Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Career decision-making is a critical process that many college students face as they navigate their academic and professional journeys. Choosing a career path that aligns with one's interests, values, and abilities can have significant implications for future job satisfaction, well-being, and overall life fulfillment. However, many students struggle with career indecision, often resulting in delayed graduation, increased anxiety, and suboptimal career choices. Career counseling interventions have been widely implemented in higher education settings to assist students in exploring career options, identifying their strengths and preferences, and developing effective decision-making strategies. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of career counseling interventions in facilitating career decision-making among college students. A mixed-methods approach will be employed, combining quantitative measures of career decision-making self-efficacy with qualitative interviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of students' experiences and perspectives. The study will explore various career counseling modalities, including individual counseling, group workshops, and online interventions, to identify the most effective strategies for supporting students' career development needs. The findings will contribute to the existing literature on career counseling practices and inform the development and implementation of evidence-based interventions tailored to the unique needs of college student populations.

Thesis Overview

Chapter 1: Introduction 

The transition from college to the workforce represents a significant milestone for many young adults, often accompanied by the challenging task of choosing a career path. Career decision-making is a complex process that involves self-exploration, gathering information about various occupations, and evaluating potential options based on personal interests, values, abilities, and life goals.^1^ Effective career decision-making is crucial for ensuring job satisfaction, career success, and overall well-being.^2^

However, many college students experience career indecision, which can lead to delays in graduation, increased anxiety and stress, and suboptimal career choices that may result in dissatisfaction and poor job performance.^3^ Factors contributing to career indecision among college students include lack of self-knowledge, limited exposure to career information, and difficulties in integrating personal preferences with occupational realities.^4^

Career counseling interventions have been widely implemented in higher education settings to address these challenges and support students in their career development. These interventions typically involve individual counseling sessions, group workshops, assessments, and access to career resources and information.^5^ The primary goals of career counseling include enhancing self-awareness, exploring career options, developing decision-making skills, and formulating realistic career plans.^6^

While numerous studies have investigated the effectiveness of career counseling interventions, the findings have been mixed, with some studies suggesting positive outcomes in facilitating career decision-making,^7^ while others report limited or inconsistent effects.^8^ Additionally, much of the existing research has focused on traditional face-to-face interventions, overlooking the potential benefits of emerging modalities such as online career counseling or hybrid approaches that combine in-person and digital components.

This study aims to contribute to the existing literature by examining the effectiveness of career counseling interventions in facilitating career decision-making among college students. Specifically, the research objectives are:

1. To assess the impact of various career counseling modalities (e.g., individual counseling, group workshops, online interventions) on students' career decision-making self-efficacy, a crucial determinant of effective career decision-making.
2. To explore the subjective experiences and perspectives of college students who have participated in career counseling interventions, gaining insights into the strengths, weaknesses, and potential areas for improvement.
3. To identify key factors that contribute to the success or failure of career counseling interventions in facilitating career decision-making among college students, including considerations related to intervention format, content, and delivery methods.

By addressing these objectives, the study will provide valuable insights for higher education institutions, career counselors, and policymakers, enabling them to develop and implement effective career counseling interventions tailored to the specific needs of college student populations.

In the subsequent chapters, a comprehensive review of the relevant literature will be presented, followed by a detailed description of the research methodology, data analysis, and the presentation of findings. The study's implications for career counseling practices in higher education, as well as recommendations for future research, will be discussed in the concluding chapter.

Footnotes:

1. Gati, I., & Levin, N. (2014). Counseling for career decision-making difficulties: Measures and methods. The Career Development Quarterly, 62(2), 98-113.
2. Hirschi, A. (2012). The career resources model: An integrative framework for career counsellors. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 40(4), 369-383.
3. Saka, N., Gati, I., & Kelly, K. R. (2008). Emotional and personality-related aspects of career-decision-making difficulties. Journal of Career Assessment, 16(4), 403-424.
4. Gati, I., Krausz, M., & Osipow, S. H. (1996). A taxonomy of difficulties in career decision making. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43(4), 510-526.
5. Whiston, S. C., & Rahardja, D. (2008). Vocational counseling process and outcome. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Handbook of counseling psychology (pp. 444-461). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
6. Niles, S. G., & Harris-Bowlsbey, J. (2017). Career development interventions in the 21st century (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
7. Whiston, S. C., Li, Y., Mitts, N. G., & Wright, L. (2017). Effectiveness of career choice interventions: A meta-analytic replication and extension. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 100, 175-184.
8. Masdonati, J., Massoudi, K., & Rossier, J. (2009). Effectiveness of career counseling and the impact of the working alliance. Journal of Career Development, 36(2), 183-203.