Summary of Research Findings
The article by Gadassi et al. (2015) focuses on career-related decision-making differences between men and women in general and the incidence of depression in the context of career advancement in particular. The researchers conducted a study based on a self-reported questionnaire with a sample of 222 participants to measure the impact of career dictions status, career preference crystallization, and career decision-making difficulties on depression in men and women (Gadassi et al., 2015). The scholars hypothesized that since men had been previously reported to suffer from depression more often, their level of depressive symptoms associated with career decision-making would be higher. In the process of data collection and analysis, the researchers focused on specific career development needs for both genders. In particular, these needs included self-conceptualization, self-identification, ability to crystalize career preference and make proper career decisions.
The study’s results indicated that the need for self-concept and identity in the context of career development was equally impactful on the emotional state of both men and women. Indeed, the difficulties in career decision-making induced a higher level of depression symptoms in the representatives of both genders on an equal level (Gadassi et al., 2015). Notably, it was found that men were more likely to experience depressive symptoms associated with difficulties in career preference crystallization. However, a small sample of the study does not allow for this finding to be generalizable. These findings discourage previous assumptions about men’s focus on accomplishment and women’s focus on socialization (Gadassi et al., 2015). On the contrary, since the challenges in career decision-making caused the same depressive symptoms in men and women, it is implied that career development is an essential need of individuals of both genders.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Article
The article has its strengths related to methodology, quality of data, the novelty of findings, and solution-directed implications. Firstly, the choice of research methods is a strong feature of this study due to their relevance to the researched topic. Since the investigation of personal experiences was the focus of the research, the implementation of a self-reported questionnaire allowed for the collection of relevant and accurate data. Secondly, the novelty of the research is a significant advantage of Gadassi et al.’s (2015) study. Given the relevance of gender issues in research, this article provides new insights on the issues of gender differences in experiencing career-related problems. Finally, the study’s implication in the counseling setting is another strength of this article since it provides a functional and effective solution based on the provided evidence.
At the same time, there are several weaknesses that one might identify in the study. Firstly, the researchers failed to sample a sufficient population of participants that would equally represent men and women. Indeed, the non-representative male sample hinders the accuracy of findings since the male volunteers enrolled in the study agreed to participate in exchange for career advice, which might imply bias (Gadassi et al., 2015). Secondly, the limited focus on career choice might be considered a weakness of the study since it does not allow for generalizing the findings across all stages of career development. Finally, another study’s weakness is the lack of a comprehensible conceptual framework to identify the relationship between the investigated variables. Nonetheless, despite these weaknesses, the study is an invaluable source of evidence on gender issues in career development, which enriches the body of scholarly literature on the topic.
References
Gadassi, R., Waser, A. & Gati, I. (2015). Gender differences in the association of depression with career indecisiveness, career-decision status, and career-preference crystallization. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62 (4), 632-641.