Vocational perception: A mixed-method investigation of calling.

Abstract

There is a growing body of research investigating variations among workers in their perception of vocation. This literature suggests that some individuals understand their relationship to their work as a calling. People who perceive themselves as called to meaningful work that is of some prosocial benefit tend to report positive work related attitudes and behaviors. The present study advances that research by investigating vocational perception in a university-based sample using a multimethod concurrent triangulation design. Findings support the validity of a widely used measure in the field and provide both quantitative and qualitative data that add to the literature of vocational perception. The implications of vocational perception research and our findings for psychologist managers are discussed.

Purpose-in-action education: Introduction and implications

“…If one is called to a particular role or social need, then it can feel like an internal validation or rightness of one's intent-a passion that one feels compelled to follow even if one must suffer for the beloved (Dobrow Riza & Heller, 2015;Moran, 2009Moran, , 2010. Callings transform work from a life requirement into a meaningful blessing and, even if initially felt as a magnet to something outside oneself, eventually become fused into self-fulfillment (Ponton et al, 2014). In addition, a calling can make individuals perceive they have stronger abilities, even absent objective indicators of actual ability, which motivates them to engage their purpose longer (Dobrow Riza & Heller, 2015) and can generate humility or awe (e.g., Bronk, 2008;Yaden et al, 2017).…”

Finnish social services students’ perceptions of purpose and helping unknown others

“…Yet this study produced a somewhat worrisome finding, namely, that the proportion of social services students who could be considered as purposeful was small, with even fewer being aware of their pursuits in helping. Based on our studies it appears that only a minority of students seem to find life purpose in helping unknown others that could also be perceived as having a calling to do social services work (Ponton et al, 2014). Dabblers might not know why they are engaged in studying a helping profession and what kind of implications the involvement in prosocial activities holds (see Moran, 2009).…”

“…When people have chosen to study to become professionals helpers (see Guggenbuhl-Craig, 1971) we would easily expect them to be consciously and intentionally oriented toward benefitting unknown others (see Biggerstaff, 2000). Helping professions are often perceived through the perspective of being 'called' to do the work for the benefit of others and helping others for the intrinsic social value of helping (see Ponton et al, 2014). There are no studies available about Finnish social services students' motives to study the field, but studies in other contexts on social work students' motives (Knezievik and Ovsenik, 2015;Liedgren and Elvhage, 2015;Ngai and Cheung, 2009;Toros and Medar, 2015) have shown that students often have both individualistic motives, such as personal development, as well as social motives, such as alleviating poverty, for study in the field.…”

“…A Croatian study (Knezievik and Ovsenik, 2015) of social work students' motives to study the field showed that those students who posed an altruistic orientation to the work -a desire to benefit others with no expected benefit to themselves (Batson et al, 1999) -succeeded better with their studies than those who lacked this altruistic orientation. The orientation to benefit others has been found to increase job satisfaction in 'calling professions' such as social services (see Ponton et al, 2014). Having a calling or altruistic orientation toward benefitting others can be associated with having a purpose in helping (see Damon et al, 2003;Moran, 2009).…”

Calling: A Literature Review and Prospect

“…This perspective inherited the Judaism-Christian tradition which has strong religious color. The classical perspective emphasize personal duty and destiny, Davidson & Caddell define the calling as "Follow God's will" in 1994 [1], Ponton, et al define the "calling" as "personal salvation which called by the god to realize the common good" in 2014 [2]. Bunderson & Thompson described it as "A place exists in reality in the world of work and destiny to be realized because of the talent and opportunity given by god" [3].…”