Social hierarchies can prevent teams from hearing and using all of their members’ contributions. They are also ubiquitous and difficult to change, reinforced by conscious and unconscious factors as well as social-structural systems. Social hierarchies in teams, however, can and do change. This dissertation diverges from recent research focused on the stability of social hierarchies to argue that social hierarchies in teams can become more dynamic over time; it also explores why and how this shift comes about and how it impacts team member relationships and interaction patterns. In chapter 2, “Toward a more dynamic conceptualization of social hierarchy in teams,” I theorize about the antecedents and processes that allow teams to shift their social hierarchy, focusing on the importance of socialized schemas, identity, emotions, and behaviors. Chapters 3 and 4 draw from a 31-month ethnographic investigation into these processes in three multidisciplinary “change teams” in primary health care clinics. These teams were specifically charged with moving their organization toward a more dynamic social hierarchy to remain competitive in their industry. I studied how team members did this within their own team. In chapter 3, “Microwedges: Moving teams from rigid to dynamic social hierarchy,” I identify and theorize about the process through which an extra-role behavior, over time, helps to create cognitive changes in team members, prompting them to change their task strategies, role responsibilities, and communication patterns to promote dynamic social hierarchy in the team. Chapter 4, “The changing nature of social hierarchy and voice” follows a change team on a weekly basis over 22 months to document a shift to dynamic social hierarchy and to theorize about the relationship between social hierarchy and voice and silence via “opening” and “closing” behaviors and the team conversation structure. My dissertation extends and generates theory about social hierarchy and voice. It introduces the concepts of dynamic social hierarchy and the microwedge process to further our understanding of how teams and their members change over time. It also has practical implications for how team members can engage with the social hierarchy in which they are embedded, alter their teams’ processes, and help their organizations rethink entrenched assumptions about the capabilities and preferences of their members.

Abstract not available.

The high incidence of obesity and obesity related diseases have been well-documented within First Nations communities across Canada. Therefore, examining current dietary choices and then altering and managing alternative healthier choices are essential in the treatment of obesity and its related diseases. The present article describes a dietary study looking specifically at the dietary choices of women living in a First Nation's community in northwestern Ontario. An ethnography was conducted over a three-week period in which the researcher attended community events and interviewed twenty six women. Experiences in women's lives led them on different life courses. Family involvement and age of women influenced transmission of informal knowledge and feelings of self worth. These and other factors influenced the life course and the resultant "dietary trajectory" from which women made choice. Considering individuals in changing social, cultural and historical climates deemed the life course perspective applicable in this study. Findings suggest that solutions to the "health epidemic" can be found by looking to the women in the community who are making nutritious choices. From this point, formal and informal programs that facilitate reintroduction of traditional knowledge into lives of younger community members can be developed.

Le suivi communautaire est de plus en plus considéré comme étant l'approche la plus efficace et la moins coûteuse pour aider dans leur quotidien les personnes qui sont aux prises avec des problèmes de santé mentale graves. Depuis le mouvement de désinstitutionnalisation, ces individus ont été identifiés comme étant à haut risque de se retrouver sans domicile fixe. Face à la réforme en santé mentale et aux redistributions des enveloppes budgétaires de soins de santé communautaire, des analyses de coût-efficacité s'imposent afin de maximiser l'utilisation des maigres ressources des services. Pourtant, peu de recherches ont ete effectuées concernant les services de soutien communautaire auprès de la population sans-abri. Notre étude, qui s'insère dans une étude longitudinale en collaboration avec l'Association canadienne pour la santé mentale(ACSM), secteur Ottawa, avait pour objectif principal de combler cette lacune en conduisant une analyse besoins-coûts et coûts-efficacité du suivi communautaire auprès de cette population (N = 90) dans la région d'Ottawa. Un devis de recherche expérimental avec mesures répétées a été utilisé. L'analyse économique s'est grandement inspirée de la méthodologie développée en Angleterre (Knapp et Beecham, 1990) pour évaluer l'ensemble des coûts de soins de santé et services sociaux. Les résultats ont révélé qu'en moyenne $25,745.42 ont été dépensés au cours d'une période de neuf mois, soit $34,327.23 par année pour soutenir un individu dans sa communauté. Les soins médicaux et psychiatriques représentent 32.8% de ces coûts, tandis que les subventions au logement et les bénéfices sociaux totalisent 40.33% des coûts globaux. Seulement 9.2% des coûts sont reliés aux services de soutien offerts par l'ACSM. Ces résultats sont assez similaires a ceux rapportés par Lehman et coll.