The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a series of career decision-making enhancement workshops (CDEW) on subsequent career decision-making attitudes and behaviors of high school students (Juniors) in a mid-size high school in Joplin, Missouri. / Seven research questions structured the investigation and were subsequently reformulated in terms of seven hypotheses. The hypotheses were developed based on factors delineated by the Career Decision Scale (Osipow et al., 1976). Six factors (scales) were used to dependent variables: (1) Lack of Structure, (2) Perceived External Barriers, (3) Approach-Approach Conflict, (4) Personal Conflict, (5) Firmness of Career Choice, and (6) A Composite Index (Total Indecision Score). / The seventh hypothesis was tested by the administration of a follow-up questionnaire six months after the workshops. The questionnaire assessed researcher selected career exploratory behaviors that were initiated through workshop participation. / The CDEW workshops proved to have a significant effect (P < .05) on the following Osipow (1980) factors: Personal Conflict, and Firmness of Career Choice. Also, CDEW proved to have a significant effect (P < .05) on four of six career exploratory behaviors (Reading, Visiting, Talking, and Observing). / Post hoc analysis of data was used to determine whether initial levels of career decisiveness had any effect on the six Osipow (1980) factors. The experimental and control groups were divided, using a median split procedure, into high and low decisiveness groups. Overall, students who displayed low levels of career decisiveness were those most enhanced by participation in CDEW. In summation, CDEW had varied results on immediate posttest attitude change surrounding career decisiveness as measured by the Osipow Career Decision Scale. Although follow-up data clearly supported a learning phenomenon that engendered action oriented career exploratory behaviors, this learning phenomenon appeared to result from an "incubation" or mastery of content over time. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-01, Section: A, page: 0085. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75725 |
| Contributors | HUDDLESTON, MICHAEL RAY., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 227 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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