Theories and Measures of Occupational Calling: a Review and Research Agenda

People differ in the way they experience their work. Some may feel called to a particular occupation, while others perceive their job as a means to extrinsic goals, such as gaining power or money, or even pursuing meaningful activities during their leisure time. Although research conducted so far on work as a calling lacks consensus over theory and measures, it has generated some consistent results. This paper presents a thorough analysis of the literature on the definition of occupational calling, looking at how it differs from other similar constructs, followed by a systematic review of the most prominent scales used to measure this construct. Issues that remain to be clarified and future research goals are also discussed.