(1999) et Wolffet coll. (1996). Peu de coûts étaient rattachés a l'emploi, l'éducation et les loisirs. Les résultats ne révelent aucune relation significative entre l'intensité d'utilisation des services et la sévérité des besoins (en termes de fonctionnement psychosocial, de la stabilité résidentielle et de la satisfaction avec la vie) et entre cette intensité d'utilisation et les changements au niveau de ces besoins au cours d'une période de neuf mois. Il est possible que ceci soit relié, en partie du moins, a la fluctuation des symptômes qui affectent le fonctionnement. Les besoins identifiés au Temps 1, ont pu varier a l'intérieur de la période de neufs mois pour laquelle les coûts ont été calculés et ainsi influencer l'utilisation des services. Étant donné que les coûts les plus élevés représentent les séjours en milieu hospitalier, il se peut que la relation entre les coûts et les changements soit plutôt non linéaire puisque le fonctionnement est certainement affecté en période de crise, de rechute ou de stabilisation de la médication. L'étude a toutefois démontré que le soutien communautaire intensif contribuait significativement à la diminution des symptômes de détresse des participants, cela meme après seulement 9 mois de services. Une relation a aussi été identifiée entre les coûts à l'agence et la hausse du niveau de fonctionnement, indépendamment du groupe d'appartenance. Ainsi, les interventions des services de soutien communautaire peuvent, même à court terme, avoir un impact positif sur le bien-être des individus qui reçoivent leurs services.

This thesis consists of two studies designed to further validate the construct of modern homonegativity as measured by the Modern Homonegativity Scale (MHS). Similar to the concepts of modern racism and modern sexism, modern homonegativity rests upon three core assumptions: (1) gay men and lesbian women are making illegitimate (or unnecessary) demands for changes in the status quo; (2) discrimination against homosexual men and women is a thing of the past; and (3) gay men and lesbian women exaggerate the importance of their sexual preference and, in so doing, prevent themselves from assimilating into mainstream culture. The MHS was created to measure contemporary negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women (i.e., attitudes that are not based on traditional or moral objections to homosexuality). The scale contains two parallel forms: one for gay men (MHS-G) and one for lesbian women (MHS-L). Using Canadian participants (N = 374), results of Study 1 indicate that the parallel versions of the MHS are reliable, unidimensional, factorially, and conceptually distinct from a measure of old-fashioned homonegativity as measured by the Attitudes Toward Lesbian and Gay Men Scale and a relatively new measure of homonegativity entitled Modern Homophobia. As well, modern homonegativity correlated in the hypothesized direction with the motivation to control prejudiced reactions. Finally, results of one-way ANOVAs indicated that individuals who reported having gay men and lesbian women as acquaintances and close friends evidenced significantly lower levels of modern homonegativity than did individuals who reported no contact experience. Study 2 was designed to examine the psychometric properties of the MHS from a cross-cultural vantage. Specifically, the psychometric properties of the MHS were investigated using a sample of American participants (N = 608). Results of this study confirmed the unidimensionality of the MHS-G, and its conceptual distinctiveness from other measures of homonegativity (the ATLG and "Modern" Homophobia scales). Also, modern homonegativity correlated in the hypothesized direction with political conservatism, religious self-schema, neosexism, and concern about acting prejudiced. Similar to Study 1, results of one-way ANOVAs confirmed that individuals who reported having both gay men and lesbian women as acquaintances and close friends evidenced lower levels of modern homonegativity when compared with individuals who reported not having gay or lesbian acquaintances or close friends. Finally, the metric invariance of the MHS-G and MHS-L factor loadings were tested. With the exception of four items on the MHS-G, the metric invariance of the parallel versions of the MHS was confirmed. In summary, the studies outlined in this thesis strengthen the argument that a new form of homonegativity exists. Further, the MHS possesses superior psychometric properties and will prove useful when used to measure negative attitudes toward homosexual men and women in college and university settings. As an adjunct to the implications of the research, future directions are outlined.

