Leaders, Heroes, and Role Models Focus Group Entry Survey
Leaders, Heroes, and Role Models:
Who do we look up to and why?
Entry Survey:
Charles L. Kennedy
Senior Instructor
Department of Political Science
Penn State York
SECTION I: Role Models
1. In your personal life , name for us one person you consider to be a role model:
Nathan Kates/Maternal Grandfather
Anthony Pagano/Father
Ruth/Church and family friend
John Melle/Father
Robert Carpenter/Father
Mel Howard/Former Professor
Matt McConnel/Friend of wife
Dr. Angelokos/Teacher
Jennifer Schaffer/Sister
Besty Simes/Teacher
My Father
My Father
3. What qualities or traits attracted you to that person as your role model?
Longevity, persistence of spirit, lover and care for family
Strength, compassion, overcoming life and changing for the better
Moral, hospitality, family-oriented, world traveler, leader, teacher
Honesty, integrity, truthful, understanding, my best friend
Honest, trustworthy, positive attitude, non-judgmental, friendly
Bright, outspoken, challenging, changes things
Successful in business, endured hardship & setbacks, family man
Good human, fine teacher, excellent researcher, physician
Belief in God, living with a child who has a fatal disease
Honest, thoughtful, kind, professional
Hard working, honest
Hardworking, caring, attention to detail
4. Thinking of people you do not know personally , but know about through the media or some other means, name for us one person you consider to be a role model.
Rep John Lewis/Georgia Congressman
Albert Einstein
Orpah Winfrey
Fr. Provesty
Jim Thome/Phildelphia Phillies
Dwight Eisenhower
Ronald Regan
Dr. Goldstein, Nobel Laureate
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
John F. Kennedy
Ronald Reagan
5. What qualities or traits attracted you to that person as your role model?
Humility, persistence, values, champion of civil rights, integrity
Art of being simple, yet complex in thinking and living
Helpful, giving, sharing, philanthropy, smart, hard worker, caring
Always there to help and guide
Character, well respected, team leader
Goal oriented, brought disparate entities together
Dedication to values, patient, visionary, communicator
Researcher, dedicated to science and medicine
Strength and determination
Sincere, honest, hart-working, driven, motivated, caring
Cared about the younger generation, education
Optimistic, strong character, strong convictions
6. On a scale of one to five – with one being the most important, and five being the least important – please rate for us the following qualities you might look for in a role model:
1 2 3 4 5 Ave Honesty 8 2 0 1 1 1.8 Integrity/Ethical 6 3 1 0 2 2.1 Respects Others 6 2 2 1 1 2.1 Strong Moral Character 6 3 0 1 2 2.2 Hard Working 5 1 3 1 2 2.5 Leadership Ability 3 5 1 1 2 2.5 Knowledgeable/Smart 2 4 3 2 1 2.7 Self Assured/Confident 3 4 1 2 2 2.7 Creative/Innovative 2 5 2 1 2 2.7 Plays by the Rules 1 5 4 1 1 2.7 Achieves Success 1 3 3 3 2 3.2 Religious/Spiritual 1 1 5 3 2 3.3 Entrepreneurial/Takes Risks 1 2 4 3 2 3.3 Challenges Authority 1 1 5 1 4 3.5
7. What would you say is the single most important personal characteristic or quality that you look for in a role model?
Respect of and value of others
Take responsibility for actions
Honesty
Honesty
Honest
Walk the talk
Strong moral character
Character
Honesty
Honesty
Honesty
Integrity
8. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “The most important measure of success is how much money a person makes.”
0 STRONGLY AGREE
0 SOMEWHAT AGREE
2 SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
9 STRONGLY DISAGREE
1 NO OPINION
9. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “The most important measure of success is how others think of you.”
0 STRONGLY AGREE
9 SOMEWHAT AGREE
2 SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
1 STRONGLY DISAGREE
0 NO OPINION
10. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “The most important measure of success is what a person does to help others.
