This qualitative descriptive study examined the process of purpose development of nine (seven females, two males; M_age = 20.2, age range 18–21 years) college students who completed interviews in fall 2017 and spring 2019 at a private university. Across the two time points, participants engaged in an iterative process that led them to refine (i.e., narrow or specify) or redefine (i.e., change or adapt) their purpose or ultimate aims. Participants used the time between interviews to restructure their purpose in a way that integrated their experiences until they believed their purpose was best aligned with their skills, values, and interests. More specifically, consensual qualitative research analysis revealed seven themes that suggested ways in which participants acted to refine and/or redefine their purposes: (1) clarifying definition of purpose; (2) engaging known strengths or skills; (3) exploring new activities or experiences; (4) identifying a beyond-the-self intention that aligned with their purpose; (5) discerning the fit between their passions and interests with their circumstance or plans; (6) determining whether their strengths and skills aligned well with their purpose; and (7) integrating their passions into their beyond-the-self intention. A supplemental theme was added that outlines researchers’ observations about the features of participants’ purpose.

这项定性描述性研究考察了九人的目标发展过程（七名女性，两名男性；M_年龄） = 20.2，年龄范围 18-21 岁）于 2017 年秋季和 2019 年春季在一所私立大学完成面试的大学生。在这两个时间点上，参与者参与了一个迭代过程，导致他们改进（即缩小或指定）或重新定义（即改变或调整）他们的目的或最终目标。参与者利用面试之间的时间重新构建他们的目标，以整合他们的经验，直到他们认为他们的目标最符合他们的技能、价值观和兴趣。更具体地说，共识性定性研究分析揭示了七个主题，这些主题提出了参与者改进和/或重新定义其目的的方式：（1）澄清目的的定义；(2) 利用已知的优势或技能；（三）探索新的活动或体验；(4) 确定与他们的目的一致的超越自我的意图；(5) 辨别他们的热情和兴趣与他们的情况或计划的契合度；(6) 确定他们的优势和技能是否与其目标相吻合；(7) 将他们的热情融入到超越自我的意图中。添加了一个补充主题，概述了研究人员对参与者目的特征的观察。