This study investigated the effects of the Socioeconomic status (SES) community on the physical and social environment, maternal psychology, parenting values, parenting practices, and child development. It examined whether the effects of poverty as is noted in mostly North American research would be replicated in a collectivistic Latin society such as the Dominican Republic. The participants were 80 three year-olds, 154 six year-olds, 141 eight year-olds and their primary caregivers, with participants equally divided between the Campos (small agricultural villages) and higher SES San Cristobal. Maternal figures completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Parenting Stress Index- Short Form (PSI-SF), Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), Rank Order of Parental Values (ROPV), Child Development Inventory (CDI), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). During a home visit, the researcher completed the Home Observation and Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory and obtained information to fill out the physical and social environment measures. The Self-Perception for Children and the Peer Nomination and Assessment measures were administered to the children in the school setting. Teachers also completed the SDQ and provided information on children's academic performance. MANOVAs confirmed our first hypothesis that the Campos and San Cristobal environments are significantly different (p < .001) on all measures of the physical and social environment, with San Cristobal children benefiting overall from a better developmental context. Secondly, Campos mothers reported significantly (p < .001) more interpersonal support and less parental distress relative to their more affluent counterparts. These findings are contrary to those of present North-American research. We propose that belonging to a collectivistic culture may shield mothers from some of the pernicious effects of poverty. An examination of the SES/community effect demonstrated that San Cristobal parents provide a more stimulating (p < .001) and emotionally supportive (p < .001) HOME environment for their children than do Campos parents. MANOVAs conducted on child outcome measures revealed that Campos children were weaker then their San Cristobal counterparts on most developmental scales and all academic subjects (p < .001). Also, San Cristobal parents reported more prosocial behaviours for their children relative to Campos parents (p < .001), and San Cristobal children reported a more positive view of their social interactions and abilities as well as more satisfaction with their lives (p < .001) than the less affluent Campos children. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Community and family domains represent important and understudied contexts of immigrant acculturation and adaptation. Adopting an ecological-contexualist perspective (Birman, Trickett & Vinokurov, 2002; Birman, 1994; Trickett, 1996), two studies were conducted to examine the predictors of community and family adjustment in a sample of 130 adult second-generation Ukrainian-Canadians. Study 1 examined adaptation at the community level by assessing the association between acculturation to Ukrainian and Canadian cultures, perceived social support, religiosity, and sense of community with respect to two community referents: the local Ukrainian ethnic community and the residential neighbourhood. Results demonstrated that acculturation was positively associated with ingroup sense of community, such that acculturation to Ukrainian culture predicted stronger sense of community in the local ethnic community. Personal and social resources, including religiosity and perceived social support from Canadian friends and neighbours were positive predictors of neighbourhood sense of community. Study 2 investigated adaptation at the family level by measuring the influence of acculturation variables (familism, acculturation to Ukrainian and Canadian cultures) and acculturative stressor variables (acculturative family hassles) on family life satisfaction overall. In addition, the importance of these predictors for the following three family subsystems was explored: family life satisfaction with spouses, family life satisfaction with parents and family life satisfaction with children. Results indicated that in terms of overall family life satisfaction, family life satisfaction with spouses, family life satisfaction with parents, both acculturation variables and acculturative stressor variables made significant and unique contributions to the explanation of quality of family life. Furthermore, acculturative stressor variables were found to negatively predict total family satisfaction, marital satisfaction and parental satisfaction, over and above the effects of demographic variables and acculturation variables. In contrast, neither acculturation variables nor acculturative stressor variables significantly predicted family life satisfaction with children. Taken together, the results of the two studies showed support for an ecological approach to the conceptualization and measurement of immigrant adaptation in community and family spheres of life, emphasizing the need to understand the relationship between acculturation and outcomes 'in context'. The findings are discussed in light of the literature and theoretical and research implications of the results are presented, along with recommendations for future research.