Observing the impact of profession change on ‘habits of mind’: A factor oriented approach

Abstract

A common observation in Transformative Learning (TL) literature is the scarcity of ways to gauge the extent of personal transformation. This is despite a recorded history of more than four decades and the existence of multiple schools of thought in TL. Also, there has been insufficient exploration of the personal transformation of profession changers in the TL space. We believe it is important to operationalize the key concepts of the TL theory through quantitative methods to make way for newer insights. In this paper, using the case of profession changers from India, we extend Mezirow’s work on six types of ‘Habits of Mind’ beyond their original conceptualization by identifying constituent latent factors. We examine and establish the reliability and validity of these factors and recommend a factor-based scale approach for application.

Keywords

Transformative learning scale measurement of transformative learning habits of mind profession change career change personal transformation

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Adorno

T. W.

(1997). Aesthetic theory. Continuum Books.

Australian Council of Professions (2003). What is a Profession. https://www.professions.org.au/what-is-a-professional/.

Borland

K. W.

Jr (2001). Qualitative and quantitative research: A complementary balance. New Directions for Institutional Research, 2001(112), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/ir.25.

Brock

(2015). Let’s spread the word about the wisdom of transformative learning. Journal of Transformative Learning, 3(1), 18-21. https://jotl.uco.edu/index.php/jotl/article/view/462.

Brown

K. M.

(2005). Social justice education for preservice leaders: evaluating transformative learning strategies. Equity and Excellence in Education, 38(2), 155-167. https://doi.org/10.1080/10665680590935133.

Cangur

Ercan

(2015). Comparison of model fit indices used in structural equation modeling under multivariate normality. Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods, 14(1), 152-167. https://doi.org/10.22237/jmasm/1430453580.

Carless

S. A.

Arnup

J. L.

(2011). A longitudinal study of the determinants and outcomes of career change. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 78(1), 80-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.09.002.

Chambers

J. K.

(20152015). Sociolinguistics. In Ritzer

(Ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (pp. 1-4). Blackwell Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405165518.wbeoss204.pub2.

Cheney

R. S.

(2010). Empirical measurement of perspective transformation, 1999-2009. In Glowacki-Dudka

(Ed.), 29th Annual Midwest Research-to-Practice Conference in Adult, Continuing, Community and Extension Education, East Lansing, September 2010, (pp. 2657-2862), Michigan, USA: Michigan State University.

10.

Clark

M. C.

Wilson

A. L.

(1991). Context and Rationality In Mezirow’s Theory of Transformational Learning. Adult Education Quarterly, 41(2), 75-91. https://doi.org/10.1177/0001848191041002002.

11.

Cranton

(2006). Understanding and promoting transformative learning: A guide for educators of adults (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

12.

DeVellis

R. F.

(2017). Scale development: Theory and applications (4th ed.). Sage Publications.

13.

Diamantopoulos

Siguaw

J. A.

(2006). Formative versus reflective indicators in organizational measure development: a comparison and empirical illustration. British Journal of Management, 17(4), 263-282. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8551.2006.00500.x.

14.

Fantozzi

V. B.

(2012). Making meaning in student teaching. Action in Teacher Education, 34(2), 146-158. https://doi.org/10.1080/01626620.2012.677738.

15.

Fiske

S. T.

Berdahl

(2007). Social Power. In Higgins

E. T. E.

Kruglanski

A. W.

(Eds.), Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles (pp. 678-692). The Guilford Press.

16.

Flexner

(2001). Is social work a profession? Research on Social Work Practice, 11(2), 152-165. https://doi.org/10.1177/104973150101100202.

17.

Fortune

Borkovic

Bhopti

Somoza

Nhan

H. C.

Rangwala

(2019). Transformative learning through international project-based learning in the global south: Applying a students-as-partners lens to a “high-impact” Capstone. Journal of Studies in International Education, 23(1), 49-65. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315318814571.

18.

Fullerton

J. R.

(2010). Transformative learning in college students: A mixed methods study [Doctoral thesis, University of Nebraska – Lincoln]. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cehsdiss/65/.

19.

Greenwood

(1957). Attributes of a Profession. Social Work, 2(3), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/2.3.45.

20.

Gunnlaugson

(2007). Shedding light on the underlying forms of transformative learning theory: introducing three distinct categories of consciousness. Journal of Transformative Education, 5(2), 134-151. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344607303526.

21.

Hair

J. F.

Black

W. C.

Babin

B. J.

Anderson

R. E.

(2015). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Pearson India Education Services.

22.

Hair

J. F.

Jr Hult

G. T. M.

Ringle

Sarstedt

(2017). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.

23.

Hardin

C. D.

Cheung

R. M.

Magee

M. W.

Noel

Yoshimura

(2012). Interpersonal foundations of ideological thinking. Oxford University Press.

24.

Heponiemi

Kouvonen

Vänskä

Halila

Sinervo

Kivimäki

Elovainio

(2009). The association of distress and sleeping problems with physicians’ intentions to change profession: The moderating effect of job control. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 14(4), 365-373. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015853.

25.

