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dc.contributor.advisorLizzio, Alf
dc.contributor.authorRyan, Claire Margaret
dc.date.accessioned2018-01-23T02:29:30Z
dc.date.available2018-01-23T02:29:30Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.identifier.doi10.25904/1912/1303
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/366421
dc.description.abstractOpinion leaders (OPLs) are defined as key individuals who are able to influence the attitudes and actions of members of their social network (Rogers, 2003). This research takes an innovative approach to studying the transition to university, drawing from a social contagion model to create an empowerment based intervention where ‘opinion leaders’ influence their peers to build the academic, social, and psychological capital of their cohort. Opinion leaders were prospectively identified in a new cohort of first year students, received training in how to utilise their social influence, and their behaviours and outcomes documented. A series of studies were used to evaluate the intervention. The thesis begins by reviewing the context and central constructs (Chapter 2) and then develops the design of the intervention (Chapter 3). Existing opinion leader literature speculates as to what are the best ways to train opinion leaders, and a unique contribution is offered here by summarising and integrating the most effective training approaches to partnering with opinion leaders. This development work also offers an application of empowerment theory to effective adult learning facilitation. The concept of ‘supportive leadership’, (i.e., the vehicle for opinion leaders to enact their role, is developed into a teachable framework and the design of a short 3-hour group workshop using an experiential learning approach) is presented. The workshop’s goals were to teach opinion leaders mechanisms for utilizing their social influence to mobilise the psychological, academic and social resources of their peers, and encourage proactive engagement with university. In addition, the workshop aimed to increase leaders’ senses of success (Lizzio, 2006) and increase their subjective sense of psychological capital.
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherGriffith University
dc.publisher.placeBrisbane
dc.rights.copyrightThe author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
dc.subject.keywordsOpinion leaders
dc.subject.keywordsSocial networks
dc.subject.keywordsTransition to university
dc.subject.keywordsCommencing university students
dc.titleBuilding the Capacity of Commencing Students to Manage Their Transition to University: An Intervention Utilizing Students as Opinion Leaders
dc.typeGriffith thesis
gro.facultyGriffith Health
gro.rights.copyrightThe author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
gro.hasfulltextFull Text
dc.contributor.otheradvisorO'Donovan, Analise
dc.contributor.otheradvisorWilson, Keithia
dc.contributor.otheradvisorHolt, Jackie
dc.rights.accessRightsPublic
gro.identifier.gurtIDgu1445229562239
gro.source.ADTshelfnoADT0
gro.source.GURTshelfnoGURT
gro.thesis.degreelevelThesis (PhD Doctorate)
gro.thesis.degreeprogramDoctor of Philosophy in Organisational Psychology (PhD OrgPsych)
gro.departmentSchool of Applied Psychology
gro.griffith.authorRyan, Claire M.


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