Career development studies show that First Generation College Students (FCGS) have unique career development needs, less college knowledge, and the increased likelihood that they will not complete college. There is evidence in the research that changing majors could impact a student's ability to complete college successfully, especially if they…

Grounded in a social cognitive theoretical perspective, this study explores the career decision-making self-efficacy (CDSE) and vocational identity development process for college students interested or majoring in sport management. While a popular undergraduate major, little research has investigated the specific factors that influence different…

In an effort to understand the viability of inner-city adolescents' career choice goals, the purpose of this study was to predict relationships among person factors, environmental factors, career maturity, career decision-making self-efficacy, vocational outcome expectations, and viable career choice goals within this population. I predicted that…

Adolescents across the five years of high school (169 females and 164 males) completed a survey that identified occupational status aspirations and expectations coded into six types-- realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, or conventional--according to the RIASEC model (Holland, 1997). As the focus of the study was to explore…

This study explored the differences in vocational maturity, academic aptitude, and achievement variables among female sorority students who made congruent, incongruent, and undecided occupational choices. The findings suggest that students in the congruent female group tend to be more vocationally mature. (Author)

A study compared levels of career maturity between college students with and without learning disabilities and investigated factors associated with the career maturity of college students with learning disabilities. Specifically, the relationship between career maturity of college students with learning disabilities and the following variables was…

A career decision-making model and program were developed to provide a counseling intervention and teaching materials to aid students in improving their career maturity and decision-making skills. Data indicated that students in the program significantly increased their caree maturity scores. (Author/MFD)

Compared value of several theoretically derived personal (age and gender), educational (class standing and academic performance), and psychological (locus of control and vocational congruence) factors as predictors of undergraduates' (n=337) career maturity. Vocational congruence and academic performance emerged as two most significant predictors.…

In a sample of 1622 students in college for three years, 24 percent indecisive students were found and compared with vocationally decisive students (having majors) using precollege measures of achievement, aptitude, and interest. Measures of interest differentiation were of particular concern. Most important to vocational indecision, however, was…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the construct validity of the Career Maturity Inventory with ninth grade pupils. To demonstrate the construct validity it must be shown that the Career Maturity Inventory correlates highly with other variables with which it should theoretically correlate, and that it does not correlate with variables…

This study compared 127 vocationally undecided college graduates matched by sex, age, and college major with graduates selecting occupations on a Survey of Graduating Seniors. Undecideds had lower grade point averages, fewer career plans, less graduate school attendance, and less satisfaction with university experiences. Suggestions for countering…

Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) and Super and Forrest's Career Development Inventory (CDI) are recommended in the their respective manuals for use with secondary school students regardless of academic ability. Scores on both instruments for 245 suburban high school seniors in this investigation were well below reported means.…

Examines career maturity and academic achievement among 30 American Indian and 39 non-Indian college students. Finds strong positive correlations between grade point average and career maturity for freshman and sophomore Indians and freshman non-Indians, but not for the total sample or either ethnic group overall. Contains 19 references (SV)

College students are continuously engaged in attempting to successfully pass courses, fulfill degree requirements, and plan for their future careers. Career counselors who work in a collegiate setting, are often faced with situations where students are unable to pass their courses; are undecided about which major to pursue; or are uncertain about…

The evaluation of the Bowling Green, Kentucky, K-12 Career Education Incremental Improvement Project consisted of five components: professional staff survey (PSS), student career maturity, career education program assessment, record of student career development, and academic achievement. PSS findings indicated that the seventy principals,…