Using the Psychology of Working Framework and the Social Cognitive Career Theory to Build a Research Team

Abstract

This chapter describes the development of a microcosmic research culture, embodied as ACCELL – the Australian Collaboratory for Career Employment & Learning for Living. The conceptual foundations of ACCELL are overviewed. The social cognitive career theory (SCCT; Lent and Brown, J Counsel Psychol 60(4): 557–568, 2013) is used as a pedagogical framework for enacting the axiology of the psychology of working (Blustein, The psychology of working: a new perspective for career development, counseling, and public policy. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, 2006). In combination, these theoretical perspectives may be used to inform research educators’ approaches to teaching research students with the aim of enhancing their interests, goals, and actions that constitute a research career. This approach is exemplified by a small research team dedicated to advancing doctoral education and research in the disciplinary field of vocational psychology and its applied professional form, career development. Its establishment and maintenance serves as a case study about building a research team with limited financial resources to do so.