Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-107). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-167). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin, 1966. / Extension Repository Collection. Typescript (photocopy). Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [135-137]).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1994. / Title from title page screen, viewed April 12, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Paul J. Baker, Barbara S. Heyl (co-chairs), John R. McCarthy, William C. Rau. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-125) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

This study examined how vocational interests, vocational personal styles and work values impact on major satisfaction and specialization choice of 256 students in Master of Social Work programs from several regions of the United States. Participants completed the General Occupational Themes (GOTs) and the Personal Style Scales (PSSs) of the Strong Interest Inventory (SII; Donnay et al., 2005), the Values Scale (VS; Super & Nevill, 1989), and the modified Academic Major Satisfaction Scale (AMSS; Nauta, 2007). A series of logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine factors predicting major satisfaction, and a series of discriminant function analyses were conducted to investigate factors involved in distinguishing the three specialization groups (clinical social work-health/mental health/special population; clinical social work-children/youth/family; and non-profit organization administration/management, policy, community development). The results supported the importance of person-environment fit (P-E fit) in the membership of the MSW programs, the MSW students’ major satisfaction, and their specialization choices. The results also showed the validity and the utility of the GOTs, the PSSs, and the VS. Beyond three-letter Holland codes, further utilization of the GOTs and integration of the PSSs and the VS seem to be essential. Significant roles of work values of the VS were also noted. Implications for future research and career counseling are discussed. Recommendations for administrators of MSW programs are offered to more effectively recruit students, support their process of selecting a specialization, train them during the program, and provide additional training to professional social workers.

The problem with which this study is concerned is that of the gross under representation of females in educational administrative positions. Answers to the following questions were sought. (1) What are the reasons there are not more female administrators in education? (2) What are the reasons that more female educators do not aspire to become administrators? (3) What are effective means by which capable female educators can be encouraged to qualify themselves for positions in educational administration? Findings showed that the participants perceived that administrators are drawn from a predominantly male candidate pool and that women are not encouraged to compete for administrative jobs by their school district administrators. Most effective means for encouraging women to become administrators were encouragement by various people who have personal contact with the teacher, provision of role models, awareness of opportunities through on-the-job work, appointment of women to legitimate rather than token administrative positions, provision of financial encouragement, and administrative internship programs. Conclusions included (1) Women teachers do not perceive that women have chosen administration as a career field to the extent that men have. (2) Women teachers do not perceive women as lacking in ability to become administrators. (3) People who have personal contact with a woman teacher can greatly influence her. (4) Most of the reasons given why women are not and do not aspire to be administrators were not determined to be of great impact when considered individually in this study.

M.A. / In the face of economic hardship, social, political and cultural change, matriculants in South Africa are confronted with increased pressure when exploring and deciding on their career paths. This task in itself is complex and is expected to culminate in a career decision upon leaving school, even when subject to these and other extrinsic limitations over which the individual has no control. For example, the serious lack of career guidance programs in the large majority of our schools (Mathabe & Temane, 1993). Regardless, school pupils in South Africa are expected to make their preliminary choice in Standard 7 when they choose their matric subjects. Three years later they are expected to leave school with a career decision. These same individuals are also struggling to meet the challenges of adolescence and are searching for an identity they can call their own. It is surmised that those pupils who have not yet made a career decision are more likely to experience feelings of depression than those with definite career plans. This study regarding the relationship between depressive symptomatology and career choice, had the following objectives: A comprehensive literature review focusing on depression, depressive symptomatology, the aetiology of depression, theory and research with reference to the adolescent in particular. A further literature review focusing on various theories of career choice and research with particular reference to career indecision. A quantitative and qualitative investigation of career choice and depressive symptomatology in matriculants in South Africa. The initial part of the study focuses on the theoretical review of depressive symptomatology and career choice, to firstly define the concepts as operationalised in this study and secondly to explore the theory and research to date with reference to the factors contributing to and maintaining feelings of depression and career indecision in adolescents. The researcher reviews and discusses phenominological differences and similarities between the adult and adolescent experience of depression, with particular reference to depressive symptomatology, the approach used in this research. Career choice is also defined and discussed with reference to the developmental stage of adolescence. Various theoretical approaches with regard to depression and career choice are reviewed and discussed. Identity development, and the related concepts of self esteem and self efficacy are discussed, as well as the role of cultural factors, with reference to both depressive symptomatology and career indecision Matriculants from four different regions in Gauteng took part in the study. The sample comprised pupils from both genders and various population groups. Each pupil filled in a questionnaire developed by the researcher, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Career Decision Scale (CDS). The data collected from the self developed questionnaire provided insight into various factors of career choice such as realistic goals and dream goals, perceived restrictions and elements of self esteem. This data was described and interpreted in a qualitative analysis and from such the researcher inferred predominant themes and concepts with suggested avenues for further research. The quantitative data collected from the results of the BDI and CDS were statistically described and analyzed. From this data the statistically significant findings were presented and discussed with reference to theory and research. The researcher found that depressive symptomatology and career indecision are significantly related with the incidence of feelings of depression being related to career indecision and career indecision possibly giving rise to symptoms of depression. The study can be criticized for not including a measure of self esteem, a factor closely related to depressive symptomatology and career choice. A further criticism is that the most highly represented cultural groups were the English and Zulu speaking pupils, future studies should include pupils from all cultural groups. The qualitative analysis is subject to an interpretative bias, which may be subjective and influenced by the researcher's own views. The recommendations that were made as a result of this study are as follows: More research is needed into career choice and the incidence of depressive symptomatology with coenizance of levels of self esteem, a more representative sample and perceptions as regards career choice and limitations to certain vocations. The implied direction of the relation between career indecision and depressive symptomatology requires in depth research to further investigate the findings of this research. If career indecision does indeed give rise to feelings of depression, then programs that are being developed and those that are already in place should take cognizance of these results and include preventative measures in any future programs. The implied higher incidence of depressive symptomatology and career indecision in the black population requires further investigation and if the findings in this study are further supported, preventative action is desperately needed. Fifty percent of the pupils show signs of moderate to severe depression. Further research is needed to reaffirm these results and, if substantiated, urgent preventative measures should be taken.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract