Research on Occupational Aspirations of Students with Hearing Impairment: A Test of Social Cognitive Career Theory

Yong LEI

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

Teenagers' occupational aspirations are a critical ingredient for achievement in occupational outcomes and play a crucial role in the transition from school to employment. A non-experimental, questionnaire survey was employed to compare the similarities and differences of occupational aspirations of students with hearing impairment from two different social-cultural contexts, Czech and China; and examine the relationships between occupational aspirations and some variables based on the model of Social Cognitive Career Theory. Participants were 107 Chinese hearing impaired students and 67 Czech hearing impaired students from high schools. The data were analyzed using independent sample T-Test, Chi-Square Test, Pearson Correlation, and Multiple Linear Regressions. The results of this study suggest that (1) a considerable proportion of students with hearing impairment was likely to be indecisive about future occupational choice; (2) from the perspective of occupational prestige level, the distribution of occupational aspiration in both Czech and Chinese groups was polarized; and compared with hearing peers, students with hearing impairment were less likely to aspire to high-prestige occupations. Specifically, results indicated that a significant difference of occupational aspirations was found between Czech and Chinese students. According to Holland's RIASEC occupational codes, what occupations of Chinese students most frequently desired were Realistic, Artistic and Enterprising occupations, while Czech counterparts frequently aspired to Investigative, Realistic and Social occupations. In general, boys reported more diverse occupational aspirations than girls. Chinese hearing impaired students reported higher total scores in three scales: Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy, Perception of Barriers, and Perceived Family Support; whereas Czech hearing impaired students had more work experience (six times than Chinese students). The results also indicated that academic achievement, career decision-making self-efficacy, perception of barriers and perceived family support significantly predicted occupational aspiration of students with hearing impairment. Career decision-making self-efficacy positively mediated the relationship between perceived family support and occupational aspiration. Career decision-making self-efficacy also positively mediated the relationship between perception of barriers and occupational aspiration. In addition, limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are outlined; implications for both research and practice are discussed.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 3. 4. 2014

Accessible from:: 3. 4. 2014

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 28. 5. 2014

PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY IN OLOMOUC

Faculty of Education

Doctoral programme / field:
Special Education / Special Education