girdwood: the influence of paternal relationships on the development of athletic male offspring
Post on 30-May-2018
216 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
1/24
THE INFLUENCE OF PATERNAL RELATIONSHIPS ON THE DEVELOPMENT
OF ATHLETIC MALE OFFSPRING
by John Girdwood
Michigan State University
Department of Sociology
Word count: 5019
Michigan State University Department of Sociology316 Berkey Hall Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1111
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
2/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
December 15, 2009 2
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
3/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
ABSTRACT
Extending the Essential Father Theory, this proposal seeks to conduct researchthat will provide explanations of outcomes when levels of influence that fatherscontribute to the development of their sons vary. This examination of successfuloutcomes will advance sociological research in regard to both occupation andhealth. I hypothesize that fathers are essential to positive child development byhelping (a) set status attainment goals from ages 8 - 12 years; and (b) provideachievement motivation from ages 13 - 17 years. In addition to thosedevelopmental periods, I will look closely at the influence that fathers'socioeconomic backgrounds play throughout both periods. I will conductinterviews with sons who either are professional athletes, former professionalathletes, or who are very close to becoming professional athletes. I will alsoperform media content analysis of athletes' descriptions of fatherly influencewhen the subject matter is similarly related to that of the research interviewquestions. Combining both methods, I can propose better understanding ofpaternal influence on the development of athletic children.
December 15, 2009 3
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
4/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
THE INFLUENCE OF PATERNAL RELATIONSHIPS ON THE DEVELOPMENTOF ATHLETIC MALE OFFSPRING
RESEARCH PROBLEM
When analyzing life choices of the American male, it is imperative to look
at adolescence as a crucial period of decision-making. The transition to
adulthood represents an important area of sociological research in part because
it constitutes a critical time in the formation of life pathways (Johnson 2002).
Once it is agreed upon that adolescence is a formative period then elements of
the decision-making process can begin to be examined.
In this proposal, I assume that positive outcomes occur when goals are
set and subsequently attained. Fathers, participatory or not, contribute varying
levels of influence on the formation and attainment of the goals of their sons.
These ambitions take many forms: scholastic, professional, athletic, etc. This
research will examine a blended ambition, one that pairs occupational and
healthy objectives, the development of athletic children.
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESES
Positive and negative outcomes, usually critiqued by others, tend to be
defined by those who are outside the father/son relationship. Whether a father
produced a successful son can be judged by friends, relatives, and on some
occasion the news media. However, the most appropriate judges of relationship
quality are those who participate in the relationships.
The essential father theory simply states that fathers are essential to
December 15, 2009 4
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
5/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
positive child development (Silverstein and Auerbach 1999). Positive child
development is different from reaching general lofty financial positions,
educational distinction, or having great life-course gains in wealth and
socioeconomic status. For purposes of this research, I define "positive child
development" as parent/child goal setting and accomplishment of those goals,
particularly occupational goals. I will explain later in the article how status
attainment goals are formed between ages 8 - 12 years and then achievement
motivation occurs during the teen years.
The father's socioeconomic background frequently has been found to
have long-term effects on adult intellectual, occupational, and economic
outcomes (Scarr and Weinberg 1978). Sociologists frequently study changes
across cohorts in the consequences of family socioeconomic background,
gender, education, and cognitive ability for occupational outcomes. Other
studies focus on how the consequences of these variables change within the
course of individuals' lives (Warren, Sheridan, and Hauser 2002). I expect to
find that status attainment goals initiated between ages 8 - 12 years
consequentially have an effect on achievement motivation during ages 13 - 17
years.
Structural models of educational attainment specify how differences in
family socioeconomic background are translated into varying educational
attainment, with family socioeconomic background having both direct and indirect
effects on schooling (Teachman 1987). Thought has also been given to the
motivations of vocational choices. Given that work values are important
December 15, 2009 5
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
6/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
determinants of vocational choice and actual occupation destinations, it is
important to understand their origins (Mortimer, Ellen Efron Pimentel, Ryu, Nash,
and Lee 1996). However, work values may not be the only driver behind
occupational destination. I hypothesize that paternal influence, in the form of
status attainment goal setting during ages 8 - 12 years and followed by
achievement motivation during ages 13 - 17 years, maintains a heavy influence
on occupational destination in the male offspring cohort.
