Abstract
M.A.
Identity development has a definite influence on a broad spectrum of
developmental domains. This study focuses on specific domains such as
student- and career development as facilitating structures from which the
formation of a personal identity can be studied and understood.
The purpose of this study is to undertake a descriptive investigation into the
process of identity development during the late adolescent and early adulthood
phases of college students. This developmental process has a definite influence
on student development within aspects such as career maturity, intimacy and
interpersonal relationships. These aspects' relevance to identity formation is
also highlighted.
This study utilises theories such as the psychosocial developmental perspective
of Erik H. Erikson to investigate the purpose of a variety of factors within the
sphere of student and career development.
The test sample consisted of 78 students between the ages of 18 and 27 years
from the Park Town Tertiary College. The following questionnaires were
completed: the Extended Version of the Objective Measure of Ego Identity
Status Questionnaire (EOM-EIS); the Career Development Questionnaire (CDQ)
and the Student Developmental Task and Lifestyle Inventory (SDTLI). Taking
the descriptive quality of this study in consideration, the statistical techniques
used in the analysis of the quantitative data included canonical correlation
analysis.
The study concentrated on possible interventions and recommendations that
takes the influence of identity developmental processes and career maturity in
consideration with issues such as curriculum compilations, teaching methods
and tertiary educational systems.