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Perceived Professional Identity Formation and Influencing Characteristics among Speech Pathology Students

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Title: Perceived Professional Identity Formation and Influencing Characteristics among Speech Pathology Students
Language: English
Authors: Abigail Lewis, Denise Jackson, Dawn Bennett
Source: Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability. 2025 16(1):39-58.
Availability: Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability. Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3125. Web site: https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Professional Identity, Speech Language Pathology, Allied Health Occupations Education, Foreign Countries, Urban Universities, Undergraduate Students, Employment Potential, Student Characteristics, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Age Differences, Part Time Students, Full Time Students, Low Income Students, Student Employment
Geographic Terms: Australia
ISSN: 1838-3815
Abstract: While professional identity formation (PIF) is an important facet of employability and becoming a health professional, there has been little research on PIF among speech pathology (SP) students. This single group, cross-sectional study explored perceived PIF among SP students at a large, urban, Australian university selected via stratified sampling from a four-year undergraduate program. Using an established online self-assessment tool to measure perceived employability, the study reports on seven related constructs relevant to PIF. The self-assessment has previously been found to have strong validity and reliability and the subset used in this study likewise had strong validity and reliability. There were 84 participants and the PIF constructs were: self and program awareness (SPA); identification with commitment (IC); reconsideration of commitment (RC); self-esteem (SE); perceived program relevance (PPR); career exploration and awareness (CEA); and ethical and responsible behaviour (ERB). Descriptive and multivariate statistics were used to estimate the proportion of variance for year level and individual characteristics for each construct and overall PIF. Perceived professional identity increased from first to fourth year, significant only for SPA, IC and PPR constructs. Students aged over 25 years self-rated significantly higher on ERB than younger students, as did students studying part-time compared to those studying full-time. Participants not engaged in paid work had significantly higher SE than those who were working, as did students from low socio-economic status (SES) compared with medium or high SES students. No differences were found for other individual characteristics, although some group sizes were very small. Recommendations to enhance PIF include incorporating a range of reflective activities, assertiveness training and opportunities to explore ethical dilemmas within the curriculum.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1468708
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Perceived Professional Identity Formation and Influencing Characteristics among Speech Pathology Students
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abigail+Lewis%22">Abigail Lewis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Denise+Jackson%22">Denise Jackson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dawn+Bennett%22">Dawn Bennett</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Teaching+and+Learning+for+Graduate+Employability%22"><i>Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability</i></searchLink>. 2025 16(1):39-58.
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  Data: Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability. Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3125. Web site: https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Identity%22">Professional Identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Language+Pathology%22">Speech Language Pathology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Occupations+Education%22">Allied Health Occupations Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urban+Universities%22">Urban Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employment+Potential%22">Employment Potential</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Characteristics%22">Student Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Evaluation+%28Individuals%29%22">Self Evaluation (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Differences%22">Age Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Part+Time+Students%22">Part Time Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Full+Time+Students%22">Full Time Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+Income+Students%22">Low Income Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Employment%22">Student Employment</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
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  Data: 1838-3815
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  Data: While professional identity formation (PIF) is an important facet of employability and becoming a health professional, there has been little research on PIF among speech pathology (SP) students. This single group, cross-sectional study explored perceived PIF among SP students at a large, urban, Australian university selected via stratified sampling from a four-year undergraduate program. Using an established online self-assessment tool to measure perceived employability, the study reports on seven related constructs relevant to PIF. The self-assessment has previously been found to have strong validity and reliability and the subset used in this study likewise had strong validity and reliability. There were 84 participants and the PIF constructs were: self and program awareness (SPA); identification with commitment (IC); reconsideration of commitment (RC); self-esteem (SE); perceived program relevance (PPR); career exploration and awareness (CEA); and ethical and responsible behaviour (ERB). Descriptive and multivariate statistics were used to estimate the proportion of variance for year level and individual characteristics for each construct and overall PIF. Perceived professional identity increased from first to fourth year, significant only for SPA, IC and PPR constructs. Students aged over 25 years self-rated significantly higher on ERB than younger students, as did students studying part-time compared to those studying full-time. Participants not engaged in paid work had significantly higher SE than those who were working, as did students from low socio-economic status (SES) compared with medium or high SES students. No differences were found for other individual characteristics, although some group sizes were very small. Recommendations to enhance PIF include incorporating a range of reflective activities, assertiveness training and opportunities to explore ethical dilemmas within the curriculum.
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  Data: EJ1468708
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 39
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Professional Identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Speech Language Pathology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Occupations Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urban Universities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employment Potential
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Evaluation (Individuals)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Age Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Part Time Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Full Time Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Low Income Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Employment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Australia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Perceived Professional Identity Formation and Influencing Characteristics among Speech Pathology Students
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            NameFull: Denise Jackson
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            NameFull: Dawn Bennett
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              Y: 2025
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