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A multivariate discriminant analysis of university students’ career decisions based on career adaptability, social support, academic major relevance, and university life satisfaction

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Abstract

Career adaptability and its four sub-factors (concern, control, curiosity, and confidence) are helpful in understanding students’ career choices and decisions. A sample of 1,297 university students in Seoul, South Korea, participated in this study. Among them, 728 students (56.13%) had already made their career decision, while 569 (43.87%) had not. A multivariate discriminant analysis was carried out to identify its significance in discriminating students’ career decisions after the execution of two factor analyses to verify construct validity. We concluded that the multivariate function was appropriate for discriminating students’ career decision status, and its predictive accuracy was relatively high based on canonical correlation (.37) and Wilks’ lambda (.87). Career concern was identified as the most discriminate variable.

Resumé

Une analyse discriminante multivariée des décisions de carrière des étudiants universitaires basée sur l'adaptabilité de la carrière, le soutien social, la pertinence de la majeure académique et la satisfaction de la vie universitaire

L'évaluation de l'adaptabilité de carrière et de ses quatre sous-facteurs (préoccupation, contrôle, curiosité et confiance) peut aider les étudiants dans leurs choix et décisions de carrière. Des étudiants universitaires sud-coréens (N = 1 297) ont rempli l'échelle d'Adapt-Abilités de carrière et ont fait part de leurs décisions de carrière. Plus de la moitié d'entre eux avaient déjà pris leur décision. Après avoir vérifié sa validité conceptuelle à l'aide d'analyses factorielles, une analyse discriminante multivariée a été utilisée pour tester la capacité de discrimination de l'échelle Career Adapt-Abilities Scale pour les décisions professionnelles des étudiants. Le modèle à sous-facteurs s'est avéré approprié et la précision prédictive était relativement élevée. La préoccupation professionnelle a été identifiée comme la variable la plus discriminante, suivie par le contrôle de la carrière.

Zusammenfassung

Eine multivariate Diskriminanzanalyse der Laufbahnentscheidungen von Universitätsstudierenden unter Einbezug der Laufbahn-Adaptabilität, der sozialen Unterstützung, der Relevanz des Studienfachs sowie der Zufriedenheit mit dem Universitätsleben

Die Beurteilung der Laufbahn-Adaptabilität und ihrer vier Subfaktoren (Interesse, Kontrolle, Neugier und Zuversicht) kann Studierende bei ihrer Berufswahl und -entscheidung helfen. Südkoreanische Universitätsstudierende (N = 1.297) füllten den Fragebogen zur Laufbahn-Adaptabilität aus und berichteten über ihr Laufbahnentscheidungen. Mehr als die Hälfte hatte ihre Entscheidung bereits getroffen. Nach der Überprüfung der Konstruktvalidität mittels Faktorenanalysen wurde eine multivariate Diskriminanzanalyse durchgeführt, um die diskriminante Aussagekraft der Skalen der Laufbahn-Adaptabilität bezüglich der Laufbahnentscheidung der Studierenden zu testen. Das Modell mit den Sub-Faktoren erwies sich als angemessen und die prädiktive Validität war relativ hoch. Interesse wurden als die am stärksten diskriminierende Variable identifiziert, gefolgt von Kontrolle.

Resumen

IUn Análisis Discriminante de las decisiones de carrera de estudiantes universitarios basadas en la adaptabilidad de la carrera, el apoyo social, la relevancia de la especialidad académica y la satisfacción con la vida universitaria

La evaluación de la adaptabilidad de la carrera y sus cuatro subfactores (implicación, control, curiosidad y confianza) puede ayudar a los estudiantes en la elección y toma de decisiones sobre su carrera. Estudiantes universitarios de Corea del Sur (N = 1,297) completaron la Escala de Adapt-abilidad de la Carrera e informaron sus decisiones de carrera. Más de la mitad ya había tomado su decision. Tras la verificación de la validez de constructo a través de análisis factoriales, se utilizó un análisis multivariante para comprobar la capacidad discriminante de la Escala de Adapt-abilidad de la carrera en relación con las decisiones profesioales de los estudiantes. El modelo de sub-factores result adecuado y su precisión predictiva fue relativamente alta. La implicación en la carrera fue identificada como la variable más discriminante, seguida por el control.

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Acknowledgements

This paper resulted from the Konkuk University research support program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Technology, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea

    Sung Youl Park & Min-Ho Joo

  2. Department of Early Childhood Education, Hoseo University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea

    Seung-Bong Cha

  3. Institute for UOS Innovation, University of Seoul, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Hyunmi Na

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  1. Sung Youl Park
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  2. Seung-Bong Cha
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Correspondence to Min-Ho Joo.

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Park, S.Y., Cha, SB., Joo, MH. et al. A multivariate discriminant analysis of university students’ career decisions based on career adaptability, social support, academic major relevance, and university life satisfaction. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 22, 191–206 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-021-09480-5

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