Occupational identity status development,gender comparisons,and internal-external control in first-year air force cadets

This study of cadets at the United States Air Force Academy during their first six months assessed the pattern of developmental changes in occupational identity status for males and females, examined the relationship of internal-external control to identity statuses, and discussed the data in terms of Erikson's proposals and factors involved in gender differences in identity development. More than half of the cadets entering the academy were in uncommitted occupational identity statuses. Over the time period, half the cadets remained in their identity statuses, with the Foreclosed cadets the most stable and Achieved the least stable. The expected changes in the Achieved identity status, and other changes, established a pattern of identity development congruent with Erikson's theory of developmental progress or regression in identity formation. Only male cadets demonstrated significant changes into or out of a status, and significant associations between their identity statuses and internal-external control, with more internally controlled males being Achieved and more externally controlled males being Diffused-diffused.The views expresed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Air Force or the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.Received Ph.D. from State University of New York at Buffalo. Research interests: Adolescent development, gifted creative, cognitive development.Received Ph.D. from Kent State University. Research interests: research, statistics, and educational technology.     

Why women's studies?

This paper considers arguments about what Women's Studies is, asserting that it must also be feminist studies, and addresses the conflicts and contradictions involved in doing WS in the academy. It also argues for recognition of the contribution WS and feminist theory has to make to the Women's Liberation Movement. It is written out of my experience as a student of WS in the academy.     

Putting the Special Case in Its Place: Switzerland and Small‐N Comparison in Policy Research

This research note presents a set of strategies to conduct small‐N comparisons in policy research including the Swiss case. Even though every country can be considered “special” to some extent, the Swiss political system is often viewed as a particularly difficult case for comparison because of the impact of its idiosyncratic institutional features (most notably direct democracy). In order to deal with this problem, our note sets out two possible strategies ‐ the use of functional equivalents and of counterfactual reasoning ‐ and explains how to implement them empirically through process tracing and the establishment of causal chains. As an illustration, these strategies are used for a comparison of the process of electricity market liberalisation in Switzerland and Belgium.