r e n t s was g a th e r e d i n t h e i n t e r v i e w s i n
o r d e r t o d e te r m in e i f any o f t h e s e f a c t o r s c o r r e l a t e d w ith
t h e i r co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s . A l l s i x t e e n d e m o g ra p h ic
f a c t o r s c o r r e l a t e d w ith a com m unication p r e f e r e n c e a t l e a s t
tw ic e i n th e c a l c u l a t i o n s t h a t w ere made.
Some f a c t o r s , e s p e c i a l l y p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , s e x , and
la n g u a g e spo ken i n t h e home p r o v id e d v a r i a t i o n s from t h e
t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam ple many d i f f e r e n t t im e s . T hese t h r e e
f a c t o r s seem t o be key i n d i c e s in d e te r m in in g co m m u n icatio n
p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s s u r v e y e d i n
t h i s s t u d y . O th e r d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s t h a t show ed a num ber
o f v a r i a t i o n s from th e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n sam p le w ere a g e ,
m a r i t a l s t a t u s , num ber o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e f a m i ly , and numÂ
b e r o f a d u l t s i n th e f a m ily .
D em ographic f a c t o r s t h a t v a r i e d o n ly o c c a s i o n a l l y w ith
t h e t o t a l sam p le and w ere th u s n o t to o v a l u a b l e a s g u id e s
f o r d e te r m i n i n g c o m m u n icatio n c h o ic e s w ere e c o l o g i c a l b a c k Â
g ro u n d , c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n , fo rm a l e d u c a t i o n , and o c c u p a Â
t i o n .
C o n c lu s io n s
I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r I n t e r c u l t u r a l
C om m unication T heory
One o f t h e g o a ls o f t h i s s tu d y was t o d e te r m in e i f
211
g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s c o u ld be made c o n c e rn in g th e ways in w hich
co m m u n ica tio n p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exican A m ericans d i f f e r from
th o s e o f A n g lo A m e ric a n s . I f d i s t i n c t d i f f e r e n c e s can be
a s c e r t a i n e d , i n s i g h t s m ig h t b e g a in e d i n t o th e t h e o r e t i c a l
c o n s t r u c t s o f i n t e r c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ic a tio n .
One o f t h e c l e a r e s t g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s t h a t can be drawn
from t h e d a t a o f t h i s s t u d y , h o w e v er, w ould seem t o r e f u t e
t h e n o t i o n t h a t t h e r e i s a d i s t i n c t s e t o f com m u nication
p r e f e r e n c e s t o w h ic h a l l M exican A m erican s a d h e r e . An
a n a l y s i s o f t h e p r e f e r e n c e s i n r e l a t i o n t o th e s i x t e e n
d e m o g ra p h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s
w ould seem t o i n d i c a t e a g r e a t d e a l o f v a r i a t i o n . I t i s
a p p a r e n t t h a t t h i s p o p u l a t i o n i s n o t a m o n o li t h ic c u l t u r e ,
a s i s so m e tim es t h o u g h t , b u t i n s t e a d i s com posed o f p e o p le s
from many d i f f e r e n t h i s t o r i c b a c k g r o u n d s , im m ig ra tio n p a t Â
t e r n s , p o l i t i c a l p o i n t s o f v ie w , and s o c io e c o n o m ic c h a r a c Â
t e r i s t i c s .
G iven su c h a p l u r a l i s t i c c u l t u r e , t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r
i n t e r c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ica tio n a r e c l e a r . The com m un icator
m u st b e e v e r v i g i l a n t t o t r e a t e a c h M exican A m erican a s a
s e p a r a t e e n t i t y and a v o id t h e t e m p t a t io n t o g e n e r a l i z e
a b o u t M exican A m e ric a n s a s a u n i f i e d g ro u p . The communicaÂ
t o r s h o u ld rem em ber t h a t he i s m aking com m unication c h o ic e s
f o r i n d i v i d u a l s and n o t f o r a m ass o f p e o p le who a l l have
t h e same c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . I t may be t h a t v a r io u s g ro u p in g s
w i t h i n t h e l a r g e r c u l t u r e do h a v e some com m unication p r e f -
212
e r e n c e s i m i l a r i t i e s t h a t may p ro v e t o be h e l p f u l g u i d e l i n e s
i n i n t e r c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ic a tio n . B u t t o g e n e r a l i z e a b o u t
t h e e n t i r e c u l t u r e and a s c r i b e common c o m m u n icatio n t r a i t s
w ould p ro v e t o be an u n p r o d u c tiv e way o f a p p ro a c h in g M exiÂ
can A m erican c o m m u n ic a tio n .
K eeping i n m ind t h i s c a u t io n t o a v o id c u l t u r a l o v e r Â
g e n e r a l i z a t i o n , we now t u r n o u r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e q u e s t i o n
o f w h e th e r o r n o t t h e r e a r e d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e communicaÂ
t i o n p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e M exican A m erican and A nglo A m erican
c u l t u r e s . To d e te rm in e i n t e r c u l t u r a l v a r i a t i o n s , communiÂ
c a t i o n p r e f e r e n c e s o f e a c h c u l t u r e w ould i d e a l l y b e comÂ
p a r e d . R e s e a rc h , h o w e v er, was u n a b le t o d i s c o v e r a s i n g l e
s tu d y o f A nglo A m erican s w h ic h com pared w i t h t h e p r e s e n t
r e s e a r c h . Some t e x tb o o k s i n t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a tio n d i s Â
c u s s e d p a r e n t - s c h o o l c o m m u n ica tio n b u t no a t t e n t i o n was
g iv e n i n any o f t h o s e te x tb o o k s c o n s u l t e d t o su c h m a t t e r s
as p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e ls , c o d e s , r e c e i v e r s , and s o u r c e s o f
c o m m u n ica tio n . I t may b e t h a t s c h o o l p e o p le sim p ly a c c e p t
t h e t r a d i t i o n a l m ethods o f co m m u n icatio n a s b e in g t h e c o r Â
r e c t o n es and do n o t c o n s i d e r t h a t t h e r e i s a p ro b le m i n
s e l e c t i n g an i d e a l co m m u n icatio n f o r m a t.
I n t h e f i r s t c h a p t e r , a r e f e r e n c e was made t o Edw ard T.
H a l l 's t h e o r i e s o f i n t e r c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ic a tio n . H a l l b e Â
l i e v e s t h a t many co m m u n icatio n f a c t o r s a r e d e r i v e d from s o Â
c i e t a l c o n d i t i o n i n g and a r e n o t c o n s c i o u s l y d e te rm in e d by
t h e c o m m u n icato r. When d e te r m i n i n g , f o r e x a m p le , how f a r
213
one s h o u ld s t a n d from a n o t h e r p e rs o n when s p e a k in g t o him ,
one does n o t make o v e r t d e c i s i o n s b u t sim p ly r e l i e s on th e
e s t a b l i s h e d c u l t u r a l norm s t h a t he h a s l e a r n e d a s a member
o f t h a t p a r t i c u l a r c u l t u r e . I t may b e , t h e n , t h a t t h e t r a Â
d i t i o n a l m ethod s o f s e n d in g s c h o o l m essa g e s can be c o n s id Â
e r e d a s c u l t u r a l norm s f o r t h e A nglo A m erican com m unity.
Even i n t h e M exican A m erican b a r r i o s , t h e s e t r a d i t i o n a l
m ethods o f com m unication w e re o r i g i n a t e d an d d e v e lo p e d
l a r g e l y by A nglo a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t e a c h e r s w i t h l i t t l e o r
no i n p u t from M exican A m e ric a n s . I n t h i s r e s p e c t , t h e t r a Â
d i t i o n a l co m m unication c a r r i e d on i n s c h o o ls can b e c o n s i d Â
e r e d a s A nglo A m erican co m m u n icatio n n o rm s. I f t h i s a s Â
su m p tio n i s a c c e p t e d , i t m ig h t p ro v e v a l u a b l e t o com pare
t h e s e t r a d i t i o n a l A nglo A m erican m eth o d s o f co m m u n icatin g
w i t h t h e M exican A m erican p r e f e r e n c e s d e r i v e d from t h i s
s t u d y .
C om m unication c h a n n e l s . — The t r a d i t i o n a l A nglo medium
f o r t r a n s m i t t i n g i n f o r m a ti o n a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e
c h i l d i n s c h o o l i s t h e r e p o r t c a r d . O nly a b o u t 2 4 p e r c e n t
o f t h e t o t a l sam ple o f M exican A m erican p a r e n t s s e l e c t e d
t h e r e p o r t c a r d as t h e i r p r e f e r r e d c h a n n e l. A l i t t l e o v e r
45 p e r c e n t d e s i r e d a s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e f o r t h i s m e ssa g e .
T h is v a r i a t i o n w ould a p p e a r t o b e o f s i g n i f i c a n c e from an
i n t e r c u l t u r a l com m unication p o i n t o f v ie w . H ow ever, more
r e s e a r c h w ould be n e c e s s a r y t o e s t a b l i s h t h i s as a t r e n d .
214
I t may b e , f o r e x a m p le , t h a t A nglo p a r e n t s w ould a l s o p r e Â
f e r th e s c h o o l c o n fe re n c e m ethod i f g iv e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y
t o s e l e c t a c h a n n e l f o r t h i s m essa g e,
i The annou ncem ent o f a s c h o o l a c t i v i t y m essa g e i s g en Â
e r a l l y t r a n s m i t t e d i n A nglo s c h o o ls by way o f a d u p l i c a t e d
fo rm w h ic h i s c a r r i e d home by th e p u p i l . The c h a n n e l p r e f -
j e r e n c e s o f t h e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d i n t h i s
i
|s t u d y g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d w ith t h i s A nglo norm . A lm o st 47 p e r
j c e n t o f t h e t o t a l sam ple s e l e c t e d t h e d u p l i c a t e d fo rm w h ile
i
! a n o th e r 33 p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r f o r t h i s
|m e s s a g e .
i
i The c h a n n e l u s e d by A n g lo s t o t r a n s m i t d i s c i p l i n e m es-
!
|s a g e s d e p en d s p r i m a r i l y on th e n a t u r e o f t h e d i s c i p l i n e
p ro b le m . I n c o n s u l t i n g w ith Los A n g e le s C i t y s c h o o l adm inÂ
i s t r a t o r s , th e y g e n e r a l l y a g re e d t h a t i f t h e p ro b le m was
s e v e r p th e y w ould te le p h o n e th e p a r e n t s an d a s k f o r a
s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e t o d i s c u s s t h e d i f f i c u l t y . On t h e o t h e r
i
| h a n d i f t h e i n f r a c t i o n w ere o f a m in o r n a t u r e t h e y u s u a l l y
! s e n t a p r i n t e d form home t o th e p a r e n t . T hese p r i n t e d
i
fo rm s a r e v a r i o u s l y c a l l e d " A f te r S c h o o l R e t e n t i o n F o rm s,"
" B e h a v io r N o tic e s " and so f o r t h . They c o n s i s t o f a s e r i e s
i o f b la n k s t o i n d i c a t e th e n a t u r e o f t h e p ro b le m a n d t h e
d i s p o s i t i o n t h a t was ta k e n i n t h e c a s e . M exican A m erican
I
p r e f e r e n c e s r e c o r d e d i n t h i s s tu d y a l s o d i s p l a y e d a v a r i e t y
o f c h a n n e l p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r th e d i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e . A bout
35 p e r c e n t o f t h e p a r e n t s fa v o re d t h e t e l e p h o n e , 32 p e r
215
c e n t th e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , 19 p e r c e n t a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r ,
and a b o u t 12 p e r c e n t a home c o n f e r e n c e . How ever, o n ly 3
p e r c e n t s e l e c t e d t h e p r i n t e d form a s t h e b e s t c h a n n e l and
a lm o s t 2 4 p e r c e n t d e s i g n a t e d i t a s th e w o r s t m eth o d . I t
w o u ld a p p e a r t h a t i f t h e p r i n t e d form i s an a c c e p te d A nglo
A m erican c o m m u n ica tio n norm , M exican A m erican p a r e n t s do
n o t a c c e p t i t a s s u c h .
