Community Psychology Commons^™

The Courage To Change: Salvadoran Stories Of Personal And Social Transformation (El Salvador), Audrey Celeste Rosa

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Through a humanist, socialist, and feminist lens this study is an exploration of the process of social change. Using a grounded-theory and narrative approach, and a mix of qualitative methods (field study, in-depth and informal interviews, and participant observation), eleven in-depth interviews were generated from the sociocultural and political context of El Salvador: a country which has chosen a revolutionary path to social change. The present study focuses on the personal and social transformation processes of eight exemplary individuals, six of whom the author has known through an extensive history of solidarity work and social action. The resulting narratives are …

Supporting Community Innovators: An Evaluation Of The Sexual Offender Program Of Community Justice Initiatives, Kitchener, Ontario, Stephanie Campbell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis is an utilization-focussed evaluation of the Sexual Offender Program of Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) of Kitchener, ON. The evaluation was guided by a steering committee consisting of program stakeholders. The main goals of the study were to examine whether the program offers services which correspond to the program’s three newly stated outcome objectives and to gain program participants’ and volunteers’ suggestions to improve the program services. The study is also aimed to examine how well participants achieved the three program objectives. Information for the evaluation was gained through focus group interviews with program participants, telephone interviews with support …

Barely A Whisper In The System: Parents' Perspectives On The Prevention Of Foster Care Placement, Tammie O. Belliveau

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Despite an abundance of literature stressing the need to prevent child maltreatment and foster care placement, information related to the prevention of foster care placement and child maltreatment from a parent's perspective is virtually nonexistent. This research utilized qualitative research techniques to elicit parental perspectives on the prevention of foster care placement and child maltreatment. Results were analyzed utilizing Belsky's (1980) ecological framework for child maltreatment and a risk and protective framework. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical, research, practical and personal implications. Practical implications stress the importance of creating interventions which (a) strive to build self-esteem, (b) provide …

Value Dilemmas In Striving For Social Justice: A Case Study Of The Working Centre (Ontario), Stephen Orr

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study examines the Working Centre, a self-help resource centre for the unemployed in Kitchener, and how it has responded to the changing nature of work. It explores the growth of global capitalism and the impact of new technologies on the workplace. The study also examines how economic restructuring leads to high levels of unemployment and part-time work. The thesis reviews the Working Centre’s mission, goals and objectives, and how these have been translated into action in the Centre’s early years and today. Finally, this study discusses the Centre’s efforts to pursue a social justice agenda in a rapidly changing …

Social Identity And Integrative Complexity: The Effects Of Silent Group Membership On Reasoning About Social Issues, Stephen Leonard Friedman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The works of self-categorization theorists (e.g., Conover, 1988, 1984; Turner et al., 1987) suggests that presenting individuals with social issues central to the interests of their social group, and individual differences in group identification, can accentuate the salience of one’s group membership. Further, they suggest that social group salience may affect individuals’ viewpoints on group central social issues, resulting in more extreme, black-and-white thinking. The present study was designed in order to investigate the extent to which social group salience and/or individual differences in group identification affect the complexity with which gender group members think about a gender-central social issue. …

A Stakeholder Approach To Sexual Assault Prevention Programming In The Halton Board Of Education, Judith Ann Gould

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

There are few examples of sexual assault education interventions within the high schools. Research about programmes delivered at universities indicates that the programmes do not change the rape-supportive beliefs of participants (Lenihan, Rawlins, Eberly, Buckley, & Masters, 1992). A criticism of these programmes is that students do not participate in their own learning. A curriculum-writing team at the I-Ialton Board or Education developed two lessons on sexual assault as part of the grade nine “Healthy Sexuality" curriculum. The sexual assault lessons were then piloted with three grade nine classes. After delivery, six to eight students from each class participated in …

In Search Of A Place To Call Home: A Qualitative Evaluation Of A Transitional Housing Program For Refugee Families, Colleen Marcia Wiltshire

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Refugees are often faced with insurmountable barriers (such as marginalization and underemployment) as they try to become integrated into their adopted countries. Sand Hills Community Development Inc. (SHCD) devised a transitional housing program to circumvent these barriers, by bolstering newcomers through providing housing and support. The program was located within a residential area and a multicultural housing cooperative, and housed refugee claimants and government-sponsored refugees, respectively. The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the degree of success SHCD had in providing a supportive environment for refugee families. Data for the evaluation were based on qualitative interviews which were conducted …

Citizen Participation In The Development Of Religious Communities As Extended Health Care Centres, Theresa Connie Dunn

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Citizen participation was encouraged through the use of a needs and resource assessment. The assessment accomplished: 1) a process of involving rural citizens in community decision-making and 2) gathering data useful to the planning of a community chaplaincy program. Seventy participants completed a questionnaire through one of three methods: 1) self-administered by mental health service users, 2) a phone survey of residents in remote rural areas, and 3) a nominal group process involving congregational members. I focused the analysis of the data on: 1) the actual and suggested resources the participants reported for the four needs: personal, spiritual, social and …

Mothers And Others Making Change: Empowerment Through Self-Help And Social Action (Ontario), Susan M. Morrison

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This qualitative research study is an evaluation of the organization, Mothers and Others Making Change (MOMC), a self-help/social action, anti-poverty organization in Kitchener-Waterloo. The research was developed a, both an action and a theoretical investigation designed to answer the questions: Is MOMC an empowering organization? and Is MOMC an empowered organization? Members of MOMC, local and provincial human service representatives and local and provincial politicians were interviewed to obtain their opinions about these questions. The results indicate that both the self-help arid the social action components of the organization are important factors in empowering the members to take control of …

Determinants And Distinguishing Variables Of Pro-Disarmament Behaviour And Responsible Environmental Behaviour, Lisa Sara Nemiroff