Hooper

Coughlan

Mullen

M. R.

(2008). Structural equation modelling: guidelines for determining model fit. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 6(1), 53-60. https://academic-publishing.org/index.php/ejbrm/article/view/12243.

26.

Ibarra

(2004). Career transition and change. INSEAD Faculty and Research Working paper series 2004/97/OB). https://flora.insead.edu/fichiersti_wp/inseadwp2004/2004-97.pdf.

27.

Ignelzi

(20002000). Meaning‐making in the learning and teaching process. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2000(82), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/tl.8201.

28.

Jones

Miles

(2017). Transformative learning in international student exchange: A critical perspective. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, 19(2), 47-60. https://www.anzswwer.org/wp-content/uploads/Advances_Vol19_No2_2017_Chapt4.pdf4.

29.

Kaiser

H. F.

(1974). An index of factorial simplicity. Psychometrika, 39(1), 31-36. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291575.

30.

Kember

Leung

D. Y.

Jones

Loke

A. Y.

McKay

Sinclair

Tse

Webb

Wong

F.K.Y

Yeung

(2000). Development of a questionnaire to measure the level of reflective thinking. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 25(4), 381-395. https://doi.org/10.1080/713611442.

31.

Kim

J. O.

Mueller

C. W.

(1978). Factor Analysis: Statistical methods and practical issues. Sage Publications, Inc.

32.

King

K. P.

(Ed.), (2009). The Handbook of the Evolving Research of Transformative Learning: Based on the Learning Activities Survey. Information Age Publishing.

33.

Kitchener

K. S.

(1984). Educational goals and reflective thinking. The Educational Forum, 48(1), 74-95. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131728309335882.

34.

Kitchenham

(2008). The evolution of John Mezirow’s transformative learning theory. Journal of Transformative Education, 6(2), 104-123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344608322678.

35.

Kokkos

(2018). Introducing a Teaching Method on Transformation Theory. In Welch

Marsick

Holt

(Eds.), XIII Biennial Transformative Learning Conference: Building Transformative Community, Teachers College, 07–10 November 2018 (pp. 126-132). New York, USA: Columbia University.

36.

Ligon

Ehlman

Moriello

Welleford

E. A.

(2009). Oral history in the classroom: fostering positive attitudes toward older adults and the aging process. Journal of Aging, Humanities and the Arts, 3(1), 59-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325610802652051.

37.

Locke

K. D.

(2001). Grounded theory in management research. Sage Publications.

38.

Loksabha

(n.d.)

. Seventeenth Lok Sabha: Members bioprofile: Rathore, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh. Loksabha, Parliament of India. http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4782.

39.

Lumpkin

Cuneen

(2001). Developing a personal philosophy of sport. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 72(8), 40-43. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2001.10605801.

40.

MacKenzie

S. B.

Podsakoff

P. M.

Podsakoff

N. P.

(2011). Construct measurement and validation procedures in MIS and behavioral research: integrating new and existing techniques. MIS Quarterly, 35(2), 293-334. https://doi.org/10.2307/23044045.

41.

Meyerhoff

(2011). Introducing sociolinguistics (2nd ed.). Routledge.

42.

Meyling

(1997). How to change students’ conceptions of the epistemology of science. Science and Education, 6(4), 397-416. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017908916810.

43.

Mezirow

(1978). Perspective transformation. Adult Education Quarterly, 28(2), 100-110. https://doi.org/10.1177/074171367802800202.

44.

Mezirow

(1981). A critical theory of adult learning and education. Adult Education Quarterly, 32(1), 3-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/074171368103200101.

45.

Mezirow

(1985). A critical theory of self‐directed learning. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 1985(25), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.36719852504.

46.

Mezirow

(1990). How Critical Reflection Triggers Transformative Learning. In Mezirow

Jack

, ., (Ed.) Fostering Critical Reflection in Adulthood: A Guide to Transformative and Emancipatory Learning (1st ed., pp. 1-20). Jossey Bass.

47.

Mezirow

(1991a). Transformative dimensions of adult learning. Jossey-Bass.

48.

Mezirow

(1991b). Transformation theory and cultural context: a reply to Clark and Wilson. Adult Education Quarterly, 41(3), 188-192. https://doi.org/10.1177/0001848191041003004.

49.

Mezirow

(1997). Transformative learning: theory to practice. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 1997(74), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.7401.

50.

Mezirow

(2000). Learning as transformation: Critical perspectives on a theory in progress. Jossey-Bass Publishers.

51.

Mezirow

(2003). Transformative learning as discourse. Journal of Transformative Education, 1(1), 58-63. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344603252172.

52.

Morgado

F. F.

Meireles

J. F.

Neves

C. M.

Amaral

A. C.

Ferreira

M. E.

(2017). Scale development: ten main limitations and recommendations to improve future research practices. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-016-0057-1.

53.

Negi

Akhilesh

K. B.

(2018). A scheme to classify disorienting events. In Welch

Marsick

Holt

(Eds.), XIII Biennial Transformative Learning Conference: Building Transformative Community, Teachers College (pp. 642-650). New York, USA: Columbia University, 07–10.

