Resilience and Its Role in Motivating Pursuit for Higher Education - Essay Example

From Crisis to Personal Advancement: Resilience and its Role in Motivating Pursuit for higher Education among Women Victims of Domestic Abuse Professor Institution Course Date 1.3 Research Topic Describe the specific topic to be studied in a paragraph. The chosen topic for the study, resilience among women, will look deeper into the different dimensions influencing one’s concept of resilience as it relates to women victims of domestic violence. Further, the study will analyze the process involved in one’s transition from ‘being in crisis’ to eventually overcoming this crisis by pursuing personal goals on advancement, specifically, higher education. Focus will be given especially in the case of women who were previously victims of domestic violence. The research study will determine this group’s corresponding response to domestic violence as their personal crisis in life, and how this crisis leads the person to perceive that s/he either failed to achieve a personal goal. 1.4 Research Problem Write a brief statement that fully describes the problem being addressed. Present this in one sentence or no more than one clear concise paragraph. Domestic violence has had a profound on the development of women. Research studies indicate that most of the women find it difficult to advance their personal goals especially after incidences of domestic violence. 1.5 Research Question(s) List the primary research question and any sub questions that the proposed study will address Primary Research Question: How does resilience lead to motivation to pursue higher education among women who were victims of domestic abuse? Sub-questions & Hypotheses: (a)What are some of the experiences recorded by women who have been abused in their marriages? (b)What role does resiliency play in perceived crisis? Hypothesis 1: The level of resilience of a domestically abused woman has a significant relationship with her perceived intensity of her personal crisis (c)What role does resiliency play in influencing an individual’s motivation to pursue a personal advancement goal such as achieving adult education? Hypothesis 2: The level of resilience of a domestically abused woman has a significant relationship with the level of her motivation to pursue/seek adult education (d)What is the role that socio-demographics play in influencing or affecting an individual’s level of resiliency? Hypothesis 3: The level of resilience of a domestically abused woman has a significant relationship with her marital status and age. Section 2: Basic Methodology 2.0 Basic Methodology Describe the basic quantitative approach and methodology you propose to use. State whether the study will be descriptive, experimental or quasi-experimental, etc. State the name of the specific type of design to be used and describe the method(s) will you use to collect the data. The study shall employ a quantitative, co relational research design with survey methodology to generate the critical information needed to answer the research questions. Quantitative research will involve the collection of quantifiable data and presentation will be in form of data presentation. Correlation will include comparisons between different variables of the research study. Survey will be used in collecting large amounts of information during the study. The project will be a descriptive study of resiliency as it applies to women who are victims of domestic violence. Furthermore, the study will also analyze the relationship between resilience and variables such as levels of perceived personal crisis and levels of motivation to pursue and achieve a personal goal. Resiliency The Resiliency Attitude Scale will be used to measure the level of resiliency of each respondent who will participate in the survey. This instrument will determine the respondent’s attitudes regarding resiliency. Personal Crisis The respondent’s perceived intensity of her personal experience of domestic abuse would be identified, further dimensionalized and measured through the Personal Crisis Inventory. Personal Advancement Personal advancement for the study will be mainly measured by one’s level of motivation to seek/continue and/or finish adult education. The different levels of motivation will be determined on a progressive scale of 1-5. The lower level of the scale will represent low levels of motivation whereas the higher level of the scale will represent high levels of motivation. Both the Resiliency Attitude Scale and Personal Crisis Inventory will be administered during the survey. An instrument measuring personal advancement will be developed in the course of the study by the researcher, and will in effect be tested for its validity and reliability during the data analysis stage. Section 3: Advancing the Scientific Knowledge base Your study should advance the scientific knowledge base in your field by meeting one or more of these four criteria: 1. The study should address something that is not known or has not been studied before. 2. The study should be new or different from other studies in some way. 3. The study should extend prior research on the topic in some way. 4. The study should fill a gap in the existing literature. Specifically describe how your research will advance scientific knowledge on your topic by answering all of these 3 questions. Include in-text citations as needed. 3.1 Advancing Scientific Knowledge Demonstrate how the study will advance the scientific knowledge base by addressing something that is not known, addressing something new or different from prior research, extending prior research and/or filling a gap in the existing literature. Describe exactly how your study will add to the existing body of literature on your topic. It can be a small step forward in a line of current research but it must add to the body of scientific knowledge in your specialization area and on the topic. To respond to this question you will need to: 1. Provide a paragraph that describes the background for your study. 