DOCUMENT RESUME ED 038 942 HP 001 538 AUTHOR Arnove, Robert F. TTTLP The Impact of UniversitySocial Structureon Student Alienation: A VenezuelanStudy. INSTITUTION Stanford Univ., Calif. StanfordInternational Development Education Center(SIDEC). SPONS AGENCY Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, D.C. REPORT NO FSCA-4 BUPEAU NO BR-6-2597 PUB DATE Jan 70 CON7ACT OEC-4-7-062597-1654 NOTE' 275p. AVAILABLE FPOM Publications Secretary, SIDEC,School of Education, Stanford, California, 94305 EDFS PRICE EDPS Price MP-$1.25 HC-$13.85 DESCRIPTORS Activism, Attitudes, *HigherEducation, Motivation, *Role Perception, Socialization,*Social Structure, *Student Alienation, StudentMotivation, *Students, Universities IDENTIFIERS *Venezuela ABSTRACT This study examines therelationship between professional and political orientationsas they emerge under specific educational and environmentalconditions existing withinthe Universidad de Oriente,an experimental university in Venezuela. Based on a thorough reviewof available relevant theoretical propositions, and employing highlydifferentiated set of analytical procedures, the study arrivesat a number of important findingson how and under what conditionsprofessional and politicalefficacy are interrelated. Some of the principalfindings are:1) successful and satisfactory training experienceswithin the universityare positively associated witha strong sense of professional efficacy; 2) institutionalized prestigeof a field is substantiallyassociated with a feeling of professionalefficacy; 3) institutionalized prestige of a field is negativelycorrelated with student-teacher interaction and satisfactionwith reward systems; 4)internal reward systems and student-teacher interactionpatterns are greatly conditioned by the university'sstanding in the society andby the future status different departmentscan offer; 5)a sense of competency developed in the professionalrealm is positively associated with students' conceptsof themselves as politicalactors; 6) the politically competentstudent is likely to bea more active and democratic citizen; and7) intense involvement inthe political realm is associated with expressionsof confidence and optimism, (Author/NF) N C746 CC) . CI THE IMPACT OF UNIVERSITY SOCIAL STRUCTURE ON STUDENT ALIENATION: A VENEZUELAN STUDY By Robert F. Arnove ESCA-4 The research reported herein was performed pursuant to a contract titled "The Content and Instructional Methods of Education for the Economic- Political-Social Development of Nations" (Contract Number OEC-4-7-062597-1654)with the Office of Education, U:S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Contractors undertaking such projects under Government sponsorship are encouraged toexpress freely their professional judgment in the conduct of the project. Points of view or opinions stated do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Office of Education positionor policy. Stanford International Development Education Center (SIDEC) School of Education Stanford University iT Stanford, California, U.S.A. 1970 0 DEDICATION To the heat, insects, and mosquitos of Oriente -- and to Nita and Victoria who survived them. ZZ 3 SIDEC STUDIES ON CONTENT AND METHODS OF .EDUCATION FOR DEVELOPMENT Sub-series on Occupational Education and Training OET-1. Planning Occupational Education and Training for Development, by Eugene Staley. 1968. OET-2. Occupational Education and Training for Development: An Account of the International Workshop Held July 24 through August 5, 1967, at Stanford, California, by Marian Alexander-Frutschi, Editor. 1968. OET-3. Issues in Occupational Education and Training: A Case Study in Jordan, by Najati Al-Bukhari. 1968. OET-4. Issues in Occupational Education and Training: A Case Study in Tunisia, by Najati Al-Bukhari. 1968. OET-5. Education and Training for Industrial Development in India, by B. S. Venkata Rao. 1969. OET-6. Factors Associated with the Migration of High-Level Persons from the Philippines to the U.S.A., by Josefina R. Cortgs. 1970. Sub-series on Education and the Formation of Social and Civic Attitudes ESCA-1. Attitudes and Behavior of Teachers in Uganda: An Aspect of the Process of National Development, by David R. Evans. 1969. ESCA-2. Education and National Development in Colombia, by Joaquin Perez-Giimez. 1969. ESCA-3. Education and Modernization in Micronesia: A Case Study in Development and Development Planning, by Richard Pearse and Keith A. Bezansoa. 1970. ESCA-4. The Impact of University Social Structures on Student Alienation: A Venezuelan Case Study, by Robert F. Arnove. 1970. Sub-series on Education and the Rural-Urban Transformation ERUT-1. The Provincial School Superintendent in Thailand:A Study of Role Perceptions and Expectations, by Pinyo Satorn. 