Effects of supports and barriers on choice intentions and actions of undergraduate pre -medicine students
Abstract
Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) has been given substantial attention in the vocational research literature since SCCT’s theoretical inception (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994). One hypothesized area that has been relatively underexplored is the relationship of contextual variables to career choice at the time of goal commitment and implementation. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to investigate the nature of social supports and perceived barriers on career choice actions of college students planning to continue their education and pursuit of their chosen career path through entry into medical school. Family, Self-Reliance, and Financial were themes important to the participants’ commitment to medical school. Both SCCT constructs of person variables and supports and barriers were confirmed. However, barriers were not indicated by the majority of participants to affect their pursuit of a medical career. It appeared that barriers have little effect on pre-medicine goal implementation at the college level. However, participants reported to be a highly committed group. Future research directions and practical implications from the results were discussed.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Peterson, Purdue University.
Subject Area
School counseling
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