No f o r m a l s t r u c t u r e was d i s c e r n e d i n t h e Los A n g e le s
C i t y S c h o o ls f o r s e n d in g m essag es o f p r a i s e . W hereas t h e r e
a r e s e t , s e m i - o f f i c i a l o r o f f i c i a l p r o c e d u r e s f o r s e n d in g
t h e o t h e r t h r e e m essa g es s t u d i e d , t h e r e seem s t o b e n o p o l Â
i c y g o v e rn in g p r a i s e m e s s a g e s . T h ere was some e v id e n c e
t h a t i n d i v i d u a l t e a c h e r s s e n d n o t e s o r l e t t e r s home p r a i s -
"in'g a c c o m p lis h m e n ts o f t h e c h i l d and some o f th e p r i n i c p a l s
m e n tio n e d t h a t t e a c h e r s t r y t o p o i n t o u t a c c o m p lish m e n ts
when th e y a r e i n p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t w ith t h e p a r e n t . The
p r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s , as e x p r e s s e d
i n t h e i n t e r v i e w s , seem ed t o f a v o r th e p e r s o n a l l e t t e r f o r
t h i s ty p e o f m e s sa g e . O ver 46 p e r c e n t o f th o s e i n t e r Â
v iew ed made t h i s c h o ic e . C u r i o u s l y , o v e r 19 p e r c e n t f a Â
v o r e d t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e f o r t h i s m e ssa g e . I t can o n ly
b e s p e c u l a t e d t h a t p e rh a p s p a r e n t s d e s i r e m ore d e t a i l a b o u t
t h e i r c h i l d ' s s u c c e s s and th e y f e e l t h a t th e y can l e a r n
t h i s d e t a i l th r o u g h a c o n f e r e n c e . T here was o p p o s i t i o n t o
b o t h t h e t e l e p h o n e an d t h e p r i n t e d form f o r t h i s m e s sa g e .
B e ca u se o f t h e a b s e n c e o f an A nglo A m erican norm i t i s n o t
216
p o s s i b l e t o make an i n t e r c u l t u r a l co m p ariso n f o r t h i s mesÂ
sa g e t y p e .
C om m unication c o d e s . — The c u l t u r a l norm f o r la n g u a g e
p r e f e r e n c e i s , o f c o u r s e , o b v io u s . F o r many y e a r s t h e
A n g lo 's E n g li s h was t h e o n ly la n g u a g e to be u se d i n b a r r i o
s c h o o l s . Som etim es e x c l u s i v e u sa g e o f E n g lis h was sim p ly a
r e s u l t o f ig n o r a n c e o r la c k o f c o n c e rn w ith w hat th e code
p r e f e r e n c e o f t h e p a r e n t s m ig h t b e . In o t h e r c a s e s , th e
e x c l u s i v e u s e o f E n g li s h was d e c r e e d by d e s i g n . I t was
t h o u g h t t h a t i f s c h o o ls u s e d o n ly E n g lis h i t w ould e n c o u rÂ
age m ore r a p i d a c c u l t u r a t i o n on th e p a r t o f p u p i l s a n d p a r Â
e n t s . The a t t e m p t p ro v e d t o be a t r a g i c f a i l u r e b e c a u s e
many p u p i l s s im p ly d ro p p e d o u t o f s c h o o l and becam e, a s a
r e s u l t , i n f a r t o o many i n s t a n c e s , i l l i t e r a t e s i n two la n Â
g u a g es .
I n th e p a s t few y e a r s , th e Los A n g e le s C ity S c h o o ls
have o f f i c i a l l y a d o p te d a p o l i c y o f s e n d in g b i l i n g u a l mesÂ
s a g e s t o M exican A m erican p a r e n t s . T h is d e c i s i o n w ould be
s u p p o r te d by t h e d a t a from t h i s s t u d y . A bout 61 p e r c e n t
o f t h e p a r e n t s p r e f e r r e d e i t h e r a b i l i n g u a l m essage o r a
m essage i n S p a n is h . I n a d d i t i o n , 30 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e i n Â
te r v ie w e d o b j e c t e d t o m essa g es u s in g e i t h e r E n g lis h o r
S p a n is h a lo n e .
C om m unication r e c e i v e r s . — The c u l t u r a l co m m u nication
norm f o r t h e r e c e i v e r o f com m unicatio n i n an A nglo A m erican
217
s i t u a t i o n i s c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d . S c h o o ls , a s a m a t t e r o f
c o u r s e , se n d m e ssa g e s t o b o th p a r e n t s o f t h e c h i l d u n le s s
t h e c h i l d i s from a o n e - p a r e n t home. The p r e f e r e n c e f i n d Â
in g s o f t h i s s tu d y s u p p o r t e d t h i s p r a c t i c e o f t h e s c h o o l s .
A bout 67 p e r c e n t o f t h e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s i n t e r Â
v iew ed d e s i r e d t h a t s c h o o l m e ssa g e s be s e n t t o b o th p a r e n t s .
The f i n d i n g , h o w e v e r, d i s a g r e e d w ith w h a t was th o u g h t
m ig h t be a co m m u n icatio n norm o f th e M exican A m erican c u l Â
t u r e . T h is norm , d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p te r I I I , was c o n c e rn e d
w ith t h e s o - c a l l e d "m achism o" t r a i t . Some M exican A m eriÂ
c an s h av e m e n tio n e d t h a t m e ssa g e s from t h e s c h o o l, e s p e c i Â
a l l y t h o s e c o n c e r n in g d i s c i p l i n e o f t h e c h i l d , s h o u ld p ro p Â
e r l y b e s e n t t o t h e f a t h e r o f t h e f a m i ly . To do o th e r w is e ,
i t i s s a i d , w ould be t o i n s u l t t h e m a n lin e s s o f th e f a t h e r
as h e ad o f t h e f a m ily and th u s c a u s e a com m unication b r e a k Â
down. T h is s tu d y d i d n o t s u p p o r t t h a t c o n c e p t, a lth o u g h
t h e r e was some s l i g h t s h i f t on t h e p a r t o f m a le s to f a v o r
th e f a t h e r a s t h e p r e f e r r e d co m m u n icatio n r e c e i v e r i n p r o Â
g r e s s and d i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e s . A s i m i l a r s h i f t , how ever,
o c c u r r e d w ith fe m a le s who gave t h e m o th e r m ore p r e f e r e n c e
f o r t h e s e two m e s s a g e s . B o th m a le s and f e m a le s , overw helm Â
i n g l y , s e l e c t e d b o th p a r e n t s as t h e m o st p r e f e r r e d communiÂ
c a t i o n r e c e i v e r .
T h ese d a t a w ould i n d i c a t e t h a t i f t h e machismo t r a i t
a f f e c t s i n t e r c u l t u r a l co m m u n icatio n b e h a v i o r , i t does n o t
seem t o r e l a t e t o t h e r e c e i v e r p r e f e r e n c e s o f m ost M exican
218
A m erican m ales and c e r t a i n l y i s n o t r e c o g n i z e d by t h e M exiÂ
can A m erican fe m a le s q u e s t io n e d i n t h i s s t u d y . L e ss th a n
1 p e r c e n t o f th o s e fe m a le s i n t e r v i e w e d s e l e c t e d t h e f a t h e r
a s t h e b e s t r e c e i v e r f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m e s sa g e .
C om m unication s o u r c e s . — A nglo A m erican c u l t u r a l norm s
f o r th e p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e o f c o m m u n ica tio n from s c h o o ls a r e
n o t c l e a r . The p r i n c i p a l h as b e e n g e n e r a l l y c o n s id e r e d t o
be u l t i m a t e l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r s c h o o l m e s s a g e s , even th o u g h
many m essa g es come from t e a c h e r s and o t h e r s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l.
F in d in g s o f t h i s s tu d y i n d i c a t e t h a t f o r M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s th e t e a c h e r i s t h e p r e f e r r e d s o u r c e o f communicaÂ
t i o n f o r a l l m e s s a g e s , a lth o u g h by d i f f e r e n t d e g r e e s o f
p r e f e r e n c e . I t may b e t h a t t h e r e a r e so many p o s s i b i l i t i e s
f o r m essag es t o o r i g i n a t e from d i f f e r e n t s o u r c e s t h a t t h i s
com m unication f a c t o r i s n o t to o r e v e a l i n g a s f a r a s i n t e r Â
c u l t u r a l c o m m u n icatio n i s c o n c e rn e d . Some r e s p o n d e n t s , i n
f a c t , i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e s c h o o l p e r s o n i n c h a rg e o f t h e
p a r t i c u l a r a c t i v i t y s h o u ld be t h e p e r s o n t o o r i g i n a t e th e
m e s s a g e .
T h ere w ere some d a t a , h o w e v er, t h a t seem ed t o lim -
i t e d l y s u g g e s t an i n t e r c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ica tio n norm . T hese
w e re t h e d a t a w h ich r e l a t e d t o t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f t h e p r i n Â
c i p a l a s a com m unication s o u r c e . In a l l f o u r o f t h e m esÂ
s a g e s s t u d i e d t h e r e was an i n v e r s e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw ee n th e
d e m o g ra p h ic f a c t o r s r e l a t e d t o A nglo a c c u l t u r a t i o n and t h e
219
p o p u l a r i t y o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a c o m m u n icatio n s o u r c e . The
m ore t h e p a r e n t was a c c u l t u r a t e d t o t h e A nglo s o c i e t y , th e
m ore E n g li s h s p e a k in g and so f o r t h , t h e l e s s p r e f e r e n c e he
h a d f o r t h e p r i n c i p a l a s a co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e . T h is
f i n d i n g w ould seem t o r e l a t e t o a c u l t u r a l v a lu e so m etim es
a s c r i b e d t o M exican A m ericans? t h e s o - c a l l e d " r e s p e c t f o r
a u t h o r i t y " v a l u e . T h is v a lu e norm p o s t u l a t e s t h a t M exican
A m e ric an s a r e more s u b m is s iv e t o t h e s t a t u s q uo and have
m ore r e s p e c t f o r t h o s e i n p o s i t i o n s o f a u t h o r i t y th a n do
I t h e i r A nglo c o u n t e r p a r t s . ^ The s u p p o r t i n g d a t a a r e , o f
i
c o u r s e , v e ry te n u o u s and t h e a s s e r t i o n i s t h e r e f o r e o n ly a
s p e c u l a t i o n on th e p a r t o f t h e r e s e a r c h e r . A c c u l t u r a t i o n
r a i s e s a n o th e r q u e s t i o n r e g a r d i n g i n t e r c u l t u r a l com m unica-
|
j t i o n and t h a t i s t h e d e g re e t o w h ic h c o n t a c t w i t h th e
I
|
| l a r g e r c u l t u r e a f f e c t s p r e v i o u s l y h e l d p r e f e r e n c e s o f com-
i m u n ic a tio n . I t w o u ld b e o f i n t e r e s t t o d e te r m in e i f e x p e c r
|
t a t i o n s o f t h e l a r g e r c u l t u r e a f f e c t co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r Â
e n c e c h o i c e s .
The i m p l i c a t i o n s o f t h i s s tu d y f o r i n t e r c u l t u r a l comÂ
m u n ic a tio n th e o r y a r e , i n summary, som ew hat l i m i t e d . The
s tu d y h a s , h o w ev er, r a i s e d a num ber o f q u e s t i o n s whose anÂ
sw e rs w ould seem t o b e im p o r ta n t t o an u n d e r s ta n d in g o f i n -
i
I
j t e r c u l t u r a l c o m m u n ic a tio n . T hese q u e s t i o n s w i l l b e more
s p e c i f i c a l l y d e l i n e a t e d i n th e n e x t s e c t i o n when p r o p o s a l s
•^-Carterf M exican A m erican s i n S c h o o l, p . 42.
