Role models are often suggested as a means of motivating people to set and reach ambitious goals, especially for members of stigmatised groups in achievement settings. Yet, findings in relation to the effectiveness of role model are mixed and the literature on role models suffers from a number of limitations: (1) it lacks a clear definitional consensus of role models, (2) there is a lack of an integrated theoretical framework around role modelling, (3) very little of our current understanding of role models draws on the motivational literature to explain how role models can influence motivation and goals, and (4) the focus of the extant role model literature has been mainly on the attributes that make role models effective at the expense of understanding how this occurs. In this thesis, we first review the literature on role models (Chapter 1) and present two studies highlighting the limitations of the extant understanding of role modelling (Chapter 2). We then address these limitations by developing a theoretical framework of role modelling where we integrate different definitions of role models into a new conceptualisation in which we propose that role models influence goals and motivation in three distinct ways: by acting as behavioural models, by representing the possible, and by being inspirational. We then draw on expectancy-value theories of motivation to build a theoretical framework for understanding not only when but also how role models can effectively influence motivation and goals in these three functions (Chapter 3). This new theoretical framework, the Motivational Theory of Role Modelling, highlights how the power of role models can be harnessed to increase role aspirants’ motivation, reinforce their existing goals, and facilitate their adoption of new goals. We present four empirical studies supporting the ideas put forward in this theoretical framework, namely that role models in their three functions increase expectancy and value and, in turn, motivation and goals (Chapters 4,5, and 6). Finally, we integrate and summarise our findings and discuss theoretical and practical implications (Chapter 7).

The purpose of this study was to test research instruments to measure social and therapeutic rules, role incompetence and violence in hospitalized psychiatric patients. Instruments were tested to measure the specific concepts of: the Discrepant Interpretation of the Therapeutic Rules (GTRS and PTRSI), the Inconsistent Enforcement of the Social Rules (SRSI), the patients' Inability to Adhere to the Therapeutic Rules (PTRSII), the patients' Inability to Adhere to the Social Rules (SRSII) and Violence (VS). The study used a descriptive correlational design. The nursing staff sample consisted of 57 nursing staff working in nine clinical psychiatric units of four local hospitals. The nursing staff sample completed research ratings on 162 patient subjects hospitalized on the units. The data were analyzed for estimations of the psychometric properties of the research instruments. The theory was estimated using correlational and multiple regression techniques. The results indicated that with the exception of the General Therapeutic Rule Scale, the instruments had strong evidence of reliability and validity. The General Therapeutic Rule Scale had limited evidence of reliability and validity. The theoretical model testing indicated that three of the predicted theoretical relationships were supported. The expanded empirical model testing indicated three additional relationships. The amount of variance in violence explained by the expanded empirical model was R² = 18%. The major findings of this study were: (a) the social rules were more important than the therapeutic rules in predicting violence, (b) contrary to the literature, personal patient variables such as, age, sex, and diagnosis did not contribute to violence in the hospital setting, (c) a patient history of violence outside the hospital contributed to the patients' inability to adhere to the rules, (d) a direct relationship existed between the therapeutic and social rules, (e) the subdimensions of violence against self, others and property may be theoretically distinct dimensions of violence, and (f) the relationship of violence and other variables may be curvilinear.

Lam Chun Bun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-56). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Theoretical Background --- p.3 / Impact of Male Gender Role Conflict --- p.4 / Potential Moderator Variables --- p.6 / Age --- p.6 / Ethnicity --- p.8 / Marital Status --- p.9 / The Present Study --- p.10 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- METHOD --- p.12 / Study Selection --- p.12 / Inclusion Criteria --- p.12 / Coding Procedure --- p.13 / Meta-analytic Procedure --- p.13 / Table 1 --- p.16 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- RESULTS --- p.22 / Reliability of Gender Role Conflict and its Correlates --- p.22 / Table 2 --- p.23 / Main Effect Analyses --- p.24 / Psychological Variables --- p.24 / Interpersonal Variables --- p.25 / Attitudinal Variables --- p.25 / Table 3 --- p.27 / Table 4 --- p.28 / Table 5 --- p.29 / Table 6 --- p.30 / Table 7 --- p.31 / Moderator Analyses --- p.32 / Age --- p.32 / Ethnicity --- p.33 / Marital Status --- p.33 / Table 8 --- p.34 / Table 9 --- p.35 / Table 10 --- p.36 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- DISCUSSION --- p.37 / Reliability of the GRCS-I --- p.37 / Main Effects --- p.38 / Age as a Moderator --- p.40 / Ethnicity as a Moderator --- p.40 / Marital Status as a Moderator --- p.41 / Limitations --- p.42 / Concluding Remarks --- p.43 / REFERENCES --- p.45

