Community Psychology Commons^™

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 …

The Cultivation Of Neighbourhood Centres: A Life Cycle Model, Barbara Anne Derksen

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study focused on the lifecycle of four neighbourhood organizations located in Cambridge, Ontario. The key question in the study was: “How do the various stakeholders in the neighbourhood organizations experience the life cycle of these organizations”? Participants and staff described their experiences and their relationships with each other, staff, the sponsoring agency, the neighbourhood and the social service agencies that interact with neighbourhood organizations. Their responses helped to build a model of community development grounded in their own experiences that will be helpful in education, planning and evaluation. To answer both the key research question and related questions, an …

An Outcome And Process Evaluation Of The Pamscad Supplementary Food Program At Ayeredee In The Brong Ahafo Region Of Ghana, West Africa, Kofi Bobi Barimah

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research was an evaluation of the impact of a nutrition program on women at Ayeredee in the Nkoranza district of the Brong—Ahafo region of Ghana, west Africa. As a part of Ghana's emphasis on primary health care, the program is aimed at improving children's nutritional status and preventing malnutrition, disease and death. Specifically, the Program of Action to Mitigate the Social Cost or Adjustment (PAMSCAD) supplementary food program was examined to determine whether the goals of the program are being met. An empowerment agenda which focused on both process and outcome was used as the conceptual framework for the …

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 …

Kitchener-Waterloo Immigrant Settlement And Adaptation Program (Isap): A Process And Outcome Evaluation (Ontario), Charity Sylvia Akotia

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research is an evaluation of the processes and outcomes of an Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP) in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. ISAP was established to facilitate quick and easy adaptation of newcomers in the region. The study utilized the stakeholder approach to evaluation, where I worked in collaboration with the program staff and a client in defining the stages of the research process. The study also explored other areas which were considered central to settlement and adaptation. These include client-counsellor relationship, family experiences, clients’ self-esteem, and moral support provided by counsellors. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, I conducted personal …

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 …

Training In Community Psychology At Wilfrid Laurier University: A Process And Outcome Evaluation (Ontario), Judit Alcade

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

There is to date no Canadian example of a systematic evaluation of a community psychology training programme, and the literature reveals few evaluations in the U.S. This paper describes an evaluation of the Community Psychology M.A. Programme at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU). A utilization-focused stakeholder model was used, whereby I worked closely with faculty, students, some support staff, and a graduate of the programme throughout the entirety of the evaluation. Because community psychology is strongly committed to process, both outcome and process goals were given equal emphasis. In addition, other aspects such as student satisfaction, course effectiveness, and an exploration …

Qualitative Evaluation Of Processes And Outcomes Of A Home Visiting Program For Developmentally Handicapped Preschoolers And Their Families, Nancy Lapointe

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

A variety of programs reflecting a diverse array of philosophical approaches to early intervention for developmentally handicapped preschoolers have been developed over the past 30 years. Evaluations of these programs report that early intervention is effective for these children. Yet considerable controversy continues about the validity of most of these studies. A number of researchers have expressed the need for different methods of evaluation but to date few researchers have attempted to evaluate these programs with more appropriate methods or to examine aspects of the program other than child outcomes. This study assessed an early intervention program that involved home …

Understanding Context And Process: The First Step In Building Communities, Dia Mamatis

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

First, this study documents the context and process of community development by using the Southwood Neighbourhood Association (SWNA) within the Southwest Cambridge community in Cambridge, Ontario as an illustration. The community context is defined and described in terms of its physical and demographic characteristics, its social-relational features, and the psychological sense of community. Five key stages in the process of community development are identified and illustrated in the development of the SWNA. Second, this study documents the process of development of an inter-agency, community-based primary prevention research project proposal. This research is viewed as part of the community development process …

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. …

Development And Construct Validation Of Lane's (1989) Attitudes Toward The Elderly Scale Extending Fazio's Process Model Of Attitude-Behaviour Correspondence, Donna-Marie Martin

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this study was twofold: to extend Fazio’s (1986) model of attitude-behaviour correspondence within the context of attitudes toward the elderly, and to further develop Lane’s (1989) Attitudes Toward the Elderly Scale (ATES) and assess its construct validity. In the first phase, 452 introductory students completed a modified version of Lane’s (1989) ATES, a measure of experience with the elderly, and Snyder’s (1974) Self-Monitoring Scale. During phase 2, six weeks later, participants evaluated a job candidate to investigate how the moderating variables of self-monitoring, salience, direct experience, and situational cues maximized or minimized attitude-behaviour correspondence. A total of …

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 …

Developing A Sense Of Community: An Assessment Of The Needs And Resources Of A Church Congregation, Heather Hair

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The development of a psychological sense of community within various settings has been the focus of recent interest for many community psychologists. One setting, however, tint has received minimal attention is religious organizations. In Canada, churches and synagogues are prominent institutions standing between the individual and the larger structures of society. Consequently, religious organizations can be art important cost-effective resource for prevention and health promotion programs. Through collaborative and consultative work with congregations, the community psychologist can reach important, underserved segments of the population who are reluctant to use traditional mental health services. Using the community development process congregational members …

Satisfaction With Social And Residential Environments Of Adults With Mental Retardation In Supported Independent Living And Group Homes, Shelley L. Potter

