In pursuit of happiness : the influence of perspective on high-school students’ career choices, and how these choices affect job satisfaction

Graduation Date

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Other

Program

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Education, 2015

Committee Chair Name

David Ellerd

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Blue-collar, Employment, Job satisfaction, Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Education, White-collar, Vocational programs, Student loan debt, Stigma, Class studies, Trades, Happiness, College, Community college, Work

Abstract

This research examines the societal and parental perceptions of various career paths, and how these perceptions influence the educational decisions high-school students make upon graduating. Furthermore, it seeks to examine the consequences of these decisions by way of job satisfaction and resultant levels of parental satisfaction. Through an anonymous, online survey conducted on a Google Forms platform by way of the social media site Facebook, 50 participants with various backgrounds reported demographic, educational, and employment information. These responses were analyzed using a mixed methods approach that used statistical tests such as T-tests, Pearson Correlations and ANOVAS, as well as a qualitative examination of textual responses to look for patterns within the survey population. Several key findings include a lack of discrepancy in reported levels of job satisfaction between those who attended a four-year university and those who did not, a high level of parental influence over those who decided to attend college, and lower levels of parental satisfaction among those who did not attend a four-year university as compared to those who did attend. The results implicate a need for a more diversified high school curriculum that supports the development of non-college-based careers, as well as a reduction in the societal stigma associated with blue-collar work.

https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/n583xx53h

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