Achievement motivation likely drives occupational choice. Achievement
motivation has been defined as "the redintegration of affect aroused by cues in
situations involving standards of excellence. Such standards are typically
learned from parents who urge the child to compete against these standards,
rewarding him when he performs well and punishing him when he fails." (Rosen
1961) Of course, competition is a key component of athletic involvement. I
expect to find that different levels and forms of achievement motivation during the
teen years have varying effects on positive outcomes in the male offspring
cohort.
No change is more visible during adolescence than physical growth and
development. Athletic prowess is fundamentally enhanced in most sports by
strength and fitness. During the crucial decision making period of adolescence,
achievement motivation could make or break a father/son relationship. The
father may push athletic development, like weight lifting, too rigorously and
alienate the son. Conversely, the father may motivate passively creating the
son's perception that the father is uninterested. This study will examine the
December 15, 2009 6
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
7/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
influence of paternal relationships on the development of athletic male offspring
by studying those sons who are either professional athletes, were former
professional athletes, or who are very close to becoming professional athletes.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Research has been performed that analyzes fatherly influence on
occupational choice, socioeconomic achievement, and child development in
general. Additional research is needed to examine positive outcomes in the
development of sons through their relationships with and influences of their
fathers. Specific studies can lend new perspectives. I propose to analyze the
relationships of fathers and sons and how the fatherly influence affects goal
setting and attainment within the scope of athletics, including aspirations to
professional athleticism.
Previous research has proposed many theoretical perspectives about why
father involvement could have positive consequences for child development.
Four of those perspectives are: attachment theory, social capital theory,
Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory, and 'essential father' theory (Pleck 2007). I
will critique the Essential Father Theory through an analysis of the father/son
relationship. This critique will focus on goal setting and attainment.
Status Attainment
During the past 50 years of sociological study, two established traditions
of research on jobs and occupations have been significant. One tradition is
represented by stratification studies of status attainment (Hauser, Tsai, and
Sewell 1983; Warren et al. 2002). A central feature of attainment research is the
December 15, 2009 7
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
8/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
scientific force with which it has identified and given structure to the major
dimensions of social origins that precede the transition to adulthood and that
shape adult socioeconomic achievement (Halaby 2003). The second tradition
consists of studies, mostly in the social psychology of work (Johnson 2002; Kohn
and Schooler 1969; Mortimer et al. 1996), of individual beliefs about the
properties that make a job desirable.
This study will closely examine the formation of status attainment goals
and the influences during the period that precedes the transition to adulthood.
The presumption is that status attainment goals are formed generally early on,
before a specific vocation has been chosen (by the son). This study will provide
an analysis of status attainment goal formation during the period the sons were
ages 8 - 12 years old.
Achievement Motivation
After status attainment goals have been formed, performance measures
can begin to develop. The well-known Wisconsin model of achievement posits
that the influence of socioeconomic origins on educational, occupational, and
economic attainment is largely mediated by academic performance, social
influences and aspirations in secondary schooling (Hauser et al. 1983). This
study will explain the transition from status attainment goal formation periods to
aspirational performance goals.
Specific performance goals are driven by achievement motivation. The
presumption is that distinct vocations have been envisioned sometime during the
period of 13 - 17 years of age. However, it can be stated with confidence that
December 15, 2009 8
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
9/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
clear-cut lifelong vocations are not typically solidified at this age. Rather, there is
heavy influence on the clarifying of occupational goals during this time.
Socioeconomic Background of the Father
The socioeconomic background of the father plays a major part in the
development of adult intellectual, occupational, and economic outcomes. "Social
class is consistently related to men's values - both their values for themselves
and those for their children - and to their orientation to work, society, and self.
Basic to all these class relationships is the distinction between self-direction and
conformity to external authority, the former more highly valued by men of higher
social class position, the latter by men of lower social class position." (Kohn and
Schooler 1969) For purposes of this research, self-direction and conformity to
external authority will be examined and some thought will be given to the claims
of Kohn and Schooler in regard to social class position. The research may
support the fact that social class is related to men's values - both their values for
themselves and those for their children. The subject matter of this research,
aspiration to professional athletics, can be said to involve all three elements of
orientation that Kohn and Schooler present: work, society, and self.
Essential Father Involvement
The essential father theory simply states that fathers are essential to
positive child development. Some research suggests that responsible fathering
is most likely to occur within the context of heterosexual marriage (Silverstein
and Auerbach 1999). This research does not seek to discover the rates of
essential fathers in heterosexual versus homosexual marriages. Although this
December 15, 2009 9
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
10/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
perspective is generating a range of governmental initiatives designed to provide
social support preferences to fathers over mothers and to heterosexual married
couples over alternative family forms, it is the goal of this research to discuss the
role of any father in the relationship with his son.