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The possibility of nuclear holocaust and the destruction of our environment are two issues that threaten all of humanity. As one would expect, disarmament proposals and proposals aimed at improving the quality of the environment have received overwhelming public support. However, while the public often engages in behaviour congruent with their attitudes toward environmental problems, they do not demonstrate attitude-behaviour congruence with regard to nuclear arms race issues. In addition to attempting to substantiate past research results concerning the determinants of peace and environmental activism, the purpose of this thesis was to identify the variables that bring about this discrepancy. …

The Refugee Filtering Process And Host Country Resettlement Issues In Canada: A Critical Theoretical Analysis, R. Gary Edwards

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In the present study, an attempt is made to integrate the diverse literature pertaining to host country resettlement and refugee mental health in Canada. A historical perspective is provided, reviewing the checkered Canadian responses to international refugee movements and the various influences on the humanitarian aims of refugee policy. A model is then developed, drawing on the literature of multiple academic disciplines. The models constitutes a critical generative theory whereby the resettlement issues of assimilationism, racial prejudice, employment difficulties, and domestic political pressures are respectively linked to the filtering processes of ideology, race, economics, and international diplomacy. A test of …

Power And The Social Order: Sex Role Stereotyping In Children's Television, Christine Burke

Honors Theses

The aim of this study is to offer an assessment of the common themes in feminist, Lacanian psychoanalytic and deconstructionist theory. It will then discuss the degree to which these three discourses allow us to grasp the implications of the political socialization which occurs through television programming directed primarily at children.

There are points of commonality and discordance between these approaches. My aim will not be to make the argument that one approach is best, nor to arrive at a final synthesis. Rather, I construe these theoretical approaches as different lenses through which we can apprehend and evaluate the messages …

Stress And Social Support A Comparison Of Single And Partnered Adolescent Mothers, Lillian J. Burke

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Knowledge of stress and support experienced by adolescent parents may allow for the development of more appropriate or useful interventions. As some adolescent parents are single, and others are in a partnered relationship, it would seem that the examination and comparison of these two groups would yield information that could assist in making inventions more specific to the needs of each group. The current study was designed to examine the stresses being experienced by the adolescent mother and the supports which she perceives as being available to her. Thirty-two adolescent mothers participated in the research: Each had one child between …

Recipient Reactions To Aid Reciprocity And Self-Esteem, Ronald Douglas Rankmore

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this research was to determine to what extent the clients of the Ontario March of Dames – Assistive Device Program experienced negative reactions to aid across three conditions: 1) no reciprocity condition, 2) voluntary reciprocity condition and 3) financial reciprocity condition. Dependent variable measures assessing negative reactions to aid were: a) self-esteem scores on the Phillips Self-Acceptance Scale (Phillips, 1951), b) length of delay to approach the program, c) feelings of approaching the agency as measured by a seven item, five point semantic differential scale and reason for delay if any was indicated, and d) choice for …

A Case Study Of A Utilization-Focused Evaluation Involving Two Community-Based Family Services, Giles Reneacute Charbonneau

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this research was to study a utilization-focused model developed to evaluate two small community-based family services. The case study method allowed for an intensive investigation of the model so that it could be determined whether or not it contributed to increased utilization of evaluation findings. The research, conducted over a period of two years, involved the participation of committees, selected by the Board of Directors of both organizations, to work with a researcher to develop a program evaluation. Results indicate that involving decision-makers from these organizations in the design and implementation of the evaluation was critical to …

The Latin American Experience In Applying Social Psychology To Community Change, Gerardo Marín

Psychology

No abstract provided.

Validity Of The Revised Beta Examination Second Edition For Use With A Multiply Handicapped Population, Cluster Glenn Robbins Jr.

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Education at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Cluster Glenn Robbins, Jr. in January of 1983.

Sexual Attitudes And Behavior As A Function Of Religiosity In The Appalachian College Student, Kimberly Kay Mcclanahan

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Education at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Psychology by Kimberly Kay McClanahan in August of 1980.

Intrinsic-Extrinsic Religious Motivation And Patterns Of The Self-Concept : An Analysis Of Selected Single Young Adults Of The North Caribbean Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Eugene F. Daniel

Dissertations

Problem. The development of an authentic Christian lifestyle is commonly accepted as a desirable goal which the church organization seeks to foster. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has accepted the development of the Christian personality within the youth and young adults as one of its goals. The purposeof this study was to investigate the relationship between intrinsic-extrinsic religious motivation and patterns of self-concept for a selected sample of single young adults of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Since earlier studies have postulated negative and positive relationships between religious motivation andthe self-concept, there was a need to know if a significant relationship existed …

Experimental Modification Of Attitudes Toward Birth Control, Peggy C. Hunter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

It is apparent in both lay and professional literature that we are living in an age of social crises. Clearly the shortage of resources and the problems of pollution and poverty would be greatly ameliorated if our birth rate were controlled. Despite this, a survey of psychological literature reveals a paucity of articles on birth control. Psychologists largely have their heads in the sand with regard to research to understand factors associated with childbearing. Meanwhile, the birth rate soars on and it is increasingly obvious that something must be done.

Christian Worship: A Psychological Study, Jonas M. Berkey

Graduate Thesis Collection

Both Psychology and Christianity are concerned with the well-being or wholeness of the human person. Since God is no respecter of persons, then all men are alike in their basic nature. Psychology bears out this conclusion. Therefore, upon the foundation of this basic agreement psychology may be used effectively in helping to establish a fundamental agreement for the effective worship of Christian men. The scope of this treatment will consider only three of the basic acts of Christian worship - prayer, baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Psychological Effects Of Segregation On Buses, Martin M. Grossack

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.