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Development of occupational aspirations in early Korean adolescents: a multiple-group latent curve model analysis

  • In Heok Lee
  • Jay W. Rojewski
Article
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Abstract

The complex phenomenon of intraindividual and interindividual differences in the development of occupational aspirations and factors influencing this development were examined in a longitudinal sample of 5,727 Korean adolescents over a 4-year period. A downward trajectory of occupational aspirations from junior high school to the first year of high school was found. Rate of change in expressed aspirations was different for men and women. Potentially important initial differences in occupational aspirations development, based on curriculum track, were also detected.

Keywords

Occupational aspirations Career development Vocational/career–technical education 

Résumé

Développement des aspirations professionnelles chez de jeunes adolescents coréen : Une analyse latente à modèle courbe à groupes multiples. Le phénomène complexe des différences intraindividuelles et interindividuelles dans le développement des aspirations professionnelles et des facteurs interindividuels influençant ce développement ont été examiné sur un échantillon longitudinal de 5727 adolescents coréen sur une période de 4 ans. Une trajectoire descendante des aspirations professionnelles de l’école secondaire (junior high school) jusqu’à la première année du collège (High school) a été trouvée. Le taux de changement dans l’expression des aspirations était différente pour les hommes et les femmes. Des différences initiales dans le développement des aspirations professionnelles potentiellement importantes, basées sur le programmes d’études, ont également été détectés.

Zusammenfassung

Entwicklung der beruflichen Aspirationen bei koreanischen Jugendlichen in der frühen Adoleszenz: Eine multiple-group lantent curve Modellanalyse. Das komplexe Phänomen der intra-und interindividuellen Unterschiede in der Entwicklung von beruflichen Aspirationen sowie Einflussfaktoren auf diese Entwicklung wurden in einer Längsschnittstudie mit 5,727 koreanischen Jugendlichen über einen Zeitraum von vier Jahren untersucht. Ein Abwärtstrend der beruflichen Aspirationen von Junior High School bis ins erste Jahr an der High School wurde gefunden. Das Ausmaß der Veränderung war für Männer und Frauen unterschiedlich. Potentiell wichtige anfängliche Unterschiede in der Entwicklung der beruflichen Aspirationen, basierend auf der Ausrichtung des Curriculums, wurden entdeckt.

Resumen

Desarrollo de aspiraciones ocupacionales en jóvenes adolescentes Coreanos: Modelo multi-grupo de análisis de curva latente. El fenómeno complejo de diferencias intraindividuales e interindividuales en el desarrollo de aspiraciones ocupacionales y los factores que influencian este desarrollo fueron examinados en una muestra de 5,727 adolescentes Coreanos durante 4 años. Una trayectoria descendiente de aspiraciones ocupacionales fue encontrada desde la escuela secundaria inferior hasta el primer año de la escuela secundaria. El nivel de cambio en las aspiraciones expresadas fue diferente entre los hombres y las mujeres. Diferencias iniciales potencialmente importantes en el desarrollo de aspiraciones ocupacionales, basadas en el seguimiento por hoja de vida, fueron también identificadas.

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Notes

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Donghyuck Lee and Young Shin Park for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this article. We also wish to acknowledge Editor Jérôme Rossier and anonymous reviewers for their helpful feedback and suggestions on the manuscript.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Program of Workforce EducationUniversity of GeorgiaAthensUSA
  2. 2.Program of Workforce EducationUniversity of GeorgiaAthensUSA

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