1. Christian Mission Heritage Series October 28, 2008

2. Don Thompson Professor of Mathematics Associate Vice President of Educational and Institutional Research Cindy Miller-Perrin Professor of Psychology Chair of Social Science Division

3.  Student Development Survey  Goal: To understand how students define vocation and develop their own personal sense of vocation  2002 – 2006  Surveyed 300 students  Surveyed at 5 different time periods  Baseline – summer before beginning at Pepperdine  Each spring throughout undergraduate career

4. Cell-Phone Text Message Poll What is Vocation?

6.  The secular definition views vocation as work or career  Vocation is God’s calling for one’s life – the reason God made you  Vocation is the intersection of faith development and identity development  Vocation is “the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet”

7.  Total applications: 7414, total enrolled: 838 (11%)  GPA 3.69  SAT Verbal 610  SAT Math 621  SAT Writing 605

11. Cell-Phone Text Message Poll Motives, Discernment, and Barriers

15. Seattle, Washington Psychology Major Class of 2009 Graduate School Bound

16.  College years are “critical years” in vocational development  College students consider issues associated with personal identity, faith beliefs, and career options  Faith, identity, and vocational development are not uniform across the college years

17. SubscalesSample Items Strength of Belief (alpha =.81) I view myself as a religious person. I have doubts about whether my religious beliefs are true. Faith Behavior (alpha =.88) How often do you attend religious services? How often have you read a devotional, religious, or spiritual book in the last year? Application of Faith (alpha =.90) I depend on my faith in God for decision-making and direction. I try hard to carry my religious beliefs into all other dealings in my life.

18.  Students receive scores on four identity scales: ◦ Diffusion: no exploration or commitment  “I haven’t really considered politics. It just doesn’t excite me much.” ◦ Foreclosure: no exploration, but commitment  “My parents decided a long time ago what I should go into for employment and I’m following through with their plans.” ◦ Moratorium: exploration without commitment  “Religion is confusing to me right now. I keep changing my views on what is right and wrong for me.” ◦ Achievement: exploration and commitment  “It took me a while to figure it out, but now I really know what I want for a career.”

19. SubscalesSample Items Discernment and Purpose (alpha =.76) I have a good sense for my life purpose. I know of the many ways that I can use my gifts and talents within the context of my professional career. I am unsure about what God is specifically calling me to do. Service to Others (alpha =.68) I am motivated to choose a career that will enable me to provide some type of service to others. I feel a deep sense of responsibility for reducing pain and suffering in the world.

20. Subscales Barriers to life purpose fulfillment Personal Barriers (alpha =.84) Fear Emotional Problems Self-doubt Lack of motivation Interpersonal Barriers (alpha =.86) A parent A friend A boy/girl friend A teacher or professor Social and Cultural Barriers (alpha =.90) Lack of financial resources Feeling pressure or a desire to get married Feeling that my opportunities are limited by the gender stereotypes of society

21.  Strength of Belief varied significantly over time  Faith Behavior varied significantly over time  Application of Faith did not vary significantly over time

26.  Total Personal Barriers scores varied over time, marginally

28. South Bend, Indiana Philosophy Major Class of 2008 Law School Bound

29.  College students experience significant developmental variation over time ◦ Strength of faith belief ◦ Faith behavior ◦ Identity development  Foreclosure, Moratorium, Achievement ◦ Personal Barriers

30.  Faith matters – Stay spiritually nourished, seek wisdom  Know Thyself – look for ways to challenge your assumptions  Barriers are real – live through and with them  Sophomore year - expect a watershed  Purpose - bigger and broader than your career

31. Cindy Miller-Perrin: Cindy.Perrin@pepperdine.edu Don Thompson: thompson@pepperdine.edu