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... Special recog-nition needs to go to people who have been involved for at least three years and who have made substantial contributions: at the Ute Mountain Ute Head Start, Glenda Lopez; at the Colorado Springs Child Nursery Centers,... more
... Special recog-nition needs to go to people who have been involved for at least three years and who have made substantial contributions: at the Ute Mountain Ute Head Start, Glenda Lopez; at the Colorado Springs Child Nursery Centers, Diane Price, Kim Fitzgerald, and Sally ...
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PurposeSome communities in the USA are remarkably better at responding to civic challenges than others. These communities are more competent at marshaling their resources – material and human – in service of their own needs. The authors’... more
PurposeSome communities in the USA are remarkably better at responding to civic challenges than others. These communities are more competent at marshaling their resources – material and human – in service of their own needs. The authors’ purpose in this paper is to enhance their collective understanding of ideas related to community-driven change and to describe the development of a civic capacity index (CCI), a measure of a community's capacity to respond to civic challenges and disruptions like COVID-19.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a concept mapping process (akin to grounded theory) to develop the CCI. Using this process, a panel of 34 scholars and practitioners of civic leadership and civic engagement worked together to create measurable descriptors of civic capacity.FindingsThe CCI measures dynamic processes related to collective leadership, inclusion of diverse voices, how institutions and coalitions address shared challenges and collaboration among community members. Sample data from several states show the CCI's scales to have high internal reliabilities and to correlate strongly with validation scales such as collective efficacy, social justice and community connectedness. Confirmatory factor analyses support a bifactor model of a general CCI factor and six CCI scales.Practical implicationsWith the help of the CCI, civic actors can take advantage of existing civic capacity, understand where it is lacking and build resilience for the future.Originality/valueTo date, most scholars have used qualitative research to determine the elements of civic capacity. The authors wanted to know what civic capacity looks like in sufficient detail to assess the extent to which it is present or not in a community. Other efforts to quantify or assess civic capacity or related ideas are less comprehensive or lack the specificity to provide guidance for building and mobilizing it in communities. This work enhances our understanding of leadership in the civic arena, a little understood aspect of leadership studies.
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This study’s purpose was to examine the relations among future orientation, self-esteem, and later adolescent risk behaviors, and to compare two mediational models involving self-esteem versus future orientation as mediators. An... more
This study’s purpose was to examine the relations among future orientation, self-esteem, and later adolescent risk behaviors, and to compare two mediational models involving self-esteem versus future orientation as mediators. An ethnically diverse sample of 12- to 14-year-olds ( N = 862, 54% female, 53% ethnic minority) was assessed longitudinally. Correlations supported the hypotheses that future orientation and self-esteem are (a) positively correlated with each other ( r > .40) and (b) negatively related to various risky behaviors that were composited into a measure of risk orientation. Controlling for social desirability, self-esteem partially mediated the relation between future orientation and later risk orientation, and future orientation partially mediated the relation between self-esteem and risk orientation. The results shed light on how the concept of possible selves might factor into adolescents’ risk avoidance. In particular, both future orientation and healthy self-esteem may serve as protective factors against engaging in risky behavior.
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PurposeSome communities in the USA are remarkably better at responding to civic challenges than others. These communities are more competent at marshaling their resources – material and human – in service of their own needs. The authors’... more
PurposeSome communities in the USA are remarkably better at responding to civic challenges than others. These communities are more competent at marshaling their resources – material and human – in service of their own needs. The authors’ purpose in this paper is to enhance their collective understanding of ideas related to community-driven change and to describe the development of a civic capacity index (CCI), a measure of a community's capacity to respond to civic challenges and disruptions like COVID-19.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a concept mapping process (akin to grounded theory) to develop the CCI. Using this process, a panel of 34 scholars and practitioners of civic leadership and civic engagement worked together to create measurable descriptors of civic capacity.FindingsThe CCI measures dynamic processes related to collective leadership, inclusion of diverse voices, how institutions and coalitions address shared challenges and collaboration among community...