220
f o r f u r t h e r s tu d y w i l l be p r e s e n t e d .
|
S u g g e s tio n s f o r F u r t h e r R e se a rc h
F u r t h e r r e s e a r c h i s recom m ended i n th e f o llo w in g a re a s :
1. S t u d i e s s i m i l a r t o t h e p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h b u t u s in g
I
e t h n i c g ro u p s o t h e r th a n M exican A m ericans w ould p r o v id e
d a t a w h ich c o u ld th e n be com pared w ith th e d a ta i n t h i s
s t u d y . C om parison o f t h e s e d a ta w ould e l i c i t in f o r m a ti o n
c o n c e rn in g t h e r e l a t i v e i n f l u e n c e o f e t h n i c b a c k g ro u n d on
co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s . T h is k i n d o f c o m p a riso n w ould
an sw e r su c h q u e s t i o n s a s : A re th e com m un ication p r e f e r Â
e n c e s o f M exican A m erican s d i f f e r e n t from th o s e o f o t h e r
i
| c u l t u r e s o r o f t h e g e n e r a l p o p u l a t i o n ? Are d em o g rap h ic
v a r i a b l e s a n d m essage v a r i a b l e s as s i g n i f i c a n t a s e t h n i c
v a r i a b l e s i n p r e d i c t i n g co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s ? I s i t
a g e , econ om ic l e v e l , e d u c a t i o n a l a t t a i n m e n t , o r some o t h e r
f a c t o r and n o t e t h n i c b a c k g ro u n d t h a t a c c o u n ts f o r d i f f e r Â
e n c e s i n c o m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s ?
2. S t u d i e s o f t h e co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exi-
i
can A m erican p a r e n t s l i v i n g o u t s i d e t h e b a r r i o s w ould p r o Â
v id e more i n f o r m a ti o n on t h e e f f e c t o f a c c u l t u r a t i o n on
c o m m u n ic a tio n . The p r e s e n t s tu d y was c o n f in e d t o two p o p u Â
l a t i o n d e n s i t y s a m p le s , b o th o f w h ic h w ere c o n s id e r e d b a r Â
r i o s and l a r g e l y p o p u l a t e d w ith M exican A m e ric a n s . Many
M exican A m erican s h a v e moved away from t h e s e a r e a s i n t o
m ore i n t e g r a t e d l o c a t i o n s . C o m p ariso n s o f p r e f e r e n c e s o f
221
su ch g ro u p s m ig h t p r o v i d e u s e f u l i n f o r m a ti o n on w h a t, i f
a n y , c h an g e s o c c u r i n c o m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s when th e s e
m ig r a ti o n s o c c u r .
3. S t u d i e s o f t h e co m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s o f M exiÂ
c an s l i v i n g i n M exico who h av e n o t h a d c o n t a c t w ith A nglo
A m erican c o m m u n ica tio n c o n c e p ts w ould p r o v id e d a ta on th e
e x t e n t t o w h ic h M exican A m erican s l i v i n g i n U n ite d S t a t e s
b a r r i o s h ave b e e n a f f e c t e d by A nglo c u l t u r a l norms o f comÂ
m u n ic a tio n .
!
| 4. A s t u d y s i m i l a r t o t h i s s tu d y b u t u s in g s c h o o l
i p e r s o n n e l a s t h e s u b j e c t p o p u l a t i o n w o u ld d i s c l o s e i f t h e r e
i
J a r e any n o t a b l e d e v i a t i o n s b etw een t h e com m unication p r e f -
I
e r e n c e s o f M exican A m e ric an p a r e n t s who a r e th e r e c e i v e r s
o f s c h o o l c o m m u n ic a tio n and t h e o r i g i n a t o r s o f such m esÂ
s a g e s . S in c e m ost s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l a r e A n g lo s , su c h a
s tu d y m ig h t a l s o d i s c l o s e i n t e r c u l t u r a l com m unication d a t a .
5 . A s tu d y w h ic h i n some way was a b le t o s u rv e y th o s e
p a r e n t s who r e f u s e d t o r e s p o n d t o t h i s s tu d y w ould p e rh a p s
p r o v id e some i n f o r m a t i o n on w h a t m ig h t b e a com m unication
p ro b lem a r e a . As e x p l a i n e d i n C h a p te r I I , some r e l u c t a n c e
was e x p e r ie n c e d on t h e p a r t o f a num ber o f p a r e n t s and e s Â
p e c i a l l y men t o t a k e p a r t i n t h e s t u d y . I t m ig h t b e h y Â
p o t h e s i z e d t h a t t h e s e p e r s o n s a r e p r i m a r i l y th o s e w ith whom
th e s c h o o l h a s co m m u n icatio n d i f f i c u l t i e s . A s tu d y o f
t h e i r c o m m u n icatio n p r e f e r e n c e s m ig h t p ro v e t o be h e l p f u l
in im p ro v in g o v e r a l l c o m m u n ic a tio n .
222
6. S t u d i e s o f p t h e r se g m en ts o f th e M exican A m erican
p o p u l a t i o n m ig h t p r o v id e o t h e r co m m u n icatio n i n s i g h t s .
T h is s tu d y was l i m i t e d t o M exican A m erican p a r e n t s o f e l e -
jm e n ta ry age c h i l d r e n . A b r o a d e r p o p u l a t i o n sam ple m ig h t
| p ro v e t o be o f i n t e r e s t and g iv e d a ta w h ich c o u ld be b e t t e r
g e n e r a l i z e d f o r t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n o f M exican A m e ric a n s.
7. S t u d i e s o f a s p e c t s o f c o m m u n icatio n o t h e r th a n
t h o s e c o n s i d e r e d i n t h i s r e s e a r c h w ould p r o v id e a more com-
: p r e h e n s i v e view o f co m m u nication p r e f e r e n c e s . Such a s p e c t s
j
j a s n o n - v e r b a l c o m m u n ica tio n , m essag e c o n t e n t , o t h e r m es-
i
|s a g e s th a n t h o s e s t u d i e d i n t h i s r e s e a r c h , and so f o r t h
r
!w ould i n c r e a s e o u r know ledge an d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f th e t o t a l
i
i p r o c e s s o f com m unicatio n b e tw ee n M exican A m erican s and
o t h e r e t h n i c g ro u p s .
R ecom m endations f o r Im p ro v in g C om m unication
An a n a l y s i s o f th e f i n d i n g s o f t h i s s tu d y d i s c l o s e d a
!num ber o f s u g g e s t i o n s w h ich m ig h t im pro ve t h e com m unication
jb etw e en s c h o o l p e o p le and M exican A m erican p a r e n t s . T h ese
|re c o m m e n d a tio n s f o r im p ro v in g co m m u n icatio n a r e c o l l e c t e d
b e lo w . T h e re a r e , h o w ev er, s e v e r a l o b s e r v a t i o n s a b o u t
u s in g t h e s e f i n d i n g s w h ich s h o u ld b e k e p t i n m ind when conÂ
s i d e r i n g t h e s e rec o m m e n d a tio n s. The o b s e r v a t i o n s w i l l be
d i s c u s s e d f i r s t and th e n t h e rec o m m e n d atio n s d e r iv e d from
t h e s tu d y w i l l be l i s t e d a c c o r d in g t o t h e com m unication
c a t e g o r i e s o f : c h a n n e ls , c o d e s , r e c e i v e r s an d s o u r c e s .
223
O b s e r v a tio n s a b o u t Use
o f t h e F in d in g s '
1. The f i n d i n g s o f t h i s s tu d y a r e n o t d e s ig n e d t o be
u s e d a s a s u b s t i t u t e f o r t h e m o st i m p o r t a n t key t o e f f e c Â
t i v e com m u nicatio n w ith M exican A m e ric a n s . T h a t key i s , o f
|
c o u r s e , know ing as much as p o s s i b l e a b o u t t h e h i s t o r y , l a n Â
g u a g e , v a lu e s y s te m s , an d l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f M exican
A m e ric a n s . The f i n d i n g s p r e s e n t e d h e r e s h o u ld be th o u g h t
o f a s a d j u n c t s t o t h i s m ore b a s i c i n f o r m a t i o n .
2 . T h ere a r e many o t h e r a s p e c t s o f c o m m u n icatio n
i
j w h ich w ere n o t c o n s id e r e d i n t h i s s tu d y t h a t a l s o i n f l u e n c e
t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f a m e s s a g e . The co m m u n icato r n e e d s t o
a l s o make c h o ic e s c o n c e rn in g su c h t h i n g s a s w o rd in g th e
m essage and n o n - v e r b a l com ponents su c h a s to n e o f v o i c e ,
v i s u a l sy m b o ls, and ty p e o f p a p e r u s e d i n a d d i t i o n t o th e
f a c t o r s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s t u d y . A ls o , t h e f o u r m essa g es
j s t u d i e d w i l l n o t , o f c o u r s e , b e a d e q u a te t o c o v e r a l l t h e
â– m essag e s i t u a t i o n s t h a t fa c e t h e s c h o o l p e rs o n i n communi-
! e a t i n g w ith M exican A m erican p a r e n t s .
3. The com m unicator s h o u ld k eep i n m ind t h a t c o n d iÂ
t i o n s a r e c o n s t a n t l y c h a n g in g an d w h at m ig h t be i n e f f e c t i v e
I co m m u n icatio n to d a y , may b e e f f e c t i v e to m o rro w . F o r e x Â
a m p le, home c o n fe re n c e g e n e r a l l y r e c e i v e d v e ry low p r e f e r Â
e n c e p e r c e n t a g e s f o r t h e f o u r m essa g es i n c l u d e d i n t h i s
s t u d y . How ever, i f p a r e n t s a r e e x p o se d t o t h i s k in d o f
c o m m u n icatio n c h a n n e l, th e y m ig h t become m ore f a v o r a b l e
224
to w a rd i t f o r t h e s e o r o t h e r k in d s o f m e s s a g e s . I t i s
s t r o n g l y f e l t t h a t t h e r e i s g r e a t n e e d f o r i n t e l l i g e n t e x Â
p e r i m e n t a t i o n i n co m m u n ica tio n . New c h a n n e ls , c o d e s , r e Â
c e i v e r s , s o u r c e s e t c . s h o u ld be t r i e d f o r v a r i o u s k in d s o f
jm e s s a g e s . The w o r s t t h i n g t h a t c o u ld hap p en t o th e g u id e -
!
l i n e s p ro p o s e d by t h i s s tu d y i s t h a t th e y b e t r e a t e d as
dogma r a t h e r th a n a s s u g g e s t i o n s .
4. S c h o o l p e r s o n n e l s h o u ld b e s t r o n g l y c a u t io n e d
a g a i n s t an a t t i t u d e t h a t M exican A m erican p a r e n t s do n o t
c a r e a b o u t t h e e d u c a tio n o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n . One o f th e
m o st e n c o u r a g in g s i d e l i g h t s o f t h i s s tu d y an d one w h ich h as
co m m u n icatio n i m p l i c a t i o n s i s t h e h ig h d e g re e o f i n t e r e s t
t h a t th o s e M exican A m erican p a r e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d h a d i n th e
e d u c a ti o n o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n . I n t e r v i e w e r s r e p o r t e d g r e a t
c o n c e rn on t h e p a r t o f th e p a r e n t s and a d e s i r e t o t a l k
a b o u t t h e s c h o o l s . I t i s in cu m b en t upon s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l
t o u t i l i z e t h i s i n t e r e s t i n t h e i r co m m u n ica tio n a tt e m p t s
|w i t h M exican A m erican p a r e n t s . The i n t e r e s t i n t h e i r c h i l Â
d r e n ' s e d u c a ti o n may be an im p o r ta n t k e y , i f u s e d e f f e c -
i
j t i v e l y , f o r im p ro v ed com m u nication w i t h M exican A m erican
p a r e n t s .
! 5 . The co m m u nicator s h o u ld be c a u t io n e d a g a i n s t
I
|t h i n k i n g o f t h e M exican A m erican c u l t u r e a s a m o n o lith .
T h is g ro u p o f p e o p le encom passes many d i f f e r e n t b a c k g ro u n d s
t h a t a r e r e f l e c t e d i n t h e i r com m un ication p r e f e r e n c e s . Thus
t h e s c h o o l p e r s o n s h o u ld a lw a y s rem em ber t h a t h e i s commuÂ
225
n i c a t i n g w ith i n d i v i d u a l p a r e n t s and c o n s e q u e n tly h i s
c h o ic e s f o r a co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e l, c o d e , r e c e i v e r , and
s o u r c e s h o u ld b e on a s an i n d i v i d u a l i s t i c l e v e l a s p o s s i b l e .