54.

Negi

Jain

(2021) (Submitted for publication). Transformative effect of profession change: An explanatory framework. Journal of Transformative Learning.

55.

Noar

S. M.

(2003). The role of structural equation modeling in scale development. Structural Equation Modeling, 10(4), 622-647. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM1004_8.

56.

Pedhazur

E. J.

Schmelkin

L. P.

(1991). Measurement, design, and analysis: An integrated approach. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

57.

Pett

M. A.

Lackey

N. R.

Sullivan

J. J.

(2003). Making sense of factor Analysis: The use of factor Analysis for instrument development in health Care research. Sage Publications.

58.

Podsakoff

P. M.

MacKenzie

S. B.

Lee

J. Y.

Podsakoff

N. P.

(2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879-903. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879.

59.

R Core Team (2013). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing. http://www.R-project.org/.

60.

Rakesh

(2019). Transitions Out of Corporate careers: Accounts of Individuals from India [Doctoral dissertation. Indian Institute of Management BangaloreIIM Bangalore Library]. https://library.iimb.ac.in/library.

61.

Rhodes

S. R.

Doering

(1983). An integrated model of career change. Academy of Management Review, 8(4), 631-639. https://doi.org/10.2307/258264.

62.

Romano

(2018). Transformative learning: a review of the assessment tools. Journal of Transformative Learning, 5(1), 53-70.

63.

Santayana

(1896). The sense of beauty: Being the outlines of aesthetic theory. Charles Scribner’s Sons.

64.

Sarstedt

Diamantopoulos

Salzberger

Baumgartner

(2016). Selecting single items to measure doubly concrete constructs: A cautionary tale. Journal of Business Research, 69(8), 3159-3167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.12.004.

65.

Schommer

(1990). Effects of beliefs about the nature of knowledge on comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(3), 498-504. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.82.3.498.

66.

Schommer

(1994). Synthesizing epistemological belief research: tentative understandings and provocative confusions. Educational Psychology Review, 6(4), 293-319. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213418.

67.

Segal

E. A.

(2011). Social empathy: A model built on empathy, contextual understanding, and social responsibility that promotes social justice. Journal of Social Service Research, 37(3), 266-277. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2011.564040.

68.

Sharman

Priest

Clarke

A.C.

(1993). Seize the moment: The autobiography of helen sharman. Orion Publishing Co.

69.

Sharma

Yetton

Crawford

(2009). Estimating the effect of common method variance: The method pair technique with an illustration from TAM research. MIS Quarterly, 33(3), 473-490.

70.

Sheshadri

Coley

Devanathan

Rao

R. B.

(2020). Towards synergistic women’s empowerment-transformative learning framework for TVET in rural India. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2020.1834438.

71.

Smart

Peterson

(1997). Super’s career stages and the decision to change careers. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 51(3), 358-374. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1996.1544.

72.

Snyder

(2011). Pride badly shattered: the transformational journey of career-changing women in secondary education. Journal of Transformative Education, 9(4), 242-260. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344612445927.

73.

Stuckey

H. L.

Taylor

E. W.

Cranton

(2014). Developing a survey of transformative learning outcomes and processes based on theoretical principles. Journal of Transformative Education, 11(4), 211-228. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344614540335.

74.

Taylor

E. W.

(2008). Transformative learning theory. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2008(119), 5-15. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.301.

75.

Taylor

E. W.

(2016). Teacher transformation: a transformative learning perspective. Italian Journal of Educational Research, (15), 17-26. https://ojs.pensamultimedia.it/index.php/sird/article/view/1646.

76.

Taylor

E. W.

Snyder

M. J.

(2012). A critical review of research on transformative learning theory, 2006-2010. In Taylor

E. W.

Cranton

(Eds.), Handbook of Transformative Learning Theory: Theory, Research and Practice (pp. 37-55). Jossey-Bass.

77.

Tehseen

Ramayah

Sajilan

(2017). Testing and controlling for common method variance: a review of available methods. Journal of Management Sciences, 4(2), 142-168. https://doi.org/10.20547/jms.2014.1704202.

78.

The Jamovi Project (2019). Jamovi version 0.9 [Computer Software]. https://www.jamovi.org.

79.

Tisdell

E. J.

Taylor

E. W.

(2000). Adult education philosophy informs practice. Adult Learning, 11(2), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959901100203.

80.

Tobias

Carlson

J. E.

(1969). Brief report: Bartlett's Test of Sphericity and Chance Findings in Factor Analysis. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 4(3), 375-377. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327906mbr0403_8.

81.

Van de Mortel

T. F.

(2008). Faking it: Social Desirability Response Bias in Self-report Research. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25(4), 40-48.

82.

Zodpey

Sharma

(2014). Advancing reforms agenda for health professionals' education through transformative learning. Indian Journal of Public Health, 58(4), 219-223. https://www.ijph.in/text.asp?2014/58/4/219/146274.

83.

Zohar

(2012). Spiritual intelligence: The ultimate intelligence. Bloomsbury Publishing.