I propose that the essential father theory is a valid interpretation of
empirical research when applied to a particular group: sons who have obtained
the rank of or are on track to become professional athletes. Using a wide range
of cross-generational, cross-cultural, and social science research, I will argue
that fathers are essential to child development through goal setting and
achievement motivation. Furthermore, this study will demonstrate that
participatory fathering can contribute to a greater likelihood of successful
professionally athletic sons who have reached goals defined by both the sons
(self-directed) and their fathers (external authority). The research will summarize
indicators of fathering characteristics that correspond with successful athletic
outcomes. The conclusion will offer findings for application.
METHODS
Sample
Interviews will be conducted with sons who are either professional
athletes, were former professional athletes, or who are very close to becoming
professional athletes. The sample is limited to those willing to participate in the
research and every effort will be made include a diverse group. Interviews will be
held with an assorted group of individuals consisting of participants differing in
race, geographic location, age, and athletic status (professional or amateur).
December 15, 2009 10
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
11/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
Interviews
Previous interviews have been conducted across a wide occupational
spectrum. I will cover some of those interviews below and explain how each will
help form the interview questions used during the research for this proposal. All
of these interviews involve popular and famous subjects. This is in congruence
with the research proposed because professional sports in America are very
popular and success in professional athletics typically goes hand in hand with
fame.
Country Music - Father Did Not Provide Specific Tools for Success
Brad Paisley is a successful American country music performer. His
father was mentioned in an interview in People Magazine (2009). "Of all the
things Brad Paisley has learned from his dad, singing and playing guitar are not
among them. Doug Paisley has a deep devotion to family, which he instilled in
Brad." (Bartolomeo and West 2009) In Paisley's case, his father was not a
famous country singer and his father did not teach him the skills necessary to
become a proficient musician. This interview contributed to the formation of the
following interview question for this research.
QUESTION 1: What specific skills, if any, did your father teach you that
were outside the scope of athletics?
Pop Music - Father Provided Beneficial Tools Outside Scope of Profession
Michael Jackson, American pop singer, is often cited as having one of the
most intense professionally driven childhoods. Jackson's father Joe is widely
known as driving his five sons (and two daughters) into show business with
December 15, 2009 11
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
12/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
ruthless motivation. Says Jackson, "You probably weren't surprised to hear that I
did not have an idyllic childhood. The strain and tension that exists in my
relationship with my own father is well documented. My father is a tough man
and he pushed my brothers and me hard, from the earliest age, to be the best
performers we could be. He had great difficulty showing affection. He never
really told me he loved me. And he never really complimented me either. If I did
a great show, he would tell me it was a good show. And if I did an OK show, he
told me it was a lousy show. He seemed intent, above all else, on making us a
commercial success. And at that he was more than adept. My father was a
managerial genius and my brothers and I owe our professional success, in no
small measure, to the forceful way that he pushed us. He trained me as a
showman and under his guidance I couldn't miss a step." (Curry 2009) This
interview contributed to the formation of the following interview question for this
research.
QUESTION 2: Do you feel that those (non-athletic) skills were beneficial to
you in your professional development? How so?
Politics - Friendly Relationships and the Results of Friendly Conversations
Family relationships are vital in politics. The same might be said for
professional sports. For example, the son of an athlete may have preference in
being admitted to a college the father attended or being drafted by a team owner
who once employed the father. American politics can show the importance of
friendships within families and how a father/son friendship might benefit the son
later on in professional life. Ted Kennedy Jr., in a eulogy for his father, stated:
December 15, 2009 12
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
13/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
"I'm simply compelled to remember Ted Kennedy as my father and my best
friend. Here's one you may not know: Out of Harvard he was a Green Bay
Packers recruit but decided to go to law school instead." (Kennedy 2009) As a
friend, Ted Kennedy Sr. may have had a unique influence on his son's
occupational decision (Kennedy Jr. is now an investment banker, lawyer, and
entrepreneur). This friendly relationship may have led to father/son discussions
about career choices, like that between a life pursuing professional sports versus
becoming a lawyer. Kennedys description of his father contributed to the
formation of the following interview question for this research.
