University of Twente Student Theses
How Do Mid-life Adults Narrate their Peak Experiences? : An Investigation of Life Stories through Text Mining
Kober, Janina (2023) How Do Mid-life Adults Narrate their Peak Experiences? : An Investigation of Life Stories through Text Mining.
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| Abstract: | Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and analyze thematic similarities and differences in mid-life adults’ peak experiences, which are experiences first introduced by Abraham Maslow. Despite the recognition of peak experiences as significant moments in life, there has been a lack of investigation into their thematic focal points. Therefore, the research question addressed in the current research was, "How do mid-life adults narrate their peak experiences?". Methods: The study employed narrative analysis, focusing on 145 written accounts of peak experiences in the lives of mid-life adults. Text mining, specifically the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling technique, augmented by human interpretation, was utilized for data analysis. Results: The results revealed that peak experiences among mid-life adults primarily revolved around themes of love for family, communion with others, and achievements. Notably, some experiences encompassed a combination of two or all three topics. Among the analyzed keywords, friends, love, school, children, and family emerged as the most significant factors. Discussion and Conclusion: The main findings of this study aligned with existing literature, highlighting, for example, similarities between the characteristics of peak experiences according to the founder Abraham Maslow and those recounted by the participants in this sample. The research offers a comprehensive understanding of the thematic focal points within the peak experiences of midlife adults, providing a foundation for future research and practical applications. For instance, the identified themes can be employed in therapeutic settings to foster participants' awareness for their personal values. Keywords: Peak Experiences, Life Stories, Narrative Analysis, Text Mining, Topic Modeling, LDA |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/97023 |
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