Who Struggles Most in Making a Career Choice and Why? Findings From a Cross-Sectional Survey of Australian High-School Students. Issue 2 (4th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Galliott, Natal'ya; Graham, Linda J.; Sweller, Naomi
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychologists and counsellors in schools. Volume 25:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 133
• Page End: 151
• Publication Date: 2015-05-04
• Subjects: youth aspirations, -- career education, -- career development, -- career guidance and counselling, -- post-school transitions, -- student background, -- Australia; Educational counseling -- Australia -- Periodicals; Educational counseling -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; School children -- Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.42405
• DOI: 10.1017/jgc.2015.7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-6365

Abstract

Abstract : This article reports findings from an empirical study examining the influence of student background and educational experiences on the development of career choice capability. Secondary school students attending Years 9–12 ( N = 706) in New South Wales, Australia, were invited to participate in an online survey that sought to examine factors influencing their readiness to make a career choice. The survey included questions relating to student demographics, parental occupation, attitudes to school and to learning, career aspirations, and students' knowledge of the further education or skills required to achieve their desired goal. We found no significant differences in the proportions of students who were 'uncertain' of their future career aspirations with respect to their individual characteristics, such as age and gender. There were, however, significant differences in relation to students' family background, and their perceptions associated with their own academic abilities and self-efficacy.