T hus t h e s u g g e s t i o n s b elo w s h o u ld be th o u g h t o f a s g u id e Â
l i n e s r a t h e r th a n as e s t a b l i s h e d f i n d i n g s .
R ecom m endations f o r S e l e c t i n g
C om m unication C h a n n e ls
1. The s c h o o l c o n fe r e n c e s h o u ld b e e n c o u ra g e d f o r
c o m m u n iea tin g a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e c h i l d i n s c h o o l .
T h o u g h t s h o u ld b e g iv e n t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e p o r t c a r d b e Â
f o r e c o n ti n u i n g i t s u s e .
2 . The te le p h o n e s h o u ld g e n e r a l l y be a v o id e d f o r a
p r o g r e s s m e s sa g e . M ales w ere e s p e c i a l l y o p p o se d t o u se o f
t h e t e l e p h o n e .
3. The f o llo w in g d e m o g ra p h ic c a t e g o r i e s e s p e c i a l l y
f a v o r e d t h e s c h o o l c o n fe re n c e f o r a p r o g r e s s m essag e and
m ig h t be u se d t o i n i t i a t e a p ro g ram o f s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e s :
! h ig h d e n s i t y g r o u p s , y o u n g e r p a r e n t s , E n g lis h o n ly and b i Â
l i n g u a l s p e a k e r s , and f a m i l i e s w ith s m a l l e r num bers o f
c h i l d r e n .
4. B i l i n g u a l s and n o n - C a th o l i c s f a v o r e d t h e home c o n Â
f e r e n c e f o r a p r o g r e s s m essage m ore th a n d i d t h e i r c o u n t e r -
p a r t s b u t th e y s t i l l p r i m a r i l y f a v o r e d th e s c h o o l c o n f e r Â
e n c e . E x p e r im e n ta tio n m ig h t b e i n i t i a t e d w ith t h e s e g ro u p s
i n u s i n g t h e home c o n f e r e n c e f o r a p r o g r e s s m e s sa g e .
5 . Some c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n p la n n in g s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e s
226
i n o r d e r t o accom m odate t h e p ro b lem s o f f a m i l i e s w ith l a r g e
num bers o f c h i l d r e n i s s u g g e s te d . F a m ilie s w ith l a r g e numÂ
b e r s o f c h i l d r e n show ed l e s s e n th u s ia s m to w a rd u s in g t h e
s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e f o r a p r o g r e s s m e ssa g e . A lth o u g h t h i s
g ro u p s t i l l f a v o r e d t h e s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e , l a r g e r num bers
w ere i n t e r e s t e d i n th e r e p o r t c a r d th a n i n o t h e r g r o u p i n g s .
6 . The t r a d i t i o n a l m ethod o f s e n d in g an n o u n cem en ts o f
s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s home by way o f th e c h i l d seem ed t o be
g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t a b l e and i t i s recommended t h a t i t be c o n Â
t i n u e d .
7. In any c a s e , a w r i t t e n c h a n n e l s h o u ld be u s e d f o r
t h e a c t i v i t y annou ncem ent m e ssa g e . O ra l c h a n n e ls and e s p e Â
c i a l l y t h e te le p h o n e s h o u ld g e n e r a l l y b e a v o id e d f o r t h i s
m e ssa g e .
8. C o n s i d e r a t i o n m ig h t be g iv e n t o th e p ro b le m o f
b e in g s u r e t h a t a m essage i s a c t u a l l y d e l i v e r e d t o th e p a r Â
e n t when s e n t home by t h e c h i l d . Some g r o u p s , e s p e c i a l l y
m a le s , o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s , o n e - c h i l d f a m i l i e s , f a m i l i e s
w ith l a r g e num bers o f c h i l d r e n , and n o n - C a th o lic s p r e f e r r e d
a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by m a il o v e r t h e p r i n t e d form
d e l i v e r e d by t h e c h i l d f o r an a c t i v i t y a n n o u n cem en t.
9 . D i r e c t , o r a l com m un ication c h a n n e ls a r e s u g g e s te d
f o r u sa g e i n a d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e ,
10. I f t h e d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m i s im m e d ia te , t h e t e l e Â
phone i s recom m ended a s t h e p r e f e r r e d co m m u n icatio n c h a n n e l.
11. M ost p a r e n t s f a v o r e d a c o n fe re n c e c h a n n e l f o r a
227
d i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e . The home c o n fe r e n c e g a th e r e d i n t e r e s t
f o r t h i s m essag e and i t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t t h i s c h a n n e l be
a tte m p te d i n some s i t u a t i o n s .
12. The h ig h d e n s i t y sam p le and y o u n g e r p a r e n t s w ere
j e s p e c i a l l y . i n t e r e s t e d ' i n t h e s c h o o l c o n fe re n c e a s a c h a n n e l
f o r d i s c i p l i n e m e ssa g e s and i t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t t h e conÂ
f e r e n c e be em plo yed w i t h s u c h p a r e n t s .
13. P r i n t e d fo rm s s h o u ld be a v o id e d a s much as p o s Â
s i b l e f o r t h e d i s c i p l i n e m e s sa g e .
14. More e f f o r t n e e d s t o be made t o make p r i m a r i l y
S p a n is h s p e a k e r s m ore c o m f o r ta b le i n a c o n fe re n c e s i t u a t i o n .
T h is g ro u p was c o n s i d e r a b l y l e s s i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e c o n f e r Â
e n c e and m ore i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e te le p h o n e an d p e r s o n a l
j l e t t e r a s a c h a n n e l f o r a d i s c i p l i n e m e s sa g e . More e f f o r t
|
j n e e d s t o b e made t o o b t a i n b i l i n g u a l p e r s o n n e l and t r a n s l a -
!
t o r s i n o r d e r t o overcom e t h e a p p a r e n t h e s i t a n c y o f p r i Â
m a r i l y S p a n is h s p e a k e r s i n c o n f e r e n c e s .
| 15. M essag es o f p r a i s e s h o u ld be j u d i c i o u s l y i n -
! c r e a s e d by s c h o o ls a n d i f no fo rm a l s c h o o l p o l i c y e x i s t s on
t h e s e n d in g o f su c h m e ssa g e s i t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t th o u g h t
b e g iv e n t o e s t a b l i s h i n g g u i d e l i n e s f o r su c h m e s sa g e s.
16. A p e r s o n a l l e t t e r d e l i v e r e d by m a il i s recom Â
m ended f o r t r a n s m i t t i n g a p r a i s e m e s s a g e . P a r e n t s seem t o
d e s i r e some m essag e w h ic h can b e r e t a i n e d .
17. A s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e m ig h t b e em ployed f o r some
p r a i s e m e s s a g e s , p e r h a p s when t h e a c c o m p lish m e n t o f th e
228
c h i l d i s n o t e x t r a o r d i n a r y e n o u g h t o c a l l f o r a p e r s o n a l
l e t t e r .
18. The te le p h o n e and t h e p r i n t e d form s h o u ld be
I a v o id e d i n s e n d in g p r a i s e m e s s a g e s . L arg e num bers o f p a r -
!
e n t s o b j e c te d t o t h e s e tw o c h a n n e ls f o r t h i s m e ssa g e .
R ecom m endations f o r S e l e c t i n g
C om m unication Codes
1. Where i n d i v i d u a l p a r e n t s a r e t o b e c o n t a c t e d , as
i n p r o g r e s s , d i s c i p l i n e , an d p r a i s e m e s s a g e s , e v e ry e f f o r t
s h o u ld be made t o a d j u s t t h e la n g u a g e t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r
p a r e n t .
2. Where th e p r e f e r e n c e s o f a p a r t i c u l a r p a r e n t c an Â
n o t be d e te r m in e d , a b i l i n g u a l m essag e s h o u ld b e s e n t .
3. The h ig h d e n s i t y a r e a sam p le f a v o r e d S p a n is h more
th a n d id th e low d e n s i t y a r e a s a m p le . I t i s recommended
t h a t more b i l i n g u a l p e r s o n n e l b e l o c a t e d i n su ch s c h o o l s .
4. The age o f t h e p a r e n t s h o u ld b e c o n s id e r e d a s a
g u id e t o s e l e c t i n g a la n g u a g e f o r a p a r t i c u l a r p a r e n t . In
m o st c a s e s , y o u n g e r p a r e n t s p r e f e r E n g li s h and i d e n t i f y
S p a n is h a s t h e w o r s t c o m m u n ica tio n c o d e . C o n v e r s e ly , th e
o l d e r t h e p a r e n t , t h e m ore l i k e l y he f a v o r s S p a n is h and
I
| d i s l i k e s E n g l i s h . I t w ould seem i m p o r t a n t , h o w e v er, f o r
| th e s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r o r t e a c h e r t o k eep i n m ind' th e
p o s s i b i l i t y o f c h a n g in g a t t i t u d e s i n t h e u s e o f la n g u a g e .
Many M exican A m e ric a n s , and e s p e c i a l l y t h e y o u n g e r g e n e ra Â
t i o n , a r e d e v e lo p in g a new ly fo u n d p r i d e i n t h e i r c u l t u r e
229
and c o n s e q u e n tly i n th e S p a n ish la n g u a g e . I t may b e ,
t h e r e f o r e , t h a t i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e S p a n is h w i l l become an
j even more im p o r ta n t com m unication code th a n i s i n d i c a t e d i n
I
t h i s s t u d y .
5 . B i r t h p l a c e , p a r e n t s ' b i r t h p l a c e , l e n g t h o f r e s i -
j den ce i n Los A n g e le s , fo rm a l e d u c a t i o n , and num ber o f c h i l Â
d re n i n t h e fa m ily a r e h e l p f u l i n d i c e s i n d e c i d in g w hich
j
| la n g u a g e t o u se f o r a p a r t i c u l a r p a r e n t . F o r t h o s e b o rn i n
!
| M exico, as w ould be e x p e c te d , S p a n is h w i l l b e t h e b e s t l a n -
i
| guage c h o ic e . F o r th o s e b o rn i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s , E n g lis h
i
i s f a v o r e d . I f b o th p a r e n t s o f t h e p e r s o n t o be c o n ta c t e d
w ere b o rn i n M exico o r t h e U n ite d S t a t e s , t h e r e s p e c t i v e
c h o ic e s o f S p a n is h o r E n g li s h w i l l p r o b a b ly be s a f e . The
I lo n g e r a p a r e n t h a s l i v e d i n Los A n g e le s , t h e m ore l i k e l y
I
1
| E n g li s h w i l l be h i s p r e f e r r e d la n g u a g e . The m ore fo rm a l
e d u c a t i o n , t h e more l i k e l y E n g l i s h s h o u ld be u s e d and th e
m ore c h i l d r e n i n t h e f a m ily , th e m ore l i k e l y S p a n is h s h o u ld
! be em plo yed.
6 . B i l i n g u a l m essag es o u g h t t o b e u s e d w h ere l a r g e
i
num bers o f p a r e n t s , su c h as i n a s c h o o l ann ouncem ent s i t u a Â
t i o n , a r e t o be c o n ta c t e d w i t h t h e same m e ssa g e .
7. I n c i d e n t a l l y , a lth o u g h n o t p a r t o f t h e fo rm a l i n Â
v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h i s s t u d y , c a r e s h o u ld b e ta k e n i n t r a n s l a Â
t i o n . The " f l a v o r " o f th e m essag e s h o u ld b e o b t a i n e d
r a t h e r th a n a l i t e r a l t r a n s l a t i o n . A m essage i n E n g lis h
l i t e r a l l y t r a n s l a t e d i n t o S p a n is h may so u n d to o h a r s h and
230
b u s i n e s s l i k e t o th e S p a n is h r e a d e r . A ls o , c a r e s h o u ld b e
ta k e n t h a t one la n g u a g e i s n o t g iv e n a p r i o r i t y p o s i t i o n on
th e p ag e o r i n some o t h e r way r e v e a l a p o s i t i o n o f p rim a c y
b e tw ee n th e two c o d e s .
