Browsing by Author "Dr. Craig Brookins, Committee Member"

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A Character Education Program: Moral Development, Self-Esteem and At-Risk Youth
(2004-03-15) Scott, David A.; Dr. Tracy Robinson, Committee Member; Dr. Edwin Gerler, Committee Member; Dr. Craig Brookins, Committee Member; Dr. Stanley Baker, Committee Chair
The purpose of this study was to examine the results of a deliberate psychological and educational intervention with at-risk youth that have been identified as having potential to benefit from a character education program. The Youth Focus Character Education Program provided direct character education services to selected at-risk youth that were referred for treatment by school counselors, juvenile court counselors, parents, or other agencies in Greensboro, North Carolina. All sessions and material used focused on improving moral development and possibly self-esteem in each child. Definitions of youth at-risk and character education were explored. Theories of moral development and self-esteem were also reviewed. Comparisons were made between participants receiving the character education intervention and those not receiving the experimental intervention. Study participants included 39 at-risk youth between the ages of 12 and 17 (24 males and 15 females). The participants were administered both the Defining Issues Test and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. In summary, the findings did not support the use of the present character education intervention with the targeted population sample, it did provide encouragement to continue to design and investigate programs that could possibly benefit at-risk youth.
Instituions and Civic Participation: The Case of Community Involvement in Program Decision-Making at a Community Center
(2003-02-07) Hicks, Angela Ann; Dr. Craig Brookins, Committee Member; Dr. Conrad Glass, Committee Member; Dr. Wynetta Lee, Committee Member; Dr. John Pettitt, Committee Chair
The purpose of the study was to determine if, how, and to what degree the Niger Community Center and its Inter-organizational Relationships (IORs) elicited community participation in program decision-making. The research uses the qualitative methodology, specifically interviews, documentation, and participation-observation. This examination used as a tool the community-based programming (CBP) process developed by Boone (1997). Using CBP processual tasks 1-9 (see Appendix A), as a check-list, the following research questions were framed, described, and analyzed: 1. How did the organization define and use community-based programming? 2. How did the organization network, link, and involve its community to identify issues? 3. How was consensus achieved in defining the selected issues formulated and utilized for programming? The themes, which emerged from the data, included organizational and personal mission: compatibility and conflict, understanding community through social networks, and citizen involvement versus citizen action. Within these three themes, the findings are presented and discussed from an examination of the Niger Community Center (NCC), the inter-organizational relationships (IORs), and the community. The research revealed citizen participation in program decision-making at the NCC. However, citizen participation varies by the emphasis placed on objectives of participation, service delivery and social action. Whereas participation that elicits citizen involvement solicits responsible suggestions from grassroots people and suggestions are meant to improve services, insofar as they do not jeopardize organizational viability. On the other hand, participation that elicits citizen action promotes the needs and wishes of grassroots people, promotes social action, subordinating organizational viability. The research revealed the practice of citizen involvement was overwhelming on the part of the NCC and its IORs. Implication for practice implies service delivery and social action must go hand and hand.