What Is Real about “Real Time” Anyway? A Proposal for A Pluralistic Approach to Studying Identity Processes across Different Timescales

Abstract

Recently, there has been a growing emphasis on the fact that an understanding of identity development requires the study of real-time identity. But what exactly constitutes 'real-time identity'? In this manuscript, we highlight that definitions of real time are often fuzzy, which poses a threat to this research field. We discuss two conceptual issues of research on 'real-time identity' that we believe require further clarification. The first is that 'real-time identity' is often conflated with 'micro-level identity'. The second is that 'micro-level identity' is pitted against 'macro-level identity'. We attempt to bring clarification to the above issues by drawing attention to three conceptual points: Firstly, we stress that 'real-time' simply refers to "the actual time during which something takes place". Secondly, researchers can study static characteristics of identity phenomena in real time or they can study dynamics of change and development in real time. Thirdly, we draw attention to the fact that the terms 'micro-level' and 'macro-level' represent two ends of a time-scale continuum. We describe these points in depth and summarize our clarifications as a taxonomy for authors interested in studying 'real-time identity', which promises to support theoretical and empirical integration between different approaches to identity. KEYWORDSIdentity development; timescales; processes; ontology; epistemology Recently, there has been growing emphasis (as evidenced by this special issue) on the fact that an understanding of identity requires the study of identity processes and mechanisms. Notably, some identity researchers (stemming from both qualitative and quantitative approaches) argue that studying concrete actions and experiences is key for elucidating such processes and mechanisms. This is because they are thought to relate to a more fine-grained and ecologically valid understanding of identity Korobov, 2015). This approach -sometimes conceptualized as tapping into "real-time identity processes" -concerns the study of identity-in-context, mechanisms of development, and within-person processes of identity (Bosma & Kunnen, 2001;Lichtwarck-Aschoff et al., 2008). With its focus on experiences and actions, this is a pioneering and innovative shift in identity research , one which contrasts the more traditional research line of large-scale, group-based, and variable-oriented identity research focusing on identity in terms of selfreflection and cognition.While the empirical research on "real-time identity processes" is blooming, we believe that a deeper conceptual analysis can strengthen this field yet further. Conceptual analysis entails the examination of concepts, terms, and constructs for clarity, and incoherencies, and for unjustified claims or implausible assumptions (Hibberd, 2021;Du Preez & De Klerk, 2019). Du Preez and De Klerk (2019) argued that while psychologists often assume that conceptual analysis is an

Developmental trajectories of ethnic and national identities in adolescents from migrant families: The role of social identification with family and classmates

“…Such a focus is appropriate for studying identity development in a phase in which changes occur, often within the framework of adolescents’ experiences within one academic year (e.g., Albarello et al, 2018; Negru-Subtirica et al, 2015, 2017; Pop et al, 2016). Given that cultural identities represent ongoing endeavors into adulthood (Maehler et al, 2019), it is nonetheless essential to integrate multiple levels of analysis, from short-term day-to-day dynamics to long-term processes over multiple years (i.e., micro- and macro-level time scales; De Ruiter & Gmelin, 2021) to monitor developmental processes over the transitions to emerging adulthood and into adulthood. Accordingly, future longer-term longitudinal research with daily assessments should examine how emerging, middle, and older adults from migrant families continue to construct their ethnic and national identities.…”

Making Sense of Making Sense of Time: Longitudinal Narrative Research

“…Theoretical pluralism may address some of the challenges in applying single theoretical perspectives. In their discussion of identity, De Ruiter and Gmelin (2021) identify a conflation of ‘real-time identity’ and ‘micro-level identity,’ and how these misinterpretations divide the field. They emphasize that in order to bridge this gap, there is a need for a more “theoretically comprehensive epistemological approach” (De Ruiter & Gmelin, 2021).…”

Real-time Identity Processes: Theories and Methods

“…Indeed, the authors embraced several crucial, fruitful notions about "real-time identity" that are relevant to consider. In this respect, two articles in this issue (Klimstra & Schwab, 2021;De Ruiter & Gmelin, 2021) take an overarching reflective perspective on real-time identity research in general. Klimstra and Schwab (2021) present a review of quantitative studies on micro-level identities and elaborate on the methods used in these studies.…”

“…After reading and rereading the five impressive papers in this issue, we felt that our initial definition of real-time identity needed refining and broadening. The three issues (i.e., the intertwining of time scales, the possibility and need to use a broad range of concepts, and the need to address within-person processes) that we distilled from the first two papers (Klimstra & Schwab, 2021;De Ruiter & Gmelin, 2021), and found to be highly relevant in the other three papers (Gmelin & Kunnen, 2021;Marshall et al, 2021;Hellinger & Schachter, 2021) are issues that we need to address, take care of, and make explicit when studying real-time identity. This may provide researchers and readers a perspective to grasp what are the crucial, critical points for the study of real-time identity but also of macro-time identity development.…”