Author: Farah Akhtar
Supervisor: Ms. Afifa Anjum
Degree: MPhil
Year: (2010-2012)
University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The present study was conducted to identify the factors involved in career decision making difficulties. The research hypothesis was that: a) Parental involvement, type of schooling, core self evaluation and locus of control are likely to predict career decision making difficulties. b) There will be differences within type of career decision making difficulties. c) There will be gender differences in career decision making difficulties. Survey research design was employed. Non probability purposive sampling was used to draw sample of 100 students 50 from private A level schools and 50 intermediated students from government colleges. Demographic Information Questionnaire, College Student Scale (Robbins, 1994), Core Self Evaluation Scale (Judge, Erez, Bono & Thoresen, 2003), Reward Punish Locus of Control Scale (Tice, 2005) and Career Decision Making Difficulties Questionnaire (Gati,1996) were used to assess demographic information, parental involvement, core self evaluation, Locus of control and career decision making difficulties respectively. Schooling was dichotomous variable, categorized into private A level schools and government colleges. Result indicated that less warmth by mother, less involvement and less autonomy support by father and internal locus of control predict career decision making difficulties among adolescents. Core self evaluation and schooling had no impact on career decision making difficulties. Girls had high score on career decision making difficulties. Among all subscales of the career decision making difficulties, participants faced greater difficulty on readiness than lack of information and inconsistent information. The present research is important in order to realize the importance of adolescent’s parents’ involvement in their career decision making process. It is also important for educational institutions in minimizing the adolescent’s lack of readiness and lack of information about careers through the availability of career counselors in the institutions who can provide them information about career alternatives and also discuss with them career related matters.
Keywords: career decision making, parental involvement, self evaluation, locus of control.
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Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