8 . I f t h e c o n fe re n c e m ethod i s u s e d f o r a p r o g r e s s
m e s sa g e , t h e s e r v i c e s o f a t r a n s l a t o r i s s u g g e s te d f o r n o n -
S p a n is h s p e a k in g t e a c h e r s . I f a r e p o r t c a r d i s u s e d , i t
s h o u ld be p r i n t e d i n b o th S p a n is h and E n g li s h .
R ecom m endations f o r S e l e c t i n g
C om m unication R e c e iv e r s
1. A l l m essag es s t u d i e d i n t h i s r e s e a r c h s h o u ld n o r Â
m a lly be s e n t t o b o th p a r e n t s u n l e s s s p e c i a l c ir c u m s ta n c e s ,
su c h as a o n e - p a r e n t f a m ily , w ould i n d i c a t e o t h e r w i s e .
2. I t i s e s p e c i a l l y recommended t h a t b o t h p a r e n t s be
a d d r e s s e d when t r a n s m i t t i n g p r a i s e m e s s a g e s .
R ecom m endations f o r S e l e c t i n g
C om m unication S o u rc e s
1. T e a c h e rs s h o u ld b e e n c o u ra g e d t o i n i t i a t e m ore
m essa g es t o M exican A m erican p a r e n t s . The t e a c h e r was s e Â
l e c t e d m o st o f t e n as th e p r e f e r r e d co m m u n ica tio n s o u r c e .
2 . The r o l e o f th e v i c e p r i n c i p a l as a co m m u n icatio n
s o u r c e n e e d s c o n s i d e r a t i o n . The v i c e p r i n c i p a l r e c e i v e d
r e c o g n i t i o n a s e i t h e r th e b e s t o r w o r s t s o u r c e from o n ly
s m a ll p e r c e n t a g e s o f p a r e n t s .
3. The r o l e o f th e t e a c h e r a id e a s a co m m u n icatio n
s o u r c e n e e d s r e e x a m in a tio n . I n t h i s s t u d y , t h e a id e was
231
n o t a f a v o r e d s o u r c e b u t th e c o n c e p t was r e l a t i v e l y new and
h a d n o t b e en i n s t i t u t e d i n some s c h o o ls when t h e s e d a ta
w e re c o l l e c t e d . S u b se q u e n t e x p e r ie n c e seem s t o i n d i c a t e
some s u c c e s s f o r t h i s p ro g ram .
4. The s c h o o l n u r s e s h o u ld n o t be u s e d t o t r a n s m i t
any o f t h e m essa g es c o n s id e r e d i n t h i s s t u d y . T h is i s n o t
t o s a y , h o w e v er, t h a t t h e n u r s e m ig h t n o t be u s e f u l as a
s o u r c e f o r o t h e r m e s sa g e s, f o r e x am p le, h e a l t h i n f o r m a t i o n .
5 . The p e rs o n i n c h a rg e o f t h e a c t i v i t y i n q u e s t i o n
s h o u ld o r i g i n a t e announcem ents o f s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s . The
a d m i n i s t r a t o r can ta k e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h i s a r e a , i n t h e
a b s e n c e o f a p a r t i c u l a r p e rs o n i n c h a r g e .
6 . The p r i n c i p a l n e e d s t o im prove h i s c r e d i b i l i t y as
a co m m u n icatio n s o u r c e . In m ost c a s e s , t h e p r i n c i p a l r e Â
c e iv e d m ore " w o rs t" d e s i g n a t i o n s th a n any o t h e r s c h o o l p e r Â
son a s a s o u r c e o f co m m u n icatio n .
7. The s o u rc e c r e d i b i l i t y o f th e p r i n c i p a l e s p e c i a l l y
n e e d s t o b e im p ro v e d f o r th e d i s c i p l i n e m e s s a g e . T h e re a p Â
p e a r s t o b e a s te a d y d e t e r i o r a t i o n i n t h e im age o f th e
p r i n c i p a l a s M exican A m erican p a r e n t s become m ore a c c u l -
t u r a t e d and more k n o w le d g e a b le a b o u t th e s c h o o l s y s te m .
8 . A l l s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l s h o u ld become more i n v o lv e d
i n s e n d in g m e ssa g e s p r a i s i n g t h e c h i l d f o r o u t s t a n d i n g a c Â
c o m p lis h m e n ts . The m essage o f p r a i s e i s s u g g e s t e d a s a
m ethod o f im p ro v in g th e s o u r c e c r e d i b i l i t y o f t h e p r i n c i p a l .
232
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U .S . D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r. D i c ti o n a r y o f O c c u p a tio n a l
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S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 196 8.
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B re n n a n , Jam es E. "A S tu d y o f t h e C h a n n els o f CommunicaÂ
t i o n U sed by S panish-N am ed R e s id e n ts o f San A n to n io ,
T e x a s ." U n p u b lis h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , L o u is ia n a
S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 1968.
C l in c h y , E v e r e t t . " E q u a l it y o f O p p o rtu n ity f o r L a t in AmerÂ
i c a n s i n T e x a s: A S tu d y o f th e Econom ic, S o c i a l , and
E d u c a ti o n a l D i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t L a t in A m erican s i n
T e x a s , and o f E f f o r t s o f t h e S t a t e G overnm ent on T h e ir
B e h a l f ." U n p u b lis h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , C olum bia
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241
C l i n e , M a rio n , J r . "A ch iev em en t o f B i l i n g u a l s i n t h e
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U n ite d S t a te s - M e x ic a n C o m m u n icatio n s, 1 9 6 2 -1 9 6 3 ."
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s i t y , 1964.
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t i o n , U n i v e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s , 1967.
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U n p u b lis h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n i v e r s i t y o f M inneÂ
s o t a , 1967.
F a rm e r, G eorge L. " E d u c a tio n : The Dilemma o f th e S p a n is h -
Surname A m e ric a n ," S c h o o l o f E d u c a tio n , U n i v e r s i t y o f
S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , 1968. (M im eographed.)
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P s y c h o l i n g u i s t i c and S o c i o l i n g u i s t i c P ro b lem s and
T a l e n t s , " U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a . (MimeoÂ
g ra p h e d .)
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U n p u b lis h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r Â
n i a , B e r k e l e y , 1963.
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c a t i o n U sed by F i f t y N egro and F i f t y S panish-N am ed
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d i s s e r t a t i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f D e n v er, 1962.
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o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , 1967.
2 42
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Used by 100 N egro R e s i d e n t s o f B aton R ouge, L o u is ia n a ."
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v e r s i t y , 1956.
243
APPENDIX A
QUESTIONNAIRE ON COMMUNICATING WITH
MEXICAN-AMERICAN PARENTS'
244
LO S A N G E L E S CITY UNIFIED SC H O O L DISTRICT
EAST L O S A N G E L E S
INSTRUCTIONAL PLA N N IN G C E N T E R
September 6, 1969
TO: Elementary Area E ast P rin cip als
FRO M : Howard Holladay, C alifo rn ia S ta te College, Los Angeles
John F. Leon, East L09 Angeles In s tru c tio n a l Planning Center
SUBJECT: QUESTIONNAIRE O N C O M M U N IC A T IN G W ITH M E X IC A N -A M E R IC A N PA R EN TS
One of th e fin d in g s of the East Los Angeles Communications Task
Force on School-Community R elations was th a t school adm inistrators are
seeking inform ation on the b est ways In which to communicate w ith
Hexlcan-Amerlcan p aren ts. Some Mexican-American parents have also
complained th a t the schools are not communicating e ffe c tiv e ly w ith
them.
In try in g to so lv e these problems, the Task Force discovered th a t
no system atic in v estig atio n s have been made of the communication beÂ
tween school' ad m in istrato rs and the parents of Mexican-American
c h ild re n .
T h erefo re, In order to make a beginning toward solving th is
h ig h ly complex problem, a d escrip tiv e research study is now being underÂ
tak en . This study w ill focus on the p referred codes, channels, and re Â
c e iv e rs of communication th a t passes between the Mexican-American
p aren ts and o f f ic ia ls of an elementary school.
The te n ta tiv e design of the study w ill attem pt to c o rre la te three
m ajor ca te g o ries of v a ria b le s. The f i r s t category of v a ria b le s, "message
v a ria b le s ," w ill Include th ree d iffe re n t types of messages which an
a d m in istrato r might d e sire to send to a parent:
1. Messages concerning the c h ild 's progress in school.
2. Messages tran sm ittin g inform ation about school a c tiv itie s .
3 . Messages concerning d isc ip lin e problems.
The second category of v a ria b le s, "demographic v a ria b le s," w ill
in clu d e d e sc rip tio n s of Mexican-American p aren ts:
1 . .Length of Residence
2. P lace of B irth
3. Language spoken in the home
4. e tc .
Thu th ir d category of v a ria b le s, "communication v a ria b le s ," w ill
in clu d e Inform ation on conferences and w ritten forms to p aren ts, etc.
I t I s a n ticip ated th a t the study w ill discover i f c e rta in Mexican-
American parents have any preferences as to how they would lik e to be
communicated w ith when they are receiving messages from an elementary
school o f f ic ia l .
With th is background, w ill you please review the questio n n aire
and re a c t by f i l l in g in the four comments on the design and comments
on the q u estio n n aire and retu rn to John Leon a t the East Los Angeles
In s tru c tio n a l Planning Center by September 12th. I t should be noted
th a t the q u estionnaire w ill be adm inistered to the parentis by tra in e d
b ilin g u a l in terv iew ers.
Your cooperation w ill insure a design th a t tru ly meets your .needs.
A copy o f the findings of the study w ill be made available to you, hopeÂ
f u lly around th e f i r s t of the year.
Approved: H erbert M. Cadwell
Area Superintendent
Elementary Area East
JFL:vl
[Yellow]
SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE TO BE USED FOR THE STUDY ON
COMMUNICATING WITH MEXICAN-AMERICAN PARENTS
(To be adm inistered o ra lly )
Q uestions Concerning Code. Channel, and Receiver Preferences
1.. The school i s concerned about le ttin g you know how w ell your c h ild is
doing In school. How would you lik e fo r the school to n o tify you about
your c h ild 's progress? In d ica te what you consider to be the most
d e s ira b le and the le a s t d esira b le method of te llin g you about how your
c h ild i s g ettin g along in school.
A. By which of th ese follow ing methods?
Telephone
Conference in school
Conference in your home
P ersonal l e t t e r se n t to you
Beport card
Ko preference (
O ther (Please in d ic a te )
B. Using which language?
Spanish
English
Bo preference
C. To whom should th is Inform ation be directed?
F ather
Mother
Both
Bo preference
2. There are many a c tiv itie s being held a t the school such as school
program s, m eetings, and so on. H ow would you lik e to be Informed
ab o u t these a c tiv itie s ? In d ica te what you consider to be the most
d e s ira b le and le a s t d e sira b le method of te llin g you about what is
going on a t the school.
A. By which o f these follow ing methods?
Telephone
Conference in school
Conference in your home
P ersonal l e t t e r sen t to you
Form le tte T o r p rin te d announcements
Bo preference
O ther (please in d icate)
B. Using which language?
Spanish
English
No preference
C. To whom should th is inform ation be directed?
F ather
Mother
Both
No preference
[Yellow]
3. I f your ch ild were having d if f ic u ltie s In school concerning some
problem in behavior or a v io la tio n of school ru le s , how would you
p re fe r th a t school o ff ic ia ls inform you about th is problem? In d icate
what you consider to be the most d esirab le and the le a s t d esirab le
method fo r le ttin g you know i f your ch ild is having trouble a t school.
A. By which of these following methods?
Telephone
Conference in school
Conference in your home
Personal l e t t e r dent to you â–
Form l e t t e r
No preference
Other (please in d icate)
B. Using which language?
Spanish
English
No preference
C. To whom should th is inform ation be directed?
‘ Father
Mother *
Both
No preference
Demographic Inform ation Questions
1. How long have you liv ed in the United S tates?
2. Where did you liv e before coming to the United States?
3. H ow long have you lived in Los Angeles?
4 . Was the place from which you moved to Los Angeles a c ity o r farm area?
