The 3 Universities Study investigates purpose development in undergraduate students across three different universities (two in the Northeast, and one in the South). The study investigates the experiences of students across these universities,  over the course of several time points (i.e. 2018, 2019, and a pending 2020 data collection). Currently, data is being collected about the influence of COVID-19 on the cultivation of purpose among college students. These studies include mixed methodologies, including longitudinal quantitative data analysis, and qualitative data analysis. Some of the key questions of this study include:

 

• What happens in formative relationships (especially mentoring relationships) that foster purpose? 

• What happens in formative experiences or turning points that cultivate purpose? Specifically, what is the role of adversity or life challenges in the development of purpose?

• What are the developmental trajectories of purpose development? How is purpose development tied to specific developmental/life transitions (e.g., going away to college, thinking about graduating college, etc.)