Life Span Interviews Identity in Emerging Adulthood

Identity in Emerging Adulthood

Identity

Title an exploration of employment selection behaviors and the link to identity development.

Area of study

This study considers the employment selection behaviors of emerging adults. Employment selection is a critical element of the development process. It influences and structures the ability to take care of oneself in the present and the future. However, more significantly employment is an indicator of independence and display of the ability to commit to a usually a long-term experience. Independence and commitment are skills that in adulthood can establish the way in which one lives. In this framework, employment can be viewed as one of the indicators that reflect an individual's development in these areas. This is beyond the individuals self-perception that they are not adults (Nelson et al. 2000).

In the modern context, self-determination requires the individual to have some form of employment and access to legitimate forms capital not for developmental or social reasons but for survival. One of the ways in which an individual can acquire capital is through employment. The mechanism of employment selection has traditionally been tied to academic success, societal experiences to include familial, exposure to specific work options, and life opportunities. These elements can function both independently and interdependently influences the choice of the individual (Vander, Crandall & Crandall 2007). This implies that an individual is shaped and ultimately influenced by external factors as well as internal considerations in decision-making processes.

For emerging adults however, the choice of type of employment includes other elements that are not actively considered in the literature. The emerging adult is surrounded with a myriad of employment opportunities (Arnett, 2000). This occurs as previously mentioned because of the intersection of multiple factors simultaneously in the experience of emerging adults. Employment selection then becomes not only a question of available options but may also be a statement of identity. As was alluded to earlier employment can be seen as a developmental milestone for an individual.

Need for study

The study of the employment selection behaviors of emerging adults is important because of the potential impact it can have on the availability of members of the workforce. In any economy the quality of the labor force is linked to their work experiences. Consequently, employment selection may have a mediating influence on the quality of available labor. Additionally, the individual is affected by their ability to appropriately select the appropriate type of employment. The type of job one chooses is an indicator to self and others of who they are as people. It can be argued however that some jobs are engaged or entered in based on need vs. choice based on identity. Considering those that may be unemployed or uncertain about what type of employment is available, it is apparent that these states have an impact on who they are as people. Lack of employment has been linked to depression, isolation and other emotionally unstable states. It is therefore reasonable to suggest that the type of employment selected and the overall need to be employed may function as a mechanism to consolidate and strengthen variant elements of the individual's personality.

Study design/methodology

This study will employ a qualitative methodology. A case study will be used as the research design for this work. The sample size for this study will be 1 (Strauss & Corbin 1990).The individual for the case study will be selected using purposive sampling which is noted to produce data rich cases and very suitable for this type of work. The participant will be 22-24 years of age; this is the age group that demographically, demonstrates the maximum effect of the phenomenon. In this age group, the individual will have finished their bachelor's degree in some specific discipline, and is actively seeking employment. The data will be collected using a semi-structured interview of the participant. The data will then be analyzed using ground theory, in an attempt to provide an adequate understanding of the phenomenon that could subsequently be used in further study designs.

Interview protocol

INTERVIEW PROTOCOL

Name ____ Date

Current Employment Status ____ Type of Job held

Contact Information

Interviewed by Employment is an important aspect of an individual's life experience. To understand this experience we are attempting to determine through this interview what factors have influenced your employment selection process and the ways in which employment have effected your development of identity. Ultimately, we are attempting to understand they ways in which identity and employment are linked and how they affect each other in terms of development.

There are three themes that will be explored in this interview and under each theme, there are corresponding questions.

This interview will last no longer than 2 hours.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Question 1.

Please tell me they type of work experience you have engaged in during the last 5 years.

What were your reasons for engaging in this type of employment?

Why did you want to become employed?

EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AN D. EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Question 2.

How did you feel during this period of employment? (independent, happy, fulfilled) Please explain why you had these feelings.

Did employment affect your identity development? Please discuss your answer selection ( If yes explain, if no explain).