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In this efficacy study, both quantitative and qualitative data were used to gauge the effects of the Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI) on civic knowledge and empowerment, civic engagement, and community health. The sample of 847... more
In this efficacy study, both quantitative and qualitative data were used to gauge the effects of the Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI) on civic knowledge and empowerment, civic engagement, and community health. The sample of 847 FLTI participants and 166 comparison adults completed pretest and posttest surveys. Medium to very large short-term effects were observed in civic literacy, empowerment, and engagement. Results mapping interviews were conducted with a stratified random sample of FLTI graduates (n = 52) to assess long-term (M = 2.73 years) program impact. Most FLTI graduates (86%) sustained meaningful, sometimes transformative, levels of civic engagement after program completion. This engagement involved multiple forms of leadership, most often advocacy, program implementation, and media campaigns; 63% of graduates directed at least some of their activities to marginalized populations. Content analyses of graduates' civic (capstone) projects and results mapping ...
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This study’s purpose was to examine the relations among future orientation, self-esteem, and later adolescent risk behaviors, and to compare two mediational models involving self-esteem versus future orientation as mediators. An... more
This study’s purpose was to examine the relations among future orientation, self-esteem, and later adolescent risk behaviors, and to compare two mediational models involving self-esteem versus future orientation as mediators. An ethnically diverse sample of 12- to 14-year-olds ( N = 862, 54% female, 53% ethnic minority) was assessed longitudinally. Correlations supported the hypotheses that future orientation and self-esteem are (a) positively correlated with each other ( r > .40) and (b) negatively related to various risky behaviors that were composited into a measure of risk orientation. Controlling for social desirability, self-esteem partially mediated the relation between future orientation and later risk orientation, and future orientation partially mediated the relation between self-esteem and risk orientation. The results shed light on how the concept of possible selves might factor into adolescents’ risk avoidance. In particular, both future orientation and healthy self-...
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Research Interests: Psychology and Portuguese
One remedy proposed for the shortage of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in atmospheric science is greater collaboration between graduate programs in atmospheric science and minority-serving institutions (MSIs). However, if URMs have... more
One remedy proposed for the shortage of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in atmospheric science is greater collaboration between graduate programs in atmospheric science and minority-serving institutions (MSIs). However, if URMs have few opportunities to take relevant coursework at MSIs, then they are unlikely to pursue graduate study in atmospheric science and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. An earlier perusal of MSIs indicated that such opportunities were limited, but in the present study, a content analysis of courses offered at 180 MSIs found that 91% offered at least one course including content on atmospheric science, and that 4-yr institutions typically offered nearly four such courses. URMs who gravitate to atmospheric science careers also are influenced by courses that are inquiry based, relevant to their experiences, and emphasize discussion of implications for climate change and public policy. Half of the MSI courses related t...
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At-risk families’ control style (autonomy support and coercive control) was examined in relation to children’s school readiness; children’s social skills and mastery motivation were hypothesized mediating variables. In two different,... more
At-risk families’ control style (autonomy support and coercive control) was examined in relation to children’s school readiness; children’s social skills and mastery motivation were hypothesized mediating variables. In two different, low-income samples from diverse ethnic backgrounds, one preschool sample recruited from Head Start (N = 199) and a school transition sample composed of children entering elementary school (N = 344), parental control styles were related to children’s academic readiness modestly but significantly in the preschool sample and weakly in the school transition sample. Children’s social skills and mastery motivation skills (persistence and goal orientation) were significantly related to the acaocial skills demic measures of school readiness, and fully mediated the association between parents’ use of coercive behavioral control and academic readiness. Such mediation could not be tested for parental support of children’s autonomy. The results indicate that a deve...
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The transition to parenthood can be stressful for mothers and fathers, yet education and psychosocial supports are far less available for fathers. When fathers lack information and support during this transition, they are likely to... more
The transition to parenthood can be stressful for mothers and fathers, yet education and psychosocial supports are far less available for fathers. When fathers lack information and support during this transition, they are likely to experience psychological distress, potentially influencing adjustment of mother and infant. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of Becoming Fathers, a brief intervention for expectant and new fathers that combined education and self-care skills like mindfulness in a supportive group format. Two cohorts of men (n = 19), recruited through obstetric clinics, healthcare providers, and university listservs participated in the 5-week program. We examined the feasibility of our recruitment, assessment, and implementation protocols. Fathers indicated satisfaction on brief surveys completed after each session, and through open-ended qualitative responses collected at the end of the program. Results indicated feasibility of the protocols, and positive engagement of the fathers although recruiting this specific population remains a challenge. Qualitative responses, coded and organized into higher-order themes, indicated fathers found the intervention to be valuable, reporting the pairing of skills-based education and supportive group process created a positive learning environment. Higher-order themes emerged of community, openness/vulnerability, utility of information, and the need for more time. Mindfulness skills evoked mixed sentiments. Expectant and new fathers are not currently well supported by available programs, and there is a clear need for additional interventions focused on fathers’ experiences. Becoming Fathers, a father-focused parenting intervention targeting the transition to parenthood, has potential to meet the needs of new fathers.
