DOCUMENT RESUME CG 024 771 ED 354 430 Barnett, Deanna L. AUTHOR TITLE Fear of Success. PUB DATE [91] 86p.; M.S. Thesis, Fort Hays State University. NOTE Masters Theses (042) Dissertations/Theses PUB TYPE MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE *Community Colleges; *Fear of Success; Predictor DESCRIPTORS Variables; Sex Differences; Sex Role; Two Year Colleges; *Two Year College Students ABSTRACT Results of previous studies have demonstrated the prevalence of fear of success (FOS). Originally thought to be a gender-related construct pertaining to women, studies have also found FOS was experienced by men, sometimes even more so than by women. Recent researchers have attributed FOS more to the Bem Sex Role for individuals who are traditional feminine or undifferentiated than fo: traditional masculine or androgynous individuals. This study examiLea fear of success among community college students (N=160), including 98 female and 62 male students. The community college serves a predominantly rural area. Four instruments were used: Fear of Success Scale; Bem Sex Role Inventory, Short Form; Personal Attributes Inventory; and a demographic sheet. The results of the study appeared (1) females have more fear of to support these generalizations: (2) there is no association between Bem Sex Role success than males; (3) there is no association between self-esteem and fear of success; (4) there is no association between age and fear and fear of success; (5) there is no association between college of success; (6) there is no association classification and fear of success; between grade point average and fear of success; and (7) there is no association between family structure and fear of success. (ABL) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *******'*************************************************************** FEAR OF SUCCESS being A Thesis Presented to the Graduate Faculty of the Fort Hays State University in Fulfillment of the Requirement for Partial the Degree of Master of Science by Deanna L. Barnett B.A., Fort Hays State University Approved Date Major Professor Approved Chair, Graduate Council U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FLP.N4iSSION TI.. REP RODUGE THIS Office of Educetonal Research and onprovemeM MATFRIA, HAS BEEN GRANTED Es" EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER !ERIC) Bar riCH n r1 ,7'..Th.s document oas been reproduced as received from the person or orcian,zat,o o,,g.nat.ng Minor changes nave been made to .mo,ove rocooluct.Or, Qua, Oy Ponts of .,e0. or opomon5 Wed Ih.s Crcu TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 3EST COPY AlTJ'al meat do not necessarily represent ofirc.a, INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC1 OERI DOStion co policy 2 Graduate Committee Approval The Graduate Committee of Deanna L. Barnett hereby approves her thesis as meeting partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science. Approved Chair, Graduate Committee Approved Committee Member Approved Committee Member Approved Committee Member Date: U Acknowledgements would like to take a After long hours and hard work; I moment to thank Dr. Daley, Dr. Stansbury, Dr. Guss, Dr. Bloss, Dr. Shaffer, and Dr. Chalender for their support, teaching, efforts, and patience giving me the courage to persevere and complete the Dr. Daley, in particular, gave me the incentive Counseling program. to keep trying along with having a sense of humor at my Even in anxious moments, Dr. Daley would listen shortcomings. vented my frustration as well as offer insightful patiently while I Concerning the faculty of advice concerning the challenges faced. I Thank you for I am indebted to you all. the Counseling program, You are all dear to being wonderful role models and confidantes. my heart. Gratitude also goes out to Dr. Thomas Parish for allowing me to use the Personal Attribute Inventory, Miron Zuckerman and Stephen Allison for use of the Fear of Success Scale, and Sandra Bem for developing the Bem Sex Role Inventory and placing it in the public domain. Without the privilege of using these instruments,myendeavors would have been less successful. 441 would like to thank the administration, faculty, and Finally, I President, Dr. Mikel Ary; students of Colby Community College. Dean of Instruction, Gracemary Melvin; Dean of Student Services, Dr. Gary Schultz; Instructors, Roger Hale and Larry Coon; and the CCC students who participated by completing the surveys for this study were all instrumental in assisting me to conduct the research and complete the thesis. In addition, my parents, Marvin and Alberta Barnett can take They have witnessed the pain, ownership in my accomplishments. anguish, hurt, and ultimate joy by seeing my life change in the They should be proud and rejoice course of the last four years. because the past is behind me and the future is what lies ahead. is meant for continually moving forward, learning from the Life mistakes we make, and becoming a better person from our My parents have instilled in my mind that ultimately experiences. make of my life; therefore, will I am responsible for what I I My work is cut out for me strive to achieve my highest potential. should take a lifetime. it iv Table of Contents Page Introduction. 1 . . Definitions of Fear of Success 1 . . Fear of Success: An Overview 3 . . Gender, Blm Sex Role, and Fear of Success 7 . . Self-Esteem and Fear of Success 12 . . Age and Fear of Success 1 2 . . College Classification and Fear of Success 1 2 . . Grade Point Average and Fear of Success 1 3 . . Family Structure and Fea. of Success 1 3 . 13 Summary . . 13 Statement of the Problem. . 14 Importance of the Research . . Composite Null Hypotheses 1 5 . . 16 of Variables. Definition . Independent Variables 1 7 . . Dependent Variable 1 8 . . Limitations. 18 . 6 Methodology 19 . Setting 19 . . Subjects 20 . . Instruments 22 . . Fear of Success Scale 22 . . Beni Sex Role Inventory 24 . . Personal Attributes Inventory 24 . . 26 Demographic Sheet . . 26 Design . . Data Collecting Procedures 29 . . Research Procedures 31 . . 32 Data Analysis. . 32 Results . . 43 Discussion . . 43 Summary . . 44 Related Literature and Results of the Present Study. . 46 Generalizations . . 46 Recommendations . . 49 References. . vi 7 List of Appendices Page A: Instruction Sheet 52 . . B: Fear of Success Scale 54 . . C: Fear of Success Scale Statistics 58 . . D: Personal Attributes Inventory 63 . . 65 Bern Sex Role Inventory, Short Form E: . . F: Demographic Sheet 67 . . a Letter to M. Zuckerman 69 . H: Letter to T. Parish 71 . . Letter to the Dean of Instruction at Colby Community I: 73 College . . v i i List of Tables Page Table 1: A Comparison of Mean Fear of Success Scale Scores for College Students According to tne Bern Sex Role, Self-Esteem, and Gender Employing a Three-Way 34 Analysis of Variance . . Table 2: A comparison of Mean Fear of Success Scale Scores for College Students According to the Bern Sex Role, Self-Esteem, and Age Employing a Three-Way Analysis of Variance .36 . . Table 3: A Comparison of Mean Fear of Success Scale Scores for College Students According to Self-Esteem, Gender, and Age Employing a Three-Way Analysis of .38 Variance. . Table 4: A Comparison of Mean Fear of Success Scale Scores for College Students According to the Bern Sex Role, Gender, and Age Employing a Three-Way Analysis of .40 Variance. . viii 1 9 Table 5: A Comparison of Mean Fear of Success Scale Scores for College Students According to College Classification, Grade Point Average, and Family Structure Employing a Three-Way Analysis of Variance. .42 ix