Identity formation in educational settings: A contextualized view of theory and research in practice

In this concluding article of the special issue entitled “Identity Formation in Educational Settings”, we explicate the notion of identity as an integrative concept, discuss its growing popularity in the social sciences, and point to its special significance to education in contemporary society. Following an Eriksonian psychosocial approach and sociocultural emphasis, we look at the process of identity formation as a product of interrelatedness between the context and the individual person, and underscore the interaction between developmental and learning processes. We draw examples from the studies in this collection to highlight these conceptual relationships, as well as to contribute insights from the different research questions and modes of inquiry into the practice of co-construction of identity and knowledge in a variety of school contexts. We conclude with a call for the promotion of practice, research and theory in the emerging domain of identity formation in educational settings.

► Identity is an ambiguous but indispensible concept. ► Identity involves the interrelatedness of the individual and society. ► The articles in the special issue highlight the role of context in identity formation. ► The articles emphasize the role of contextual cues, the teacher, and the broader context in identity formation.