Socio-demographic Factors Influencing Career Decision-making among Undergraduate Psychology Students in South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilot Mudhovozi ◽  
Regis Chireshe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Career Decision ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Career Decision Making ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Undergraduate Psychology ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

scholarly journals Exploring the factors that influence the career decision of STEM students at a university in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethel Ndidiamaka Abe ◽  
Vitallis Chikoko
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
South African ◽  
Career Decisions ◽  
Career Decision ◽  
South African Context ◽  
Career Decision Making ◽  
Stem Students ◽  
African Context

Abstract Background Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educators and stakeholders in South Africa are interested in the ways STEM students make their career decisions because of the shortages in these critical skills. Although various factors including family, teachers, peers, and career interest have been reported as determinants of career decision-making, there is a scarcity of studies that have qualitatively explored the levels of influences of any of these factors in the South African context. The main aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence career decision-making among STEM student majors in a South African university. By better understanding students’ viewpoint on these factors, educators and policymakers can assist students in making career decisions that fit their experiences, personality, and expectations. Students in their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year of study respectively, were invited to respond to a semi-structured questionnaire about the factors that were influential in their decision to pursue a career in STEM. A total of 203 texts (response rate: 63%) were qualitatively analyzed utilising a hermeneutic phenomenology approach to traditional content analysis, whereby themes develop inductively from the data. Results We used a hermeneutic phenomenological method to traditional content analysis to examine the factors influencing participants’ career decision-making. Peer interrogation, modified member verification, compact description, code-recode tactics, and assessment trails were engaged to confirm quality and rigour. Three key results emerged, namely interpersonal, intrapersonal, and career outcomes expectancy. The perceptions of STEM students of their career decision-making in the South African context are more multifaceted than reported previously. The insights could inform policies to counter skills shortages in the STEM area. Conclusions In this exploratory study, we gave attention to describing the various ranges of students’ perceptions and experiences regarding their career decision-making. Several students reported, among other factors, that their families, personality, and expectations played influential roles in their career decision-making. Here, we discuss the meaning of interpersonal, intrapersonal, and outcome expectations with respect to career decision-making from the perspective of STEM students in a South African university.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Career Decision-Making among Tenth grade students in South Batina Governorate

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Mohammed Nasser Al-Saqri ◽  
Hafida Suliman Al Brashdiah
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Career Decision ◽  
The Self ◽  
Career Decision Making ◽  
School Factors ◽  
Tenth Graders ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Tenth Grade

The purpose of the present study was to investigate factors that influence the career decision-making of tenth graders in the South-Batina governorate and the extent of influence of each, in addition to the effect of gender, level of achievement, field of specialty, and parents educational level variables on those factors. A quantitative method approach was used for data collection. A questionnaire of career decision-making factors was applied to a random cluster sample of (350) tenth grade students (52.3% male, and 47.7% female). Factor analysis yielded three subscales for self-efficacy, family and social factors, and school factors. The results of the study indicate that first school factors, then self-efficacy, and finally family and social factors reported high levels of influence on the career decisions made by tenth graders. The independent samples t-Test revealed that the self-efficacy and school factors influence female students. Moreover, the results show that the self-efficacy and school factors are mainly influencing the science students. The One-Way ANOVA Test revealed significant differences in self-efficacy related to the achievement level, favouring students with high achievement. The results also show significant differences in both school factors influencing low achievement students and the self-efficacy factor favouring parents with higher education. 

scholarly journals Understanding the Factors Influencing Junior Doctors’ Career Decision-Making to Address Rural Workforce Issues: Testing a Conceptual Framework

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Cuesta-Briand ◽  
Mathew Coleman ◽  
Rebekah Ledingham ◽  
Sarah Moore ◽  
Helen Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Career Decision ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Rural Practice ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Career Decision Making ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Rural Work

Medical graduates’ early career is known to be disorienting, and career decision-making is influenced by a complex set of factors. There is a strong association between rural background and rural undergraduate training and rural practice, and personal and family factors have been shown to influence workplace location, but the interaction between interest, training availability, and other work-relevant factors has not yet been fully explored. A qualitative study conducted by the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia (RCSWA) and WA Country Health Service (WACHS) explored factors influencing the decision to pursue rural work among junior doctors. Data collection and analysis was iterative. In total, 21 junior doctors were recruited to participate in semi-structured telephone interviews. Two main themes relating to the systems of influence on career decision-making emerged: (1) The importance of place and people, and (2) the broader context. We found that career decision-making among junior doctors is influenced by a complex web of factors operating at different levels. As Australia faces the challenge of developing a sustainable rural health workforce, developing innovative, flexible strategies that are responsive to the individual aspirations of its workforce whilst still meeting its healthcare service delivery needs will provide a way forward.

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