QUESTION 3: Did you and your father ever have friendly conversations
about career choices? If so, did you talk about professional sports as an option
and what were some of the other occupations that your father may have
suggested as possibilities?
The previous three questions refer to relationships in which the father was
predominantly present. The following political father/son relationships show how
fathers can have influence on sons when the father is less present.
Politics - Absent Fathers' Contributions in Terms of Introducing Others ofInfluence
A large number of presidents have come from essentially fatherless
families, or they have had very strong, powerful relationships with their fathers
(Meacham 2008a). John McCain, former American presidential candidate, was
asked during an interview, "How important was the relationship with your dad to
making you the kind of man you are right now?" McCain replied, "[My father]
December 15, 2009 13
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
14/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
was absent a lot - World War II, Korean War, when he was assigned sea duty,
even in peacetime. He was gone a great deal. My mother did a good job of
keeping him alive for us - your father this, your father that. She was very good at
reminding us of him and of his example. And of course when he was home, not
only did I get to know him but his fellow naval officers." (Meacham 2008a) This
interview contributed to the formation of the following interview question for this
research.
QUESTION 4: When your father was absent, who do you feel influenced
you the most and how? When your father did come around, did the two of you
have one-on-one conversations or did your father come by with others? In both
situations, what sort of influence did your father have on you (solo and those
others)?
Politics - Absent Fathers' Contributions in Terms of Participatory Influence
Currently, President Obama serves as a role model for many young black
youth. This is similar to his role models growing up. Obama's father was not
present and so he had to gain influence from the situation as opposed to direct
interaction. "When Obama was a toddler, his father had declined a scholarship
to New York University that would have supported the whole family in order to go
to Harvard. The Ivy League was, it seems, more important to the ambitious
Obama Sr. than his wife and child." (Meacham 2008b) This fact contributed to
the formation of the following interview question for this research.
QUESTION 5: Was your father ambitious? What were your father's
aspirations? Do you feel that those dreams influenced what you sought to
December 15, 2009 14
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
15/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
become?
Organized Crime - The Son's Desire (or lack thereof) to Form Bond with Father
Often, sons will develop their own motivation even though they may have
spent very little time with their fathers directly. It is this indirect and conceptual
influence that is apparent in the description given by the son of Mafia Boss "Big
Tony." "The truth is that I've often cast myself in relation to my father, even
recognizing him as a kindred spirit whose story, if I'm being honest, I've
sometimes traded on for personal gain: to impress college coeds, admissions
officers, professors, and even prospective employers with what I've had to
overcome. His story has also given me a strong sense of direction. Then again,
I'm also ashamed of my colorful past, and angry that a comfortable life slipped
from my fingers." (Dokoupil 2009) This fact contributed to the formation of the
following interview question for this research.
QUESTION 6: Outside of sports, and aside from any of the direct
conversations you've had with your father, can you explain how your father has
influenced your sense of direction, sense of purpose, or any other subtle gains
that your father may have brought to your life?
Amateur Sports - Direct Influence in the Form of Lessons
Writer Molly Lyons, although she never became or aspired to become a
professional athlete, describes how her dad taught her the game of golf. "My
dad's lessons were comprehensive: how to grip the club, how to line up a shot,
how to stand, where to put your weight, how to turn your hips, how to bring your
arms back, how to keep your head down, how to do it all in reverse and not
December 15, 2009 15
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
16/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
forget to follow through, how to let the club do the work, how to use the strength
of your core, how to relax, why not to sway, how to stay coiled, how to keep your
eye on the ball, how not to lift your head until you've swung through. Oh, and
how to do all of this at the same time, every time, until you've hit about 100 balls.
And yet instead of getting frustrated, I got hooked. My dad was a gentle and
earnest teacher; I felt terrible that I wasn't always able to execute what he so
clearly wanted to do himself." (Lyons 2009) The lessons here were both specific
but also relaxed. These facts contributed to the formation of the following
interview question for this research.
QUESTION 7: When you were a teenager, did your dad teach you how to
play? If so, how did he teach you? Where were the lessons held? Was he
rigorous in his approach?
