MYERS, GARY L. III, Ph.D., August 2019 SOCIOLOGY THE V.A.L.O.R. LEADERSHIP SHIFT: THE IMPACT OF IDENTITY VERIFICATION THROUGH VIRTUAL PLATFORM INTERACTIONS (115 PP.) Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Richard Adams Leadership studies have begun to emphasize the importance of cultivating unique ways to foster leadership development. Whether you are an institution, company, community, or a youth sports team, training individuals of various confidence levels to become leaders helps to dictate the quality and longevity of the organization (Friedkin, 2004; Piper et. al, 1983; Tyler & Blader, 2003). Unfortunately, the capabilities of measuring how an individual, one whom has adopted the leader identity, changes behavior over time have been lacking in practice and in the literature. This makes it difficult to determine the effectiveness of a leadership program. However, the Virtual Academy of Leadership Organization and Resolution (V.A.L.O.R.) has developed a unique virtual platform curriculum that provides an opportunity to measure leader identity behavior as it changes over time. At 4 hours a week for 10 weeks, 80 undergraduate participants hone their leadership and teamwork skills such as project management, communication techniques, task delegation, and motivation skills. A combination of identity theory dimensions, survey analysis, and path model analysis is used to measure how V.A.L.O.R. participants’ behaviors associated with the leader identity change over time. The results begin to show how identity theory can explain change in behavior associated with the leader identity. By extension, this dissertation explores the potential of virtual platforms as a tool in the bridging of identity and behavior. Ultimately, understanding how the V.A.L.O.R. process works will help to shed light on how leadership identities are established and cultivated amidst group interactions both within the virtual platform and beyond the virtual platform. THE V.A.L.O.R. LEADERSHIP SHIFT: THE IMPACT OF IDENTITY VERIFICATION THROUGH VIRTUAL PLATFORM INTERACTIONS A dissertation submitted to the Kent State University College of Arts & Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Gary L. Myers, III August 2019 © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved Except for previously published materials Approved by Dr. Richard E. Adams, Chair, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Dr. Richard T. Serpe, Members, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Dr. Will Kalkhoff Dr. Jennifer Kulics Dr. Dawn T. Robinson Dr. Michael J. Lovaglia Dr. Christopher A. Was Accepted by Richard T. Serpe, Chair, Department of Sociology James L. Blank, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................................... V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................ VII CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 2 CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW 5 SYMBOLIC INTERACTION ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Symbolic Interaction: Cognition and Behavior ............................................................................................... 5 Symbolic Interaction: Group Socializing ........................................................................................................ 9 Symbolic Interaction: Context ....................................................................................................................... 10 IDENTITY THEORY ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Identity Commitment ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Identity Prominence ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Identity Resources ......................................................................................................................................... 20 Identity Verification ....................................................................................................................................... 21 LEADERSHIP: THE LEADER IDENTITY .................................................................................................................... 23 Leadership: Development .............................................................................................................................. 29 Leadership: Measurement ............................................................................................................................. 37 VIRTUAL PLATFORMS: DEFINITION AND TRENDS .................................................................................................. 41 Virtual Platforms: Virtual Anonymity, Entertainment, and Controlled Environment ................................... 43 Virtual Platforms: Social Marginalization .................................................................................................... 45 Virtual Platforms: Stigma ............................................................................................................................. 46 Virtual Platforms: Leadership Development ................................................................................................. 48 Hypotheses .................................................................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER III: METHODS 52 v THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM ...................................................................................................................................... 52 THE VALOR EXPERIENCE .................................................................................................................................... 53 CHAPTER IV: RESULTS 59 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................................ 59 ANALYSIS I: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROMINENCE, VERIFICATION, & SELF-EFFICACY .......................... 62 Hypothesis 1 .................................................................................................................................................. 62 Hypothesis 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 63 Hypothesis 3 .................................................................................................................................................. 64 Hypothesis 4 .................................................................................................................................................. 65 ANALYSIS II: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IDENTITY & BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES. ......................................... 66 Hypothesis 5 .................................................................................................................................................. 66 Hypothesis 6 .................................................................................................................................................. 68 CHAPTER V: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 69 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................................................... 74 CHAPTER VI: REFERENCES 77 APPENDIX A: SURVEY QUESTIONS 100 vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My dissertation experience was an intense blending of sunshine and storms that culminated in my understanding of what it means to be resolute. At the heart of this understanding is a belief that will forever emerge as my daybreak, illuminating all that I know and influencing all that I experience: I am a direct product of those who have believed in me. I would therefore like to take a moment and express both my humility and gratitude for all who gifted me with faith and support throughout this journey. First, I would like to thank my parents, Lorna G. Myers and Gary L. Myers, Jr. That I have made it this far with a strong desire to positively impact society is testimony to all values you instilled in me. Navigating me through life’s pitfalls could not have been easy, yet imparting me with the tools to do so on my own was the greatest of gifts. Your love, knowledge, and hope keep me moving forward and eager to share the same with others on my path of life. I love you both and keep you with me always. Next, I would like to express a deepest gratitude for Dr. Richard Adams for serving as my dissertation chair. You never let me lose my perspective and found the silver lining even when the process was at its most strenuous. I would also like to thank Dr. Will Kalkhoff and Dr. Christopher Was for filling in as members of my dissertation committee on such short notice. In both cases, your observations and feedback both encouraged and challenged me to improve on all aspects of my dissertation and not just be satisfied with its completion. I would also like to thank Dr. Richard Serpe for