Vocational education graduates: a mixed methods analysis on beliefs and influences of career choice and persistence

2013-10-11The aim and scope of this study can be stated in the form of a question as to whether students are influenced and motivated by vocational education programs? This study examines how vocational education may affect students’ motivation over time. There is a need for research to answer the question: what is the influence of vocational programs on participant’s career choice and persistence? Does belief about the program’s influence predict job persistence after controlling for demographic data? How do past students feel the program influenced their professional goals? Participants of this study are graduates of various vocational education programs. This study used a mixed methods approach. Quantitative and qualitative methodology was employed. To acquire data that helps answer the research questions, some demographic information was collected by means of the survey along with both quantitative and qualitative questions. This study found that persistence was not related to any of the four motivational constructs of self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, expectancy value or interest. As this researcher would have liked our connections and influence for success to have come from the vocational education program, it is more likely that their success comes from a strong sense of self and the skills acquired that helped over their life experiences that drive these graduates. The study cannot say for certain that these motivations and persistence resulted from vocational education