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Extension agents and specialists have experienced increased pressure for greater program effectiveness and accountability and especially for evidence-based programs. This article builds on previously published evidence-based programming... more
Extension agents and specialists have experienced increased pressure for greater program effectiveness and accountability and especially for evidence-based programs. This article builds on previously published evidence-based programming articles. It provides ideas that address three problems that Extension staff face with EBPs and that Extension agents and specialists can use either to test or enhance an
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Minority families are less likely than Anglos to seek services from community agencies. Two studies were conducted with 178 Hispanic, 309 American Indian (Ute and Navajo), and 363 Anglo parents using the Social Network Questionnaire,... more
Minority families are less likely than Anglos to seek services from community agencies. Two studies were conducted with 178 Hispanic, 309 American Indian (Ute and Navajo), and 363 Anglo parents using the Social Network Questionnaire, Self-Perceptions of the Parental Role scale, checklists of community resources, and the Marin acculturation measure. In Study 1, low-income Mexican American, American Indian, and Anglo parents reported their use of community programs as well as personality and network characteristics. Study 2 included measures of acculturation and substance use. Anglo parents were more likely to use community services, even controlling for income. Self-efficacy explained ethnic and income variations in formal support in both studies. Study 1 parents with interconnected social networks also sought help less often. Focus groups with minority parents revealed that geographic distance from services and socialization patterns, particularly self-reliance and reticence, also c...
Research Interests: Self Efficacy and Income
Although mastery motivation appears to predict school success, individual assessment of mastery motivation is too time consuming and limits the application of this research. This study examined the psychometric properties of the... more
Although mastery motivation appears to predict school success, individual assessment of mastery motivation is too time consuming and limits the application of this research. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire (DMQ). The study focused on the validity of the measure for Head Start parents, whether it correlates with individually administered mastery tasks, and the relation of child-rearing practices with child mastery motivation. Participating were 176 Head Start children and their families from 6 rural communities in Colorado. Ten percent of the sample were Hispanic; 31 percent, American Indian; and 53 percent, Anglo. Caregivers completed a battery of questionnaires, including the DMQ, Social Skills Rating System, and three measures of child-rearing practices. The Battelle Screening Inventory was administered, and children were given mastery tasks to assess their goal-oriented mastery behavior and preference for challenge. Findi...
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This study examined adults' beliefs about parenthood in terms of Veevers' (1973) notion of "cultural myths" about adulthood and tried to account for the origins and importance of the myths. Subjects were 93... more
This study examined adults' beliefs about parenthood in terms of Veevers' (1973) notion of "cultural myths" about adulthood and tried to account for the origins and importance of the myths. Subjects were 93 undergraduates in a junior-level course on parenting who completed the Survey of Beliefs about Parenthood at the beginning and end of the course, and measures of child care experience on the first day of class. A snowball sampling approach produced data from 204 parents whose ages ranged from 19 to 84 years. The group included 53 fathers. Four clear dimensions of beliefs emerged from a principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation: (1) generativity; (2) role strain; (3) parental self-restraint; and (4) a unidirectional parent effects model suggesting that parents are responsible for "how their children turn out." On approximately half of the items derived from LeMasters' (1974) and Veevers' (1973) work, parents' experiences dis...
