Skip to main content
Log in

Career decision-making difficulties of Turkish adolescents

  • Published:
International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purposes of this study are (1) to adapt the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ) to Turkish high school students and (2) to examine gender differences, grade differences, and differences between “decided” and “undecided” students. The sample consisted of 2509 adolescent students. The results showed that the structure of the Turkish version of the CDDQ was similar to the structure of the original CDDQ. The adolescent girls reported greater difficulties general indecisiveness, and dysfunctional belief difficulties than adolescent boys. Adolescent boys reported greater motivation difficulties than adolescent girls. Undecided students reported having more difficulties than decided students.

Résumé

Difficultés de prise de décision de carrière des adolescents turcs. Les objectifs de cette étude sont les suivants: (1) adapter le Questionnaire concernant les difficultés pour prendre des décisions liées à la carrière fourni aux étudiants Turques de niveau secondaire et (2) examiner les différences entre les sexes, les classes et les étudiants « décidés » et « indécis ». Le questionnaire est constitué de 2’509 étudiants adolescents. Les résultats ont montré que la structure du CDDQ en version Turque était similaire à la structure de la version originale. Les filles présentèrent des difficultés générales portant sur le niveau d’indécision et sur les croyances dysfonctionnelles que les garçons. Les garçons présentèrent moins de difficultés de motivation que les filles. Les étudiants indécis présentèrent plus de difficultés que les étudiants décidés.

Zusammenfassung

Schwierigkeiten von karrierentscheidung der turkische jugendliche. Der Zweck dieser Studie ist (1) die Umfrage bezüglich der Karriereentscheidungsschwierigkeiten (CDDQ) auf Türkische Schüler in der Sekundarstufe anzupassen und (2) die Geschlechtsunterschiede, Klassenunterschiede und die Unterschiede zwischen Schülern, die sich „entschieden haben“und die sich „nicht entschieden haben“ zu untersuchen. Die Basis der Studie wurde von 2509 Jugendlichen gebildet. Die Ergebnisse haben nachgewiesen dass die Struktur der türkischen Version der CDDQ ähnlich mit der Struktur der Original-CDDQ ist. Die Schülerinnen gaben größere Schwierigkeiten im Zusammenhang mit generelle Unentschiedenheit und disfunktionelle Glaubensschwierigkeiten als männliche Schüler an. Die männlichen Schüler gaben größere Motivationsschwierigkeiten als die Schülerinnen an. Unentschieden Schüler gaben an mehr Schwierigkeiten zu haben als Schüler die sich entschieden haben.

Resumen

Dificultades en adolescentes turcos tomando decisiones acerca de sus carreras académicas. Los propósitos del presente estudio son: (1) adaptar el Cuestionario sobre las dificultades en planear la carrera, a los estudiantes Turcos de nivel secundario, (2) estudiar las diferencias de género y clase entre los estudiantes decisivos e indecisos. La CDDQ fue llevada a cabo por 2509 estudiantes adolescentes. Los resultados mostraron que la estructura de la versión turca del CDDQ fue similar a la del CDDQ original. Las mujeres reportaron mayores dificultades indecisión general, y las dificultades de creencias disfuncionales que los varones adolescentes. Los varones presentaron mas dificultades motivacionales que las mujeres. Los estudiantes indecisos padecieron más dificultades que los estudiantes decididos.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akaydin, F. S. (2002). Üniversite öğrencilerinin problem alanları, problemlilik düzeyleri, problem çözme becerileri ve yardım arama davranışları arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi [An examination the relationship between problem fields, levels, problem solving skills and seeking help behaviors of university students] (Unpublished master’s thesis). Trabzon: Karadeniz Technical University.

  • Akkoç, F. (2012a). Lise Öğrencilerinin Mesleki Kararsızlıkları İle Kariyer İnançları Arasındaki İlişki [The relationship between the vocational indecision and career beliefs of high school students]. Buca Education Faculty Journal, 32, 49–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akkoç, F. (2012b). Lise Öğrencilerinin Mesleki Kararsızlıklarının Bazı Sosyo-Demografik Faktörlere Göre İncelenmesi [A study on high school students’ vocational indecision according to demographic factors] Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, 23, 215–233.

  • Albion, M. J., & Fogarty, G. J. (2002). Factors influencing career decision making in adolescents and adults. Journal of Career Assessment 10, 91–126. doi:10.1177/1069072702010001006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amir, T., & Gati, I. (2006). Facets of career decision-making difficulties. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 34, 483–503. doi:10.1080/03069880600942608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aytekin, A. (2005). Meslek seçimini etkileyen sosyo-ekonomik ve kültürel faktörler (Isparta örneği) [Socio-economic and cultural factors that affect career choices: The case study of Isparta]. (Unpublished master’s thesis). Isparta: Süleyman Demirel University.

