Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T03:21:18.637Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Occupational/Career Amotivation and Indecision for Gifted and Talented Adolescents: A Cognitive Decision-Making Process Perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2017

Jae Yup Jung*
Affiliation:
School of Education, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Jae Yup Jung, School of Education, The University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Two alternative versions of a model of the cognitive decision-making processes of gifted and talented adolescents associated with occupational or career indecision were tested in this study. A psychometrically rigorous survey instrument was used to collect data from 664 adolescents attending three academically selective high schools in Sydney, Australia. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling procedures. The superior model suggested that idiocentric orientations toward the future and social influences from the family are likely to direct gifted and talented adolescents away from a state of occupational amotivation, which is a likely predictor of occupational indecision. The findings may be used to more clearly understand and to better assist gifted and talented adolescents experiencing difficulty with their occupational decisions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Achter, J.A., Lubinski, D., & Benbow, C.P. (1996). Multipotentiality among the intellectually gifted: ‘It was never there and already it's vanishing’. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43, 5676. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.43.1.65Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014, March 20). Schools, Australia, 2013. Canberra, Australia: Author. Retrieved from: http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/BB371F975498C9D7CA257CA00011DB22/$File/att3250h.pdfGoogle Scholar
Baker, S.R. (2003). A prospective longitudinal investigation of social problem-solving appraisals on adjustment to university, stress, health, and academic motivation and performance. Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 569591. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00220-9Google Scholar
Brown, T.A. (2006). Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Burns, R.B. (1990). Introduction to research methods in education. Melbourne, Australia: Longman-Cheshire.Google Scholar
Byrne, B.M. (1998). Structural equation modeling with LISREL, PRELIS, and SIMPLIS: Basic concepts, applications and programming. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Chan, D.W. (2011). Perfectionism among Chinese gifted and nongifted students in Hong Kong: The use of the Revised Almost Perfect Scale. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 34, 6898. doi:10.1177/016235321003400104Google Scholar
Chavez, P.C. (2013). Identity development in college students and the perceived effectiveness of academic program in facilitating growth (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Arizona). Retrieved from: http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/306132Google Scholar
Chen, C.P., & Wong, J. (2013). Career counseling for gifted students. Australian Journal of Career Development, 22, 121129. doi:10.1177/1038416213507909Google Scholar
Cheon, S.H., & Reeve, J. (2015). A classroom-based intervention to help teachers decrease students’ amotivation. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 40, 99111. doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2014.06.004Google Scholar
Cooper, Z., & Fairburn, C.G. (2011). The evolution of ‘enhanced’ cognitive behavior therapy for eating disorders: Learning from treatment nonresponse. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 18, 394402. doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2010.07.007Google Scholar
Cox, B.J., Enns, M.W., & Clara, I.P. (2002). The multidimensional structure of perfectionism in clinically distressed and college student samples. Psychological Assessment, 14, 365373. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.14.3.365Google Scholar
Creed, P.A., Patton, W., & Prideaux, L.A. (2006). Causal relationship between career indecision and career decision-making self-efficacy. Journal of Career Development, 33, 4765. doi:10.1177/0894845306289535Google Scholar
Creswell, J.W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Deci, E.L., & Ryan, M.R. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York, NY: Plenum.Google Scholar
Delisle, J.R. (1984). Gifted children speak out. New York, NY: Walker.Google Scholar
Delisle, J.R., & Squires, S. (1989). Career development for gifted and talented youth: Position statement (of the) Division on Career Development (DCD) and The Association for the Gifted (TAG). Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 13, 97104.Google Scholar
Di Fabio, A., Palazzeschi, L., Asulin-Peretz, L., & Gati, I. (2013). Career indecision versus indecisiveness: Associations with personality traits and emotional intelligence. Journal of Career Assessment, 21, 4256. doi:10.1177/1069072712454698Google Scholar
Diamantopoulos, A., & Siguaw, J.A. (2000). Introducing LISREL. Los Angeles: Sage.Google Scholar
Dietrich, J., & Kracke, B. (2009). Career-specific parental behaviors in adolescents’ development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75, 109119. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.03.005Google Scholar
Emmett, J.D., & Minor, C.W. (1993). Career decision-making factors in gifted young adults. Career Development Quarterly, 41, 350366. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.1993.tb00409.xGoogle Scholar
Fan, Y. (2000). A classification of Chinese culture. Cross Cultural Management, 7, 310. doi:10.1108/13527600010797057Google Scholar
