Diseño de un instrumento de preferencias vocacionales en Administración, Materiales y Biotecnología/Design of an Instrument for Vocational Preferences in Administration, Materials and Biotechnology

<p><strong>Español</strong></p><p>Este estudio buscó diseñar y evaluar una prueba de preferencias vocacionales para las carreras de Administración de Empresas, Ingeniería en Materiales e Ingeniería en Biotecnología en el Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR). Para ello, se construyó previamente el perfil vocacional de cada carrera a partir del cual se redactaron los ítems de la prueba. Participaron 480 estudiantes con una media de edad de 22.07 años, 53.19% mujeres y 46.81% hombres. Se obtuvo información del perfil de cada carrera por parte de estudiantes y docentes. Posteriormente, la revisaron grupos de expertos. A partir del perfil definido, se redactaron los ítems de la prueba. Luego, se evaluaron sus características psicométricas con análisis factoriales. Se obtuvieron adecuados indicadores de bondad de ajuste. La prueba vocacional incluyó tres escalas: habilidades, intereses y tareas vocacionales. La escala de habilidades evaluó seis factores: lógico-matemática, física, química, biológica, liderazgo y autorregulación-disciplina. Por su parte, las escalas de tareas e interés se utilizaron para definir las preferencias por los tres factores evaluados: Administración, Materiales y Biotecnología. Finalmente, se evidenciaron diferencias según sexo, carrera y nivel de satisfacción vocacional.</p><p><strong>English</strong></p><p>This study sought to design and evaluate a vocational preference test for Business Administration, Materials Engineering and Biotechnology Engineering majors at the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR). For this goal, first of all a vocational profile of each career was constructed, from which the test items were written. 480 students took part, with an average age of 22.07 years, 53.19% of them women and 46.81% men. Descriptions of the profile of each career were collected by students and teachers, and later analyzed by expert groups. From the defined profile, items were drawn up and later evaluated with factor analysis, for the selection of the items, obtaining adequate indicators of goodness of fit. The vocational test includes three factors: Skills, Interests and Vocational Tasks. In turn, the Skills scale evaluated six areas: Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Leadership and Self-regulationdiscipline. For its part, the scale of preferences contemplated the three areas evaluated: Administration, Materials and Biotechnology. On the other hand, there were differences according to sex, major and level of vocational satisfaction.</p>

Adolescent Identity Struggles, Vocational Guidance and Career Counselling: A Case Study

Adolescence is a critical stage of human development that needs special attention and direction. Psychologists identify this period as quarter-life transition due to the silent struggle and crisis many adolescents face in this crucial period. Identity creation is the major psychosocial task identified by Erikson and Marcia who made elaborate studies on adolescents. If proper guidance is not provided, adolescents struggle and wobble in their steady growth and identity creation. Influenced by peers, adolescents are confused and confronted by realities which are beyond their aptitude and interests. As career choice takes precedence in identity creation, identifying the aptitude and interests and, relating this to their vocational preference plays a major role. This case study elaborates the identity struggle and the role of vocational guidance and counselling intervention in helping an adolescent in his growth and development.

Examination of Relation Between Personality Types and Demographic Properties of Academic Staff

Universities are top institutions among education organizations. The personality types of academicians employed in these organizations are very important in terms of their own development and development of students they educate. The aim of this study is to examine the relation between personality types of academic staff and gender, mother education level and father education level variables. The research model is relational scanning. While determining the research group, teleological sampling method was selected among non-random sampling methods. The research was conducted through data obtained from 67 academic staff employed in different universities of Turkey in 2011-2012 academic year. As data collection tool, “Holland vocational preference inventory” and “personal information form” were used. Chi square (x2) test was performed in order to determine whether personality types of academic staff vary according to gender, mother education level and father education level.It was observed that the personality types of academic staff do not demonstrate significant difference according to gender. (x2= 1.01 and p>0.05) It was observed that personality types of academic staff have significant relation with mother education level (x2 = 9.29 and p<0.05) and father education level. (x2 = 9.79 ve p<0.05) In line with the research findings it was observed that academic staff has social personality type containing helpfulness, socially cooperative, sincerity, patient, etc. properties. The relation of academic staff personality types with mother and father education levels emphasize the importance of parent education in determination of preferences and interests. Related with determination of academic staff personality types, their relation with variables such as attitude towards profession, academic success, etc. can also be checked.Keywords: Holland vocational preference inventory, academic staff, demographic properties AbstractUniversities are top institutions among education organizations. The personality types of academicians employed in these organizations are very important in terms of their own development and development of students they educate. The aim of this study is to examine the relation between personality types of academic staff and gender, mother education level and father education level variables. The research model is relational scanning. While determining the research group, teleological sampling method was selected among non-random sampling methods. The research was conducted through data obtained from 67 academic staff employed in different universities of Turkey in 2011-2012 academic year. As data collection tool, “Holland vocational preference inventory” and “personal information form” were used. Chi square (x2) test was performed in order to determine whether personality types of academic staff vary according to gender, mother education level and father education level.It was observed that the personality types of academic staff do not demonstrate significant difference according to gender. (x2= 1.01 and p>0.05) It was observed that personality types of academic staff have significant relation with mother education level (x2 = 9.29 and p<0.05) and father education level. (x2 = 9.79 ve p<0.05) In line with the research findings it was observed that academic staff has social personality type containing helpfulness, socially cooperative, sincerity, patient, etc. properties. The relation of academic staff personality types with mother and father education levels emphasize the importance of parent education in determination of preferences and interests. Related with determination of academic staff personality types, their relation with variables such as attitude towards profession, academic success, etc. can also be checked.Keywords: Holland vocational preference inventory, academic staff, demographic properties