  • Bacanli, F. (2006). Personality characteristics as predictors of personal indecisiveness. Journal of Career Development, 32, 320–332. doi:10.1177/0894845305282941.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bacanli, F. (2012a). Kariyer karar verme güçlükleri ve meslek seçimine ilişkin akılcı olmayan inançların ilişkisi [Relationship between career decision-making difficulties and irrational belifs about career choice]. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 4(37), 86–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacanli, F. (2012b). An examination of the relationship among decision-making strategies and ego identity statuses. Education and Science, 37(163), 17–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacanli, F., Eşici, H., & Özünlü, B. M. (2013). Kariyer karar verme güçlüklerinin çeşitli değişkenlere göre incelenmesi [An examination of career decision-making difficulties according to several variables]. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 5(40), 198–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. C. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88(3), 588–606. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.88.3.588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berríos-Allison, A. C. (2005). Family influences on college students’ occupational identity. Journal of Career Assessment, 13, 233–247. doi:10.1177/1069072704270320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, B. M. (1994). Structural equation modeling with EQS and EQS/Windows. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Çakır, M. A. (2004). Mesleki karar envanterinin geliştirilmesi [The development of the Career Decision Inventory]. Ankara University Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences, 37(2), 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creed, P. A., & Yin, W. O. (2006). Reliability and validity of a Chinese version of the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 6, 47–63. doi:10.1007/s10775-006-0003-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Fabio, A., Palazzeschi, L., Levin, N., & Gati, I. (2015). The role of personality in the career decision-making difficulties of Italian young adults. Journal of Career Assessment, 23, 281–293. doi:10.1177/1069072714535031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doğan, H. & Bacanli, F. (2012). The effect of a career decision-making group guidance program on career decision-making difficulties [Special Issue]. Energy Education Science and Technology Part B: Social and Educational Studies, 1, 912–916.

  • Ellis, P. D. (2010). The essential guide to effect sizes: Statistical power, meta-analysis, and the interpretation of research results. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fan, W., Cheung, F. M., Leong, F. T. L., & Cheung, S. F. (2014). Contributions of family factors to career readiness: A cross-culturel comparision. The Career Development Quarterly, 62, 194–209. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2014.00079.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fouad, N., Cotter, E. W., & Kantamneni, N. (2009). The effectiveness of a career decision-making course. Journal of Career Assessment, 17, 338–347. doi:10.1177/1069072708330678.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gati, I., Krausz, M., & Osipow, S. H. (1996). A taxonomy of difficulties in career decision making. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43, 510–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gati, I., Osipow, S. H., Krausz, M., & Saka, N. (2000). Validity of the career decision-making difficulty questionnaire: Counselee versus career counselor perceptions. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 56, 99–113. doi:10.1006/jvbe.1999.1710.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gati, I., & Saka, N. (2001a). High school students’ career related decision-making difficulties. Journal of Counseling and Development, 79, 331–340. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.2001.tb01978.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gati, I., & Saka, N. (2001b). Internet-based versus paper-and-pencil assessment: Measuring career decision-making difficulties. Journal of Career Assessment, 9, 397–416. doi:10.1177/106907270100900406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ginevra, M. C., Nota, L., Soresi, S., & Gati, I. (2012). Career decision-making profiles of Italian adolescents. Journal of Career Assessment, 20, 375–389. doi:10.1177/1069072712448739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Göregenli, M. (1995). Kültürümüz açısından bireycilik-toplulukçuluk eğilimleri: Bir başlangıç çalışması [Individualism-collectivism trends in terms of our culture: An initial study]. Turkish Journal of Psychology, 10(35), 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Göregenli, M. (1997). Individualist-collectivist tendencies in a Turkish sample. Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology, 28, 787–794. doi:10.1177/0022022197286009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamamci, Z., Bacanli, F., & Doğan, H. (2013). İlköğretim ortaöğretim ve üniversite öğrencilerinin mesleki ve eğitsel kararlarını etkileyen faktörlerin incelenmesi [The investigation of factors influencing on students’ career and educational decisions]. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 12(44), 284–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamamci, Z., & Hamurlu, K. M. (2005). Anne babaların meslek gelişimine yardımcı olmaya yönelik tutumları ve bilgi düzeylerinin çocuklarının mesleki kararsızlıkları ile ilişkisi [Relationship between level of knowledge and attitudes of parents about helping their children for career development and career indecision of their children]. İnönü University Journal of Educational Faculty, 6, 55–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hijazi, Y., Tatar, M., & Gati, I. (2004). Career decision-making difficulties among Israeli and Palestinian Arab high-school seniors. Professional School Counseling, 8(1), 64–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55. doi:10.1080/10705519909540118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog, K., & Sörbom, D. (1993). LISREL 8: Structural equation modeling with the SIMPLIS command language. Lincolnwood, IL: Scientific Software International.