Organized Crime - The Son's Desire (or lack thereof) to Repeat Acts of Father
No matter how successful the father or son became in life, influence can
be assessed as "good" or "bad" (effective/ineffective) by whether or not the son
will use the styles of the father with the next generation. The son of Mafia Boss
"Big Tony" explains, "As an adult, I've tried to erase the darker aspects of my
double helix. I've married a woman far classier than myself, and with a little luck,
my son will get all the things I lost too soon: the nice house, the exotic vacations,
the great school, a decent dad with a moral compass. When he gets older, I'll tell
him about his grandfather, although I doubt they will ever meet. When I told Big
Tony that he would soon have a grandson, he was of course overjoyed. Were
we thinking of calling him Anthony, he asked. "No, Dad," I said. "I don't think so."
December 15, 2009 16
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
17/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
(Dokoupil 2009) The preceding questions have all discussed the role of the
father during the relationship. The final interview question for this research will
examine the perpetuity of the father's influence. This interview contributed to the
formation of the following interview question for this research.
QUESTION 8: Would you have done anything differently than your dad as
far as raising you to achieve your own ambitions? Would you use the same
tactics on your son to help him obtain his goals in life?
Content Analysis
The bulk of the research for this project will be through interviews with the
sons. These interviews will provide an excellent summary of how the athlete
holds an internal perception of his father's influence on goal setting and
attainment. In addition to the data obtained through direct interview, I propose
that it is appropriate and valuable to examine similar data presented in the mass
media.
I will examine mass media content in an effort to find answers to the
proposed interview questions. This additional data will provide an alternative
approach to data origin. Whenever possible, such data will be taken from
interviews similar to those questions proposed in the primary research. At other
times, answers to the questions may be presented subtly in commentary.
CONCLUSION
By applying Essential Father Theory to male offspring who have obtained
the rank of or are on track to become professional athletes, this proposal seeks
to explain outcomes when varying levels of fatherly influence contribute to the
December 15, 2009 17
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
18/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
development of their sons. Examining successful outcomes will advance
sociological research on the subjects of occupation and health. This study will
emphasize that fathers are essential to positive child development by helping (a)
set status attainment goals from ages 8 - 12 years; and (b) provide achievement
motivation from ages 13 - 17 years. In addition to those developmental periods, I
will take a closer look at the influence that fathers' socioeconomic backgrounds
play throughout both periods.
Interviews will be conducted with sons who are either professional
athletes, were former professional athletes, or who are very close to becoming
professional athletes. Media content analysis will be conducted regarding
athletes' descriptions of fatherly influence when the subject matter is similarly
related to that of the research interview questions. Combining both methods will
lead to better understanding of paternal influence on the development of athletic
children.
The essential father theory is a valid interpretation of empirical research
when applied to this particular group: male offspring who have obtained the rank
of or are on track to become professional athletes. Using a wide range of social
science research, an argument will be made as to how fathers are essential to
child development through goal setting and achievement motivation.
Furthermore, this study will show how participatory fathering can contribute to a
greater likelihood of successful professionally athletic sons who have reached
goals defined by both the sons (self-directed) and their fathers (external
authority). This research is expected to show that fatherly participation is more
December 15, 2009 18
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
19/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
contributory to the son's athletic advancement than is the level of athletic rank
achieved by the father.
December 15, 2009 19
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
20/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
APPENDIX A
List of Interview Questions
The following questions relate to status attainment goals formed between ages 8- 12 years.
QUESTION 1: What specific skills, if any, did your father teach you that wereoutside the scope of athletics?
1A - Did those skills relate to any goals that were expressed before you were ateenager?
1B - Were there any (other) goals for you that your father expressed betweenages 8 - 12 years? If so, what were they?
QUESTION 2: Do you feel that those (non-athletic) skills were beneficial to you inyour professional development? How so?
2A - Were there any non-athletic goals that your father set for you, professionallyor otherwise?
2B - What level of professional success did your father expect from you,athletically or otherwise?
QUESTION 3: Did you and your father ever have friendly conversations about
career choices?
3A - Did you talk about professional sports as an option for your adult careerchoice?
3B - What were some of the other occupations that your father may havesuggested as possibilities?
QUESTION 4: When your father was absent, who do you feel influenced you themost and how?
4A - When your father was present, did the two of you have one-on-oneconversations about your life goals or did your father come by with others?
4B - In either, presence and/or absence, what sort of influence did your fatherhave on your early career goals (himself and those he associated with)?
December 15, 2009 20
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
21/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
APPENDIX B
List of Interview Questions
The following questions relate to achievement motivation occurring betweenages 13 - 17 years.
QUESTION 5: Was your father ambitious?
5A - What were your father's aspirations?
5B - Do you feel that those dreams influenced what you sought to become?