7 STRONGLY AGREE
5 SOMEWHAT AGREE
0 SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
0 STRONGLY DISAGREE
0 NO OPINION
Section II: Heroes
1. In your personal life , name for us one person you would consider to be a hero.
Nathan Kates/Maternal grandfather
Flash Gordon/Comic book character
Father
John Melle/Father
Ed Sonnhelm
John Maloney
Grandpa Jack
My father
Uncle Gordon
Vince Leo/Father
My father
Audie Murphy
2. What qualities or traits make this person a hero to you?
Care for others, upbeat personality, long life
Self sacrifice, leadership, strength
Hard worker, honest, good morals, family man, helpful, caring, loving, religious
Very gentle understanding for me and others
Strong willed, well-respected, loved
Helped and supported me though a tough situation
Hard working, doesn’t give up, did what was right, fosters values
Humanitarian, helpful, lived life for others
Honesty, love for others and his family, confidence & compassion
Honest, self-confident, sensible, common sense
Came from another country, worked hard to raise a family, cared about people
Self-sacrafice
3. Thinking of a living person you do not know personally , but know about through the media or other means, name for us one person you would consider to be a hero.
Congressman John Lewis
Lance Armstrong
Fireman or policeman
Fireman or policeman
N/A
Pat Smith/Firefighter
Bob Dole
Nelson Mandela
Rudy Guliani
Colin Powell
Firefighter
N/A
4. What qualities or traits make this person a hero to you?
Constant commitment to civil rights
Overcame cancer and still maintained his dream
Unselfish, hardworking, caring, respectful, giving
Risk their lives to help others
N/A
Saved women at the world trade center on 9-11
Accepted loss with grace, commitment to values, combat injury
Freedom fighter, humanitarian
Leadership, compassion, strength
Leadership qualities, honest, plays by rules
Risks own life to save others
N/A
5. Looking back through history , name one person you do not know personally , but know about through the media or other means, you would consider to be a hero.
Rosa Parks
Mozart
Martin Luther King
John F. Kennedy
Ronald Reagan
Abraham Lincoln
Douglas McArthur
Mother Theresa
Christopher Columbus
Rudy Guliani
N/A
Alvin York
6. What qualities or traits make this person a hero to you?
Willingness to face down hatred and stick to her values
Although a genius he lived as a normal person
Believed in his ideals, changed people, great speaker, religious
Stood for what he felt was best for the country
Great communicator, strong convictions
Stood up to years of political pressure, freed the slaves
Kept his word, did was right, did not play by rules, close to troops
Selfless efforts to help humankind
Determination, fearless adventure
Dedicated, driven, focused, good leadership
N.A.
Self sacrifice, integrity
7. On a scale of one to five – with one being the most heroic, and five being the least heroic – please rate for us the following:
1 2 3 4 5 Ave. Parent 7 1 3 0 1 1.9 Member of the Armed Forces 6 2 3 0 1 2.0 Teacher 5 3 3 1 0 2.0 Policeman 6 3 1 0 2 2.1 Firefighter 7 1 2 0 2 2.1 Astronaut 5 4 1 0 2 2.2 Pastor/Clergy 4 3 4 1 0 2.2 Organ Donor 5 3 2 1 1 2.2 Doctor 2 6 3 0 1 2.3 Professional Athlete 0 2 3 2 5 2.5 Social Service Volunteer 0 5 2 3 1 3.0 Homemaker 2 1 5 3 1 3.0 Small Business Person 1 3 5 0 3 3.1 Blue Collar Worker 1 2 4 4 1 3.2 CEO of a Major Corporation 0 3 5 1 3 3.3 Elected Official 0 2 6 0 4 3.5 Movie Star 0 1 2 3 6 4.2
8. If you could have dinner alone with one person currently living today who you do not know personally , who would you choose?
