University of Alberta Exploring the Meaning of Hope in The
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University of Alberta Exploring the Meaning of Hope in the Expenences of Pakistani I.grant s Shabana Kausar O A thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fùlfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Educational Psychology Edmonton, Aiberta Spring, 2000 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1*1 ofCanada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Seivices seMces bibliographiques 395 Wdlhgtm Street 395. rue Weanigtm OtiawuON K1AW WONK1AûN4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non excI,usive licence allowing the exchisive pennettant à la National Libfary of Canada to Biblioth6que nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire' prêter, distriilmer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendte des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format e1ectroniqpe. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent ê&e imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. TIte sb is not always A clear, bright blue Sometime dark shadows And black clouds break throiigh But back of the shadows The sun is a gieam And with its return A new hope will beam. (Jon Gilbert) DEDICATION To the mernories of my beloved parents, who taught me to believe in myself. My mother whose hopeful perspective is the beckoning light in my life. My father whose love for leaming is a continuous sourceof inspiration for me. ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to unveii the meaning of hope in the experiences of fint generation Pakistani immigrants living in Edmonton, Canada. A qualitative descriptive interpretive approach and a purposehl sampling technique were used due to the exploratory nature of the study. Seven participants were selected through other community members and advertisement in a community newsletter. The constant comparative method was applied to analyze the data. The study findings were interpreted within five categories: the conceptual meaning of hope, the contextuai meaning of hope, hope challenges. hope uplifters. and hope representations. Hope as an integral part of life and as an experience of transformation has been identified as two significant broad themes within the conceptual and contextual rneaning of hope respectively. Different sub-themes within broad themes emerged in the study. The dilemrna of the second generation, non- recognition of academic credentiais, and the dilemma of going back are identified as hope challenges. Acceptance of alternative routes, the beachhead community, and the host cornmunity emerged as hope uplifters. Hope representations have been identified as important means of making the concept of hope visible and easy to grasp. The study participants reported significant changes at the personal, familid, social, and professional levels as their experience of hg?. These collective experiences have ken integrated within a conceptual model of the transformational process of hop. The model suggests that the relationship of life experiences, hope, and transformation is critical to human development and growth. The transformational process of hope occun in a sequence of three phases: discovering loss, exploring resources, and recognizing possibiiities. The findings provide an understanding to the reader not only of the experiential selves of seven study participants but an understanding of the journey of their psycho- socio-educationai selves from their land of departure to their land of destination. The study has implications for immigrant education, counseliing, and policy making as well. ACrnOWLEDGEMENTS First of all I bow my head before Almighty God who gave me the strength and perseverance to complete this task. 1 would Like to thank my supervisory cornmittee. The knowledge and insight of each member of the committee combined to numire the direction of the study. 1 wish to convey my genuine thanks to my thesis supervisor, Dr. Roma Jevne, for her inspiration, acceptance, and continuous support. She taught me to be a qualitative researcher and to explore new horizons of hope in research. Her encouragement and support especially during my dificult times filled my acadernic and research joumey with hop and joy. 1 owe a great deal of gratitude to the sincere and constant support of Dr. Dick Sobsey, who gave me a chance to work as a graduate assistant with him. It was a great Ieming experience to work under his insightful guidance and expertise. My work with Dr. Sobsey enabled me to apply the research skills I obtained from his projects to my own research work. My sincere thanks to Dr. Dianne Kieren for her invaluable suggestions, and guidance throughout my work. Her editorial help and feedback was a positive learning experience for me that helped in polishing and clarïfjtng my own ideas. 