Feeling Valued at Work: Social Psychological Applications of Mattering Beyond the Classroom

Considered a fundamental human need, mattering is applicable across many domains of life, including school, the community, and the workplace. The current class project has students develop a program to increase mattering in their future careers. Forty-one students completed pre- and post- project questionnaires examining their perceptions of the project and mattering. Knowledge of mattering increased significantly, and students reported that the project helped them understand the relevance of psychology outside the classroom. The applied aspect of the project was important to students, who felt they would use the information in their future careers. Students overwhelmingly recommended that the project be repeated in future semesters. Students gained much from the project, including awareness of how they can make a difference in the workplace. The project provides an engaging opportunity for students to increase their knowledge about mattering in their future careers, and to see psychology at work beyond the classroom.