Flett, G.L., & Hewitt, P.L. (2014). A proposed framework for preventing perfectionism and promoting resilience and mental health among vulnerable children and adolescents. Psychology in the Schools, 51, 899912. doi:10.1002/pits.21792Google Scholar
Frost, R.O., Marten, P., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14, 449468. doi:10.1007/BF01172967Google Scholar
Gagné, F. (2004). Transforming gifts into talents: the DMGT as a developmental theory. High Ability Studies, 15, 119147. doi:10.1080/1359813042000314682Google Scholar
Geake, J.G., & Gross, M.U.M. (2008). Teachers’ negative affect toward academically gifted students: An evolutionary psychological study. Gifted Child Quarterly, 52, 217231. doi:10.1177/0016986208319704.Google Scholar
Greene, M.J. (2003). Gifted adrift? Career counseling of the gifted and talented. Roeper Review, 25, 6672. doi:10.1080/02783190309554201Google Scholar
Greene, M.J. (2006). Helping build lives: Career and life development of gifted and talented students. Professional School Counseling, 10, 3442.Google Scholar
Gross, M.U.M. (2006). Exceptionally gifted children: Long-term outcomes of academic acceleration and nonacceleration. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 29, 404429. doi:10.4219/jeg-2006-247Google Scholar
Guay, F., & Vallerand, R.J. (1997). Social context, student's motivation and academic achievement: Toward a process model. Social Psychology of Education, 1, 211233. doi:10.1007/BF02339891Google Scholar
Guay, F., Vallerand, R.J., & Blanchard, C. (2000). On the assessment of situational intrinsic and extrinsic motivation: The Situational Motivational Scale (SIMS). Motivation and Emotion, 24, 175213. doi:10.1023/A:1005614228250Google Scholar
Hair, J.F., Black, W.C., Babin, B.J., & Anderson, R.E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis: A global perspective (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.Google Scholar
Hawkins, C.C., Watt, H.M.G., & Sinclair, K.E. (2006). Psychometric properties of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale with Australian adolescent girls: Clarification of multidimensionality and perfectionist typology. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66, 10011022. doi:10.1177/0013164405285909Google Scholar
Hayamizu, T. (1997). Between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation: Examination of the reasons for academic study based on the theory of internalization. Japanese Psychological Research, 39, 98108. doi: 10.1111/1468-5884.00043Google Scholar
Helsen, M., Vollebergh, W., & Meeus, W. (2000). Social support from parents and friends and emotional problems in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 29, 319335. doi:10.1023/A:1005147708827Google Scholar
Hewitt, P.L., & Flett, G.L. (1991). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 456470. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.60.3.456Google Scholar
Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture's consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Holland, J.L. (1985). Making vocational choices (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Jones, F.L., & McMillan, J. (2001). Scoring occupational categories for social research: A review of current practice, with Australian examples. Work, Employment, and Society, 15, 539563. doi:10.1017/S0950017001000344Google Scholar
Jordaan, Y., Smithard, C., & Burger, E. (2009). Comparing levels of career indecision among selected honours degree students at the University of Pretoria. Meditari Accountancy Research, 17, 85100. doi:10.1108/10222529200900013Google Scholar
Jung, J.Y. (in press). Occupational/career decision-making thought processes of adolescents of high intellectual ability. Journal for the Education of the Gifted.Google Scholar
Jung, J.Y. (2012). Giftedness as a developmental construct that leads to eminence as adults: Ideas and implications from an occupational/career decision-making perspective. Gifted Child Quarterly, 56, 189193. doi:10.1177/0016986212456072Google Scholar
Jung, J.Y. (2013). The cognitive processes associated with occupational/career indecision: A model for gifted adolescents. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 36, 433460. doi:10.1177/0162353213506067Google Scholar
Jung, J.Y., & McCormick, J. (2010). Amotivation and the occupational decision: An investigation of Australian senior high school students. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 38, 441458. doi:10.1080/03069885.2010.503697Google Scholar
Jung, J.Y., & McCormick, J. (2011a). The occupational decision: A cultural and motivational perspective. Journal of Career Assessment, 19, 7591. doi:10.1177/1069072710382616Google Scholar
Jung, J.Y., & McCormick, J. (2011b). Occupational decision-related processes for amotivated adolescents: Confirmation of a model. Journal of Career Development, 38, 275292. doi:10.1177/0894845310367638Google Scholar
Jung, J.Y., McCormick, J., Gregory, G., Barnett, K. (2011). Culture, motivation, and vocational decision-making of Australian senior high school students in private schools. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 21, 85106. doi:10.1375/ajgc.21.1.85Google Scholar
Keller, B.K., & Whiston, S.C. (2008). The role of parental influences on young adolescents’ career development. Journal of Career Assessment, 16, 198217. doi:10.1177/1069072707313206Google Scholar
Klehe, U.C., Zikic, J., van Vianen, A.E., Koen, J., & Buyken, M. (2012). Coping proactively with economic stress: Career adaptability in the face of job insecurity, job loss, unemployment, and underemployment. Research in Occupational Stress and Well-being, 10, 131176.Google Scholar
Kline, R.B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York, NY: Guilford.Google Scholar
