| Scope and method of study. The purpose of this study is to describe undergraduate students' ideas about the meaning in work. Developmental theories, career theories, and vocational theories offer many perspectives on the career choices and vocational development of late adolescents and young adults. This study focuses upon meaning in work from an existential perspective rather than looking at career choice. Utilizing Q-Method, a technique initiated by Stephenson for the scientific study of subjectivity, phenomenological research was conducted. Statements extracted from in-depth interviews with juniors and seniors at a private, parochial, liberal arts university formed a Q-sample. After conducting a Q-sort within a graduate Q-Method seminar using the naturalistic Q-sample of 55 statements, the Q-sample was reduced to 42 statements, and a Q-sort was performed with 62 undergraduate students at two universities, a small parochial liberal arts university and a large comprehensive land-grant university.; Findings and conclusions. Factor analysis combined with z score calculations for each statement indicated meanings clustered around three beliefs about work. Interpreted as Social Influence Workers, Personal Fulfillment Workers, and Economic Reality Workers, each of the three beliefs revealed a different meaning in work. Awareness of social responsibility was acknowledged in each pattern of belief, but when further interpreted, individualized meaning focused upon social, personal, and economic issues. Conclusions are that: (1) phenomenological, studies are useful methods for accessing subjective ideas about work, (2) students indicate meaning in work differentially, and (3) students could benefit from an existential focus upon personal meaning in academics and career counseling. |