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The philosophy that has permeated Ontario’s policies and planning in the realm of adults with mental retardation has been that of integration into the community. Community based residences vary greatly in terms of size, type, and care given; however they generally fall in the category of the “least restrictive alternative”. The present study is focused on the similarities and distinctions between two of these alternatives, and in the satisfaction experienced by the consumers in these two programs themselves: community group homes and supported independent living programs. In the present study interviews with 40 adults with mental retardation were conducted. Twenty …

A Qualitative Evaluation Of A Community Development Process Within A Housing Co-Operative, Gwenith Page-Clemmer

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Community development has been credited for numerous achievements since the turn of the century. Its premise and theory have been applied to a multitude of settings and cultures. Although the contexts are forever changing, the fundamental philosophy is still the same, to create in each individual a desire to work together for the overall good of the community. This thesis examines one community development project, its context, and process, and evaluates its effects using a qualitative approach. Russet Homes, a rehabilitative cooperative opened its doors to community development in 1985. Transformed from a typical townhouse project into a cooperative, Russet …

The Creation Of A Multi-Ethnic Housing Cooperative A Social Intervention, Mary Sehl

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The present study documents the development of the Housing Working Group—a group which investigated strategies to improve the housing situation of new Canadians in Kitchener-Waterloo—and the subsequent formation of the founding board of directors of a multi-ethnic housing cooperative. It emphasizes the importance of new Canadian involvement in the intervention and the need to view their empowerment as a long-term goal, attainable only after a series of small, measurable successes. The research revealed two dilemmas in the practice of community development. First, though the empowerment of powerless people requires their active participation in self-help projects, the interventionist cannot force them …

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 …

The Evolution In Canada Of The Citizen's Movement Against Nestle, 1978-1984: A Descriptive Study, Deacute Bryant

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This is an historical study of a social action. The purpose of the study was two-fold: 1) to document the evolution in Canada of the infant formula controversy, and 2) to use the intervention as a case example with which to propose a theoretical model of social action. In Canada the history of the controversy went from 1978 to 1984. During that time action groups for activists and industry reported similar changes in focus. Their targeted audiences changed from being the general public to being the “power elite”: professionals with political clout and money. The primary topics and groups advocated …

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 …

An Exploration Of Native Leadership In One Community, Sylvia L. Kahgee

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study examined leadership structure and processes in one reserve community. Forty Native subjects (21 males and 19 females) volunteered to participate in the study. Their mean age was 33.45 years (S.D. = 16.70 years), and ranged from 16-72 years. Three groups were studied: 1) Formal leaders, who currently held elected positions of chief or councilor. 2) Informal leaders, identified by community members as those people, excluding formal leaders, who help others in the community. 3) Community members presently living on the reserve. The chief and three councilors (all males) were the formal leaders. There were two male and two …

Developing A Sense Of Community: A Description Of The Process And Theoretical Considerations, Patricia Irene Mcinnis

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study develops an understanding of the process of community development. The first part of the study presents a historical and theoretical consideration of the value of a psychological sense of community and the absence of this in today’s society. This section also introduces the concept of community development and its potential for creating a sense of community within a specific locality.

The research approach is described and is supplemented by an explanation of the role of the researcher as a part of the setting. The researcher’s entry and effort to gain a sense of legitimation in the setting is …

The Extent Of Primary Prevention Research In The Community Psychology Literature: A Content Analysis, Catherine Comeau

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Previous research and opinion suggested that community psychology had not realized its 1960’s commitment to primary prevention. This thesis employs theoretically-oriented content analysis to investigate the extent of the specialization’s commitment to this issue as reflected in research published in three journals: American Journal of Community Psychology (1973-1978), Journal of Community Psychology (1976), Community Mental Health Journal (1966, 1976). The data suggests that approximately 50% of this periodical literature focuses on some aspect of primary prevention. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Community Corrections, Judith Ursula Mary Gedye

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Troubled and troubling youth have been the focus of interest for generations of mankind. Modern society has chosen to deal with its “delinquent” youth in characteristically alienating ways. This thesis looks in depth at the development of community psychology, the history of the juvenile court system and corrections, the literature of troubled and troubling youth, and the history of the community of Kitchener-Waterloo in an effort to understand the current situation for youth in our culture. Theintent of the thesis was to develop a Group Home Committee which would focus the interest and energy of some members of a community …

Residential Care For The Mentally Retarded: A Systemic Analysis Of The Creation Of A Community Residence And How Its Development Was Viewed By Members Of The System, David G. Hallman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The present study, placed in an historical context of care for the mentally retarded, examines the creation and development of a Community Residence for retarded adults. The Residence is described as a system of interrelating groups (the retarded adults, the director and staff, the parents, the Advisory Committee members) whose patterns of communication and interaction affect the nature of the program. The primary sources of data are the observations of the author who was a participant in the develop[ment of the facility and the results of a survey of each of the system’s groups. The survey results indicate some differences …

Exploratory Study Of Gossip In A Rural Community, Ruth Anne Laverty

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this study was to investigate social psychological factors in the process of gossip. A second purpose was to determine whether gossip is a process distinct from rumor. An American community was the location of the study. The situations observed were behavioural settings which either the E or her assistant were permitted to attend without arousing suspicion. The 79 Ss studied were male and female adults and children who happened to be present in these behavioural settings. Conversations of all Ss were tape recorded as well as the gossip portions of conversations in other settings. The content of …