Question.1836 - PART 4: TRUSTWORTHINESS AND SUMMARY Trustworthiness—summarize across the different data sources and respond to the following: What themes are in common? What sources have different themes? Explain the trustworthiness of your findings, in terms of: Credibility Transferability Dependability strategies Confirmability SUMMARY Based on the results of your analyses, how would you answer the question: “What is the meaning of social change for Walden graduate students?” Self-Reflection—Has your own understanding of you as a positive social change agent changed? Explain your reasoning. Based on your review of the three articles on social change, which one is aligned with your interests regarding social change and why?
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Week 10: Major Assignment 2 Miroslav Majernik Walden University RSCH 8110/7110/6110: Research Theory, Design, and Methods Professor Tim Philip Fadgen May 5th, 2024 Week 10: Major Assignment 2 Qualitative Research Topic: The Lived Experiences of Midlife Career Changers 1. Problem Statement Due to several advancements in the societal dynamic and technologies involving the career ecosystem, midlife career change is becoming prevalent, with varying factors contributing to job dissatisfaction and the desire to achieve professional growth. While existing research tends to explore socioeconomic factors from an external viewpoint rather than assessing the internal or psychological characteristics that contribute to midlife career change, for example, Bimrose, J., Barabasch, A., Brown, A., & Mulvey, R. (2015). Mid-career changes symposium. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 43(3), 255-262. Also, French, J. R., Davis-Sacks, M. L., & Doerhman, S. R. (1983). Career change in midlife: Stress, social support, and adjustment. Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan. This creates a gap that exists in understanding the lived experiences of individuals navigating this shift. Specifically, how do midlife career changers make sense of their identities, emotions, and challenges during this transition? Current research primarily focuses on quantitative data and may miss the rich narrative of lived experiences. Motivations and Challenges: Barclay (2011) conducted a meta-analysis of career change research, highlighting various motivations for midlife transitions. These include dissatisfaction with current work, desire for advancement, and personal growth aspirations. Challenges included financial pressures, reskilling needs, and ageism. 2. Purpose Statement The research intends to uncover some of the hidden societal and psychological factors of the lived experiences of midlife career changers through constructivist theories; for instance, personal construct theory develops their construct as they interpret information in order to understand their surrounding. These constructs tend to aid in understanding internal struggle in order to mitigate the contributing factors in relation to external support systems, how these support systems are received, and what challenges persist. The naturalistic setting will be online support groups for midlife career changers, offering a safe space to share their experiences. As a researcher with a background in career counseling, I recognize my own bias toward supporting positive career transitions. However, I will employ reflexive journaling to maintain a neutral stance during data analysis. Data sources will include online forum posts and potential interviews with group members. 3. Research Question How do midlife career changers within online support groups describe and make meaning of their lived experiences during their career transition journey? 4. Annotated Bibliography Barclay, S. R., Stoltz, K. B., & Chung, Y. B. (2011). Voluntary midlife career change: Integrating the transtheoretical model and the life?span, life?space approach.?The Career Development Quarterly,?59(5), 386-399. This article provides a comprehensive overview of career change research, highlighting the need for further exploration of individual experiences. Patton, W. (2008). Recent developments in career theories: The influences of constructivism and convergence.?International handbook of career guidance, 133-156. Patton, W. (2019). Career theory for change: the influences of social constructionism and constructivism, and convergence.?International handbook of career guidance, 73-95. Both articles explore Constructivism Theory in relation to career, by drawing on the philosophical underpinnings of career theory and studying the core social principles of constructivism on convergence in career theory by bridging the literature review frameworks like the systems theory through a multidisciplinary scope. It also includes various other theories that posit that midlife is a time for contributing to society through work and family, making it relevant to career changes during this period. Infurna, F. J., Gerstorf, D., & Lachman, M. E. (2020). Midlife in the 2020s: Opportunities and challenges.?American Psychologist,?75(4), 470. This resource has explored the consequences and misconceptions that exist around middle-aged adults by reviewing preconceived