Howard Dean
George W. Bush
Oprah Winfrey
Donald Trump
George W. Bush
Bill Clinton
William F. Buckley, Jr
George W. Bush
Tim McGraw
Oprah Winfrey
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
9. Why?
Lively, passionate, discuss health care issues
To find out what his personal motives were for action in Iraq
I’d like to see what it is like to be her, how she works and thinks
Ask for a job
To understand his thoughts, the pressures of the job
Bright, knowledgeable, experienced
Life experiences, outstanding intellect, strong moral character, influenced politics
To suggest to him ways to improve education
Hottie, family values, successful
Talk to her about various subjects, easy to talk to
Interesting person to listen to
Current leader of the free world
10. Aside from a relative, if you could have dinner with one person who is no longer living , who would you choose?
Abraham Lincoln
Albert Einstein
Benjamin Franklin
John F. Kennedy, Jr.
Benjamin Franklin
Leonard DiVinci
Thomas Jefferson
Dr. Goldberg
John F. Kennedy
Jackie Kennedy Onassis
Princess Diana
Franklin Roosevelt
11. Why?
Fascination with his Presidential Career, especially equal rights
Ask about his theories
See how he thought/came up with his inventions/ideas, what it was like in his era
Ask him how his plane could go down like that
Because he was so innovative
Achieved success in many areas
Wrote Bill of Rights, bent rules to do what was best, freedom
Discuss research plans
Did not live in JFK era and wondered what kind of man he was
Great conversationalist, like to hear about her life
Caring and giving person
Ask him about his thoughts on World War II
12. Would you AGREE or DISAGREE with this statement: “We currently live in an age without heroes.”
1 STRONGLY AGREE
8 SOMEWHAT AGREE
0 SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
3 STRONGLY DISAGREE
Section III: Leaders
1. What would you say is the single most important personal characteristic or quality that you look for in a leader?
Integrity
Understand the art of leadership
Honesty
Honesty
Charisma
Ability to change things
Vision
Honesty
Honesty
Honesty
Honesty
Inspire others
2. Please name for us four or five people living today whom you consider to be great leaders:
John Lewis, Bruce Springsteen
N/A
Fire chief, police chief, Dr. Green (endocrinologist)
My son, Rick Gadzicki, Carmella Melle, Joe Tarantino
Jim Thome, Tony Blair, Gary Charwood
Bruce Williamson (CEO), Bill Clinton, Bill Belicek (football coach)
Rick Santorum, Steve Jobs, Buzz Patrick (paint shop foreman)
Bill Clinton, Ed Rendell, Arlen Specter, N. Rao (former India PM)
Rudy Guliani , Cal Ripkin, Oprah Winfrey, Herbit Lottier (Police Captain)
Colin Powell, Oprah Winfrey, Rudy Giuliani, Concetta Lupo (teacher)
Pope John Paul II, President Clinton
N/A
3. Looking back through history, name for us four or five people who are no longer living, whom you would consider to have been great leaders:
Abraham Lincoln, Moses
Adolf Hitler, Stalin, Lincoln
Ronald Reagan, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King
Lincoln, Kennedy , Washington , Johnson
George Washington, Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, Jesus Christ
