destroying impostor phenomenon in code4lib and ourselves

Destroying Impostor Phenomenon in Code4Lib

and Ourselves

Dominique “Dom” BortmasMetadata Librarian | University of South Florida

Code4Lib 2017 | 3-7-2017

About Me

• Dominique “Dom” Bortmas• MLIS: Kent State University, 2015• Metadata Librarian, University of

South Florida• MLIS Instructor

• Kent State University• Dominican University

What is Imposter Phenomenon?

• AKA: Imposter Syndrome, Fraud Syndrome• An observed anxiety caused by one’s feelings of fraudulence, fear of

being exposed as a fraud, and inability to internalize personal achievement.

Who has Imposter Phenomenon?

• Anyone can have IP.• Spans beyond age, experience.• Potentially higher rates of IP for perfectionists.• Potentially higher rates of IP for minorities.

Experiencing Imposter Phenomenon

IT Crowd: S1E1

What isn’t Imposter Phenomenon?

• Not a fraud or unqualified professional

• Not occasional feelings of self-doubt or anxiety

• Not a disorder or diagnosis (APA)

Imposter Phenomenon: Negative Impact

• Stress• Anxiety• Self-doubt• Limits professional development• Limits enjoyment of work

Survey Overview• Determine levels of IP throughout community

• Determine impact of IP on Code4Lib participation and attendance

Design

• Determine levels of IP throughout community• Determine impact of IP on Code4Lib participation and attendance

• Demographics• Clance & Imes’ Imposter Phenomenon Scale (IP Scale)• Perfectionist Self Presenting Scale (PSPS)• Code4Lib awareness• Code4Lib participation

Survey Distribution

• Audience: Librarians & Information Professionals, specifically within “technical” areas of librarianship.

• Survey distributed to various, relevant list serves.• Code4Lib• LITA• ALCTS

Participants by GenderParticipants by Gender

Men

Women

Other

No response

79 (63%)

41 (33%)

Participants by Years of ExperienceParticipants' Years of Experience

0 to 33 to 56 to 1011 to 1516 to 2021 and up

20 (16%)

14 (11%)

18 (14%) 12 (10%)

33 (26%)

28 (22%)

Clance & Imes’ IP Scale

• Created by Clance & Imes in 1985.• Developed to determine levels of IP.

• Citation: The Impostor Phenomenon: When Success Makes You Feel Like A Fake (pp. 20-22), by P.R. Clance, 1985, Toronto: Bantam Books. Copyright 1985 by Pauline Rose Clance, Ph.D., ABPP. Reprinted by permission.

IP Scale: Sample Statements• Sometimes I feel or believe that my success in my life or in my job has

been the result of some kind of error.

• At times, I feel my success has been due to some kind of luck.

• Sometimes I’m afraid others will discover how much knowledge or ability I really lack.

• It’s hard for me to accept compliments or praise about my intelligence or accomplishments.

• I can give the impression that I’m more competent than I really am.

Calculating IP Scale Score

• To calculate score, add together the numbers of the responses to each statement.

• Possible total points: 100

IP Scale Scoring

•No IP – Low IP: 40 or below•Moderate IP: 41-60•Frequent IP: 61-80

• Intense IP: 80+

Perfectionist Self Presenting Scale

• Created by Paul L. Hewitt & Gordon L. Flett in 2003.• “A measure of the interpersonal expression of perfectionistic behavior

including perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection”.

• Citation: Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., Sherry, S. B., Habke, M., Parkin, M., et al. (2003). The interpersonal expression of perfection: Perfectionistic self-presentation and psychological distress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(6), 1303-1325. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.84.6.1303

PSPS: Sample Statements• I must always appear to be perfect.• Errors are much worse if they are made in public rather than in

private.• It would be awful if I made a fool of myself in front of others.• I never let others know how hard I work on things.• I need to be seen as perfectly capable in everything I do.• I strive to look perfect to others.

Calculating PSPS Score

• “Rate your agreement with each of the statements using the following ‘disagree strongly…agree strongly scale’.”

• To calculate score, add together the numbers of the responses to each statement. The higher the score, the higher the levels of perfectionism.

Survey ResultsIP scores + PSPS scores

Average IP Score

66.977• No IP – Low IP: 40 or below

• Moderate IP: 41-60• Frequent IP: 61-80

• Intense IP: 80+

IP Scores by Gender

Intense Frequent Moderate No/low0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

IP Scores by GenderMen Women Other No response

IP Type

Part

icip

ants

IP Scores by GenderIP Scores: Men

Intense FrequentModerate No/low

IP Score: Women

Intense FrequentModerate No/low

IP Scores: Other

Intense FrequentModerate No/low

IP Scores: No response

Intense FrequentModerate No/low

IP Scores by Years of Experience

0 to 3 3 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 21 and up0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

IP by Years of Experience

Intense Frequent Moderate Low

Experience, in years

Parti

cipa

nts

Code4Lib ParticipationComparing IP and Feelings about Code4Lib

Feelings about Code4Lib Participation

“I feel out of place”

None of the time

Some of the time

Good part of the time

Most of the time

All of the time0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

"I feel out of place"

No/Low IP Moderate IP Frequent IP Intense IP

frequency of feeling

parti

cpan

ts

“I would feel out of place”

None of the time

Some of the time

Good part of the time

Most of the time

All of the time0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

"I would feel out of place"

No/Low IP Moderate IP Frequent IP Intense IP

frequency of feeling

parti

cpan

ts

“I question my abilities”

None of the time

Some of the time

Good part of the time

Most of the time

All of the time0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

"I question my abilities"

No/Low IP Moderate IP Frequent IP Intense IP

frequency of feeling

parti

cpan

ts

“I would question my abilities”

None of the time

Some of the time

Good part of the time

Most of the time

All of the time0123456789

10

"I would question my abilities"

No/Low IP Moderate IP Frequent IP Intense IP

frequency of feeling

parti

cpan

ts

Conclusion of findings

• IP influences feelings and behaviors in Code4Lib.• Participants who have attended Code4Lib had lower instances of

negative feelings compared to those who have not attended.

Combatting IP in Ourselves

Acknowledge it’sImposter Phenomenon.

Acknowledge you’re not alone.

Acknowledge your role in your success.

Acknowledge you’ll fail.

(and that’s okay!)

Acknowledge IP is holding you back.

Avoid comparing yourself to others.

Focus on providing value.

Do your research.Read!

Talk about it.

Ask for help.

Journal reflection&

Positive feedback reflections

Take action!

Combatting IP in Others

Encourage others.

Help others succeed.

Serve as a mentor.

Questions?