2. Then, in a second paragraph discuss previous research and demonstrate exactly how your study will advance the scientific knowledge base on this topic. Include in-text citations and place the references in the reference section. Resiliency as a concept represents an integral characteristic of human beings—the need to survive and how this is achieved by the individual. Keller (2003) defines resiliency based on its generic model, identifying it as “the individual’s unique way of incorporating positive and negative experiences to produce successful outcome” (1). Resiliency as the focus of the study per se has been studied in numerous studies, used in either qualitative or quantitative approaches. The proposed study goes beyond the typical determination of resiliency level of the target group / population. The study will attempt to determine and describe the process that occurs towards the ‘production of successful outcome,’ how positive and negative experiences, or factors, increase or decrease an individual’s motivation to achieve a successful outcome in life. It will specifically focus on the population of domestically abused women. Interestingly, a historical review of resiliency studies and tests were developed from qualitative data from a sample of female respondents; however, as Windleet. al (2011) have pointed out in their study, resiliency scales are usually applied and administered more to adolescents than (older) women (2). Thus, domestically abused women will be a good target population for the study because they represent the characteristic of the original target group from which resiliency scales originated. Furthermore, domestic abuse among women is both a personal crisis and social issue that leads to a more dynamic processing of experiences and variable outcomes. The domestically abused woman could “emerge transformed” positively and/or negatively from the crisis she had experienced (The Lexington Group, 2009). The study is important to women especially victims of domestic violence because it provides an analysis of how women have been able to overcome bad experiences in abusive relationships and still pursue their personal goals. 3.2 Theoretical Implications Describe the theoretical implications you believe your study could have for the field of Counselling and your Program area. Using the generic model of resiliency (explanatory or attributional style) in Keller’s (2003) study, the study will seek to determine the process ‘from crisis to advancement’ (6). That is, determine the factors that could promote or hinder resiliency within the individual, and in turn, relate this level of resiliency in identifying the motivating factors and eventual outcome of the event or experience. Critical to the understanding of the resiliency and how specific levels of it could lead to successful outcomes such as achievement of a personal goal through continued adult education, is the specific details of the process that occurs during the explanatory or attribution stage. The researcher considers this a critical path in the model and is most relevant to the field of Counseling. Positive experiences / factors Negative experiences / factors Explanatory / Attribution Style Outcome Generic model of resiliency, explanatory / attributional style (Keller, 2003) 3.3 Practical Implications Describe any practical implications the results of your research may have. Specifically, describe any implications the research may have for practitioners, the population being studied, or a particular type of work, mental health or other setting. The study, aside from providing a description of resiliency and its positive effects to domestically abused women, will also provide invaluable information about the different processes that occur in going through the path from ‘crisis to advancement.’ That is, thoroughly understanding the Attribution stage of the Resiliency Model shall help the field of Counseling in developing intervention programs aimed to help groups such as domestically abused women to process their experiences positively throughout, leading to a successful outcome in their lives. Section 4: Contributions to Research Theory 4.1 Theoretical Foundations Briefly describe the primary theoretical basis for the study. Describe the major theory (or theories) that will serve as the foundation for the research problem and research questions and provide any corresponding citations. The study will use the Generic Model of Resiliency (Explanatory / Attributional Style) as the theoretical basis of the study. The Explanatory Style of the Generic Resiliency Model addresses two important paths critical to the achievement of a successful outcome in life. The first is the relationship between positive and negative experiences and the explanatory style, wherein the degree or kind of experiences of the individual could significantly impact the processing that would take place at the explanatory style stage. Consequently, correct or incorrect attribution or processing at the explanatory style stage will inevitably influence the success (or failure) of the desired outcome (Keller, 2003:10). This model is illustrated below: Positive experiences / factors Negative experiences / factors Explanatory / Attribution Style Outcome Generic model of resiliency, explanatory / attributional style (Keller, 2003) 4.2 Contributions to Research Theory Your study should contribute to research theory in your field by meeting one or more of these four criteria: 1. The study should generate new theory. 2. The study should refine or add to an existing theory. 3. The study should test to confirm or refute a theory. 4. The study should expand theory by telling us something new about application or processes Describe how your study will contribute to research theory in your field by meeting one or more of these four criteria. The study will seek to expand on the existing Generic Model of Resiliency (Explanatory / Attributional Style) by further identifying the different dimensions and processes that occurs at the Explanatory Style stage. This would be especially useful in the application of the model to the issue of domestic abuse among women, and in explaining resiliency as it occurs among women. Ultimately, the study will provide another dimension from which the model and its dynamics could be understood / analyzed, applied and interpreted. Section 5: Methodology Details 5.1 Purpose of the Study Describe the Purpose of the study. State the research problem, each research question and any sub questions. Specifically state the corresponding hypotheses for each research question. The study will look deeper into the different dimensions influencing one’s concept of resilience as it relates to women victims of domestic abuse. Further, the study will determine the process involved in one’s transition