Research Interests: Beliefs and Folk Culture
The reliability and validity of three measures of infant temperament were compared in this study. The measures included the revised Carey (1978) Infant Temperament Questionnaire, a version of the Bayley (1969) Infant Behavior Record... more
The reliability and validity of three measures of infant temperament were compared in this study. The measures included the revised Carey (1978) Infant Temperament Questionnaire, a version of the Bayley (1969) Infant Behavior Record revised for completion by the parent, and a modified version of Buss and Plomin's (1975) EASI, an acronym standing for its four subscales--Emotionality, Activity level, Sociability and Impulsivity. Sixty-six mothers of healthy infants were asked to complete the battery of three infant temperament scales and a random subsample of mothers was asked to take a retest 21 days after the initial testing. Results showed that subscales from all three measures were correlated in meaningful ways, suggesting that there are independent, salient characteristics of the infant that can be measured by quite different rating scales. The strengths and weaknesses of each measure were identified and discussed. (JMB)
As data on the reliability and validity of ratings of infant temperament have accumulated, researchers have begun to ask what caregiver ratings really measure. An argument has been made that ratings of social behavior are less a... more
As data on the reliability and validity of ratings of infant temperament have accumulated, researchers have begun to ask what caregiver ratings really measure. An argument has been made that ratings of social behavior are less a reflection of enduring individual differences than a measure of rater characteristics and error variance. This study investigated the possibility that extraneous sources of variance would be found in Carey's Infant Temperament Questionnaire (ITQ). A large, diverse sample of mothers of 6-month-old infants completed ITQ's. Item analyses first identified a cluster of items left blank by a select, middle-class group of mothers. A large number of items (40 percent) were found to exhibit marked response biases, and parental characteristics were shown to affect response biases and styles, implying that systematic biases are built into the scale. Temperament ratings also varied with social class, ethnicity, and knowledge of infant development. Infants judged...
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Describes the inadequacies of current conceptions of risk for retardation, arguing that characteristics of the organism and its environment may make it more or less vulnerable to the effects of such risk factors as poverty. A systems... more
Describes the inadequacies of current conceptions of risk for retardation, arguing that characteristics of the organism and its environment may make it more or less vulnerable to the effects of such risk factors as poverty. A systems perspective of developmental pathology is presented that forces an appreciation of development as a set of interactive and transactive forces operating to produce outcomes at a variety of levels of analysis. From this perspective, risk factors such as poverty produce stress in a given system. The Carolina Abecedarian Project is desribed as an educational daycare program based on these stories. Four cohorts of families, comprising 112 presumed biologically normal children, were admitted to the program between 1972 and 1977 and were assigned randomly to control or experimental groups. All Ss met criteria for being at-risk for mild mental retardation; criteria were based on parent WAIS scores, maternal IQ, family income, parental education, and intactness ...
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Compared urban at-risk children's responses on the Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Children to norms established primarily on middle class samples. Results revealed similarities and differences in how urban at-risk children... more
Compared urban at-risk children's responses on the Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Children to norms established primarily on middle class samples. Results revealed similarities and differences in how urban at-risk children assessed their competencies. The data suggest that domains of competence can differ in interpretable ways as a function of the child's environment. (SM)
Authoritarian ideology, including religious conservativism, endorses obedience to authority and physical punishment of children. Although this association has been studied at the level of the family, little research has been conducted on... more
Authoritarian ideology, including religious conservativism, endorses obedience to authority and physical punishment of children. Although this association has been studied at the level of the family, little research has been conducted on whether conservativism in the broader community context correlates with the mistreatment of children. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this relation between conservativism and physical punishment of children extends to child abuse rates at the community level. Predictors included county-level religious and political conservativism and demographic variables. Political and religious conservativism covaried, and both were inversely related to child abuse rates. Population density was strongly related to rates of maltreatment and with demographic factors controlled, religious conservativism but not political conservativism continued to predict rates of child abuse. The results suggest that community factors related to social disorganiz...
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To explore perceptions of the impact of a multicultural infusion project, current and former university students described classroom incidents that had strengthened their understanding of multiculturalism. They discussed why these... more
To explore perceptions of the impact of a multicultural infusion project, current and former university students described classroom incidents that had strengthened their understanding of multiculturalism. They discussed why these incidents increased their multicultural awareness and how their interactions with others were changed. Participants described 155 incidents. These were sorted into 18 categories of pedagogical techniques and classroom composition or