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Factors and influences on urban adolescents career choices: a qualitative study

Author Affiliations

  • 1Dept. of HDFS, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
  • 2Dept. of HDFS, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 6, Issue (6), Pages 10-14, June,14 (2017)

Abstract

Career choice today has become a complex science with the advent of information technology, the emergence of post industrial revolution and job competition. There are wide array of occupational choices available for adolescents to choose from. The career choice that adolescents make is a decision that is influenced not only by their development but also by the context in which they live (Chen, 1997). The present study was intended to investigate career choices of urban adolescents. The sample comprised of 180 adolescents (90 boys and 90 girls) between the age range of 15-18 years selected from various government and private co-ed schools of Udaipur city. Comprehensive Interest Schedule developed by Vohra (1992) was used which assesses the vocational or career interests of adolescents in eight broad career areas viz. influential, venturous, artistic, scientific, analytical, social, nature, clerical. The results of the study revealed that most of the adolescents exhibited low and average level of interest for different vocational fields. Significant differences were found between vocational interests of boys and girls. Adolescent girls were seen to have higher inclination towards artistic, performing, expressive, medical, humanitarian and educational fields whereas boys were found to have greater interests towards defence, sports, technical and computational fields. Parental socioeconomic status had strong influence on adolescent’s vocational interests. Job satisfaction and wages were rated as most important internal and external motivational factor for career choices by both boys and girls. Both boys and girls regarded parents as the most influential figure in career choices.

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