from ‘being in crisis’ to eventually overcoming this crisis by pursuing personal advancement goals, specifically, adult education. Focus will be given especially in the case of women who were previously victims of domestic abuse. Research Problem The study will determine the role that resilience plays in motivating individuals to pursue personal advancement goals, specifically, higher education among women who were victims of domestic abuse. Research Question & Hypotheses Primary Research Question: How does resilience lead to motivation to pursue higher education among women who were victims of domestic abuse? Sub-questions & Hypotheses: (e)What are the different mental and emotional processes domestically abused woman go through that could hinder or encourage them to achieve a personal advancement goal, such as adult education? (f)What role does perceived intensity of personal crisis plays in affecting the level of resiliency of an individual? Hypothesis 1: The level of resilience of a domestically abused woman has a significant relationship with her perceived intensity of her personal crisis (g)What role does resiliency play in influencing an individual’s motivation to pursue a personal advancement goal such as achieving adult education? Hypothesis 2: The level of resilience of a domestically abused woman has a significant relationship with the level of her motivation to pursue/seek adult education (h)What is the role that socio-demographics play in influencing or affecting an individual’s level of resiliency? Hypothesis 3: The level of resilience of a domestically abused woman has a significant relationship with her socio-demographic profile. 5.2 Research Design Describe the research design you will use. Start by specifically stating the type of quantitative approach you will use (descriptive, experimental, quasi-experimental), include the exact name or type of design to be used and describe the exact method(s) (archival, survey, observations) you will use to collect the data. Briefly describe how the study will be conducted. The study shall adopt the quantitative approach, using survey as the data collection methodology. The study is primarily descriptive, and shall aim to describe the interrelationships between resiliency, personal crises/experiences and personal advancement goals among domestically abused women. The survey will be administered to randomly selected female respondents, who are registered members of Crisis Centers and/or Support Groups in Brooklyn, New York. Questionnaire to be administered will be a combination of existing and validated instruments such as the Resiliency Attitudes Scale, and scales/measures that will be developed by the researcher based on meta-analysis of extant literature on personal crises and growth / advancement goals. 5.3 Population and Sample Describe the characteristics of the larger population from which the sample (study participants) will be drawn. Next describe the sample that will participate in the study and justify the sample size using a power analysis or some other justification supported in the literature The target population for the study are females, at ages 18-60 years old, who have experienced domestic abuse. They must be registered members of Crisis Centers and/or Support Groups at the Brooklyn area in New York City. The researcher will contact the administration of these centres for the notification of participants of the intended study. Participants will be required to provide their contact information. The proposed sample size is N=150. The rationale for this sample size is that the researcher would like to yield a feasible number of respondents for the study that would generate relatively higher levels of precision and confidence in the study’s findings/results. However, given the sensitive nature of the issue of domestic abuse, the researcher also recognizes that there could be difficulty in recruiting respondents who would willingly participate in the survey. Thus, at N=150, the researcher will be ensured that results of the study would have a degree of confidence at 91% confidence level and with a tolerable margin of error of no more than +/- 7. It is suggested that a 10% - 30% buffer be included to the sample size, to give consideration to the fact that potential respondents would decline to be interviewed /surveyed about a highly sensitive issue such as domestic abuse. 5.4 Sampling Procedures Describe how you plan to select the sample. Be sure to list the name of the specific sampling strategy you will use. Include the steps you will take to recruit participants. Provide enough detail so that someone else would be able to follow this recipe to replicate the study. To determine the respondents of the study, the study shall take on the cluster sampling design. The rationale for choosing cluster sampling is that the potential sources of respondents for the study, Crisis Centers and Support Groups are characteristically located in clusters in Brooklyn, New York. Establishment of these centers and groups are mainly determined by the prevalence of women abuse in the area, and other demographic factors related to it. From a list of Crisis Centers and/or Support Groups, the researcher will identify the clusters of victims of domestic violence. The basis for clustering could be geographic location, type of membership or socio-demographic profile of its members, or services or support available from each. These criteria will be determined after surveying and carefully analyzing the characteristics of the Crisis Centers and Support Groups in the target area. 5.5 Instruments Describe in detail all data collection instruments and measures (tests, questionnaires, scales, interview protocols, and so forth). This section should include a description of each instrument or measure, any demographic information you plan to collect, its normative data, validity and reliability statistics. Include (A) citations for published measures, (B) data type(s) generated by each measure, and (C) available psychometric information (including validity & reliability coefficients for each Scale or instrument. Attach a copy of each instrument you plan to use as an appendix to your SMR. If permission is required to use the instrument, please attach a copy of documentation showing that you have permission to use the instrument. The study shall use and administer the Resiliency Attitudes Scale by Biscoe & Harris (1994). This is widely used as a measure of resiliency, and is applied to almost the major demographic groups (male/female and adolescents/adults). The researcher shall use the Personal Crisis Inventory instrument in measuring the levels of personal crisis of the individual and develop attitude statements gleaned from meta-analysis of extant literature on personal crisis, specifically, domestic abuse among women. The instrument for personal advancement / growth will be developed also by the researcher, mainly attitude scales primarily supported from extant literature on the topic, specifically, continuing adult education. The Resiliency Attitudes Scale and instruments developed to measure personal crisis and personal advancement levels will comprise the major sections of the survey questionnaire, in addition to demographic profile questions about the respondent. 