1970. Information about these publications, including handling and shipping charges, may be obtained by addressing the Publications Secretary, SIDEC, School of Education, Stanford, California, 94305, U.S.A. FOREWORD by Hans N. Weiler As part of the SIDEC researchprogram on the role of education,, in the formation of social and civic attitudes,Robert F. Arnove has undertaken a study on what is probablyone of the most complex, and least understood, aspects of thisvast research area: the relation-, ship between professional and political orientationsas they emerge under specified educational and other environmentalconditions. Based on a thorough review of availableand relevant theoretical propositions, and employinga highly differentiated set of analytical procedures, the study arrives ata number of important findings on how, and under what conditions,professional and political efficacy, are interrelated. In identifying these relationships, Arnove has significantly enhanced our understanding of thesources and conditions of student alienation. Within the SIDEC research program, studiesare currently in progress which attempt to test further some of Arnove's assumptions in significantly different culturaland educational settings. It is expected that the comparativenature of such interpretations will further strengthen our ability to explain the complexprocesses of political and professional socialization. Stanford, California January 2970 lv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Without the generous support andcooperation of the administra- tion, faculty, students, and personnelof the University of Oriente, this study could not have beenundertaken or completed. The staff of the Computation Center at theUniversidad Central also provided generous assistance during the initial stage offield work in Venezuela. I am indebted to Myron Glazerand Seymour Lipset for permission to use items from theirquestionnaires. I am especially grateful toProfessors Elizabeth G. Cohen, John W. Meyer, and Hans Weiler, who asmembers of my reading committee pro- vided invaluable assistance at all stagesof the research. Robert F. Arnove Stanford, California JuZy 2969 -vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1 Problem Rationale and Related Research Research Plan II THE SETTING AND THE STUDENTS 9 The Country Universidad de Oriente The Students -- Who Are They? III THE IMPACT OF A UNIVERSITY SOCIAL STRUCTURE ON PROFESSIONAL EFFICACY 57 Interaction with Significant and Rewarding Others Occupational Prestige Cumulative Effect of Prestige and Interaction-Rewards IV BOUNDARY CONDITIONS LIMITING THE IMPACT OF THE UNIVERSITY 93 Departmental Limitations Case Studies of Medicine and Animal Husbandry V POLITICAL EFFICACY AND ACTIVISM 107 Characteristics of the Politically Efficacious Student The Politically Efficacious as "Cosmopolitans" Biographical Information VI THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROFESSIONAL AND POLITICAL ROLE PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS 129 The Relationship between Professional and Political Efficacy Professional Efficacy and Political Activism Institutional Context of Political Efficacy and Activism The Model and Problems of Causal Analysis 41 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) CHAPTER VII STUDENT POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT -- AN EXPRESSION OF OPTIMISM 147 Frustrated Commitment and Political Activism Status Inconsistency, Blocked Mobility and Political Activism Closeness to Market and Political Involvement Efficacy and Modern Man VIII THE EFFICACIOUS STUDENT AS MODERN MAN 161 Achievement Orientations The Expression of Efficacy in Modes of Political Participation and Professional Militancy Efficacy and Modern Man IX SOME FURTHER NOTES ON THE CHARTER 173 Difficulties in Establishing a Charter Creation of a Mythical Charter Trends in Vocational Placement X CONCLUDING SUMMARY 181 Principal Findings Significance of Findings Recommendations for Future Study Programmatic Considerations Generalizability Contribution BIBLIOGRAPHY 191 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) APPENDICES I RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 201 Background and Context of the Study Construction of Survey Instrument Selection of Sample Administration of Questionnaire Quantification of the Data Analysis Item Discrimination Analysis and Intercorrelation of Items Constituting Likert-Type Scales II CONSTRUCTION OF AN INDEX OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS . 235 III CONSTRUCTION OF AN INDEX OF INTERACTION AND REWARDS; AND AN INDEPENDENT SURVEY OF OCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE . 239 IV CONSTRUCTION OF AN INDEX OF COMMITVFNT TO COMPLETING STUDIES; AND COMPARISONS OF DEPARTMENTAL RANKINGS ON PRESTIGE AND INTERACTION AND REWARDS 247 V CONSTRUCTION OF AN INDEX OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND INTEREST; AND SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES FOR CHAPTER V . 255 VI SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES FOR CHAPTER VI 263 VII CONSTRUCTION OF INDICES OF ACADEMIC AND OVERALL FACILITATION; AND SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES FOR CHAPTER