Maxwell, M. (2007). Career counseling is personal counseling: A constructivist approach to nurturing the development of gifted female adolescents. The Career Development Quarterly, 55, 206224. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2007.tb00078.xGoogle Scholar
McNeilage, A., & Smith, A. (2014, December 18). HSC 2014: Boys proving they are all-rounders too. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from: http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/hsc-2014-boys-proving-they-are-allrounders-too-20141217-1291eq.htmlGoogle Scholar
Miquelon, P., Vallerand, R.J., Grouzet, F.M., & Cardinal, G. (2005). Perfectionism, academic motivation, and psychological adjustment: An integrative model. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 913924. doi:10.1177/0146167204272298Google Scholar
New South Wales Department of Education. (2016). Selective high schools Year 7 placement test: Test information. Sydney, Australia: Author. Retrieved from: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/learning/k-6assessments/shsplacement/ss_sampletest.phpGoogle Scholar
Popham, W.J. (1988). Educational evaluation (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Reilly, P.A. (2001). Flexibility at work: Balancing the interests of employer and employee. Hampshire, UK: Gower.Google Scholar
Reitzle, M., Körner, A., & Vondracek, F.W. (2009). Psychological and demographic correlates of career patterns. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 74, 308320.Google Scholar
Rothney, J.W.M. (1972). Longitudinal evidence of multipotentiality. In Frederickson, R.H. & Rothney, J.W.M. (Eds.), Recognizing and assisting multipotential youth (pp. 7989). Columbus, OH: Merrill.Google Scholar
Ryan, M.R., & Deci, E.L. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25, 5467. doi:10.1006/ceps.1999.1020Google Scholar
Rysiew, K.J. (1994). Multipotentiality in gifted youth: A nine year follow-up study (Master's thesis, McGill University). Retrieved from http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/-?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=35328&silo_library=GEN01Google Scholar
Rysiew, K.J., Shore, B.M., & Carson, A.D. (1994). Multipotentiality and overchoice syndrome: Clarifying common usage. Gifted and Talented International, 9, 4146.Google Scholar
Rysiew, K.J., Shore, B.M., & Leeb, R.T. (1999). Multipotentiality, giftedness, and career choice: A review. Journal of Counseling and Development, 77, 423430. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1999.tb02469.xGoogle Scholar
Sajjadi, S.H., Rejskind, F.G., & Shore, B.M. (2001). Is multipotentiality a problem or not? A new look at the data. High Ability Studies, 12, 2743. doi:10.1080/13598130124556Google Scholar
Santos, P.J., Ferreira, J.A., & Gonçalves, C.M. (2014). Indecisiveness and career indecision: A test of a theoretical model. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85, 106114. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.05.004Google Scholar
Schröder, E., & Schmitt-Rodermund, E. (2013). Antecedents and consequences of adolescents’ motivations to join the family business. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 83, 476485. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2013.07.006Google Scholar
Sikora, J., & Saha, L. (2011). Lost talent? The occupational ambitions and attainments of young Australians. Retrieved from: http://www.lsay.edu.au/publications/2313.htmlGoogle Scholar
Speirs Neumeister, K.L. (2004). Factors influencing the development of perfectionism in gifted college students. Gifted Child Quarterly, 48, 259274. doi:10.1177/001698620404800402Google Scholar
Speirs Neumeister, K.L., Williams, K.K., & Cross, T.L. (2009). Gifted high school students’ perspectives on the development of perfectionism. Roeper Review, 31, 198206. doi:10.1080/02783190903177564Google Scholar
Start, B. (2002). The measurement of high intellectual abilities: The abnormality of Gauss. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Learning and Educational Development, University of Melbourne.Google Scholar
Steenkamp, J.B.E., & Geyskens, I. (2012). Transaction cost economics and the roles of national culture: A test of hypotheses based on Inglehart and Hofstede. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 40, 252270. doi:10.1007/s11747-011-0266-1Google Scholar
Taras, V., Sarala, R., Muchinsky, P., Kemmelmeier, M., Singelis, T.M., Avsec, A., . . . Sinclair, H.C. (2014). Opposite ends of the same stick? Multi-method test of the dimensionality of individualism and collectivism. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 45, 213245. doi:10.1177/0022022113509132Google Scholar
Tinsley, H.E.A. (1992). Career decision making and career indecision. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 41, 209211. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(92)90022-RGoogle Scholar
Tourangeau, R. (2000). Remembering what happened: Memory errors and survey reports. In Stone, A.A., Bachrach, C.A., Jobe, J.B., Kurtzman, H.S., & Cain, V.S. (Eds.), The science of self-report: Implications for research and practice (pp. 2947). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Triandis, H.C. (1995). Individualism and collectivism. Boulder, CO: Westview.Google Scholar
Van de Mortel, T.F. (2008). Faking it: Social desirability response bias in self-report research. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25, 4048.Google Scholar
van Hoorn, A. (2015). Individualist-collectivist culture and trust radius: A multilevel approach. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 46, 269276. doi:10.1177/0022022114551053Google Scholar
Weston, R., & Gore, P.A. (2006). A brief guide to structural equation modelling. The Counseling Psychologist, 34, 719751. doi:10.1177/0011000006286345Google Scholar