This study investigated the influence of background variables (age, race/ethnicity, mother's work status outside of the home, and socioeconomic status), personal variables (anticipatory role conflict and academic self-efficacy), and environmental variables (parental attachment and parental support) on aspects of adolescent girls' career planning.…

Research on group differences in interests has often focused on structural hypotheses and mean-score differences in Holland's (1997) theory, with comparatively little research on basic interest measures. Group differences in interest profiles were examined using statistical methods for matching individuals with occupations, the C-index, Q…

This qualitative study examines factors that influence the career decisions of dislocated workers. The research focuses on individuals identified as working class, as this group has been relatively ignored in past research compared to individuals from higher socioeconomic statuses. Participants include 13 individuals (10 females and 3 males)…

This study used a modified version of consensual qualitative research design to examine how contextual, cultural, and personal variables influence the career choices of a diverse group of 12 Asian Americans. Seven domains of influences on career choices emerged including family, culture, external factors, career goals, role models, work values,…

Individualism-collectivism (IC) constitutes a cultural variable thought to influence a wide variety of variables including career planning and decision making. To examine this possibility, college students (216 women, 106 men, 64% racial-ethnic minorities) responded to measures of IC, occupational plans, and work values. Multivariate analysis of…

A study determined that women who choose a traditional career (1) do not differ in sex-role orientation; (2) do not differ in the importance they place on specific work values; and (3) show an interaction between sex-role orientation and work values such that some work values are clearly associated with different sex-role orientations. (JOW)

Gives overview of research on Super's theory across cultures within United States and internationally. Notes that research indicates that theory has some cross-cultural validity, yet there seem to be measurement concerns. Discusses two areas for future investigation: development of ethnic identity as vocational task and research on developmental…

A study of influences on career choice for 187 Asian Americans supported a path model showing that acculturation, family background, and self-efficacy had the most significant effects on choosing an occupation. (71 references) (SK)

This article focuses on the construct of outcome expectations. It is argued that the construct has received relatively little attention in the vocational literature. The authors define outcome expectations, trace the precursors to the construct, provide a critique of the operationalization of the construct, and propose recommendations for future…

Investigates the academic-subject-matter domain specificity of self-efficacy, interests, outcome expectations, and goals. Results indicate that a factor solution that accommodates both distinct subject matters and distinct constructs supports the existence of the constructs of academic self-efficacy, interests, outcome expectancies, and goals that…

Reviews the literature on vocational interests. Ten themes about vocational interests are discussed: development, correlates, measurement, homogeneity and differentiation, career choice, sex differences, stability, structure, career counseling, and cultural influences. Claims these themes are similar to major issues discussed by Strong in his…

This literature review on vocational choices, decision making, vocational assessment, and career counseling (325 references) focuses on preentry individual behavior. The review finds a predominantly white male heterosexual referent, need to recognize multiple factors affecting behavior, and importance of appropriately powerful statistical…

Inquiry into the influence of cultural context variables on vocational behavior remains a primary research need in vocational psychology. Responding to this need, individualism-collectivism (I-C) constructs were examined as an individual differences cultural context variable relative to: (1) fit and consistency of expressed occupational choice…

This study examined racial/ethnic group differences on an interest inventory at the item level using differential bundle functioning (DBF) analyses. Specifically, responses of males and females from five different racial/ethnic groups (N=3750) on the General Occupational Themes of the Strong were examined. Items were grouped together based on…

Bilingual Spanish-speaking middle school students (n=344) completed Spanish versions of three career assessment instruments; the reliability and validity of the translations were supported. Next, instruments were completed by 105 students (63 Hispanic). Self-efficacy and outcome expectations contributed to intention and goals for minority…