Browsing by Author "Gerken, Shirley Humphries"

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    Handbooks as a Format for Learning: Understanding Handbooks through a Systematic Analysis of Handbooks for Ministers' Wives
    Bare, Laila B. Jr. (Virginia Tech, 1998-04-15)
    The purpose of this research was to provide a better understanding of handbooks and to establish criteria guidelines for handbook selection and use. Content analysis utilizing the library as fieldwork identified 15 handbooks for MsWs meeting selection criteria for this study. Coding and diagramming of over 2000 pages resulted in identification of 15 themes which grouped into 3 types of relationships: personal (to self and God), familial (to husband and children), and congregational (to the church). Six of these themes were recognized as distinctive to the life of the MsW. Three time frames (1940 to 1960, 1960 to 1980, and 1980 to 1998) were established, and handbooks were found to be consistent with the social context of their respective era. An unfolding picture of the life of the MsW as portrayed by key informants revealed a shift in emphasis, with earlier handbooks portraying a lifeworld revolving around role fulfillment, and later handbooks emphasizing development as a person. A lack of learning opportunities for MsWs was noted throughout the eras. A 30+ page appendix of metaphors indicates that MsWs use their gift of reasoning through word pictures. The authors taught lived world truth as they perceived it. This study indicated clues as to appropriateness of content in handbooks and safeguards to be taken in reading them for self-directed learning or other training purposes. The implication is that handbooks are adult education by default. Two original products resulting from this research were a schemata of the process of using handbooks as a format for learning and selection criteria guidelines for choosing a handbook. The process may be utilized in self-directed learning (individual or guided) and within other educational settings, and the guidelines may be adapted to handbooks for other populations. This research should encourage related studies to broaden the knowledge base of understanding handbooks and recognizing their place in training, utilizing field research using literature sources, and assisting MsWs with learning how to effectively manage their myriad roles and relationships.
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    Heterosexual social communication involving children of middle childhood years
    Gerken, Shirley Humphries (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1973)
    The present study investigated heterosexual social communication between boys and girls seven through ten years of age using a series of cartoon pictures to elicit responses during individual interviews. The sample consisted of 160 public school children enrolled at Margaret Beeks Elementary School, Blacksburg, Virginia. Chi-Square analysis revealed significant differences in overall response patterns for each of the four pictures (p < .01). Positive responses coded as romantic, social or circumstance were chosen more often than hostile responses. A significant interaction effect of Response x Sex x Age was observed for Figure 1, boy and girl sitting side by side. Older boys gave more romantic responses, while older girls gave markedly fewer romantic responses and chose responses of a social nature instead. Responses observed for Figure 3, boy running after a girl, resulted in significant Response x Sex interaction. Girls chose a romantic response more often than social, circumstance or hostile responses, while boys chose circumstance responses. There was no significant effect due to presence/absence of opposite siblings. Results were discussed in relation to previous findings and recommendations for further study were suggested.
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