Table Of ContentDOCUMENT 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)
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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
