Abstract

An experimental design was used to test the hypothesis that vocational interests can be a precursor to the development of self-efficacy. Participants (n = 180) rated job descriptions for careers in the domains of information technology, sales, and teaching that contained information on activities and work values. Participants rated those job descriptions in terms of their interest, confidence, and choice intentions. An experimental manipulation of information on work values for each of the three work domains was used to create two levels of interests in each area. Participants expressed significantly more interest in job descriptions that contained desirable work value information in each of the three occupational domains relative to the corresponding descriptions that contained information on less desirable values. Obtained results suggest that this manipulation of level of expressed interests in each occupational domain had both a direct effect on self-efficacy ratings and also an indirect effect on self-efficacy through choice goals. These findings have theoretical implications concerning the relation between interests and self-efficacy specified by social cognitive career theory (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994). (Contains 3 tables.)

Citation

Bonitz, V.S., Larson, L.M. & Armstrong, P.I. (2010). Interests, Self-Efficacy, and Choice Goals: An Experimental Manipulation. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 76(2), 223-233. Retrieved August 13, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/65874/.

This record was imported from ERIC on April 19, 2013. [Original Record]

ERIC is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education.

Copyright for this record is held by the content creator. For more details see ERIC's copyright policy.

Keywords

• Career Choice
• information technology
• Intention
• Occupational Information
• Professional Occupations
• Sales Occupations
• Self Efficacy
• Social Theories
• Teaching (Occupation)
• Values
• Vocational Interests