5. Where were you born?
6. Where were your fa th e r and mother born?
7. Did your parents liv e in a farm o r c ity area?
8. What language is spoken in your home?
a. Spanish only?
b . English only?
c . Mostly Spanish? •
d. Mostly English?
e . English and Spanish equally?
9. How many children are in your home?
10. What i s your occupation? I f respondent is the mother, what i s your
husband's occupation?
11. What was the la s t grade in school th a t you completed?
12. Are you m arried, widowed, separated, divorced or single?
13. How old were you when you were married?
14. What church do you belong to?
15. About how old are you?
16. N ow th a t you have completed th is q u estio n n aire, would you'have
p referred th a t we would have asked these questions of your w ife (or
husband)?
[Yellow]
Interview er Responses
To be completed by the Interview er Immediately follow ing the Interview
upon leaving prem ises.
1. Interview er’s id e n tific a tio n number: ________
2. Respondent's Id e n tific a tio n number: _________
3. Ethnic c la s s ific a tio n of the respondent? '
Mexican-American________.
Mexican N ational __________
Other w hite __________
Indian __________
Negro _________
O rien tal __________
Other non-white (specify) __________
4'. What was the sex of the respondent?
M ale_________
, Fem ale________
5. W as the interview conducted in :
English _______
Spanish _______
6. W as the interview conducted:
O rally â–
In w ritin g J________
7. Did the respondent seem:
Very cooperative _________
Uncooperative _________
Cooperative __________
8. In the space below, In d icate anything unusual about the in terv iew .
[Green]
C O M M E N T S O N THE Q U ESTIO N N A IRE
P lease f e e l free to also make any changes or comments which you think
n ig h t be h e lp fu l on the attached sample questionnaire i t s e l f and re tu rn i t ,
as w e ll as th is page and the next to Mr. Leon a t th e E ast Los Angeles
In s tru c tio n a l Planning Center.
1. I s th e general tone of the questionnaire lik ely to e l i c i t candid
and honest answers from Mexican-American parents? Suggestions?
2. Are th e questions c le a r and unambiguous? Mould you check, or b e tte r
y e t , re v is e any question th a t is not clea rly phrased or might have a
double meaning?
3. Are in d iv id u a l questions worded co llo q u ially enough fo r a ll Mexican-
American parents to understand easily ? Would you check or re v ise
any q u estio n th a t you fe e l might not be read ily understood by a l l
Mexican-American parents?
4. O ther comments o r suggestions on any aspect of the qu estio n n aire.
[Green]
C O M M E N T S O N TH E DESIGN
In o rder to encourage candid and honest reactio n s, your comments
w ill remain absolutely anonymous. I t Is not necessary to sig n your name.
In the spaces below w rite any reactio n s you might have concerning
th e design of the study as described p rev io u sly .
1. The "message v ariab les" (c h ild 's p ro g ress, announcements, d isc ip lin e ):
Are these the kinds o f messages you need to send to Mexican-American
parents? Other suggestions?
2. The "demographic v ariab les" (age, sex, length of resid en ce, and others
found on the q u estio n n aire ): Are these descriptions of Mexican-Ameri-
cans u sefu l ones? Are th ere other p o s s ib ilitie s w ith more value? Other
suggestions?
3. The "communication v aria b les" (code, channel, re c e iv e r): Do the
sub-categories of the variables found on the questionnaire provide
ample choices fo r your communication? Are there others not lis te d
th a t you think are important? Other suggestions?
4. Other comments or suggestions on any phase of the design?
APPENDIX B
INTERVIEW INSTRUMENT FOR THE STUDY ON COMMUNICATING
WITH MEXICAN-AMERICAN PARENTS
252
INTERVIEW INSTRUMENT FOR THE STUDY ON
COMMUNICATING WITH MEXICAN-AMERICAN PARENTS
C b n m u n l c a t lo n P r e f e r e n c e Q u e s tio n s
I . Y o u r i c h o o t I s c o n c e r n e d eb o u c l e t t i n g y o u know how y o u r c h i l d I s
d o in g I n s c h o o l . How w o u ld you l i k e f o r th e s c h o o l Co t e l l y ou a b o u t
y o u r c h i l d ' s p r o g r e s s ? W hat do y o u t h i n k I s th e b e s t a n d w o r s t ways
o f t a i l i n g y o u a b o u t how y o u r c h i l d I s g e t t i n g a l o n g I n s c h o o l In
e a c h o f e h e f o u r c a t e g o r i e s w h ic h 1 w i l l r e a d t o y o u ?
By w h ic h o f t h e s e f o l l o w i n g w ay s?
( C i r c l e b e s t a n d w o r s t )
B e s t ( 1 )
1
W o rst (2 )
T e le p h o n e l ' i ' 1
C o n f e r e n c e I n s c h o o l 2 2
C o n f e r e n c e I n v o u r hom e 3 3
P e r s o n a l l e t t e r s e n t t o vou
A A
. P r i n t e d f o r a ( r e p o r t c a r d ) 5 5
O t h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ! 9 • 9
N o p r e f e r e n c e 0 0
U s i n g w h a t la n g u a g e ?
( 3 )
(A )
S p a n i s h 1 1
E n g l i s h 2 2
B o th S p a n i s h a n d E n g l i s h 3 3
O t h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e )
H o p r e f e r e n c e
9
0
9
0
T o w h ic h p e r s o n I n y o u r home s h o u ld
t h i s I n f o r m a t i o n b e d i r e c t e d ? ( S ) ( 6 )
F a t h e r 1 1
M o th e r 2 2
B o th 3 3
O t h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
Ms p r e f e r e n c e 0 0
W hat p e r s o n I n t h e s c h o o l s h o u ld
g i v e y o u t h i s I n f o r m a t i o n ? ( 7 ) ( 8 )
P r i n c i p a l 1 1
V ic e P r i n c i p a l 2 2
T e a c h e r 3 3
A ld a A A
N u rs e 5 5
O c h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
No p r e f e r e n c e 0 0
I X . T h e r e a r e m any a c t i v i t i e s b e i n g h e l d a t y o u r a c h o o l a u c h a a s c h o o l
p r o g r a m s , m e e t i n g s , a n d s o o n t h a t y ou m ig h t w a n t t o know a b o u t o r
a t t e n d , Hov w o u ld y o u l i k e t o f i n d o u t a b o u t t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s ? W hat
d o y o u t h i n k l a t h e b e s t o r t h e w o r s t w ay o f t e l l i n g you a b o u t w h a t
l a g o in g o n a t t h e s c h o o l I n e a c h o f t h e f o u r c a t e g o r l e a w h ic h I w i l l
r e a d t o y o u ?
By w h ic h o f t h e s e f o l l o w i n g w a y s ?
( C i r c l e b e s t a n d w o r s t )
B e s t ( 9 ) W o rst ( 1 0 )
T e le p h o n e â– 1 1
C o n f e r e n c e I n s c h o o l 2 2
C o n f e r e n c e I n y o a r h c n e 3 3
P e r s o n a l l e t t e r s e n t t o y ou
6 4
P r i n t e d fo rm ( l e t t e r o r a n n o u n c e m e n t) 5 5
O th e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
No p r e f e r e n c e
0 0
U s in g w h a t la n g u a g e ( 1 1 ) ( 12)
S p a n is h
1 1
- E n g l i s h
2 2
'.B o th .S p a n is h a n d E n g l i s h .
3 3
O th e r ( p l e e s e I n d i c a t e ) _ ........................ 9 9
No p r e f e r e n c e . . . . ____ 0 0
T o w h ic h p e r s o n I n y o u r hom e s h o u l d
t h i s I n f o r m a t i o n b e d i r e c t e d ( 1 3 ) ( 1 4 )
F a t h e r '• 1 1
M o th e r 2 ’ 2
B o th . 3 ' 3
O th e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
No P r e f e r e n c e O' 0
W hat p e r s o n I n t h e s c h o o l s h o u ld
g i v e y o u t h i s I n f o r m a t i o n ? ( 1 5 ) (1 6 )
P r i n c i p a l 1 t
V ic e P r i n c i p a l 2 • ' 2
T e a c h e r 3 3
A id e 4 4
N u rs e S 5
O th e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
No p r e f e r e n c e 0 0
255
m .
A .
B .
0.
I f y o u r c h i l d w e re h a v i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s I n s c h o o l c o n c e r n i n g some
p r o b le m I n b e h a v i o r o r w i t h a v i o l a t i o n o f s c h o o l r u l e s , how
w o u ld you l i k e ' f o r s c h o o l o f f i c i a l s t o In fo rm you a b o u t t h i s p ro *
b le m ? W hat d o y o u t h i n k I s t h e b e s t a n d t h e w o r s t w ay f o r l e t Â
t i n g y o u know I f y o u r c h i l d l a h a v i n g t r o u b l e a t s c h o o l I n e a c h
o f t h e f o u r c a t e g o r i e s w h ic h I w i l l r e a d t o you?
B e s t ( 1 7 ) W o rs t ( 1 8 )
By w h ic h o f t h e s e f o l l o w i n g w a y s ?
( C i r c l e b e s t a n d w o r s t ) _____________
T e le p h o n e 1 1
C o n f e r e n c e I n s c h o o l 2 2
C o n f e r e n c e I n y o u r hom e 3 3
P e r s o n a l l e t t e r s e n t t o you 4 4
P r i n t e d fo rm ( r e t e n t i o n a f t e r s c h o o l
f o r m , b e h a v i o r n o t i c e , e t c . ) 5 5
O t h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
N o p r e f e r e n c e 0 0
U s in g w h a t la n g u a g e ? ( 1 9 ) ( 20)
S p a n i s h 1 1
E n g l i s h 2 2
B o th S p a n is h a n d E n g l i s h ______________ ;______________ 3
O t h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) ________________ 9_________________9
N o n r e f e r e n c e
T o w h ic h p e r s o n I n y o u r home s h o u ld
t h i s I n f o r m a t i o n b e d i r e c t e d :
F a t h e r
0
( 2 1 )
I .
0
( 2 2 )
1
H o e h e r 2 2
B o th 3 3
O t h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
N o p r e f e r e n c e • 0 0
W h a t p e r s o n i n t h e s c h o o l s h o u l d
g i v e y o u t h i s I n f o r m a t i o n ? ( 2 3 ) (2 4 )
P r i n c i p a l 1 1
V i c e P r i n c i p a l 2 2
T e a c h e r 3 3
A id e 4 4
N u r s e 5 3
O t h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
No p r e f e r e n c e 0 •0
3
IV . M any t i n e s y o u r s c h o o l w o u ld l i k e t o t e l l y o u a b o u t t o n e s p e c i a l
s u c c e s s t h a t y o u r c h i l d h a s h a d I n s c h o o l , s u c h a s b e i n g e l e c t e d a
ro o m o f f i c e r , o r s o o n , W hat do y o u t h i n k I s t h e b e a t a n d th e
w o r s t w ay o f t e l l i n g y o u a b o u t y o u r c h i l d ' s s p e c i a l s u c c e s s I n s c h o o l '
I n e a c h o f t h e f o u r c a t e g o r i e s w h ic h I w i l l r e a d t o y o u !
By w h ic h o f t h e s e f o l l o w i n g w ay s?
( C i r c l e b e s t a n d w o r s t )
B e s t ( 2 3 ) W o rs t ( 2 6 )
T e le p h o n e 1 I
C o n f e r e n c e i n s c h o o l 2 2
C o n f e r e n c e I n y o u r home 3 3
P e r s o n a l l e t t e r s e n t t o y ou 4 4
P r i n t e d fo rm 5 5
O t h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
N o p r e f e r e n c e 0 0
U s i n g w h a t la n g u a g e ? ( 2 7 ) ( 2 8 )
S p a n is h 1 1
E n g l i s h 2 2
B o th S p a n is h , a n d E n g l i s h 3 3
O t h e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) 9 9
No p r e f e r e n c e 0 0 . . . . . .