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains to be the leading cause of death in developed countries. Exercise is a core factor in the secondary prevention of CAD, yet most patients diagnosed with CAD fail to meet exercise guidelines. Thus, new exercise interventions are required. Before interventions are developed, increased theory-based knowledge regarding modifiable exercise determinants is needed. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to examine the determinants of exercise intentions and behaviour over time in patients with CAD. More specifically, we tested a model based on social cognitive theory (SCT) in the prediction of exercise outcomes in two studies. First, in preparation for a larger cohort study, we conducted a cross-sectional pilot study that investigated which SCT variables appeared to be most strongly associated with the exercise intentions of 214 patients with CAD. Using structural equation modeling, results demonstrated that the model was a good representation of the relationships within the data. The SCT variables accounted for a large amount (54%) of the variance in exercise intentions in patients with heart disease. Intentions were influenced mainly by participants' self-efficacy and moderately by outcome expectations. Previous exercise, social support, and supportive physical environments also contributed to patients' intentions indirectly through self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Building from these results, the second study used a prospective longitudinal design to test a more comprehensive SCT model in the prediction of 770 cardiac patients' exercise behaviour at two time points. More precisely, we examined the relationships between previous exercise, physiological feedback, positive and negative social environments, supportive physical environments, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, exercise intentions and exercise behaviour 6 months (time 1) and 12 months (time 2) after a CAD-hospitalization. Again, the model was a good fit to the data, and accounted for 22% and 34% of the variance in the participants' exercise behaviour at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Results indicated that previous exercise exerted the largest total effect on exercise behaviour at both time points, followed by self-efficacy. At time 1, supportive physical environments and exercise intentions also had significant direct links to exercise behaviour. At 12 months, participants' self-efficacy and outcome expectations predicted exercise behaviour directly. These studies provided support for the utility of SCT in the prediction of exercise outcomes in patients with CAD. Our findings also suggest ways to increase exercise behaviour in this population.

The central purpose of the study was to examine Cottrell's (1968) hypothesis that anticipation of evaluation is the major determinant of social facilitation in human subjects. A secondary purpose was to examine the effects of three types of observation: by an audience physically present, by an audience behind a one-way screen and by no audience other than a tape recorder. Thus the two independent variables in the study were evaluation and type of observation. It was hypothesized that social facilitation would occur only in evaluation conditions. It was also hypothesized that the greatest amount of social facilitation would occur in the condition with the audience physically present and the least amount would occur in the condition with no audience other than the tape recorder. Screened observation was expected to yield an intermediate amount. The experimental task was a pseudo-recognition task which had been used in previous social facilitation studies. This task set previously trained strong and weak habits into competition with each other. Habits were established by degree of exposure of nonsense words to subjects. Subjects called out words supposedly flashed on a screen for a fraction of a second. Since recognition of each word was made impossible by using a blurred exposure presented upside-down and backwards, subjects' responses were solely a function of prior differential training. Social faciIitation was defined as a differential increase in the emission of dominant responses at the expense of subordinate responses. The resulting measure of social facilitation was the differences among groups in terms of the slope of the frequency of response-habit strength functions. This definition of social facilitation was in line with Zajonc's (1965) application of Hullian Theory to account for the phenomenon. Evaluation was manipulated by introducing three observers as evaluators and having them evaluate subjects' performance, or, by introducing them as passive spectators and making their evaluation of the task impossible. Observation was manipulated by having the observers, when used, sit behind a one-way screen or sit in the experimental room. The subjects were 120 male undergraduate volunteers. The results were analyzed with a multifactor repeated measures analysis of variance and the slopes of the response-habit strength functions of each experimental group were examined. None of the interactions critical to the experimental