The general aim of the study was to investigate how grandparents experience their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren in the town of Odendaalsrus. From the literature review the researcher realised that a limited amount of research has been done on Caucasian grandparents as primary caregivers of their grandchildren in the suburban areas of South Africa. The literature however did confirm that the prevalence of the phenomenon of grandparents raising their grandchildren has increased significantly over the past few years. This led to the investigation into how grandparents experience their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. The researcher undertook a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological study. The research was conducted in the rural town of Odendaalsrus. The participants consisted of ten Caucasian grandparents of whom four were male participants and six were female participants. Grandparents who formed part of the research sample were identified based on a set of criteria which was formulated by the researcher. After the participants had been identified, the purpose of the research was explained to them. Informed consent was obtained, where after grandparents shared their experience of their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren through an unstructured interview. The interviews were transcribed by the researcher. The transcriptions were reviewed by the researcher, after which themes were identified together with supporting evidence thereof. The results of the study confirmed that, although the phenomenon is increasing the cause thereof are a complex issue. The reasons why grandparents act as primary caregivers of their grandchildren are divergent and include reasons like the death of parents, incompetence of parents due to chronic illness such as HIV/ Aids, alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, teen pregnancies or parents who are just unable to look after their own children. The phenomenon of grandparents as primary caregivers of their grandchildren has consequences for both the grandparents and grandchildren. Grandparents pursuing the primary caregiver role experience intense conflict between the traditional role of a grandparent and the role of substitute parent they are fulfilling now. Their role also includes the financial provider role, the mediator role and the disciplinary role. These roles all have an impact on the interpersonal relationships of these grandparents. Recommendations are made to professionals (social workers, therapists and counsellors) to equip them in assisting grandparents in their experience and to provide them with effective support and advice. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The general aim of the study was to investigate how grandparents experience their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren in the town of Odendaalsrus. From the literature review the researcher realised that a limited amount of research has been done on Caucasian grandparents as primary caregivers of their grandchildren in the suburban areas of South Africa. The literature however did confirm that the prevalence of the phenomenon of grandparents raising their grandchildren has increased significantly over the past few years. This led to the investigation into how grandparents experience their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. The researcher undertook a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological study. The research was conducted in the rural town of Odendaalsrus. The participants consisted of ten Caucasian grandparents of whom four were male participants and six were female participants. Grandparents who formed part of the research sample were identified based on a set of criteria which was formulated by the researcher. After the participants had been identified, the purpose of the research was explained to them. Informed consent was obtained, where after grandparents shared their experience of their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren through an unstructured interview. The interviews were transcribed by the researcher. The transcriptions were reviewed by the researcher, after which themes were identified together with supporting evidence thereof. The results of the study confirmed that, although the phenomenon is increasing the cause thereof are a complex issue. The reasons why grandparents act as primary caregivers of their grandchildren are divergent and include reasons like the death of parents, incompetence of parents due to chronic illness such as HIV/ Aids, alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, teen pregnancies or parents who are just unable to look after their own children. The phenomenon of grandparents as primary caregivers of their grandchildren has consequences for both the grandparents and grandchildren. Grandparents pursuing the primary caregiver role experience intense conflict between the traditional role of a grandparent and the role of substitute parent they are fulfilling now. Their role also includes the financial provider role, the mediator role and the disciplinary role. These roles all have an impact on the interpersonal relationships of these grandparents. Recommendations are made to professionals (social workers, therapists and counsellors) to equip them in assisting grandparents in their experience and to provide them with effective support and advice. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Thesis (B.A. Hons. 1979) from the Department of Psychology, University of Adelaide.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on September 8, 2008) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M A(Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Reformed Theological Seminary, 2003. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 214-228).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1979.