Dissertation (DEd) -- Stellenbosch University, 1993. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examined the process of identity development in secondary school adolescents. Identity formation can be regarded as a central developmental task during adolescence. Psychological maturity and a functional personality depend on the effective solution of the identity crisis. The process of identity formation is, however, complicated by various trends in modern society. This is particularly true for South Africa in its present transitional phase. This study was undertaken due to various research deficiencies, and because a thorough knowledge of the process of identity formation during adolescence is of vital importance for educators on all levels. Based on an extensive literature study the concepts identity and identity development are described, and research findings on identity development during adolescence are reviewed. The focus of the empirical investigation is on four selected domains of identity development, namely future career, religion, friendships and dating. Two objective questionnaires, the Ackermann Identity status Inventory (AISI) (which was designed by the researcher) and the Dellas Identity Status Inventory (DISI), and a semi-structured interview were used to determine the identity status of adolescents. A third questionnaire was administered in order to determine adolescents r evaluation of the importance of various identity domains. The research group included all the standard 7 and 10 pupils (N - 1152) from 6 Afrikaans medium secondary schools in the Southwestern Cape. From this group a stratified sample of 96 pupils was taken for the interview. When selecting the research groups three variables were taken into account, namely sex, age, and residential area. Some of the most important findings include the following: Adolescents manifest different patterns of identity development in different domains. Identity development should therefore be investigated separately in different domains. There are significant differences in the identity status of standard 7 and standard 10 pupils. Only minor differences in identity status development exist between the sexes. No significant differences in identity status were found between rural and urban adolescents. Regarding the religious domain the research group had a strong tendency towards identity foreclosure. This finding has important implications for religious educators. various implications for education were pointed out. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die proses van identiteitsontwikkeling by skoolgaande adolessente is in hierdie studie ondersoek. Die verwerwing van 'n eie identiteit kan as 'n sentrale ontwikkelingstaak tydens adolessensie beskou word. Die effektiewe hantering van die identiteitskrisis is 'n voorwaarde vir die verwerwing van psigologiese volwassenheid en vir positiewe persoonlikheidsfunksionering. Verskeie tendense in die hedendaagse samelewing kompliseer die proses van identiteitsontwikkeling. Dit geld Suid-Afrika in besonder, aangesien die land tans in 'n transformasieproses verkeer wat verskeie lewensterreine raak. 'n Grondige kennis van die proses van identiteitsontwikkeling by adolessente is van kardinale belang vir primêre en sekondêre opvoeders. In die lig van bestaande leemtes in navorsing op hierdie terrein is die studie onderneem. Teen die agtergrond van 'n omvattende literatuurstudie is die aard en wese van identiteit en identiteitsontwikkeling beskryf en 'n oorsig is gegee van bestaande navorsingsbevindinge oor identiteitsontwikkeling tydens adolessensie. Die empiriese ondersoek is gerig op vier geselekteerde domeine van identiteitsontwikkeling , naamlik beroep, godsdiens, vriendskappe en uitgaan (Engels: dating). Met die oog op die bepa ing van die status van adolessente se identiteitsontwikkeling is twee objektiewe vraelyste, naamlik die Ackermann Identiteitstatusvraelys (AISV) en die Dellas Identity status Inventory (DISI), en 'n gestruktureerde onderhoud gebruik. Die AISV is vir die doel van die ondersoek deur die ondersoeker ontwerp. 'n Derde vraelys is afgeneem ten einde adolessente se belewing van die belangrikheid van verskeie identiteitsdomeine te bepaal. Die ondersoekgroep het bestaan uit die standerd 7- en standerd 10-1eerlinge (N = 1152) van ses Afrikaansmedium sekondêre skole. Uit die groep is 'n gestratifiseerde steekproef van 96 leerlinge vir die onderhoud getrek. Gelyke verteenwoordiging van drie veranderlikes is met die trekking van die steekproewe in ag gensem, naamlik ouderdom, geslag en nedersettingsgebied. Van die belangrikste bevindinge wat uit die ondersoek geblyk het, is die volgende: Adolessente toon verskillende patrone van identiteitsontwikkeling in verskillende domeine. Dit is daarom belangrik dat identiteitsontwikkeling in terme van afsonderlike domeine ondersoek word. Beduidende verskille in identiteitstatusontwikkeling kom tussen adolessente in st 7 en st. 10 voor. slegs enkele verskille in identiteitstatusontwikkeling kern tussen die twee geslagte voor. Daar is nie 'n beduidende verskil tussen stedelike en plattelandse adolessente se identiteitstatusontwikkeling nie. In die domein van godsdiens is 'n neiging tot vroeë identiteitsluiting gevind. Dit hou belangrike implikasies vir opvoeders en ander betrokke instellings in. Belangrike opvoedkundige implikasies van die ondersoekbevindinge is aangedui.