Skip to main content icon/video/no-internet
icon backReturn to Entries

Role Models in Science

The term role model was brought into common usage by American sociologist Robert K. Merton, known for his studies of the sociology of science and the interplay between science and its social, religious, and cultural environments. The term was first applied to a 1960s study of the socialization of medical students and is now widely used to conceptualize how individuals influence the social behaviors of others. This entry describes the purpose of role models, their impacts and effects, and implications for science and technology communication.

Role Model Characteristics

Several definitions of the role model exist. One views the role model as a teacher, possessing skills that can be taught by demonstration and learned through observation by another person, also known as the modeler. Another describes role modeling as an active relationship between two people, in which factors such as perceived similarity in values, personal characteristics, and lifestyle are crucial. This latter description is thought to be particularly pertinent to close personal and professional relationships, such as those between graduate students and their faculty advisers.

Often people will select role models who seem psychologically similar to themselves, for example sharing their sex, ethnicity, age, physical proximity, lifestyles, or family ties. They may also select those who have domain or professional relevance to themselves, for example, those working in the same fields of interest. Individuals will select role models substantially different from themselves when similar choices are unavailable or when being different is perceived to have a greater professional or cultural value.

While many people select role models from among those personally known to them, they may also model themselves on strangers or on characters from fiction. The term distant role model describes those not personally known to the modeler or observed only indirectly through intervening media, such as television or cinema. The use of distant role models is relatively common; in one recent U.S. study of 6,000 adults, popular entertainers and sports stars were most frequently identified as role models. While over half of those participating could name a science role model, most of those named were deceased.

The Purpose of Role Models

Role models are thought to provide an idealized model of individual performance and behavior to which people can compare their current and future selves. Research suggests that social comparison, or comparing oneself with others, is a means by which individuals assess their current abilities. A role for models in the creation of “future selves” has also been described, where role models illustrate how future achievements could be accomplished and by doing so make potential future versions of ourselves appear more tangible.

Role models may be positive or negative, and both have been found to motivate individuals to achieve. A positive role model is one who highlights strategies for achieving outstanding success and can motivate others to pursue similar excellence. In contrast, a negative role model is usually one who has experienced some kind of failure or misfortune, which can motivate others to avoid similar outcomes. At different times of their lives and careers, people may respond to different types and sources of role models, reflecting their changing needs and self-views.

...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles

Read next

More like this

Sage Recommends

We found other relevant content for you on other Sage platforms.

close

Have you created a personal profile? Login or create a profile so that you can save clips, playlists and searches

close
close
close Signed In to profile You are signed in as:
close
Logged in Institution Institution