notions from the perspective of intergenerational dynamics with financial vulnerabilities that emerge due to family dynamics, which can be used to build a narrative approach to explore how individuals understand their career transitions. Part 3 In terms of potential contributions to change on local/community level, considering support groups, the findings could inform the design of support groups tailored to the unique needs and experiences of midlife career changers, which may involve emotional support, resources for reskilling, or networking opportunities. Insights into the anxieties and challenges of this demographic could help career counselors better address their concerns and provide effective guidance during the transition process. In terms of the regional level, considering workplace policies, the research could highlight potential barriers that companies create for midlife career changers. Organizations might be encouraged to adopt more inclusive hiring practices, provide re-training opportunities, or offer flexible schedules that appeal to this age group. Understanding the motivations for career change can inform vocational programs aimed at retooling midlife workers. These programs can be tailored to meet the specific upskilling needs of this population. Lastly, on the national level, by uncovering the personal narratives behind career changes, the study can contribute to broader conversations about the evolving labor market. Which could help in adapting labor policies that take into account the needs of older workers. The research can help dispel myths and stereotypes about midlife capabilities, potentially reducing ageism in hiring practices and creating a more receptive environment for career changers. However, based on the feedback, I would like to consider narrowing the focus to a particular region or industry so that I can tailor the implications of the research to specific communities or sectors with greater potential for enacting change. The current qualitative research provides rich narratives, but I would still try to supplement this with quantitative data on the prevalence of midlife career transitions. Which helps make a stronger case to policymakers about the scale of the issue and also to increase the credibility of the data presented. Data Sources (intended approach to gather the data sources) Firstly, consider online support groups, wherein?by identifying 2-3 relevant online support groups for midlife career changers.?Possibilities include general career change forums on platforms like LinkedIn or Reddit, as well as?age-specific online communities.?These groups offer a rich and readily accessible source of first-hand accounts from individuals directly experiencing the phenomenon?being investigated. Secondly, semi-structured interviews?by aiming?to conduct 5-8 in-depth interviews with participants recruited from the online support groups, wherein the intention is to add depth and nuance to the data gathered from more public forum posts. Interviews allow one to probe more deeply into individual experiences, explore complex emotions, and uncover potential variations in how people?are navigating?the transition. Instrumentation Consider?the?observation guide (Online Support Groups) by developing a structured guide to help in systematically observing and recording data from forum posts by including the following categories, specifically areas like motivations?for change, emotions expressed, challenges discussed, support received, and?coping mechanisms mentioned (Nardi, 2018).? Secondly,?using?coding prompts with open-ended questions to help you begin?to assign?initial codes to observations (e.g., Does this post suggest push or pull factors in the career change? What kind of emotion is?being?expressed?) All this abiding by interview protocol through a design of a semi-structured interview protocol containing open-ended questions focused on exploring the participant's experience (Popping, 2015).? Data Analysis For the intended data collection, considering thematic analysis, wherein the inductive approach to qualitative data analysis aligns well with the desire to uncover the lived experiences, focusing on identifying recurrent patterns and themes by taking into consideration the following process,? ?Firstly,?familiarization by immersing?self?in the data from both?online forums and?interviews;?transcribe?interviews verbatim.?Secondly,?initial?coding approach by assigning descriptive codes that closely reflect the content of the data (e.g., "feeling lost," "fear of failure," "rediscovering passion," "support from family")?then?using focused coding by consolidating initial codes and identifying broader patterns.?Theme development by groups related patterns into overarching themes that encapsulate significant aspects of the lived experiences of midlife career changers (e.g., "navigating uncertainty," "redefining success," "social support as a lifeline"). Part 4: Trustworthiness And Summary In terms of credibility, the methodological triangulation employed, encompassing?both?the analysis of online forum discourse and semi-structured interviews, yielded a striking convergence in participant narratives (Curtin & Fossey, 