RESEARCH WORK

TITLE OF THE WORK:

IDENTIFICATION OF SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES AS CORRELATES OF ADJUSTMENT AMONG UNDERGRADUATE FRESHMEN OF CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Introduction: The present research attempted to study the predictive influence of some psychological determinants on multi-dimensional model of students’ adjustment (home, health, social, emotional & educational adjustment) among late adolescents/emerging adults in a large urban university.

Methodology: For this purpose, a sample of 600 male & female first-year undergraduate Honours students (18-20 years) studying in several colleges affiliated under University of Calcutta were selected through multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. The predictor variables of the study were: emotional intelligence (including ten factors of emotional intelligence, i.e.- self-awareness, empathy, self-motivation, emotional stability, managing relations, integrity, self-development, value orientation, commitment & altruistic behavior), achievement motivation & gender-role identity (in terms of masculinity & femininity). The main purpose of this research was to find out how far these predictor variables exerted influence upon students’ adjustment in five areas mentioned above. Besides this, biological sex which might otherwise have been a relevant variable, had been treated as an Independent Variable in the present research, since the present investigator believed that with the constant change in the socio-cultural scenario, the nature of such influence might also be changing. All the other relevant variables have been controlled as far as possible.

For quantitative analyses, “descriptive statistics” were used to describe the distribution of the scores. Next, “independent samples of equal sizes z-test” had been used to test the significance of difference between the two groups (male & female) means for each variable, measured in terms of relevant test scores and “Pearson’s Product moment correlation” to test the relationship between variables under study were employed for testing different hypotheses. Finally, “multiple regression analyses” were employed to predict home, health, social, emotional & educational adjustment problems of the students based on the linear association with predictor variables. For qualitative analysis of the data received through General Information Schedule regarding students’ adjustment in five areas, “multiple case studies” method have been applied using 10% of the male sample & 10% of the female sample.

Results: The research result bears the differential perspectives and degree of rigidity in examining the relationships between these predictors with students’ adjustment. The findings suggest that the relationship between students’ emotional intelligence, achievement motivation & gender roles with their adjustment in several areas are not as straightforward as originally believed. Qualitative analyses have thrown some light that have given finer inputs regarding the relative influence of various internal variables on five different areas of students’ Adjustment. Hence, the finding would help counselors &/ or educationists to identify potential targets for paying attention & taking appropriate intervention steps to help “emerging adults” in dealing with adjustment challenges.