Moving beyond Mentoring: A Collective Case Study Examining the Perceived Characteristics of Positive Transformational Figures.

AbstractThe purpose of this collective-case study was to explore the characteristics of transformational figures. This study revealed that interpersonal encounters were seen as a catalyst that assisted study participants through the process of transformation. Ten themes emerged from the cross-case analysis: Imposed and Intentional Influence; Metaphors of Revolutionary Change; Characteristics of Kindness, Caring, and Compassion; Admiration for Transformational Figures; Time and Timing of Transformational Experience; Feeling Special; Positive Emotional Response; Debt to Repay; Reflective Thinking; and Interpersonal Connections.IntroductionGood Buffalo Eagle captivated his audience as he told of his personal transformation from being an illegal immigrant who started high school at age 19 to being the co-founder of an organization designed to facilitate healing and positive change in the lives of young people through wilderness therapy. In his life narrative he identifies a significant other who helped facilitate his own personal change. He explained his struggles as a high school student because of his Spanish/English language barrier, and described how he passed time drawing pictures of other students while he was in class. He was haunted by an expression used by the other migrant workers while working the fields, "Once a migrant worker, you die a migrant worker. "That expression changed after he met a transformational figure that recognized an artistic talent and invited him to take art classes. When he entered the art room for the first time he exclaimed, "In that moment I am no longer a migrant worker, I am Michelangelo! "Why was Good Buffalo Eagle's encounter with this person transformative? This study explored how transformational mentors and teachers assist in the process of transformation. The study uncovered 10 themes that emerged from interviews with people like Good Buffalo Eagle, who had transformative figures in their lives.The term mentor is frequently used in education to describe the relationship between mentor and protege. What happens when mentors go beyond facilitation and help shape, change, and transform the lives of their proteges? The problem addressed in this study focuses on the lack of understanding about the transformational qualities of mentors. What are the perceived qualities mentors possess that allow them to move beyond mentoring to become transformational figures? The purpose of this collective case study was to discover the qualities that allow a person to be a positive transformational figure in the life of a protege. Transformational figures were defined by their proteges as persons who helped shape, change, or transform their lives. For the purpose of this study transformation was defined as "reflectively transforming the beliefs, attitudes, opinions, and emotional reactions that constitute our meaning schemes or transforming our meaning perspectives" (Mezirow, 1991, p. 223). MethodologyIn order to discover and describe the qualities of transformational figures as perceived by proteges, the approach was used that Creswell (1998) describes as a collective case study (p. 62) and that is also distinguished by Yin (2003) as a "comparative case" method (p. 14). Collective case studies are appropriate when more than one case will be studied. When multiple units of analysis are being studied, all relevant information would be gathered together to form a multi-case study (Yin, 2003). Twelve adults were purposefully selected who completed at least 2 years of college or who earned a post-high school degree or certificate and who recognized a positive transformational figure in their own life. Each was considered an individual case. A modified version of Yin's (2003) case study model was used. The modifications include replacing Yin's (2003) develop the theory with Creswell's (1998) purpose, problem, and grand tour question. The purpose, problem, and grand tour question are critical in the design phase of the study as they determine how the participants will be selected as well as the design protocol. …