Vocational Perception: A Mixed-Method Investigation of Calling

There is a growing body of research investigating variations among workers in their perception of vocation. This literature suggests that some individuals understand their relationship to their work as a calling. People who perceive themselves as called to meaningful work that is of some prosocial benefit tend to report positive work related attitudes and behaviors. The present study advances that research by investigating vocational perception in a university-based sample using a multimethod concurrent triangulation design. Findings support the validity of a widely used measure in the field and provide both quantitative and qualitative data that add to the literature of vocational perception. The implications of vocational perception research and our findings for psychologist managers are discussed.