Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

A study of the factors that influence disadvantaged female community college students' career choices

Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/6w924g06f

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • Although the career choice decision for women is recognized as a complex process, there is little understanding about how the influencing factors affect the choices of disadvantaged women returning to community colleges. This study was concerned with understanding how certain factors influenced the career choices of this population. A random sample of 15 subjects was identified for this study from a population of 53 female students attending Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. The data were gathered through examining the subjects' college student records, interviews and survey questionnaires. The literature suggested that six major factors may influence career choices of women. These are: the environment, the family, individual abilities, self-concept variables, vocational interests and values, and the influence of education. Factors identified in this study which may influence the career choices of disadvantaged women returning to community colleges and provided support for the literature included: high academic ability, a more tolerant and feminist attitude, a sense of independence, interest in planning for a career, and a supportive faculty. In addition, economic security was the most often discussed motivating factor; it had not been previously identified as an influencing factor. Contrary to the literature, the following factors had minor influence on career choices: success in mathematics courses, supportive parents and family, and educational role models. In addition, the absence of a familial value for education was identified. Although it did not appear to impact the subjects' career choices, it appeared to have previously created a barrier to education.
Resource Type
Date Available
Date Issued
Degree Level
Degree Name
Degree Field
Degree Grantor
Commencement Year
Advisor
Committee Member
Academic Affiliation
Non-Academic Affiliation
Subject
Rights Statement
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language
Digitization Specifications
  • File scanned at 300 ppi (Monochrome) using ScandAll PRO 1.8.1 on a Fi-6770A in PDF format. CVista PdfCompressor 4.0 was used for pdf compression and textual OCR.
Replaces

Relationships

Parents:

This work has no parents.

In Collection:

Items