Leonardo DiVinci, Ghandi, Thomas Jefferson, Dwight Eisenhower
Hitler, Stalin, Napolian, Robert E. Lee, Peter the Great
Mahatma Gandi, Lincoln , Washington , Reagan, Sandar Patel
John F. Kennedy, Washington, Abe Lincoln, Ronald Reagan
Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson
John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King
Lincoln, Eisenhower, FDR, Reagan
4. Name for us one person in the business or corporate world you would consider to be an outstanding leader.
Paul Hawken/Founder of Smith & Hawken
George Pullman/CEO of railroad
Oprah Winfrey
Donald Trump
Gary Charwood
Bruce Williamson, CEO
Steve Jobs
Bill Gates
Oprah Winfrey
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Bill Gates
5. Why?
Commitment to employees’ well-being while maintaining high product quality
Exploited labor to achieve his goals
Car about people, not just her business
Down to earth, passionate
Visionary
Started a business from scratch, surrounds himself with competent people
Creative, commitment to excellence, vision
Hardworking
Not afraid to speak her mind, stands up for herself
Strong leaders, honest, driven, motivated
Worked up from the bottom and built an empire
PC was innovative and company has frown well
6. Name for us one person in the world of politics or government you would consider to be an outstanding leader.
Congressman John Lewis
Saddam Hussein
George W. Bush
Son Dave, a councilman
Tony Blair
Thomas Jefferson
Rick Santorum
Bill Clinton
Colin Powell
Hillary Clinton
George W. Bush
7. Why?
Integrity, persistence, commitment to values
Understood his plain, maintained authority, understood deterrence
Not necessarily the best leader, but still brought us together after attacks
Honest and works for the people
Able to make difficult decisions
Author of Declaration of Independence
Commitment to values, strong morals, rally people to his cause
Good leader despite personal life
His strength on 9-11
Consistent in his actions, professional
Fighter, good speaker
Fighting the war on terror
8. Name for us one person in the world of religion you would consider to be an outstanding leader.
Rabbi Gerald Wolpe/Retired Rabbi of local congregation
Jim Jones
Rev. Tinklebaugh (Episcopal Minister)
Pope John Paul II
Billy Graham
N/A
Fr. Pat (St. Anthony’s in Lancaster )
Mother Theresa
Father Wynnhouse
Cindy Jarris (Minister)
Pope John Paul, II
Pope John Paul, II
9. Why?
Ability to bring together diverse congregation
Stood up for what he believed
Caring, giving to people
Responsible and honest
Personal convictions
N/A
Understanding of scripture, relates to day-to-day life
Great humanitarian and leader
Patience, perservence in molding young minds
Sets a good and honest example
Wants peace among all of us
Way he conducted the church during the Cold War
10. Name for us one person in the sports world you would consider to be an outstanding leader.
Eric Snow/former 76er
Smarty Jones
Larry Brown & Joe Paterno
Andy Reid, Eagles Head Coach
Jim Thome
Bill Belicek, Patriots Head Coach
Joe Paterno
Michael Jordan
Larry Brown (76ers coach)
Kristi Yamaguichi (Ice Skater)
Donovan McNabb
Primo
11. Why?
Provide leader support and leadership while maintaining excellence
Overcame hardship and personal injury to achieve victory
Great coaches, dedicated their lives to the team
Good and caring person
Character
Focused a group of men, got them working together
Commitment to values, demands the best, approachable & humble
Excellent player
He did what he felt right despite what others thought
Honest, strong, consistent, kind
Caring, unites people
The way he inspires his team
12. Would you AGREE or DISAGREE with this statement: “America’s leaders today do not live up to the standards of the great leaders from our nation’s past.”
3 STRONGLY AGREE
7 SOMEWHAT AGREE
1 SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
1 STRONGLY DISAGREE
Section IV: Demographic Questions
1. Are you a:
7 MALE
5 FEMALE
2. What is your age group?
2 18 – 30
3 30 – 40
3 40 – 50
4 50 – 65
0 Over 65
3. In what category would you place your income for the past year?
0 Under $20,000
1 $20,000 – $30,000
3 $30,000 – $50,000
4 $50,000 – $75,000
2 $75,000 – $100,000
1 Over $100,000
4. Are you a:
6 REPUBLICAN
4 DEMOCRAT
2 INDEPENDENT
0 NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE
5. How would you describe your religious affiliation?
4 PROTESTANT
4 CATHOLIC
2 JEWISH
1 HINDU
1 ORTHODOX
6. What is the highest level of education you have completed?
0 SECONDARY EDUCATION
3 HIGH SCHOOL
3 POST-SECONDARY CERTIFICATE
3 FOUR YEAR-DEGREE
3 GRADUATE DEGREE
