Self-Esteem Research, Theory, and Practice Toward a Positive ...

CHAPTER 3Major Self-EsteemResearch FindingsThe purpose of this chapter is to develop a sense of the major findingsin the field of self-esteem, particularly those with clinical relevancebecause that type of work addresses our practical concern with thistopic. One reason to proceed in this fashion is that it should result in areasonably accurate picture of what is actually known about selfesteemfrom several different perspectives. In addition, the findings canalso act as the building blocks for a comprehensive theory of self-esteem,which is to say one that is capable of integrating them into a meaningfulwhole. Finally, research findings are useful in evaluating the validity of atheory. For example, the extent to which it is capable of integrating themajor “facts” of the field helps us evaluate how robust the theory happensto be.First, however, it is necessary to develop a method to identify findingsthat are important or substantial enough to be gathered into sucha group. Because we are dealing with both qualitative and quantitativeresearch, the usual definition of findings used in social science needs tobe expanded enough to include both types of work. In addition,because we are examining the field as well as its work, specific pointsof agreement, areas of strong disagreement, and other unique characteristicsof self-esteem work may also be considered to be a “finding,”although of a different type. In other words, we will continue to usethe criteria of persistence and significance in this phase of our look atself-esteem. Even so, it is still important to remember that it is difficultto do a comprehensive review of any field, let alone one as old and asbroad as self-esteem.63