The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there is any significant shift in mothers' stage levels, according to Gilligan's (1982) model of women's development, as a result of taking the course, "Developing Capable People". The research was developed from the narratives resulting from interviews that were examined by raters for stage assignment and empowerment statements. The results of the research are organized according to the five research questions. A demographic survey contributed other pertinent data. The sample was composed of 30 mothers in two communities in CT and MA who had taken the course from facilitators trained by the author of the course H. Stephen Glenn. The results of the research confirm that the majority of mothers reported that the course had changed their self-concept and impacted on the manner in which they related to others. Language changes were evident and the numbers of empowerment statements made confirmed the stage assigned to each mother. Statistical findings involved a chi-square analysis with a Cramer correlation coefficient to determine the extent of association between the stage assignment and the number of empowerment statements made. The association was significant. The results of the study indicate that when the mother is motivated, an in depth involvement examining interpersonal and intrapersonal skills can initiate a change in developmental level. Implications for future research are indicated with suggestions for expanding the content and context of parenting programs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UMASS/oai:scholarworks.umass.edu:dissertations-7956 |
| Date | 01 January 1990 |
| Creators | Harper, Judith Carolyn |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst |
| Source Sets | University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest |
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