The human potential seminar as a modifier of perceptions regarding human nature

The Problem The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the Kendall College Human Potential Seminar (HPS) upon the participants' regard for others in terms of their perceptions about human nature. Method The HPS model developed by James McHolland at Kendall College in 1967 was the independent variable examined in the present study. The dependent variables in this study were the four substantive scales of the Wrightsman's Philosophies of Human Nature Scale (PHN), Trustworthiness, Altruism, Independence, and Strength of Will and Rationality. The experimental subjects were 24 freshmen randomly selected from a group of 48 beginning college students who enrolled in the HPS course at Texas Southern University during the first six weeks of the 1974 summer session. The remaining 24 students not selected for the experimental group served as the control subjects. The 24 treatment subjects were randomly assigned to two HPS treatment groups of 12 members each. Treatment was 28 hours in duration over a six-week period. The leaders of the two treatment groups were freshmen counselors at Texas Southern University who received EPS training prior to the experiment. The explicit guidelines and materials of the BPS (Kleeman, 1974) were carefully adhered to in both treatment groups. Hypotheses The research hypothesis was that the HPS participants will have significantly more positive perceptions of human nature than control subjects on measures of trustworthiness, altruism, independence, and strength of will and rationality as measured by the PHN scale. Treatment of the Data A randomized control-group posttest design was used in the present study. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed on the posttest means in order to determine the statistical significance of the differences between experimentals and controls, males and females, and the interaction of sex and treatment effects on the four scales of the PHN. Results The posttest scores of the experimental subjects on the Independence and Strength of Will and Rationality scales were significantly higher than the control subjects at the .01 level. The Altruism and Trustworthiness posttest scores of the experimental subjects were significantly higher than the control subjects at the .05 level. Significant differences due to treatment were indicated on all four PHN scales, confirming expectations stated in the research hypothesis. No hypotheses were presented in regard to sex differences or sex and treatment interaction, however, on two of the four PHN scales. Trustworthiness, and Strength of Will and Rationality a significant interaction effect at the .05 level was found, indicating that sex in combination with the HPS treatment, may have had a significant effect on some perceptions about human nature. A Scheffe test of multiple comparisons did not uncover which groups contributed to the significant interaction effects of the Trustworthiness and Strength of Will and Rationality Scales. Conclusions and Recommendations On the basis of the findings of this study it was concluded that: 1. The HPS experimental subjects scored significantly higher on trustworthiness than the control subjects. 2. The HPS experimental subjects scored significantly higher on strength of will and rationality than the control subjects. 3. The HPS experimental subjects scored significantly higher on altruism than the control subjects. 4. The HPS experimental subjects scored significantly higher on independence than the control subjects. 5. Male and female experimental subjects were affected differently by the HPS process. Several recommendations evolved from the research process and from the results of the study. They were as follows; 1. The research design should be replicated utilizing a larger population sample. 2. The research design should be replicated involving equal numbers of male and female subjects. 3. The research design should be replicated involving a post posttest six months to a year following the treatment. 4. The research design should be replicated utilizing both male and female seminar leaders.