QUESTION 6: Outside of sports, and aside from any of the direct conversationsyou've had with your father, can you explain how your father has influenced your
sense of direction, sense of purpose, or any other subtle gains that your fathermay have brought to your life?
6A - In general, how did your father motivate you?
6B - In general, what did your father expect you to achieve professionally?
QUESTION 7: When you were a teenager, did your dad teach you how to play?If so, how did he teach you? Where were the lessons held?
7A - During lessons about sport play, was your father rigorous or laissez-faire in
his approach?
7B - Was your dad more often (i) pleased when you succeeded, or (ii) upsetwhen you failed?
QUESTION 8: Would you have done anything differently than your dad as far asraising you to achieve your own ambitions?
8A - Would you use the same tactics on your son to help him obtain his goals inlife?
8B - Describe what you believe to be the most effective means of motivation toproduce achievement.
8C - Did your father carry out what you just described during your teen years?
December 15, 2009 21
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
22/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
APPENDIX C
List of Interview Questions
The following questions relate to the father's socioeconomic background as itwas between ages 8 - 17 years.
QUESTION 9: Please rank the following in order of how your father valued thesethings, from highest to lowest value.
(i) scholastic achievement(ii) choosing the right career(iii) financial success(iv) making correct decisions on your own(v) respecting your father
QUESTION 10: Please mark yes/no for all of the following.
i. You achieved your father's goals for you professionally.ii. You achieved your father's goals for you athletically.iii. You achieved your own goals for yourself professionally.iv. You achieved your own goals for yourself athletically.v. You view yourself as successful.vi. Your father views you as a success.vii. Society views you as a success.viii. You view your father as successful.
ix. Your father views himself as a success.x. Society views your father as a success.
December 15, 2009 22
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
23/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bartolomeo, J., & West, K. (2009). Country Stars and their Families. People, 30.
Curry, G. (2009, August 13). Another Side Of The Maligned Joe Jackson. Sun Reporter,
6.
Dokoupil, T. (2009). My Father The Dope Dealer. Newsweek, 154(7).
Halaby, C. N. (2003). Where Job Values Come from: Family and Schooling
Background, Cognitive Ability, and Gender.American Sociological Review, 68(2),
251-278.
Hauser, R. M., Tsai, S., & Sewell, W. H. (1983). A Model of Stratification with Response
Error in Social and Psychological Variables. Sociology of Education, 56(1), 20-
46.
Johnson, M. K. (2002). Social Origins, Adolescent Experiences, and Work Value
Trajectories during the Transition to Adulthood. Social Forces, 80(4), 1307-1340.
Kennedy, T. (2009). There's Nothing You Can't Do. Irish America, 24(5), 32.
Kohn, M. L., & Schooler, C. (1969). Class, Occupation, and Orientation.American
Sociological Review, 34(5), 659-678.
Lyons, M. (2009). Learning From A Pro. Self, 31(6), 38.
Meacham, J. (2008a). A Son's Measure of His Father. Newsweek, 152(10).
Meacham, J. (2008b). On His Own. Newsweek, 152(9).
Mortimer, J. T., Pimentel, E. E., Ryu, S., Nash, K., & Lee, C. (1996). Part-Time Work
and Occupational Value Formation in Adolescence. Social Forces, 74(4), 1405-
1418.
Pleck, J. H. (2007). Why Could Father Involvement Benefit Children? Theoretical
Perspectives.Applied Developmental Science, 11(4), 196-202.
Rosen, B. C. (1961). Family Structure and Achievement Motivation.American
Sociological Review, 26(4), 574-585.
December 15, 2009 23
-
8/14/2019 Girdwood: The Influence of Paternal Relationships on the Development of Athletic Male Offspring
24/24
John Girdwood FINAL PROPOSAL SOC 820
Scarr, S., & Weinberg, R. A. (1978). The Influence of "Family Background" on
Intellectual Attainment.American Sociological Review, 43(5), 674-692.
Silverstein, L. B., & Auerbach, C. F. (1999). Deconstructing the essential father.
American Psychologist. 54(6), 397-407.
Teachman, J. D. (1987). Family Background, Educational Resources, and Educational
Attainment.American Sociological Review, 52(4), 548-557.
Warren, J. R., Sheridan, J. T., & Hauser, R. M. (2002). Occupational Stratification
across the Life Course: Evidence from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study.
American Sociological Review, 67(3), 432-455.
top related