5.6 Data Collection Procedures Describe the exact procedure that will be used to collect the data. This is a step-by-step description of exactly how the research will be conducted. This should read like a recipe for the data collection procedures to be followed in your study. Be sure to include all the necessary details so that someone else should be able to follow this to replicate the study. To initiate the data collection for the study, the researcher will research and identify all Crisis Centers and/or Support Groups that provide support to domestically abused women in Brooklyn, NY. After generating the list of these sources of respondents, the researcher will include the clusters in the sample size of the study. From these clusters, the researcher will send permission letters to each Center/Support Group, requesting for a list of their registered members and permission to conduct a survey among their members’ lists. Participating members will be required to sign the sheets. Upon approval and endorsement from the Centers and Support Groups, individual requests will be given out to selected members. Researcher will take note of the response rate from the total number of potential respondents solicited. 5.7 Proposed Data Analyses List the research question and sub-questions, followed by the null and alternative or research hypotheses (in quantitative studies) for each research question. Then describe all methods and all procedures for data analysis including: (a) types of data to be analyzed, (b) organizing raw data, (c) managing and processing data, (d) preparation of data for analysis, (e) the actual data analyses to be conducted to answer each of the research questions and/or to test each hypothesis, including descriptive statistics, any hypothesis tests and any post-hoc analyses, and describe (f) storage and protection of data. Cronbach’s alphas will be calculated on each instrument used in the study. Factor analysis will be used to identify the “groupings” or general thread of ideas from which the attitudes per variable (personal crisis and personal growth / advancement) can be described in one group or category. To identify the profile of respondents who would tend to exhibit this kind of attitude towards personal crisis or personal advancement, the will be the use of the Personal Crisis Inventory in strument. To determine the relationships between resiliency, perceived personal crisis and perceived personal advancement / growth, correlation analysis will be conducted. 5.8 Expected Findings Describe the expected results of the data analysis. Discuss the expected outcome of each of the hypotheses and discuss whether or not your expectations are consistent with the research literature on the topic. Provide in-text citations and references in the reference section. The expected findings from the study are the following: (1)Socio-demographic profile of the respondents, including profiles generated from the cluster analysis; (2)Support all hypotheses for the study (3)Identifying factors that prevent or contribute to an individual’s level of resiliency; (4) Identifying different types of processes that occur at the attribution stage of the resiliency model; and (5) Identifying processes at the attribution stage that would yield successful outcomes in terms of the individual’s personal advancement goals. 5.9 References Provide references for all citations in APA style. Submit your reference list below. Ahmed, A. (2007). “Post-traumatic stress disorder, resilience and vulnerability.”Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, Vol. 13. Campbell-Orde, T., J. Chamberlin, and J. Carpenter. (2005). Measuring the Promise: A Compendium of Recovery Measures, Vol. II. MA: Human Services Research Institute. Cooper, R. (2003). Breaking through: Closing the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Vivid Edge Productions and Advanced Excellence Systems, LLC. “Coping with a major personal crisis.”(2008). Red Cross Emergency REDiPlan.VIC, Australia: Australian Red Cross. “Growing through a personal crisis.” (2009). The Lex Line. The Lexington Group, Inc. Keller, H. (2003). “A measurable model of resilience.”Published dissertation. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy, Seton Hall University. Mejia, X. (2004). “An investigation of the impact of sand play therapy on mental health status and resiliency attitudes in Mexican farm worker women.”Published dissertation. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Central Florida. Narayanan, A. (2008). “The resilient individual: a personality analysis.” Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, Vol. 34, Special Issue. Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services. (2010). Resilience: successful navigation through significant threat. Toronto: The Child & Family Partnership. Rosnow, R. and R. Rosenthal. (2000). Beginning Behavioral Research. NJ: Prentice Hall. Scanlan, M. and D. Schroeder.(2004). “Relationships between the Big Five Personality Factors, Resiliency Attitudes, and Life Satisfaction in Divorced Parents.”Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research, Vol. 9, No. 2. Smith, M. (2008).Contemporary Communication Research Methods. CA: Wadsworth Publishing. Wells, M. (2010).“Resilience in older adults living in rural, suburban and urban areas.”Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health care, Vol. 10, No. 2. Windle, G., K. Bennett and J. Noyes.(2011). “A methodological review of resilience measurement scales.”Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, Vol. 9, No. 8. Read More