hypotheses reached statistical significance. The habit strength by evaluation by observation interaction approached statistical significance. The slopes of the response-habit strength functions were consistently steeper for evaluated conditions than for unevaluated conditions. The slope of the direct observation evaluated condition was flattest and that of the no observation evaluated condition was steepest. The general trends of the data supported the evaluation hypothesis in terms of the magnitude of the various slopes of the response-habit strength functions. Within each observation condition, and overall, the slope of the habit strength-response emission function of those subjects evaluated was consistently steeper than that of non-evaluated subjects. These results suggested that anticipation of evaluation may be a key determinant of social facilitation. The trends of the data were exactly opposite to the predictions of the type of observation hypotheses. The least amount of social facilitation occurred with direct observation. Considerably more and approximately equal amounts of social facilitation occurred in both the screened and no observation conditions. It appeared that hidden evaluators may have a greater effect on performance than those physically present. Theoretical, methodological and practical implications were discussed. The results were compared to those of related studies. The problem of manipulating evaluation effectively was examined. Implications for the use of indirect observation methods in clinical settings were discussed and suggestions for future research were made. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

The question addressed is the relationship between intellectual understanding of social processes and behaviour: Does intellectual understanding of social psychological principles change social behaviour? Gergen (1973) raised this question and answered in the affirmative. He posited an "enlightenment effect" as a result of sophistication as to psychological principles. The first study reported here subjects were exposed to an enlightenment effect experimental manipulation. Volunteers who demonstrated understanding of Milgram's (1963) behavioural study of obedience were subsequently asked to participate in an experiment that in fact embodied the same principles as Milgram's. The subjects, though they understood the reasons for the teachers' behaviour in Milgram's study, nonetheless behaved in a strikingly similar fashion, coercing a supposedly distressed person (actually a confederate) to continue an upsetting task for the sake of a scientific understanding. Subject's demonstrated scant ability to bring their prior intellectual grasp of the dynamics of obedience and compliance to bear on their current situation or to even consider that it might be appropriate to do so. Two more studies explored the reasons for this failure of an enlightenment effect. In the second study observers watched a video-taped simulation of the first study. Observers in one condition believed that they were watching a tape of real events as they had occurred to the people involved. Observers in the other condition were told that they were watching actors role-play a hypothetical situation. This manipulation produced differential arousal and significant difference in observers' ability to comprehend that the ^subjects in the first study were engaging in behaviours parallel to those of. the teachers. A third study investigated the hypothesis that cognitive attention is captured by situational meanings that are made salient. This study brings together two lines of reasoning. Taylor & Fiske's (1975; 1978) focus-of-attention effect and the. frame-of-reference work of Eiser (1971), Alexander (1970) and Schutz (1970). Observers were again placed in one of two conditions. In one observers were sensitized to the possibility of multiple meanings in a situation and given what Goffman (1972) has called the dramaturgical standpoint. From this perspective they read about and viewed the video-tape of the; first experiment. Observers in the other condition were given a perspective and task that directed their attention to minute behavioural details of the same. The hypothesis was that observers in the multiple perspective condition would be able to take into account many- more levels of meaning and therefore be able to view the, first experiment from the point of view of the investigator. The dependent variable was the ability to surmise the experimental hypothesis of the first experiment. It was hypothesized that subjects in the other condition would have their attention so riveted on details of the experiment that they would not be able to easily re-orient to the more global analysis required. Both of these hypotheses were corroborated. The conclusion from these studies is that an enlightenment effect is a cognitive accomplishment whose achievement depends upon a frame of reference that is defined by the question "what's going on here". Whether or not individuals will bring their intellectual understanding to bear on their behaviour depends on the perceived salience, and availability, of that understanding at the time of the behaviour. Many situational aspects conspire to make an enlightenment effect a difficult task. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate