The Impact of Role Models on Life Outcomes of People With Disabilities - PowerPoint Presentation

The Impact of Role Models on Life Outcomes of People With DisabilitiesFelix Wu, Rachel C. E. Trump, Christy Nittrouer & Mikki HeblRice University The results did not support the hypothesis of this study, but rather demonstrated completely contradictory findings. These particular results focused on the particular life outcome of Self-efficacy. Previous data revealed that people with disabilities (PWD) without role models actually had the higher self-efficacy than those do. However, in the current data, we found that people who had role models overall had lower self-efficacy. In the Lockwood & Kunda (1997) study, they mentioned that the effects of role models on an individual are more effective if they are similar to the individual. Therefore, the findings from the current study may be due to the participants’ lack of role models similar to themselves. Furthermore, the sample collected was quite skewed in its distribution, we mostly recruited blind individuals for those with disabilities. This may result in some confounding variables. Finally, perhaps role models are not as effective as previously thought for both individuals with and without disabilities. In other words, maybe other factors such as social support may increase self-efficacy more. Therefore, future studies will investigate these other factors. BACKGROUND ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ROLE MODELS DISCUSSION: WHAT DO THESE RESULTS MEAN? REFERENCES FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL fyw1@rice.edu Chen, G., Gully, S. M., & Eden, D. (2001). Validation of a new general self-efficacy scale. Organizational research methods , 4(1), 62-83. Fassinger , R. E. (2008). Workplace diversity and public policy: Challenges and opportunities for psychology. American Psychologist , 63(4), 252.Lockwood, P., & Kunda, Z. (1997). Superstars and me: Predicting the impact of role models on the self. Journal of personality and social psychology,73(1), 91.O’Brien, K. R., McAbee, S. T., Hebl, M. R., & Rodgers, J. R. (2016). The Impact of Interpersonal Discrimination and Stress on Health and Performance for Early Career STEM Academicians. Frontiers in psychology, 7.Reeve, D. (2004). Psycho-emotional dimensions of disability and the social model. Implementing the social model of disability: Theory and research, 83-100.Sherer, M., Maddux, J. E., Mercandante, B., Prentice-Dunn, S., Jacobs, B., & Rogers, R. W. (1982). The self-efficacy scale: Construction and validation. Psychological reports, 51(2), 663-671.Tennant, R., Hiller, L., Fishwick, R., Platt, S., Joseph, S., Weich, S., ... & Stewart-Brown, S. (2007). The Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (WEMWBS): development and UK validation. Health and Quality of life Outcomes, 5(1), 63.Wagner, M. M., & Blackorby, J. (1996). Transition from high school to work or college: How special education students fare. The Future of Children, 103-120. METHOD: LIFE OUTCOMES SURVEY RESULTS: UNEXPECTED SELF-EFFICACY RATINGS HYPOTHESIS American with Disabilities 1990 Act served to protect people with disabilities (PWD) in the workplace and higher educationHowever, in the Wagner and Blackorby 1996 study: Hypothesis: People with disabilities (PWD) who have role models are able to achieve better life outcomes than those who do not have role models. Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Alex Wu, Rebecca Godard, Anamely Salgado, Elif Dunbar, Ashley W. Cummings for helping with the data collection. Previous Results: The hypothesis was not supported by the results. Using a 2 x 2 MANOVA, there was no interaction between disability and role model condition, F(1,92)=0.570,η^2=0.006, (p=.45). However, in previous studies marginally significant results were found for this effect. Nonetheless, it is interesting to find that those with (M=2.521) and without disabilities (M=2.741) who had role models had lower self-efficacy ratings than those with (M=3.269) and without (M=3.168) disabilities who did not have role models. See the figure 1 (*contains means from MANOVA). Role models may be a solution! Lockwood and Kunda 1997 study showed that people without disabilities who have role models had more positive self-image than those who did not. Current study wants to observe correlation between role models and life outcomes for those with disabilities. Participants: We collected data for 102 participants (26 Males, 76 Females). Among them,71 individuals have a disability, and 30 individuals do not have a disability. Majority of those who are disabled are blind individuals. All participants were 18 years old or older. Materials: The material used was a survey created on Qualtrics, which was accessed through an internet link. The survey included measures of the following:Self-EfficacyPhysical Well-BeingMental Well-beingDemographics: This included their ethnicity, race, gender, highest education, job title, salary, current location and location raised.Role model questions These questions were in the forms of rating scales, multiple choice questions and free response questions. Procedure: For participants at the disability conventions, they were handed flyers with a short description of the study as well as who was qualified for this study and a link to the survey. For online participants, they just clicked the link directly to the survey. Then they proceeded to take the survey at their convenience. After the study was complete, the findings will be shared with the participants. These participants were recruited through multiple methods, which includes snowball sampling, listservs, and physically distributing the flyers.