T b n v h tc h p e r s o n I n y o u r home s h o u l d
t h i s I n f o r m a t i o n b e d i r e c t e d ? ( 2 9 )
( 3 0 )
F a t h e r 1
1
M o th e r 2 2
B o th
3 3
O th e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e ) _______________________________ 9 _________________ 9__
No p r e f e r e n c e _____________________________________ 0_] ________0 _
I>. U h a t p e r s o n I n t h e s c h o o l s h o u ld
g i v e you t h i s I n f o r m a t i o n ? ( 3 1 ) (3 2 )
P r i n c i p a l __________________________________________________1_________________ 1
V ic e P r i n c i p a l 2 2
T e a c h e r 3 3
A id e 4 4
N u r s e 3 3
O th e r ( p l e a s e I n d i c a t e 9 9
No p r e f e r e n c e 0 0
257
D e ra o n ra p h tc I n f o r m a t i o n Q u e s tio n s
V . ( 3 3 ) W hat la n g u a g e l a s p o k e n I n y o u r hom e?
_ _ _ _ _ _ I . S p a n is h o n ly ?
_ _ _ _ _ 2 . E n g l i s h o n ly ?
_ _ _ _ _ 3 . M o s tly S p a n is h ?
_ _ _ _ 4 . M o s t ly E n g l is h ?
_ _ _ _ _ S . E n g l i s h a n d S p a n is h a b o u t t h e sam e?
9 . O t h e r ? ( P l e a s e I n d i c a t e )
V I . ( 3 4 ) W hat k in d o f w o rk d o y o u do7
( I f r e s p o n d e n t I s a h o u s e w if e ) :
• _____________________________________W hat k in d o f w o rk d o e s y o u r h u s b a n d d o ?
V I I . ( 3 3 ) ____________________ How m any c h i l d r e n a r e l i v i n g I n y o u r hom e?
V I I I . ( 3 6 ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ How m any a d u l t s a r e l i v i n g I n y o u r hom e?
I X . ( 3 7 ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ How lo n g h a v e y o u l i v e d I n L o s A n g e le s ? ( I n y e a r s )
X . ( 3 8 ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ How lo n g h a v e y o u l i v e d I n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ? ( I n y e a r s )
X I . ( 3 8 & 4 0 ) __________________________ W h ere d i d y o u l i v e b e f o r e
c o m in g t o c h e U n ite d S t a t e s ? (Name o f c i t y , to w n , o r _ p l a c e )
T ! ! . - ( 4 1 ) U.„ iIsa* wfif#*ft f o f,«tfl A ii£ « 7 e f 4 c ity o r f i r m
•v a* ¥
I . C i t y
2 . F arm
3 . S m a ll to w n
S IT T . ( 4 2 ) W here u e r a y o u b o r n ?
1 . M e x ic o
2-. U n ite d S t a t e s
9 . O th e r ( p l e a s e s p e c i f y ) ____ _____________________________
X IV . W here w e r e v o u r p a r e tic * h o rn ?
( 4 3 ) F a t h e r ? â–
1 . M e x ic o
_ _ _ _ _ _ 2 . U n ite d S t a t e s
_ _ _ _ _ 4 . O th e r ( p l e a s e s p e c i f y )
( 4 4 ) M o th e r? .
_ _ _ _ _ I . M ex ic o
_ _ _ _ _ 2 . U n ite d S t a t e s
_ _ _ _ _ 9 . O th o r ( p l e a s e s p o c l f y )
XV, D id y o u r p a r e n t s l i v e i n a f a r m o r c i t y a r e a ?
( 4 5 ) F a t h e r ? ( 4 6 ) M o th e r?
I. City
2 . F a n s
3 . S m a ll to w n
1 . C i t y
2 . F a rm
3 . S m a ll to w n
258
X V I. ( 4 7 ) ’ W h tt v t i t h e l e i t g r a d e i n i c h o o l t h a t
y o u c o m p le te d ?
( 4 8 ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W here?
X V I I. ( 4 9 ) A re you m a r r i e d , e e p e r a t e d , w id o w e d , d iv o r c e d , o r t i n g l e ?
1 . H a r r i e d
2 . S e p a r a t e d
_ 3 . W idow ed
_ 4 . D iv o r c e d
3 . S i n g l e
I. — - * Lr
, • • S S V t /
X V I I I . ( 5 0 ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ How o l d w e r e y ou w hen y o u w e re m a r r ie d ?
X IX . ( 3 1 ) 1 . V e t 2 . No Do y o u b e lo n g t o a c h u r c h I n t h e c o c n u n lty ?
( 3 2 ) _____________________________________________________ W h ich ?
XX. ( 3 3 ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A b o u t how o l d a r e y o u ?
I n t e r v i e w e r R e s p o n s e s (T o b e c o m p le te d b y t h e I n t e r v i e w e r I m m e d ia te ly .
f o l l o w i n g t h e I n t e r v i e w -upon l e a v i n g t h e p r e m la e s )
X X I. ( 5 4 ) W hat w a t t h e t e x o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t ?
________1 . H a l t
2 . F e m a le
X * IT . ( 5 3 ) W hat w as t h e e t h n i c o f tfio i . n ' o i n h n t f
(C h e c k o n e t o t h e h e a t o f y o u r a M W t y t o a n a l y s e )
1 . H e x lre n . W r f r n t
_ 2 . M e x ic a n N a t i o n a l
3 . O th e r W h ite
I n d i a n .
_ 3 . N e g ro
6 . O r i e n t a l
_ 9 . O c h e r n o n - w h ite ( s p e c i f y )
X X I I I . I n t e r v i e w e r 's Name
X XIV . R e s p o n d e n t 's A d d r e s s
XXV. D id Che r e s p o n d e n t s e e a i ( c h e c k o n e )
V e ry c o o p e r a t i v e
_ _ _ _ _ C o o p e r a t i v e
U n c o o p e r a t iv e
X X V I. I n t h e s p a c e b e l o w , I n d i c a t e a n y t h i n g u n u s u a l a b o u t t h e I n t e r v i e w :
6
APPENDIX C
ENTREVISTA PARA EL ESTUDIO DE LA COMUNICACION
CON PADRES MEXICO— AMERICANOS
259
E N T R E V I S T A P A R A E L E S T U D I O D E L A
COHUMICACXOH CON PADRES MEXICO-tflERICANOS
P r e g u n t a s gob r e l a p r e f e r c n c l a d e c o m u n i c n c i j n
I . S u c s e u e l a e s t a muy l n t c r e s a d a e n d a r l c a o n t c n d o r l o q u o s u h i; a e s t i
h a c t e n d o e n l a c s c u c l a . IC o o o l e g u s t a r i a l n f o r o n r s e d e l p ro g r'e io d e a u
h i J o ? iC u a le 3, c r e e [J d ., s o n I 03 m e jo rc s o p e o r e s a o d o s d e i a f o r o a r l e
d e l p r o g r e a o d e s u h i J o e n c a d a u n o d e l a s s i g u l e n t e s c u a t r o c a t e g o r i e s
q u a l e woy a l e e r ?
j P o r c u a l e s d e l o s s i g u l e n t e s n o d o s ?
. { C i r c l e b e a t and w o r s t ) f
T e l ^ f o n o
H e jo r ( 1 )
1
P e o r ( 2 )
1
C o n f e r e n c l a e n l a e s c u e l a 2 2
C o n f e r e n c l n e n s u e a s a 3 3
C a r t a p e r s o n a l A A
F o rm a i m p r e s s { r e p o r t c a r d ) 5 5
O t r o s o o d o s ( l n d l a u e p o r f a v o r ) * 9 9
N i n e u n a p r e f e r e n c i a 0 0
i E m p l e a n d o q u d l i d i o m a ? ( 3 ) (A )
E s p a n o l 1 1
I n g l e s 2 2
E s p a n o l e I n g l e s 3 3
O t r o ld lo r a a ( l n d l q u c o o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N i n v u n a p r e f e r e n c i a 0 0
1 A c u a l p e r s o n a e n s u c a s a s e d e b e e n v l a r e o t a in f o r m a c io n ?
( 5 ) ( 5 )
E l p a d r e 1 1
L a o a d r e 2 2
? A I d o s 3 3
O t r o s ( l n d l o u e , p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N i n e u n a o r o f e r c n c i a 0 0
I C u a l p e r s o n a d e ^ l a e s c u e l a d e b e d a r l e a U d .
e s t a l n f o r o a c l o n ?
( 7 ) (C )
E l d i r e c t o r 1 1
E l v l c c - d l r e c t o r 2 2
E l p r o f e s o r ( n r c s t r o ) 3 3
E l e v u d a n te d e l p r o f c a o r ( t e a c h e r a i d e ) A A
L a E n f e r o c r a 5 5
O t r o s p e r s o n a s ( I n d l c u e p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N i n c u n n p r c f c r c n c i n 0 0
H ay m u c h as a c t l v l d a d o s c n s u e s c u e l a d u r a n t e e l n n o , c c t i v l d s d e o coco
p r o g r a a o s y j u n t a s . Q u lz a s l e g u s t a r i a a s l s t l r o s a b e r m as de c s t o s
p r o g r a m a s . iQ u c ^ p i e n s a q u e s o n l o s m o j o r e s , o p e o r c s c o d e s quo l a
e s c u e l a p u c d o u s a r p a r a l n f o r m a r l e d e e s t a s a c t l v l d a d e s d e l a e s c u e l a
a n l a s s l g u l e n t c s c u a t r o c a t e g o r i e s ?
A . I P o r c d a l e s d e l o s s i g u l e n t e s m odos? I l e j o r ( S ) P e o r ( 1 0 )
( C i r c l e b e s t a n d u o r s t )
T e lc 'fo n o 1 1
C o n f e r e n c la e n l a e s c u e l a
2 2
C o n f e r e n c la e n su c a s a 3 3
C a r t a n e r s o n a l
4 4
F o rm a i m D r c s a ( c a r t a d o a n u n c i o ) 5 S
O t r o s m odos ( l n d l q u e p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N in g u n a p r e f e r e n c i a 0 0
i E m p l e a n d o c u i l i d i o m a ? ( 1 1 ) (1 2 )
E s p a n o l 1 1
I n g l e s 2 2
E s p a n o l e I n g l e 's 3 3
O tr o ld lo m a ( I n d l o u e p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N in g u n a p r e f e r e n c i a 0 ' 0
jA c u a l p e r s o n a e n s u c a s a s e d e b e
c n v l a r e s t a I n f o r m a c io n ?
..( 1 2 )
(1 4 )
E l p a d r e l 1
l e c a d r e 2 â– 2
l o s d o a 3 . 3
O t r o s ( I n d l o u e . p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N in g u n a p r e f e r e n c i a 0 0
I C u a l p e r s o n a d e l a e s c u e l a d e b e d a r l e a U d .
e s t a ln f o r m a c lo 'n ?
.
(IS )
E l d i r e c t o r 1 I
E l v l c e - d l r c c t o r 2 2
E l o r o f e s o r ( m a e s t r o ) 3 . 3
E l a v u d a n te d e l p r o f e s o r ( t e a c h e r a i d e ) 4 4
l a E n f e rm e r a 3 5
O t r a s p e r s o n a s ( I n d l o u e p o r f a v o r ) S 9
N in g u n a p r e f e r e n c i a 0 0
262
1 1 1 , S I i u h l j o t l e n o p r o b l e n a s e n l a e s c u e l a , p a r e j e z p l o , p r o b l e m d e c o n d u c ts
o d e u n a v l o l a e l o n d c l a s r e g i e s d c l a e s c u e l a - iC o o o l e g u s t a r l a que le
i n f o r m n r n n l o s o f l c l a l c s d e l a e s c u e l a d e e s t o p r o b le m s ? I C u a l e s , c r e e U d,
s o n l o s o e j o r e s o p c o r e s m odos d e l n f o r m a r l e d e e c t o s p r o b l e a a s e n
c a d a u n a d e l a s c u a t r o c a t c g o r l a s q u e l e v o y a l e e r ?
