Doctoral Degrees (Educational Psychology)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Educational Psychology) by Subject "Adolescents -- Attitudes -- Identity"

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    Identiteitsontwikkeling tydens adolessensie : 'n opvoedkundig-sielkundige studie
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1993-12) Ackermann, Chris (Christiaan Johannes),1948-; Malan, J. A.; Maritz, J. S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Educational Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examined the process of identity development in secondary school adolescents. Identity formation can be regarded as a central developmental task during adolescence. Psychological maturity and a functional personality depend on the effective solution of the identity crisis. The process of identity formation is, however, complicated by various trends in modern society. This is particularly true for South Africa in its present transitional phase. This study was undertaken due to various research deficiencies, and because a thorough knowledge of the process of identity formation during adolescence is of vital importance for educators on all levels. Based on an extensive literature study the concepts identity and identity development are described, and research findings on identity development during adolescence are reviewed. The focus of the empirical investigation is on four selected domains of identity development, namely future career, religion, friendships and dating. Two objective questionnaires, the Ackermann Identity status Inventory (AISI) (which was designed by the researcher) and the Dellas Identity Status Inventory (DISI), and a semi-structured interview were used to determine the identity status of adolescents. A third questionnaire was administered in order to determine adolescents r evaluation of the importance of various identity domains. The research group included all the standard 7 and 10 pupils (N - 1152) from 6 Afrikaans medium secondary schools in the Southwestern Cape. From this group a stratified sample of 96 pupils was taken for the interview. When selecting the research groups three variables were taken into account, namely sex, age, and residential area. Some of the most important findings include the following: Adolescents manifest different patterns of identity development in different domains. Identity development should therefore be investigated separately in different domains. There are significant differences in the identity status of standard 7 and standard 10 pupils. Only minor differences in identity status development exist between the sexes. No significant differences in identity status were found between rural and urban adolescents. Regarding the religious domain the research group had a strong tendency towards identity foreclosure. This finding has important implications for religious educators. various implications for education were pointed out.