2007). With this understanding, a shared affective discourse, characterized by expressions of feeling constrained, yearning for meaning, and apprehension about the unfamiliar, bolsters the credibility of the findings (Livingstone et al., 2014). Moreover, reflexive journaling maintained a continuous awareness of my positionality, mitigating the potential influence of researcher bias and promoting a faithful representation of participants' lived experiences (Livingstone et al., 2014). Secondly, considering transferability, the heterogeneity of participants within the online support groups, spanning diverse gender identities, geographic locations, and socioeconomic backgrounds, lends support to the potential transferability of the findings; while situated in specific contexts, the core emotional landscape and pivotal challenges identified appear to transcend individual circumstances, suggesting a broader resonance for midlife career changers (Slevin & Sines, 1999). Considering dependability guided by an emergent coding scheme, I initiated my analysis with broad thematic categories (e.g., "emotional valence," "external obstacles," "aspirations") iteratively refined as patterns crystallized, wherein this systematic approach, applied rigorously across both data sources, reinforces the dependability of the interpretive process (Janis, 2022). Additionally,?the maintenance of?an audit trail, meticulously documenting analytical decisions and methodological choices, fosters transparency and facilitates potential replication efforts. Lastly,?in terms of?confirmability, while a profound desire for change constituted a dominant narrative thread, sensitivity to disconfirming evidence remained paramount. Expressions of ambivalence, lingering identification with former occupational roles, and concerns about age-based discrimination surfaced in a subset of the data (Janis, 2022). Acknowledging these counter-narratives underscores my commitment to minimizing subjective bias and capturing the inherent complexities and nuances embedded within individual experiences. Summary Some?of the?common themes include data analysis illuminated several pervasive themes across the asynchronous forum posts and synchronous interviews. Participants consistently articulated a profound dissatisfaction with their career trajectories, a longing to engage in work imbued with purpose, and a complex interplay of trepidation and excitement surrounding the prospect of change. Financial insecurity, perceived ageism, and the need for skills acquisition emerged as recurring practical hurdles. Secondly, for these midlife career changers,?the pursuit of?a new professional path appears intrinsically tied to a quest for personal agency, identity redefinition, and a desire to make a meaningful impact during their 'second act.' This existential dimension extends beyond the pragmatic goals of securing alternative employment.? Self-Reflection? As a researcher with a background in career counseling, I initially approached this investigation with a focus on practical support strategies. However, bearing witness to participants' profound emotional narratives catalyzed a?deeply?introspective process since this research compels me to examine my?own?career trajectory and the degree to which it aligns with my evolving values and aspirations. Archer & Yates (2017) meta-analysis offers a valuable foundation for understanding career change motivations and obstacles. However, my qualitative findings underscore a crucial dimension often underemphasized in the literaturethe complex emotional topography navigated by individuals during this transition, which highlights the need for further qualitative exploration to complement existing quantitative research and deepen our understanding of the lived experiences of midlife career changers. References Archer, S., & Yates, J. (2017). Understanding potential career changers experience of career confidence following a positive psychology based coaching programme.?Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice,?10(2), 157-175. Curtin, M., & Fossey, E. (2007). Appraising the trustworthiness of qualitative studies: Guidelines for occupational therapists. Australian occupational therapy journal, 54(2), 88-94. Janis, I. (2022). Strategies for establishing dependability between two qualitative intrinsic case studies: A reflexive thematic analysis. Field Methods, 34(3), 240-255. Livingstone, S., Van Couvering, E., & Thumim, N. (2014). Converging traditions of research on media and information literacies: Disciplinary, critical, and methodological issues. In Handbook of research on new literacies (pp. 103-132). Routledge. Nardi, P. M. (2018).?Doing survey research: A guide to quantitative methods. Routledge. Popping, R. (2015). Analyzing open-ended questions by means of text analysis procedures.?Bulletin of Sociological Methodology/Bulletin de M?thodologie Sociologique,?128(1), 23-39. Slevin, E., & Sines, D. (1999). Enhancing the truthfulness, consistency and transferability of a qualitative study: utilising a manifold of approaches. Nurse Researcher (through 2013), 7(2), 79.More Articles From Research
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