Job search self-efficacy of east Asian international graduate students

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on July 27, 2009)Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2008.This study was the first to examine Bandura's Perceived Self-Efficacy Model (1986) in the domain of job search self-efficacy on East Asian international graduate students. It also investigated the moderating effects of two contextual factors (perceived control over job search outcomes and perceived job discrimination) in the relationship between job search self-efficacy and job search behaviors. The results of this study confirmed the self-efficacy model and partially supported the hypothesized relations of the four source variables to job search self-efficacy. Specifically, job search-related performance accomplishments and verbal encouragement were found to be unique predictors of job search self-efficacy among the target population. Neither of the two contextual variables, perceived control over job search outcomes and perceived job discrimination, moderated the relationship between job search self-efficacy and job search behaviors. However, the results revealed that the subscale of perceived job discrimination, perceived job discrimination based on nationality, moderated the relationship between job search self-efficacy and active job search behaviors (e.g., submit resume, job interviews). Implications and limitations of the study are discussed.Includes bibliographical reference