Impact of Parent’s Involvement in the Career Choice of Senior High School Science,

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Students

Kristhel Ann A. Bernaje

Mrs. Cecilia D. Singayan

Sagay National High School

Career choice and selection is one of many important choices students will make in determining

their future plans and this decision will impact them throughout their lives (Borchert, 2002).

There are many examples of public figures in Philippines whose children have taken up careers

of their parents. Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Accountants and Engineers, are some of the

occupations which may run down in families as children take up careers of their parents. As

the child grows up, the immediate environment comprises of the nuclear family and the extended

family comprising of uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. Accordingly, these people will be

expected to have a significant effect on the student’s choice of career.

The family and parents shape the future personality of the student as he grows up. Parents have a

crucial task of preparing the child for education. Students’ from rich backgrounds are more likely

to gain a better education than those from poor backgrounds. In their task of socializing the

child, the parents have a great influence on the child’s development and future life choices and

thus shaping their personality. Parents shape the personality of their children by influencing the

level of education or training that their children achieve; the knowledge they have about work

and different occupations; the beliefs and attitudes they have to working; and the motivation they

have to succeed. Most of this is learned unconsciously as children and teenagers absorb their

parents’ attitudes and expectations of them as they grow up. According to the key parental

influencers to a student’s career choice include; the attitudes and behaviour the parents reward or

punish, approve or disapprove of, the expectations parents have for their children's education and

career, the examples they set for their children, the values they show to their family, friends and

to society, the opportunities they offer their children to learn and develop

themselves, and the kind of parent-child relationship they develop ( Keller, 2004).
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Choosing a career is often considered a major turning point in a young adult's life. This decision

has the potential to open the door for success or close the door of opportunity(Jungen, 2008).

While often perceived to be an individual choice, research suggests that a variety of influences

are likely to manipulate one's ultimate career decision. Among these factors, students report that

parents have the greatest influence on which career they choose (Kniveton, 2004). It is therefore

important to explore the issues regarding adolescent career choice and the role that parents play

in this decision. This is an important topic because parents may not realize the major impact their

norms, values and gender roles have on career choice, and yet parental influence on students’

career selection may present opportunities or obstacles for students during the career exploration

process. It’s upon this basis that this research study aims to explore the extent to which parental

factors influence the career choice of Senior High School Students of Sagay National High

School.
 HYPOTHESES

This study seeks to identify how family influences the career decision making processes of

emerging adults and to educate professionals about how to incorporate the family as a way to

avoid delays in emerging adults identifying desired career paths.

The following two research questions and four hypotheses will be examined to address the

studies focus:

Research Question 1: What relationship exists among parental and other caregiver involvement

in career decisions and career decidedness?

Null Hypothesis 1: There is no significant difference exists among caregivers’ (mothers, fathers,

and other caregivers) involvement in career decisions.

Null Hypothesis 2: No relationship exists among caregivers’ (mothers, fathers, and other

caregivers) involvement in career decisions and level of career development as measured by the

Career Development Inventory.

Research Question 2: What relationship exists among influences in the process of constructing

career decisions?

Null Hypothesis 3: There is no significant differences exist among the three areas of influence on

career decisions (future income, status, and making a difference) reported on the Career

Involvement and Influence Questionnaire

Null Hypothesis 4: No relationship exists among influences in career decisions (income, status,

and making a difference) and level of career development as measured by the Career

Development Inventory.
 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

Research Questionnaire will be administered to the participants of this study, the Career

Involvement and Influence Questionnaire (CIIQ). They will be used to identify familial

involvement and influence, career decidedness, and thoughts of undergraduate emerging

students.

This study is based on a Career Construction theoretical approach to career development and

career services, and a narrative therapy theoretical approach to mental health and mental health

services. This inventory can be quickly administered, promptly scored, easily interpreted, and

integrated into counseling homework. The CDI has five-point Likert-type scale, from 1 (not

much) to 5 (a great deal). The CDI is a 120-item inventory that measures how well a person is

engaging in the process of constructing his or her career. It shows whether or not one is

considering making choices by the influence of his/her parent wisely in the process of career

building.
 RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

Impact of Parent’s Involvement in the Career Choice of Senior High School Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Students

The Career Involvement and Influence Questionnaire (CIIQ)

Name:_____________________________________________________________

Grade and Section:___________________________________________________

Directions: The following statements below are the situation that wherein parents are involved in
influencing the career choice of their children. Rate the following statements according to the
extent of their influence. Put a check mark on the box that corresponds to your answer. Refer
your answers on the scale below.

1-Strongly agree
2- Agree
3- Neutral
4- Disagree
5- Strongly disagree

1 2 3 4 5
1. I am capable of making my own career choice
2. I seek my parent’s advice for career choice
3. I base my career decision on the basis of my skills
and abilities

4. I make the decision on the basis of family

5. I make the decision on the basis of my

6. I make my parents a role model in choosing my career

9. My parents support me in whatever career I am going to take