SOCIAL CONTACT AND ATTITUDE CHANGE : A CASE OF HOMELESS MEN LIVING IN A DORMITORY
Sseremba, David (2014)
Sseremba, David
Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu
2014
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201402242601
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201402242601
Tiivistelmä
Sseremba David Kirangwa. Social Contact and Attitude Change, a case of homeless men living in a dormitory. Language: English. Spring 2014. 69 pages. 2 appendices. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. Degree Programme in Social Services. Bachelor of Social Services focus in Community Development Work + Option in Diaconia Youth Work.
The aim of the study was to find out the causes of negative relations among two groups of homeless men. The thesis also intended to explore the role social contact plays in influencing attitude change among people who share a common living space (Homeless men). The material for this research was
collected during spring and autumn of 2013. The data was obtained from a survey that constituted a group of homeless men living in a dormitory as well as from the supervisor of that dormitory.
The study followed qualitative research methodology where closed ended questionnaires were used to collect data from a heterogeneous homeless men group. Unstructured Personal interview was used to collect data from the supervisor of the dormitory. The study found out that negative attitudes existed
within these two groups of men at an individual and group level. Some men may have agreed to take part in the study that is to say participate in the visits which aimed at improving attitudes amongest them in principle but their attitudes remained unchanged towards each other at an individual level and group level .
Therefore, the study showed mixed feelings about contact and attitude change.
Although in some cases increment in social contact played a significant role in leading to improved attitudes among the homeless men, sometimes this increment had no effect or made the situation worse than it was hitherto.
Furthermore, the study concedes that practising real contact let alone attitude change which come with it is a hard to task. It requires devising of concrete contact making methods coupled with allocation of substantial amount of time and provision of optimum conditions necessary to facilitate an effective contact
making processs. In so doing sustainable attitude change can be realized.
The aim of the study was to find out the causes of negative relations among two groups of homeless men. The thesis also intended to explore the role social contact plays in influencing attitude change among people who share a common living space (Homeless men). The material for this research was
collected during spring and autumn of 2013. The data was obtained from a survey that constituted a group of homeless men living in a dormitory as well as from the supervisor of that dormitory.
The study followed qualitative research methodology where closed ended questionnaires were used to collect data from a heterogeneous homeless men group. Unstructured Personal interview was used to collect data from the supervisor of the dormitory. The study found out that negative attitudes existed
within these two groups of men at an individual and group level. Some men may have agreed to take part in the study that is to say participate in the visits which aimed at improving attitudes amongest them in principle but their attitudes remained unchanged towards each other at an individual level and group level .
Therefore, the study showed mixed feelings about contact and attitude change.
Although in some cases increment in social contact played a significant role in leading to improved attitudes among the homeless men, sometimes this increment had no effect or made the situation worse than it was hitherto.
Furthermore, the study concedes that practising real contact let alone attitude change which come with it is a hard to task. It requires devising of concrete contact making methods coupled with allocation of substantial amount of time and provision of optimum conditions necessary to facilitate an effective contact
making processs. In so doing sustainable attitude change can be realized.