u/Legacy_Rising

I’m developing a community learning pilot where adults explore possible directions through small, self-chosen activities—such as making a rough sample, trying a beginner task, or contributing to a shared project.

I’d like to evaluate whether participants develop an interest they choose to pursue beyond the session, rather than measuring only enjoyment or satisfaction.

What research designs or existing measures would help distinguish temporary enthusiasm from sustained interest? I’d also appreciate resources on evaluating a small pilot and the limits of what its results could establish.

I’m seeking methodological advice at this stage, not recruiting study participants.

I’m interested in how adults develop interests and a sense of direction when they don’t start with a clear passion or career goal.

A lot of advice assumes people can identify what they want through reflection. But could trying unfamiliar activities—making something, learning a beginner skill, or contributing to a shared project—help interests develop rather than simply reveal existing ones?

What psychological theories or studies address this? I’d also be interested in what helps an initial spark become a sustained interest, and when trying an activity doesn’t lead to that.

I’m looking for research and discussion rather than personal career advice.

I’m developing Entrepalooza, an educational program for adults breaking destructive cycles and exploring what they want to build next. It combines exploring interests, practical skills, small projects, and ethical entrepreneurship—without expecting everyone to launch a business.

It’s still in development, and I’d appreciate resources on teaching entrepreneurship to beginners, designing hands-on workshops, or helping people test ideas with little or no money.

I’m also interested in collaborating with people who enjoy curriculum development, mentoring, or making entrepreneurship more accessible. If that interests you, what part would you want to help shape?

Recommendations and honest feedback are welcome.

I’m trying to understand a career-development process that seems to sit between vocational interests, career exploration, self-efficacy, and proactive career behavior.

Suppose an adult starts thinking, “I might actually be interested in mechanics,” entrepreneurship, design, healthcare, etc., but has no established career identity in that area yet.

I’m interested in the transition from:

emerging vocational interest → low-stakes real-world exploration → feedback from the experience → stronger/weaker interest or career direction

By “exploration,” I mean behaviors such as trying a small project, shadowing someone, talking with a person in the occupation, volunteering, taking a short course, or otherwise testing the work rather than only thinking about it.

I’ve been looking at adjacent concepts including:

-vocational interests

-career exploration

-career adaptability

-occupational self-efficacy

-person-environment fit

-proactive career behaviors

-work/career identity

What I’m having trouble determining is whether I/O or vocational psychology already has a model that treats real-world experimentation itself as part of how occupational interests and career direction develop, rather than assuming relatively stable interests first and then using those interests to make career choices.

Is there a particular construct, theory, or research literature I should be looking at?

I’m especially interested in research involving adults who begin without a clearly developed vocational direction or occupational identity. I’m looking for the relevant I/O or vocational psychology literature, rather than individual career advice.

I’m trying to understand a behavioral transition that seems to sit between several areas of psychology: the point where someone begins to recognize an interest but has not yet acted on it in the real world.

Hidi and Renninger’s (2006) four-phase model of interest development describes interest as something that can develop from triggered situational interest into a more enduring individual interest. What I’m particularly interested in is what happens between “this might interest me” and “I actually went and tried it.”

For example, someone might recognize an emerging interest in woodworking, entrepreneurship, music, mechanics, gardening, etc., but never take an exploratory step such as trying a small project, attending an event, contacting someone in the field, or learning the first skill.

There seem to be several overlapping literatures that could help explain this:

-interest development

-exploratory behavior

-self-efficacy

-self-determination theory

-implementation intentions

-intention-behavior gaps

-vocational/career exploration

-identity development and possible selves

-behavioral activation

Implementation-intention research suggests that specifying when, where, and how an action will occur can help translate intentions into behavior (Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006), but I’m wondering whether there is a construct or theoretical model that more specifically captures this sequence:

emerging interest → exploratory action → feedback from experience → increased/decreased interest

I’m especially interested in research involving adults, including people who may not begin with a clear career goal or established passion.

Is there an established construct, model, or body of literature that best describes this process? Papers or researcher recommendations would be appreciated.

References:

Hidi, S., & Renninger, K. A. (2006). The four-phase model of interest development. Educational Psychologist, 41(2), 111–127. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326985ep4102\_4⁠

Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation intentions and goal achievement: A meta-analysis of effects and processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 69–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(06)38002-1⁠

For people who have been trying to quit or cut back, I’m curious about something beyond the actual drinking.

Was there a point when you started thinking about what you wanted your life to look like, what you were interested in, or what you wanted to work toward?

Did that happen pretty early, or did you need a period where just getting through the day and handling basic stuff had to come first?

And looking back, was there anything that helped you know you were ready for something more?

Not necessarily addiction. It could have been a toxic relationship, burnout, unhealthy habits, a chaotic period, or something else.

Once you weren’t spending all your energy dealing with that anymore, did you know what you wanted next? Or was there a period where you felt kind of lost?

I’m especially curious about what actually helped.

Was it time? Hobbies? Work? Trying new things? Therapy? Other people? Small routines? Something else?

And if you eventually found something that gave you direction, how did that happen?

Once you got past the immediate focus on staying sober, what did you struggle with most?

• Finding work or a career

• Money/finances

• School or learning new skills

• Figuring out what you actually enjoy

• Confidence

• Making friends or finding community

• Having too much free time

• Just not knowing what direction to go

I’m helping develop a program around this exact gap, and I’m trying to understand what people actually experience rather than guessing.

What was the hardest part for you?

#Recovery #LifeInRecovery #RecoveryCommunity #BuildOtherwise