A . j P o r c u a l e s d e l o s . s i g u l e n t e s o o d o s ?
( C i r c l e b e a t a n d u o r s t ) H e i o r ( 1 7 ) P e o r ( I S )
T e le 'f o n o _____________________________________________________ 1________________ 1
C o n f e r e n c l a c n l a e s c u e l a 2 2
C o n f e r e n c l a c n s u c a s a 3 3
C a r t a p e r s o n a l 4 4
F o rm a i m p r e s s ( r e t e n t i o n a f t e r s c h o o l
f o r m , b e h a v i o r n o t i c e , e t c . ) 5 5
O t r o s m odos ( I n d l o u e p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N in g u n a o r e f e r e n c i n ' 0 0
4 E m p l e a n d o c u ; f l i d i o m a ? . ' •' ( I S ) ( 2 0 )
E s p a ~ o l I 1
I n g l e s 2 2
E s p a rto l e i n e l c s 3 3
O tr o ld lo m a ( I n d l o u e p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N i n n u n a D r o f e r c n c i n 0 0
jA c u a l p e r s o n a e n s u c a s a e e d e b e e n v l a r
e s t a ln f o r m a c ld h ? ( 2 1 )
( 2 2 )
E l p a d r e 1 1
L a m a d re 2 2
L o s d o s 3 3
O t r o s ( I n d l o u e . p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N in o u n a D r o f e r c n c i a 0 0
l C u / l p e r s o n a d e l a e s c u e l a d e b e d a r l e a U d.
e s t a I n f o r m a c io n ? (2 3 ) ( 2 4 )
E l d i r e c t o r 1 1
E l v l e e > d l r e c t o r 2 2
E l p r o f e s o r ( m a e s t r o ) 3 3
E l a v u d a n te d e l p r o f e s o r ( t e a c h e r a i d e ) 4 4
L a E n f o rm e ra 5 5
O t r a s p e r s o n a s ( I n d l o u e p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N i n g u n a p r c f u r c n c i a 0 0
263
X V . H u c h a s v e c e s In e s c u e l a I t q u l c r e s v i s a r d a a l c u n e x t t o e s p e c i a l q u e /
• u h l j o h a r e c i b l d o , p o r e j e m p l o , c lo Q ld o o f l c l a l e n su s a l & i , e t c . iC u a le o ,
c r e e U d .. s o n l o s m e jo r e s o p e o r e s o o d o s d e i n f o r c i o r l e d e e s t e h o n o r
o n c a d e u n o d e l a s c u a t r o c a t e c o r l a s q u e l e v o y a l e o r ?
A . { P o r c u a 'le s d e l o s s i g u l e n t e s u o d o s ?
i l e i o r (2 5 1 P e o r ( 2 6 )
T e l e f o n o 1 1
C o n f e r e n c l a e n l a e s c u e l a 2 2
C o n f e r e n c l a e n s u c a s a 3 3
C a r t a p e r s o n a l 4 4
F o r n a i m p r e s s 5 3
O t r o s m o d o s ( I n d l o u e n o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N i n e u n a p r e f e r e n c i a 0 0
i E m p l e a n d o c u rfl i d i o m a ? (2 7 ) ( 2 3 )
E s p a n o l 1 1
I n n l e s 2 2
E s p a n o l e l n n l e 's 3 3
O t r o l d l o n a ( i n d l o u e p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N i n v u n a o r e f e r c n c i a 0 0
{ A c u a l p e r s o n a . e n s u c a s a s e d e b e
( 3 0 )
e m r l a r e s t a l n f o r o a c l o n ? ( 2 9 )
E l p a d r e 1 1
L a n a d r e 2 2
L o s d o s 3 3
O t r o s < l n d l q u e . p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N i n v u n a p r e f e r e n c i a 0 0
{ C u a l p e r s o n a d e l a e s c u e l a d e b e d a r l e a U d .
• s t a l n f o r o a c l o n : '
W . „..
(3 2 )
E l d i r e c t o r 1
E l v l c e - d l r e c t o r 2 2
E l p r o f e s o r ( o a c s t r o ) 3 3
E l e v u d a o te d e l p r o f e s o r ( t e a c h e r a i d e ) 4 4
L a E n f e r c e r a 5 3
O t r a a p e r s o n a s ( I n d l o u e p o r f a v o r ) 9 9
N i n o u n a p r e f e r e n c i a 0 0
P r e n u n t a s d c l n f o r o a c l o n E s t n d l s t l c a
V . ( 3 3 ) { C u n 'l ld lo m a s o h a b l a a n s u c a s a ?
1 . S o la m e n te e s p a n o l
2 . S o la m e n te I n g le 's
3 . P r l n c l p a l m e n t a e s p a n o l
4 . P r l n d p a l n e n t e I n g l e s
5 . E s p a n o l e I n g le 's lg u s lm c n te
4 . O t r a ld lo m a ( I n d l q u e p o t- f a v o r ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
V I . ( 3 4 ) tQ u e ' c l o s e d e t r a b a j o h a c e V d ,?
( I f r e s p o n d e n t I s a h o u s e u i f e ) :
I T s u e s p o s o ?
V I I . ( 3 5 ) t C u s 'n to s h l j o s v lv e n e n s u c e s s ?
V I I I . ( 3 5 ) t C u s 'n to s s d u l t o s v l v e n e n s u c a s a ?
I X . ( 3 ? ) ____________________ t C u s 'n to s arTos h a v l v l d o U d. e n L os A n g e le s ? ( y r s . )
2 . ( 3 0 ) _____________ { C u a n to s a n o s h a v l v l d o U d . , e n L o s E s ta d o s U n ld o s ?
a (yri)
X I . (3 5 & 4 0 ) I D onda v i v l a U d.
a n t e s d e v e n l r a l o s E s ta d o s U n ld o s? (H o c b re d e c l u d a d , p u e b lo , e t c . )
. X I I . ( 4 1 ) { A n t e s d e v e n l r a L o s A n g e le s v l v l a U d , e n e l cam po o a n u n a c l u d a d ?
_ _ _ _ _ 1 , C lu d a d
_ _ _ _ _ 2 . Campo
_ _ _ _ _ 3 . P u e b lo
X I I I . ( 4 2 ) t D onde n a c l o U d .?
• 1 . i i e j i c o
~ 2 . E s ta d o s U n ld o s
_ _ _ _ 9 . O t r a ( I n d l q u e p o r f a v o r )
n V . { D o n d e n a c l e r o n s u s p a d r e s ?
( 4 3 ) { S u p a d r e ?
1 . t t e j l c o
2 . E s ta d o s U n ld o s
9 . O t r a ( I n d l q u e p o r f a v o r ) _ _
( 4 4 ) t S u m a d re ?
1 . l l e j l c o
2 . E s ta d o s U n ld o s
9 . O t r a ( I n d l q u e p o r f a v o r ) _ _
X V . { V l v l c r o n s u s p s d r e a e n e l cam po o e n l a c u l d a d ?
( 4 5 ) { S u p a d r e ? (4 6 ) t S u m adr.e?
1 . C lu d a d 1 . C lu d a d
2 . Cam po 2 . C ao p o
3 . P u e b lo 3 . P u e b lo
«5**
265
X V I. ( 4 7 ) I C u A f u e c l u l t i m o g r a d o d c e s c u e l a que
~ a c a b o ' U d . 7
( 4 0 ) ______________________________________________________ iD o n d e ?
X V I I . ( 4 9 ) j t s t a U d . c a s a d a ( o ) , s e p a t a d a ( o ) , v l u d a ( o ) , d l v o r c l a d a ( o )
o a o l t e r a ( o ) 7
1 . C a s a d a
2 . S e p a r a d e
3 . V lu d a
4 . D l v o r c l a d a
5 . S o l t e r a
X V I I I . ( 5 0 ) ) C u a n to s a n o s t e n i a U d . c u a n d o s e c s s o ?
S I X . ( 5 1 ) _ _ _ _ _ I . S I _ _ _ _ _ 2 . n o l A s l s t e U d . a u n a I g l e s i a e n l a
c o o u n ld a d ?
( 5 2 ) _______________________________________1 C u a l 7
X X . ( 5 3 ) I C u a n to s a n o s t l e n e U d .?
I n t e r v l e u e r R e s p o n s e s (T o b e c o m p le te d b y t h e l n t e r v i e u e r I m m e d ia te ly
f o l l o w i n g t h e i n t e r v i e w upon l e a v i n g t h e p r e m is e s )
X X I. ( 5 4 ) U h a t v a s t h e s e x o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t ?
1 . H a l e
2 . F e m a le
X X I I . ( 5 5 ) U h a t w a s t h e e t h n i c c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t?
( C h e c k o n e t o t h e b e s t o f y o u r a b i l i t y t o a n a l y t e )
1 . M e x ic a n -A m e ric a n
2. Hexlcaa national
3 . O t h e r l l h l t e
4 . I n d i a n
5 . K e g r o
6 . O r i e n t a l
S . O t h e r n o n - w h ite ( s p e c i f y )
X X I I I . I n t e r v i e w e r 's M ane ______________________________________________ ______
X X IV , R e s p o n d e n t 's A d d r e s s _
XXV. D id t h e r e s p o n d e n t se e m : ( c h e c k o n e )
Ve r y c o o p e r a t i v e
Co o p e r a t i v e
Un c o o p e r a t i v e
X X V I. I n t h e s p a c e b o l o u , I n d i c a t e a n y t h i n g u n u s u a l a b o u t t h e I n t e r v i e w :
-C -
APPENDIX D
INTERVIEWER'S LETTER OF INTRODUCTION
266
267
C A L I F O R N I A STATE COL LEG E
5151 Slate College Drive, Lot Angela, California 90032
{San Bernardino and Long Beach Freruayt Interchange)
L O S A N G E LE S
Con e s ta c a rta le p re sen tam o s a l Sr. T om ^s G onzales que
le e s t^ ayudando a l P ro fe s o r H ow ard H olladay en un proyecto de
in v estig acid n . ^ S erfa Ud. tan am able que le p e rm itie ra h a c e rle s
unas p re g u n ta s re spec to a com o le g u s ta ria r e c ib ir inform acidn
de su hijo y de la esc u ela que a s is te ?
Le ag rad ecem o s xnucho su coo p eracid n . E sp eram o s que
p o r la s id e a s que Ud. nos dd, po d ram o s m e jo ra r los mdtodos de
com unicacidn e n tre los p a d re s y la esc u ela. P uede Ud. e s ta r
seg u ro 'd e que la in fo rm acid n que Ud. nos pro p o rcio n e s e rd co m -
p letam en te confidencial. M uchisim as g ra c ia s p o r su am abilidad.
T h is w ill in tro d u ce M r. T hom as G onzales who is a ssistin g
P ro fe s s o r H ow ard H olladay w ith a re s e a rc h p ro je c t. W ill you be
so kind a s to allow him to a s k you som e questions concerning how
you would like to re ceiv e in fo rm atio n about y o u r child and the
school th a t y o u r child atten d s?
We w ould g re a tly a p p reciate y o u r cooperation. We hope that
through the id eas you give us we w ill be able to im prove com m uniÂ
catio n betw een p a re n ts and the sch o o ls. You m ay be a ssu re d that
any in fo rm atio n given to us w ill re m a in com pletely confidential.
Thank you fo r your k in d n ess.
A ten tam en te.
H ow ard H olladay
P ro fe s o r A sisten te de
R etd rico
S incerely,
H ow ard H olladay
A s s is ta n t P ro fe s s o r of
S peech
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Creator
Holladay, Howard Preston (author)
Core Title
Communication Of Mexican Americans With Public School Personnel: A Study Of Channel, Code, Receiver, And Source Preferences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Degree Program
Speech Communication
Publisher
University of Southern California
(original),
University of Southern California. Libraries
(digital)
Tag
OAI-PMH Harvest,Speech Communication
Language
English
Contributor
Digitized by ProQuest
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Fisher, Walter R. (
committee chair
), McBath, James H. (
committee member
), Smith, Robert A. (
committee member
)
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https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-532382
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Holladay, Howard Preston
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