The purpose of this study was (a) to examine how participants define themselves-particpants were children of survivors of the 1915 genocide by the Ottoman Turk, and (b) to examine the effects of values clarification methodology on their self-concept. This was a two-part study which consisted of interviews with four participants in Part 1, and an educational intervention in Part 2 which consisted of values clarification workshops involving 16 participants. Data from the interviews in Part 1 were used to design the educational intervention in Part 2. Workshop participants were involved in a one-month period of values clarification activities: a day-long workshop at the beginning of the month; another at the end of the month; and a take-home values clarification workbook requiring entries every other day between workshops.
Interview data revealed underlying themes concerning fusion of personal identity to Armeniam heritage and tension in finding a suitable balance between Armenian and American values and lifestyles. Major issues that emerged from interviews and which formed the basis for values clarification workshop strategies were: Armenian heritage, genocide, suppression of feelings, choices, self-blame and self-minimization, avoidance, reactivity/passivity, and sadness and regretfulness.
These issues were discussed in terms of women's identity formation as related to human development theories, feminist literature, and Armenian heritage. Results from Part 2 of the study were discussed in the same context.
Qualitative and quantitative measures were used in Part 2 of the study. Qualitative measures used were On-sight Surveys, Participant Observation and Workshop Evaluation. Quantitative measures used were the Participant Profile Questionnaire (PPQ), which provided in-depth descriptive data, and the Self Perception Inventory (SPI) which was used in a one-group pretest-posttest design. Four traits moved in a negative direction at a significance level of.05. No statistically significant differences were found in a positive direction; however, data indicated differences in self-concept which suggested the following model of change: values queries $>$ $>$ psychological tension $>$ $>$ critical thinking skills $>$ $>$ understanding $>$ $>$ clearer reality $>$ $>$ self re-definition.
