{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]],"date-time":"2026-04-30T15:41:11Z","timestamp":1777563671997,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2015,10,14]],"date-time":"2015-10-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1444780800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Emerging Adulthood"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2016,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>This article describes an alternative framework for conceptualizing and researching emerging adulthood based on the notions of goal-directed processes. Specifically, contextual action theory (CAT) is proposed to add value to understanding transition-to-adulthood processes because of its emphasis on description, intentional action, and relational context. A related naturalistic, longitudinal method, the action-project method (A-PM), is used to study joint, goal-directed actions and projects (multiple actions over time). The A-PM qualitatively describes joint projects of emerging adults and those involved with them by relying on three perspectives of action: manifest behavior, internal processes, and social meaning. The method consists of video recording joint action between participants, accessing internal processes of action through a video playback interview, and monitoring joint projects over time. This conceptualization and method have been used to describe the joint goal-directed processes inherent in emerging adulthood including parent\u2013youth relationships, friendship, identity formation, and school\u2013work transitions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/2167696815610695","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2015,10,15]],"date-time":"2015-10-15T19:58:32Z","timestamp":1444939112000},"page":"30-39","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["Understanding Goal-Directed Action in Emerging Adulthood"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"4","author":[{"given":"Jessie M.","family":"Wall","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada"}]},{"given":"Ada K.","family":"Law","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada"}]},{"given":"Ma","family":"Zhu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Munro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada"}]},{"given":"Filomena","family":"Parada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Richard A.","family":"Young","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2015,10,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-2167696815610695","volume-title":"Neuropsychology and the sense of agency","author":"Balconi M.","year":"2010"},{"key":"bibr2-2167696815610695","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvb.2012.06.006"},{"key":"bibr3-2167696815610695","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1354067X0174005"},{"key":"bibr4-2167696815610695","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4135\/9781452204802.n2"},{"key":"bibr5-2167696815610695","volume-title":"Action and self-development: Theory and research through the life span","author":"Brandtst\u00e4dter J.","year":"1999"},{"key":"bibr6-2167696815610695","volume-title":"Acts of meaning","author":"Bruner J.","year":"1990"},{"key":"bibr7-2167696815610695","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732307306927"},{"key":"bibr8-2167696815610695","volume-title":"The Sage handbook of qualitative research","author":"Denzin N. 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