FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CAREER PLANNING OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between option-openness or willingness to consider career-related options dominated by the opposite gender and influences from the past and present. Male-dominance of academic major and of occupational aspiration were dependent variables. Occupational aspiration was coded on a seven-point continuum to represent the relative percent of males in each occupation according to the 1970 Census Data. Academic major choice was coded on a five-point continuum to represent the relative percent of males receiving degrees in each field.; An extensive review of the literature highlighted the parallel between career development and human development--physical, cognitive, emotional, and moral. The social construction of the mature consciousness which permits critical perception, reflection, and self-awareness provided the rationale for the value of studying career-planning among college-age students.; Two data sets stored at the Henry A. Murray Research Center at Radcliffe College were examined for correlates of option-openness among a large sample of college students of the mid-1970's. Questionnaires from 819 men and women attending six diverse coeducational schools in Massachusetts were examined by multiple regression analyses. An additional set of 241 questionnaires from the applicants for a program sponsoring internships in fields non-traditional for women were examined for relationships with the same dependent variables.; Factors examined included those from four types of influences including: (1) the Family Background, (2) the Schooling, (3) the Self, and (4) Other Experiences. The influence of each factor as well as the relative influence of each group of influences were examined and compared.; Contrasts between the student groups at each of the six schools were examined relative to the gender-dominance of career-related choices and relative to the independent variables. Patterns were noted and analyzed.; Women in the Intern Study attended the same six schools at the same time, and had demonstrated a willingness to consider a male-dominated career field by their application. The relative degree of option-openness among these women was compared to that among women in the Campus Study and to the women who chose to attend a technologically-oriented university.; Finally, plans relative to marriage and to graduate study among respondents in the Campus Study and the Intern Study were compared.; The findings indicated that factors from each of the types of influences in sequence were not significantly different. No significant differences were found between the sexes or between the college cohorts.; Predictors of male-dominated options were found to include sex as male, an encouraging school environment, job-focus of the school curriculum, strength in math, leadership on campus, and the achievement motive.; Predictors away from male-dominated options were found to include sex as female, a Protestant or a Catholic family background, career influence at school, fear of power, the affiliation motive, senior cohort, and career-related work experience.; Significant differences were found between school groups and between female groups. Internship applicants were found to have higher plans for graduate study and lower plans for marriage than did the Campus Study group.