Sharon A. Holleran’s scientific contributions

Defining hope as a cognitive set that is composed of a reciprocally derived sense of successful (a) agency (goal-directed determination) and (b) pathways (planning of ways to meet goals), an individual-differences measure is developed. Studies demonstrate acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and the factor structure identifies the agency and pathways components of the Hope Scale. Convergent and discriminant validity are documented, along with evidence suggesting that Hope Scale scores augmented the prediction of goal-related activities and coping strategies beyond other self-report measures. Construct validational support is provided in regard to predicted goal-setting behaviors; moreover, the hypothesized goal appraisal processes that accompany the various levels of hope are corroborated.

Defining hope as a cognitive set that is composed of a reciprocally derived sense of successful (1) agency (goal-directed determination) and (2) pathways (planning of ways to meet goals), an individual-differences measure is developed. Studies with college students and patients demonstrate acceptable internal consistency and test–retest reliability, and the factor structure identifies the agency and pathways components of the Hope Scale. Convergent and discriminant validity are documented, along with evidence suggesting that Hope Scale scores augmented the prediction of goal-related activities and coping strategies beyond other self-report measures. Construct validational support is provided in regard to predicted goal-setting behaviors; moreover, the hypothesized goal appraisal processes that accompany the various levels of hope are corroborated.

outline ways of motivated or biased "reality negotiations" starting from a self-theory with the components of linkage to and valence of outcomes / various strategies aimed at protecting or fostering a positive self-image are derived from . . . [the author's] model: lessening the linkage to negative outcomes using one of several forms of excuses), minimizing positiveness of outcomes one is not linked to / the model is applicable to people who have a negative self-image which is maintained or even worsened by opposite strategies of reality negotiations: decreasing the linkage to positive outcomes, decreasing positiveness of outcomes to which one is not linked to, and so forth / the model is very useful to understand a wide variety of phenomena in the study of experiences with loss (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)