A Phenomenological Exploration of How West Indian Professionals in South Florida Perceive Their Career Construction
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Florida International University FIU Digital Commons FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations University Graduate School 11-8-2010 A Phenomenological Exploration Of How West Indian Professionals In South Florida Perceive Their aC reer Construction Judith D. Bernier Florida International University, [email protected] DOI: 10.25148/etd.FI10120604 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd Part of the Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching Commons Recommended Citation Bernier, Judith D., "A Phenomenological Exploration Of How West Indian Professionals In South Florida Perceive Their aC reer Construction" (2010). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 299. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/299 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the University Graduate School at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Miami, Florida A PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF HOW WEST INDIAN PROFESSIONALS IN SOUTH FLORIDA PERCEIVE THEIR CAREER CONSTRUCTION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION in ADULT EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT by Judith Debbie Bernier 2010 To: Interim Dean Delia C. Garcia College of Education This dissertation, written by Judith Debbie Bernier and entitled A Phenomenological Exploration of how West Indian Professionals in South Florida Perceive their Career Construction, having been approved in respect to style and intellectual content, is referred to you for judgment. We have read this dissertation and recommend that it be approved. _____________________________________ Dawn Addy _____________________________________ Dionne Stephens _____________________________________ Hilary Landorf _____________________________________ Tonette Rocco, Major Professor Date of Defense: November 8, 2010 The dissertation of Judith Debbie Bernier is approved. ___________________________________ Interim Dean Delia C. Garcia College of Education _____________________________________ Interim Dean Kevin O’ Shea University Graduate School Florida International University, 2010 ii © Copyright 2010 by Judith Debbie Bernier All rights reserved. iii DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Catherine and Alphonsus Bernier, for their desire and courage to migrate to the United States to create a better life for themselves and their five children: Marcia, Carol, Judith, Sharon, and Tenji. My parents and sisters’ love and encouragement have been invaluable throughout my life. You have all made this academic journey possible. I appreciate your dedication to my life goals and achievements. I love you and look forward to spend more time in your presence. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this dissertation was made possible because of an invaluable community of scholars, peers, friends, and participants. Dr. Rocco, my major professor, has been an outstanding mentor and academic and career advisor from the inception of my doctoral studies. Her enthusiasm for and dedication to research and scholarly writing is infectious. I appreciate her encouragement and devotion to ensure that I seized many scholarly writing and presentation opportunities throughout my doctoral studies. These experiences helped to inform my research agenda and have been some of the most enriching and rewarding experiences of this process. My dissertation committee’s commitment to my educational growth and achievement has been both sincere and inspirational. Each member’s expert knowledge is reflected throughout various aspects of my dissertation. Dr. Addy, who has served on both my program of study and dissertation committees, has been instrumental in guiding and focusing my doctoral studies and dissertation content. Dr. Landorf has been instrumental in providing valuable feedback and guidance that allowed me to expand my knowledge and deepen my insight. Dr. Stephens has been instrumental in providing insightful and scholarly feedback and value resources that enhanced the significance of this study. Your collective commitment to educational excellence is admirable. The Office of Graduate Studies has been both supportive and diligent in their commitment to serve the students of the College of Education. Drs. Barbetta, Bliss, Newman and the OGS team, I appreciate your scholarly feedback and administrative guidance. v My dissertation peer group has been an endless circle of friendship and support system. Masha, Greg, and Claire, I appreciate your support and friendship. Your friendship and support have made this journey bearable when at times it became unbearable. Your milestones and achievements have also been great motivators. My dear friend Wanda has been a true friend as I journeyed through this process. I appreciate your interest in and support of my educational pursuit. I adore our friendship. Henry, my beloved friend, has been a great motivator and supporter. I appreciate your patience and support. This study would not have been possible without the participants, who were candid, forthcoming, and generous with their time. I appreciate your commitment and interest in this study. Your shared experiences will provide valuable insights on how West Indian professionals in South Florida construct their careers and integrate into the U.S occupational structures. Thanks for your dedication and participation. vi ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION A PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF HOW WEST INDIAN PROFESSIONALS IN SOUTH FLORIDA PERCEIVE THEIR CAREER CONSTRUCTION by Judith Debbie Bernier Florida International University, 2010 Miami, Florida Professor Tonette Rocco, Major Professor This phenomenological study explored how West Indian professionals in South Florida perceive their career construction. The study used Savickas’s (2005) theory of career construction as its theoretical framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed for 15 West Indian professionals, who self- identified as West Indians and met all the criteria for this study. Interview data were analyzed using inductive, deductive, and comparative analyses. Five themes emerged from the inductive analysis of the data: (a) vocational influences, (b) adjustment challenges, (c) employment patterns, (d) career mobility patterns, and (d) career success perceptions. The theory of career construction guided the deductive analysis. The deductive analysis revealed that both extrinsic and intrinsic influences were equally influential in shaping the participants’ vocational personalities. The deductive analysis also revealed that the participants used three of the career adaptive dimensions: career concern, control, and confidence. Career concern manifested as planning for the future through educational attainment and performing meaningful vii work. Career control manifested as continuous learning and maintaining secondary careers. Career confidence manifested as self-efficacy expectations, beliefs about one’s ability to perform a behavior that produces desired outcomes. The participants’ life themes or challenges included navigating their identity, starting over, and adjusting to their environment. The comparative analysis revealed that all five themes from the inductive analysis were evident in each of the three tenets of Savickas’s (2005) career construction theory (i.e., vocational personality, career adaptability, and life themes). Career compromises emerged as coping behavior to facilitate the participants’ social and occupational integration. The findings of this study imply that the participants constructed their sense of self in relation to those around them and that their vocational behaviors tend to mobilize and reinforce a mixture of personality and ability. The findings also imply that the participants’ decision-making style and habitual pattern of decision making, may be embedded in their culturally norms, producing a specific cognitive style. Finally, the findings imply that the participants’ career adaptive dimensions were grounded in their attitudes, beliefs, and competencies and overall self-concept. Recommendations for further research are given. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Background to the Study ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Problem Statement ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Purpose of the Study ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Research Questions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 Theoretical Framework ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Significance of the Study ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Delimitations of the Study --------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Definition of Terms ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Summary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ---------------------------------------------------------- 20 Organizational Context of Career: A Human Resource Development Perspective --- 21 Social Context of Career -----------------------------------------------------------------------