Sex differences in the career development of adolescents and the impact of a computerized career guidance program
Creators: name: Crozier, Sharon Diane, 1954-
Publisher: name: University of Calgary
Year: 1983
Subjects: subject: LC 1043 C74 1986
subject: Vocational education - Computer-assisted instruction
subject: Sex differences in education

description: Bibliography: p. 188-200.
description: This study included two intergral parts, a Descriptive Component and an Experimental Component. Sex differences in adolescent career development are not a static phenomena. The purpose of the Descriptive Component was to present a current analysis of adolescent sex differences with regards to occupational stereotype, occupational aspiration, career planning, occupational choices, occupational commitment, and occupational knowledge. Computerized career guidance programs are quickly becoming an indispensible tool for the career counsellor. Computer programs, such as CHOICES, have the capacity to operate in an unbiased manner. The aim of the Experimental Component was to measure the impact that CHOICES can have on the career development of adolescents. The sample for the Descriptive Component, consisted of grade ten and grade twelve students (132 males and 115 females) from Devon High School; Devon, Alberta and Archbishop O'Leary High School; Edmonton, Alberta. The sample for the Experimental component, included the students from the Descriptive component and grade ten and twelve students (71 males and 82 females) from w. E. Hay Composite High School; Stettler, Alberta. Instruments used for both components of the study included: the Occupational Preference Inventory, Crites' Career Maturity Inventory -­Attitude Scale, Assessment of Career Development Job Knowledge Scale, and Steps Taken in Occupational Planning. A pretest- posttest research design was used for the Experimental component, with exposure to CHOICES as the treatment for the experimental group. The pretest data collected was analyzed for the Descriptive component of the study. Statistical procedures included one-tailed t-tests for the Descriptive hypotheses and one-way analysis of variance for the Experimental hypotheses. Seven Descriptive hypotheses, based on the traditional models of adolescent career development, compared adoles­cent males and females on the six career variables. The only major sex difference discovered was that adolescent males are significantly more stereotyped than adolescent females in their occupational choices (p &lt;.001). Some evi-dence indicated that grade ten males may be more establish­ed in career choices than grade ten females. Generally, though, the findings of this study suggest that adolescent males and females display corresponding attitudes and predispositions in the career development process. Thirteen Experimental hypotheses were formulated in terms of six career variables. Few significant differences were found, however, students' perceptions of CHOICES were generally positive. The conclusion of this study was that a one-time brief exposure to CHOICES has a minimal impact on adolescent career development but CHOICES 1.s perceived as an effective tool in facilitating the career process.