1 am grateful to Dr. Fem Snart and Dr. Jeanette Boman for being part of my examining cornmittee. 1 also acknowledge the Hope Foundation of Alberta for supporting my dissertation work. 1 have a never-ending gratitude to my study participants for tmting me and sharing their stories of hope. You are aU wondemil persons who made this project successfbi and worthwhile. I am grateful to my friends, Julia and Neelum for the5 cancem and encouragement during my research. 1cannot forget to acknowledge my family and friends in Pakistan, who have been rnissed a lot during my stay in Canada. 1 am grateful to my loving twin daughten. Maham and Shazim, for their ioving and caring support during my study hours and preparation of this work. My special thanks to my husband, Fayyaz, for his uadentanding and sharing especially during my difficult times. Your presence in my life is a blessing to cherish my hope. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION Purpose of the Study Beginnings and Belongings Why Hope? Why Qualitative Research? Why Immigrants? Definition of Tenns Organization of the Study 2 LITERATURE REVIEW Hope Models of Hope Stotland's Unidimensional Model Snyder's Cognitive Model McGee's Action-onented Mode1 Korner's Hope as Coping Strategy Dufault's Multidirnensional Model Jevne's Hope as Shared Experience Cross-cultural Model of Hope Farran and Colleagues' Empirical Model Hope and its Theoretical Perspective Existentialism Erikson's Theory of Development Social Leaming Theory Bowlby's Theory of Development Hope in Cultural Context Hope in Religious Context Immigrants Immigranu and Hope Adaptation Process of Migration Pakistani Immigrants in Canada Perspective Participants Identifjing Participants Data Collection Interview Cntical Incident Technique Biographical Information Field Notes Memo Wnting Data Anaiysis Ethical Concerns Tmstw orthiness 4 DESCRIPTIONS AND CRITICAL INCIDENTS53 Hana Shawn Raza Uzma Haris Somi Zaid Chapter Summary Within and Cross-case Analysis An Overview of Cluster of Themes Theme Cluster 1: The Conceptual Meaning of Hope Hope as an Integral Part of Life Hope as a Dynamic and Multidimensiond Process 138 Hope as an Experience of Visuaiization 141 Hope as Universal Goodness 144 S-W 146 Theme Cluster 2: The Contextual Meaning of Hope 147 Hope as a Process of Transformation 148 Shock to Integration 149 Professional Decline to Dtvelopment 155 Loss to Gain 157 S-W 159 Theme Cluster 3: Hope Challenges 160 The Dilemma of the Second Generation 161 Non-recognition of Academic Credentials 164 The D~cïmnad Gohg Ba& 166 The General Life Challenges 169 S~W 170 Theme Cluster 4: Hope Uplifters 171 Acceptance of Alternative Routes 171 Beachhead Community Host CommW1ity Summary Theme Cluster 5: Hope Representations Evidence of Hope Familyf Community Personai Attributes Career Hope Eütuals Religious Practice Intellectual Stimulation Others Hope Metaphorshages LigWEnergy Hope Kit Values/Fai th Mementos Chapter Sumrnary Discuvering Loss Explorhg Resources Recognizing Possibilities Summary 7 SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION Paradoxes Discussion LimitationsDelimitations Signifcance of the Study hnplications of the Study Future Research REFERENCES APPENDICES A: Advertisement B: Namand Purpose of the Study C: lnformed Consent Form D: Interview Guide E: Biographie Information F: Oath of C~~dentiality G: Audit Trail H: Member's Check LIST OF TABLES TABLES PAGES Within and Cross-case Analysis 134 Evidence of Hope (FamiIy/Community) 184 Evidence of Hope (Personal Attributes) 185 Evidence of Hope (Career) 186 Hope Rituais (Religious Practice) 189 Hope Rituals (Intellectud Stimulation) 190 Hope Rituals (Othen) 191 Hope Metaphors (LightEnergy) 194 Hope Kit (VdueslFaith) 196 Mementos 197 LIST OF FTGURES FIGURES PAGES I An Overview of the Cluster of Themes 135 2 Transformational Process of Hope 200 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUC'MON " You come with so many ciream. Then as tirne goes by the dream change. They fade. You leant to find contentment in reality. But sometimes,just sometimes, the dreams really do come tme" (Montera 1977, p. 79). Studies have confirmed the importance and benefits of hope in human life. Hope is a unique phenomenon that brings meaning and purpose to one's existence. It is the power of perspective that allows a peson to live his or her dreams in spite of heart breaking adversity. It gives the courage to explore the possibilities, which haven't been tried before,