  • Kagitcibasi, C. (1997). Individualism and collectivism. In J. W. Berry, M. H. Segal, & C. Kagitcibasi (Eds.), Handbook of cross-cultural psychology (pp. 1–49). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleiman, T., Gati, I., Peterson, G., Sampson, J., Reardon, R., & Lenz, J. (2004). Dysfunctional thinking and difficulties in career decision making. Journal of Career Assessment, 12, 312–331. doi:10.1177/1069072704266673.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kline, R. B. (2011). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (3rd ed.). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, B. P., Rudolph, C. E., Perkins, T. S., & Patten, T. G. (1999). The reliability and validity of the Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire. Journal of Career Assessment, 7, 393–413. doi:10.1177/106907279900700405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martincin, K. M., & Stead, G. B. (2014). Five-factor model and difficulties in career decision making: A meta analysis. Journal of Career Assessment,. doi:10.1177/1069072714523081.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mau, W.-C. (2001). Assessing career decision-making difficulties: A cross-cultural study. Journal of Career Assessment, 9, 353–364. doi:10.1177/106907270100900403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mau, W.-C. J. (2004). Cultural dimensions of career decision-making difficulties. The Career Development Quarterly, 53, 67–78. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2004.tb00656.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, T., & Ness, D. (2003). Career decision making difficulties of first year students. The Canadian Journal of Career Development, 2(1), 33–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nevo, O. (1987). Irrational expectations in career counseling and their confronting arguments. The Career Development Quarterly, 35, 239–250. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.1987.tb00918.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osipow, S. H. (1999). Assessing career indecision. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 55, 147–154. doi:10.1006/jvbe.1999.1704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osipow, S. H., & Gati, I. (1998). Construct and concurrent validity of the career decision-making difficulties questionnaire. Journal of Career Assessment, 6, 347–364. doi:10.1177/106907279800600305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Öztemel, K. (2012). Kariyer kararsızlığı ile mesleki karar verme öz yetkinlik ve kontrol odağı arasındaki ilişkiler [Relationships between career indecision, career decision making self efficacy, and locus of control]. Gazi Üniversitesi Gazi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 32(2), 459–477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Öztemel, K. (2013). Testing the validity of the emotional and personality-related career decision-making difficulties questionnaire in Turkish culture. Journal of Career Development, 40, 390–407. doi:10.1177/0894845312468060.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özyürek, R., & Atıcı, M. K. (2002). Üniversite öğrencilerinin meslek seçimi kararlarında kendilerine yardım eden kaynakların belirlenmesi [Determining sources which are effective in university students’ career decision making]. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 2(17), 33–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rassin, E., & Muris, P. (2005). Indecisiveness and the interpretation of ambiguous situations. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 1285–1291. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.06.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reese, R. J., & Miller, C. D. (2010). Using outcome to improve a career development course: Closing the scientist-practitioner gap. Journal of Career Assessment, 18, 207–219. doi:10.1177/1069072709354309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sari, E. (2007). The effects of impetuous, exploratory, and overall indecisiveness on self-esteem among Turkish university students. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 7(2), 915–926.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarikaya, T., & Khorshid, L. (2009). Üniversite öğrencilerinin meslek seçimini etkileyen etmenlerin incelenmesi: Üniversite öğrencilerinin meslek seçimi [The investigation of factors that affect university students’ profession choice: University students’ profession choice]. Türk Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 7(2), 393–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sattath, S., & Tversky, A. (1977). Additive similarity trees. Psychometrika, 42, 319–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sovet, L., Tak, J., & Sungcheol, J. (2014). Validation of the career decision-making difficulties questionnaire among Korean college students. Journal of Career Assessment. doi:10.1177/1069072714553556.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sürücü, M. (2005). An examination the relationships between career maturity and perceived social support of high school students (Unpublishhed master’s thesis). Ankara: Gazi University.

  • Tien, H.-L. S. (2001). Career decision-making difficulties perceived by college students in Taiwan. Bulletin of Educational Psychology, 33(1), 87–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tien, H.-L. S. (2005). The validation of the career decision-making difficulties scale in a Chinese culture. Journal of Career Assessment, 13, 114–127. doi:10.1177/1069072704270327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Türküm, A. S., Balkaya, A., & Karaca, E. (2005). Akılcı Olmayan İnançlar Ölçeği’nin lise öğrencilerine uyarlanması: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışmaları [The adaptation of the Irrational Beliefs Scale to adolescents: Validity and reliability studies]. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 3(23), 77–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vurucu, F. (2010). Meslek lisesi öğrencilerinin meslek seçimi yeterliliği ve meslek seçimini etkileyen faktörler [Occupational choice capability of students in vocational schools and factors affecting their occupational choice] (Unpublished master’s thesis). Istanbul: Yeditepe University.

  • Yildiz, S. (2001). Kişilik ve meslek seçimi arasındaki ilişki ve bir uygulama [An examination relationships between personality and career choice: An application] (Unpublished master’s thesis). Bursa: Uludağ University.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Feride Bacanli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bacanli, F. Career decision-making difficulties of Turkish adolescents. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 16, 233–250 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-015-9304-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-015-9304-8

Keywords

Navigation