Role Theory Framework Research Articles

Research into Action: Recommended Intervention Strategies for Grandparent Caregivers

The recent increase in the incidence of grandparents raising grandchildren has prompted research focusing on the grandparentgrandchild family structure. Using a role theory framework, this article contributes to the current literature by identifying the needs of grandparent caregivers and proposing interventions. A random survey of 6,307 Ohio households found that approximately 10% of households with children consisted of a grandparent providing the majority of care to a grandchild. Intervention strategies are proposed based on grandparent caregivers' documented needs. Implications are notedfor state jurisdictions within the context of welfare reform.

Timestyles: Role factor influences on the convergence and divergence of couples' complementary and substitute activity patterns

AbstractUsing a role theory framework, this research focuses on convergence and divergence in complementary and substitute activities for husbands and wives. Hypotheses on the effects of children and wife's employment were assessed for a national sample of married men reporting on their and their wives' activities for a typical weekday and Saturday. Role factors are shown to have a significant impact on timestyles and the specific activities emerging as substitutes and complements.

Champions and antagonists: Relationships with r&d project characteristics and management

The emergence of champions and antagonists across 213 R&D projects within 21 firms is examined using a role theory framework. These roles are found to emerge across multiple functions within the firm and to be systematically related to project characteristics, project resource allocations and support, and project performance. Champions are more common for projects allied with the champions' home-function interests. Championed projects also are better supported and less likely to be terminated, but may not make greater contributions to business goals. The role of the antagonist is less clear, but appears to emerge as counterpoint to the champion role.

Selected Social Gerontology Theories and Older Adult Leisure Involvement: A Review of the Literature

Selected studies conducted by leisure researchers about the leisure involvement of older adults are reviewed and implications are drawn for readers concerned with aging and leisure. To set the tone, the activity and disengagement theories of aging are discussed within the overall conceptual framework ofrole theory. The range of contributions found in recent leisure literature related to aging and activity involvement, from testimonials to atheoretical works to empirical studies, is then discussed. Shortcomings of the state of the art lead to the consideration of continuity theory as a fruitful avenue for leisure research within the role theory framework. Finally, some implications for further research and professional practice are highlighted.

The dual attachment concept: A longitudinal investigation of the combination of task characteristics and leader—member exchange

The job characteristics model has guided a great deal of research on the relationship between task characteristics and employee satisfaction and performance. Research in this area has indicated the necessity of incorporating nontask factors of jobs for further theory building in organizational behavior. Based upon the framework of organizational role theory, the dual attachment model is proposed for the integration of the job characteristic model and the leader-member exchange model. Questionnaire data from 101 employees in a federal agency is used to analyze the three models with respect to the prediction of job attitudes and performance. The results indicate the complementarity of task and interpersonal factors in the prediction of job outcomes. An additive model, as opposed to an interactive model, is supported for the combination of these factors. Findings from time lagged analysis of these models are generally consistent with those from concurrent analyses, but the findings from dynamic analysis are only partially consistent with those of the concurrent and time lagged analyses. Individual difference variables are found to be of little importance in these models.

Group counseling in cardiac rehabilitation: Effect on patient compliance

A multicenter clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects on compliance of a group counseling program for cardiac patients and spouses. The sample comprised 58 couples in which one of the partners had documented atherosclerotic heart disease and was enrolled in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. The experimental intervention involved a ten-week series of group sessions based on symbolic interactionist role theory. The research used a quasi-experimental, three-group, time-series design: Experimental group 1 consisted of 17 patients and their spouses who participated in group counseling; experimental group 2 consisted of 22 patients and their spouses, but only the patients participated in the group series; the control group consisted of 19 patients and their spouses who did not participate in the experimental program. Data were collected at baseline, ten weeks, and six months on four cardiac risk factors: weight loss, blood pressure, exercise, and smoking. Repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant difference ( P < 0.01) in mean body fat among treatment groups, with experimental group 2 having the greatest decrease over time. Patients in both experimental groups demonstrated lowered blood pressure, with a significant decrease ( P < 0.05) in systolic blood pressure. Again, the largest decrease was in experimental group 2. Changes in weekly exercise level were not significantly different among groups, although the highest compliance was reported by experimental group 1 patients. Results support the efficacy of group counseling based on an interactionist role theory framework to increase compliance. The anticipated effect of spouse participation was not confirmed.

Assessing Personal, Role, and Organizational Predictors of Managerial Commitment.

Using a role and exchange theory framework, this study examines the commitment to their organization and to the federal service of 634 managers in 71 federal government organizations. Results indicate that certain role factors such as tenure and work overload and personal factors such as attitude toward change and job involvement are strong influences on commitment. Implications of the findings and the need for further theoretical and methodological refinements are discussed.

Sibling Relations as Socialization for Parenthood

Utilizing a role theory framework, the connection is made between the role behavior of an older toward younger sibs and that of the older as a parent toward future offspring. Factors leading to the assumption of the parent-surrogate role are examined as is the role enactment itself. Findings regarding parental behaviors, viewed as role skills, are used to judge the appropriateness regarding a sibling education program to enhance communication and prepare adolescents for their future parental roles.

Role Theory and Teacher Education

Possible relationships between groups of teachers and their role performances are investigated. Teachers are grouped on the basis of their pupils’ socio-economic status, teacher's age, length of teaching experience, and teacher's ethnic or racial membership. These variables are studied within the conceptual framework of social role theory. The study involves a review of literature pertinent to role theory and teacher behavior. A theoretical social role model is developed to aid in investigating actual teacher behavior while performing the role of a teacher. The concept of social role is employed because it tends to integrate three major dimensions of human social behavior: the expectational, the situational, and the personal. Field application of this study involved sixty female intermediate grade teachers. These teachers were selected from twelve schools located in one of the largest urban school districts in southern Arizona.