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Factors related to career indecision in a sample of junior college students
Author
Lim, Hoang Hoang
Supervisor
Khor, Peter Sinn Yeou
Abstract
This study investigated the phenomenon of career indecision in a sample of 337 students from three Junior Colleges (11th and 12th Graders). Junior College students were selected because they represented the best and the brightest of Singapore's school population, and faced the most important and imminent transition into the world of work. The study explored the extent and degree of career indecision amongst the students and their career decision statuses. Further, it examined whether the variables, namely, vocational identity, the need for occupational information and parental influence related to career indecision. The characteristics which distinguished career decided students from students with career indecision were also investigated.
The results of the study showed that in terms of the extent of career indecision, 82% of the students in the sample were not able to specify a career choice. Of these students 19% were found to have a serious degree of career indecision while 63% gave indication of having developmental indecision. Developmental indecision is a normal process of career development that adolescents go through.
The study reported a negative relationship between the students' vocational identity and their career indecision suggesting that students who had clearer perceptions of their abilities, interests, goals and talents experienced a lower degree of career indecision. The students' need for occupational information was found to be positively related to their career indecision indicating that students who had more occupational knowledge experienced a lower degree of career indecision.
Regarding parental influence, a significant, though weak negative relationship was found between the students' perceived parental influence and their career indecision. Of the three study variables, vocational identity was the best predictor of the students' career indecision.
There were clearly characteristics which distinguished the career decided students from those with career indecision. The study showed that the career decided students had a more stable vocational identity and less need for occupational information than students with career indecision. The students with career indecision also tended to be less planful, had less self confidence, experienced more anxiety, and seemed more dependent on their parents and friends to make decisions.
The results of the study have implications for the practice of career guidance and counselling, particularly as it helps in clarifying the counselling needs of students of various career decision status groups. The study further highlighted the importance of helping students to obtain a clear and stable vocational identity, and adequate use of occupational information in career counselling.
The results of the study showed that in terms of the extent of career indecision, 82% of the students in the sample were not able to specify a career choice. Of these students 19% were found to have a serious degree of career indecision while 63% gave indication of having developmental indecision. Developmental indecision is a normal process of career development that adolescents go through.
The study reported a negative relationship between the students' vocational identity and their career indecision suggesting that students who had clearer perceptions of their abilities, interests, goals and talents experienced a lower degree of career indecision. The students' need for occupational information was found to be positively related to their career indecision indicating that students who had more occupational knowledge experienced a lower degree of career indecision.
Regarding parental influence, a significant, though weak negative relationship was found between the students' perceived parental influence and their career indecision. Of the three study variables, vocational identity was the best predictor of the students' career indecision.
There were clearly characteristics which distinguished the career decided students from those with career indecision. The study showed that the career decided students had a more stable vocational identity and less need for occupational information than students with career indecision. The students with career indecision also tended to be less planful, had less self confidence, experienced more anxiety, and seemed more dependent on their parents and friends to make decisions.
The results of the study have implications for the practice of career guidance and counselling, particularly as it helps in clarifying the counselling needs of students of various career decision status groups. The study further highlighted the importance of helping students to obtain a clear and stable vocational identity, and adequate use of occupational information in career counselling.
Date Issued
1995
Call Number
HF5382.5.S5 Lim
Description
Pg. 112, 113 and 115 are missing
Date Submitted
1995