A survey of volunteer Big Brother demographic profiles and assignment characteristics in the Houston Big Brothers Agency
| dc.contributor.advisor | Kercher, Glen A. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Williams, James Michael,1946- | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Kercher, Glen A. | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Young, Jeanne P. | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Morris, Phil | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Hayes, Bascom Barry | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-07-18T20:44:40Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-07-18T20:44:40Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1973-07 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Purpose: The initial purpose of this paper was to set up a profile of demographic data which would differentiate between the type of Big Brother applicant who would probably follow through on his initial voluntary commitment—a “successful” Big Brother, and the type who would probably not follow through—an “unsuccessful” Big Brother. The secondary purpose was to determine and differentiate between some of the characteristics associated with the development and maintenance of successful and unsuccessful Big Brother-Little Brother relationships. Method: A multiple-choice questionnaire was sent out to a population of 986 past and present Big Brothers of the Houston agency who were, or had been, assigned to at least one Little Brother. A sample of 283 Big Brothers returned usable completed questionnaires, and these were divided into two groups—successful and unsuccessful—according to their answers to two criteria concerning their assignment to their Little Brother. These two criteria were: (1) longevity of assignment, with more than six months constituting a successful assignment and long or less considered as unsuccessful, and (2) consistency of contact, with once every two weeks or more constituting a successful assignment and less often considered as unsuccessful. A frequency distribution and percentage table were set up for each of the eighty-four questions, and the resulting responses were compared between groups. Findings: The initial purpose of establishing demographic profiles for the successful and unsuccessful Big Brothers was essentially not fulfilled by this study. The limited profile which emerged from the four factors in which there were differences between the two groups indicated that if a Big Brother applicant was over thirty, married for longer than five years, had a business organization type job, and had one brother in his family of orientation, he might be more likely to become a successful Big Brother than an applicant who fit none of these criteria. The only useful profile which emerged from the study was that of the overall sample with both groups considered together. The secondary purpose—to determine some of the characteristics of the relationship between the Big Brother and his Little Brother and differentiate between these for the two groups—was essentially fulfilled. The successful Big Brothers as a group: 1. Had been with the agency longer; 2. were currently assigned to a Little Brother; 3. participated more in agency sponsored group activities; 4. had more often and more freely with their Little Brothers; 5. talked more continuing contact with their caseworker; 6. received more frequent phone calls from their Little Brothers; 7. noticed more positive change in the attitudes of their Little Brothers toward areas of possible problems or conflicts; 8. rated themselves as having closer relationships with their Little Brothers; and 9. rated themselves as putting more effort into being Big Brothers than the unsuccessful Big Brother as a group. | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11875/4493 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Sam Houston State University | |
| dc.subject | Paternal deprivation | |
| dc.subject | Demographic | |
| dc.subject | Volunteers | |
| dc.subject | Survey | |
| dc.title | A survey of volunteer Big Brother demographic profiles and assignment characteristics in the Houston Big Brothers Agency | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dc.type.material | Text | |
| thesis.degree.department | Criminal Justice | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Sam Houston State University | |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters |