Individual Characteristics as Predictive Variables of the Level and Impact of Contrapower Harassment of Faculty Teaching in Schools of Pharmacy

Individual Characteristics as Predictive Variables of the Level and Impact of Contrapower Harassment of Faculty Teaching in Schools of Pharmacy by Joel M. Epps MBA, Texas Woman’s University, 1987 BA, West Texas A & M, 1979 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Psychology Walden University May 2016 Abstract A review of literature documents that higher education faculty are likely to be the target of student harassment. A scenario in which a person of lesser power in an organization harasses a person of greater power is known as contrapower harassment. Students’ acts of harassment range from mild incivilities to aggressive and threatening behaviors. The purpose of this quantitative web-based survey study is to document (a) the prevalence of contrapower harassment in a sample of U.S. pharmacy school faculty (n = 110), a previously unstudied population, (b) gender differences in faculty experiences of contrapower harassment, (c) faculty characteristics which may predict harassment, and (d) differences in the level of contrapower harassment associated with accusing a student of academic dishonesty. It was proposed that contrapower harassment is the result of the college environment in which the student is treated as an entitled consumer. Critical systems, emancipatory, and organizational theories were used to help understand the environment that fosters faculty harassment. Analysis of quantitative data employed MANOVA, chi-square, and multiple linear regression. Results confirmed 94% of pharmacy faculty have experienced at least one of the harassing behaviors. Males reported greater levels of incivility and females experienced greater distress from sexual attention. The act of confronting a student for academic dishonesty increased student harassment including incivility, bullying, and sexual attention. Positive social change may result from identifying the prevalence of contrapower harassment in pharmacyschools, leading to changes in the university environment that foster student harassment of faculty.A review of literature documents that higher education faculty are likely to be the target of student harassment. A scenario in which a person of lesser power in an organization harasses a person of greater power is known as contrapower harassment. Students’ acts of harassment range from mild incivilities to aggressive and threatening behaviors. The purpose of this quantitative web-based survey study is to document (a) the prevalence of contrapower harassment in a sample of U.S. pharmacy school faculty (n = 110), a previously unstudied population, (b) gender differences in faculty experiences of contrapower harassment, (c) faculty characteristics which may predict harassment, and (d) differences in the level of contrapower harassment associated with accusing a student of academic dishonesty. It was proposed that contrapower harassment is the result of the college environment in which the student is treated as an entitled consumer. Critical systems, emancipatory, and organizational theories were used to help understand the environment that fosters faculty harassment. Analysis of quantitative data employed MANOVA, chi-square, and multiple linear regression. Results confirmed 94% of pharmacy faculty have experienced at least one of the harassing behaviors. Males reported greater levels of incivility and females experienced greater distress from sexual attention. The act of confronting a student for academic dishonesty increased student harassment including incivility, bullying, and sexual attention. Positive social change may result from identifying the prevalence of contrapower harassment in pharmacyschools, leading to changes in the university environment that foster student harassment of faculty. Individual Characteristics as Predictive Variables of the Level and Impact of Contrapower Harassment of Faculty Teaching in Schools of Pharmacy by Joel M. Epps MBA, Texas Woman’s University, 1987 BA, West Texas A & M, 1979 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Psychology Walden University May 2016 Dedication This study is dedicated to my wife, Dale Ann and two sons Ashley and Ross. They cheerfully braved my years of unending need to locate an internet connection to allow me to post, no matter where in the world we may have found ourselves. For this, I give hearty thanks. I also give thanks to Drs. David Mohr and Virginia Salzer for their unending edits and support.