To examine perspectives of change in individual-organizational socialization, a study used the retrospective interview technique (RIT) to reconstruct the history and process of individuals' socialization experiences over an 8-month period. Using the RIT, researchers asked subjects, 28 entering graduate students enrolled in three communication departments, to identify and plot all turning points in their departmental relationships since first meeting their relational partners. Two interviews were conducted with each participant, the first approximately 4 months after the beginning of the academic year, and the second approximately 4 months after the first interview. Both interviews were identical and focused on turning points which occurred during the 4 months preceding the interview. Participants plotted and explained their identification levels at the time of the interviews and at the beginning of the 4-month period, then plotted points in between, when identification increased or decreased. As each point was identified and plotted, interviewers probed for details regarding the change in identification. Level of identification with the academic department was assessed with a shortened version of the Organizational Identification Questionnaire (OIQ). Results revealed 15 turning point types including: moving in; settling in; socializing; sense of community; receiving informal recognition; gaining formal recognition; jumping informal hurdles; representing the organization; and alienation. Results indicated that several turning point types were associated with immediate change in organizational identification while others were associated with levels of identification at the end of the 8-month period. (MM)