Keywords

Career development, family involvement, family influence

Abstract

Career decidedness at early stages produces positive effects on student performance, college completion, and professional development. Emerging adults are taking 5 to 10 years longer to make career decisions than non-emerging adults (Lehmann & Konstam, 2011). The purpose of this study will be to use quantitative and qualitative research methods to obtain a deeper understanding of parental involvement in college students’ career decision-making and its influences on their career readiness and development. College students will provide information on their parents’ involvement and influence during their secondary education. Ultimately, this research will identify how family influences the career decision-making processes and will educate professionals about how to incorporate the family as a way to avoid delays in the desired career paths of emerging adults. This mixed methods study investigated the influence of family on the career decisionmaking process among emerging adults attending a metropolitan university in the southeastern United States. It also sought to identify the nature of parental involvement in activities, academic achievement, choosing a major, and career choice in college students. The first two questions formulated the basis for quantitative research methods, and qualitative methods aided in exploring the third question. The Career Involvement and Influence Questionnaire (CIIQ) and the Career Development Inventory (CDI) provide the source of data collection for this study. The study yielded no significant relationship or differences among caregivers’ (mothers, fathers, and other caregivers) involvement in career decisions (CIIQ) or future influences and level of career iv decidedness (CDI). The qualitative results provided clarity as to some of the commonalities and differences that existed among responses of the participants. Implications of the findings refer to counselor education, clinical practice, and future research.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2012

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Daire, Andrew

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

College

College of Education and Human Performance

Degree Program

Education

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0004391

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0004391

Language

English

Release Date

August 2012

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Education, Education -- Dissertations, Academic;

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Education Commons

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