EXPLORING CAREER DECISION MAKING OF GRADE TWELVE STUDENTS IN

LAS NAVAS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Mitch-lyn D. Acuin

Janine J. Adorable

Merry Cris Basarte

Marjorie J. Mercader

2024
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In adolescence, the choice of career in further education is one of the most important

decisions that an adolescent has to make. Career decision-making is related to an individual’s

lifestyle as well as personal and professional satisfaction (Betz & Taylor, 2006; Lounsbury, Tatum,

Chambers, Owens, & Gibson, 1999; Lucas, 1992). Some adolescents are able to make this decision quite

easily and quickly, while others report having many difficulties with it (Rounds & Tinsley, 1984;

Gati, Krausz, & Osipow, 1996).

Gati et al. (1996) emphasize that the career decision-making process has the same

characteristics as any other decision-making process, which means that (I) the process involves an

individual who (II) chooses what he/she feels in the most appropriate from various career

possibilities (III) based on comparison and evaluation of alternatives, mindful of the fact that

these comparison and evaluation process are influenced both by the characteristic of the educational

program/profession and the individual.

Moreover, the career decision-making process has some specific features e.g. an individual

makes a decision from a wide range of career possibilities, for each career alternative a wealth of

information is available and the fact that various aspects of the profession should be taken into

consideration (e.g. duration of the educational process, and etc.) due to the complexity of the

decision-making on further education/study, adolescents have to use various skills in the process of

selection. There are large differences in the decision-making process among adolescents. Some are

able to make decision without difficulty while others cope with various obstacles in their

environment (e.g. limited financial means, accessibility of the university) as well as with internal

difficulties.

Empirical studies of career indecisiveness deal mostly with development of various

instruments for assessment of individual differences. Tinsley (1992) notes that these instruments

are not founded on various theoretical concepts, based on a meta-analytical study Gati, Krausz &

Osipow (1996) emphasized the need for a new frame of reference that would relate theories to

empirical studies.

In conclusion, career decision-making is crucial as they play a significant role in shaping

their future paths. These factors, including personal interest, passion, values, societal influence,

parental guidance, and collectively impact how students perceive various career options and make

informed decisions. Understanding these factors can help educators, counselors, and parents provide

better support to students in navigating their career choices. It’s possible to guide them towards

fulfilling and successful careers that align with their personal aspirations and societal needs.

This study is significant because it helps to understand the factors influencing one of the

most crucial decisions in a young person's life. This research can uncover insights into the role of
parental guidance, peer influence, educational experiences, and personal interests in shaping career

choices. It can also highlight potential gaps in career counseling programs and suggest ways to

better support students in making informed decisions. Such findings can lead to the development of

more effective educational policies and career guidance frameworks, ultimately helping students to

choose paths that align with their strengths and aspirations.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to explore career decision making of grade twelve students in Las Navas

National High School. Specifically, this study will aim to answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the senior high students in terms of:

1.1 Age

1.2 Sex

1.3 Strand

2. What are the factors that affect the career decision making of the grade twelve students in Las

Navas National High School?

3. How do the grade twelve students in Las Navas National High school decides their career based on

the factors?

Objective of the Study

1. To identify the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Age

1.2 Sex

1.3 Strand

2. To determine the factors that may affect the career decision making of the grade twelve students

in Las Navas National High School.

3. To understand on how the grade twelve students in Las Navas National High School decides their

career.

Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial on the following:

Students. This study will make them more informed and confident on their decisions about the

education and career choices. It can provide them with a clear sense of direction and help them

navigate through the numerous options or opportunities available for them.

Teachers. When teachers are aware of the factor that drive their students, they can tailor their

teaching strategies to better engage and motivate them, by incorporating students’ interest, and

passion into their lessons, teachers can create a more stimulating and rewarding learning

environment.
Administrators. It will improve student’s engagement and retention when schools recognize and cater

to student’s factors, they can create a learning environment that posters engagement and enthusiasm.

This can lead to increased student’s retention roles, as motivated to their education.

Parents. Students making informed and thoughtful career decisions can bring numerous benefits to

parents. Firstly, it can alleviate parents' concerns about their children's future stability and

success. When students choose careers that align with their passions and strengths, they are more

likely to excel and find job satisfaction, which can lead to long-term financial independence. This

can reduce the financial burden on parents. Additionally, confident career choices can foster a

sense of pride and fulfillment in parents, knowing their children are pursuing meaningful and

fulfilling paths.

Future researchers. The outcomes of this study can serve as their guide and reference in their

future research about exploring career decision making of grade 12 students.

Scope and Limitation

This study will be conducted in Las Navas National High School, specifically in Senior High

School Department. The respondents of this study will be the grade twelve students. The focus of

this study is to explore the career decision making of grade twelve students in Las Navas National

High School. Quantitative research methods, including survey questionnaire will be employed to

gather and analyze the data. However, this study will only focus on exploring career decision making

of grade 12 students in Las Navas National High School.

Theoretical Framework

Exploring career decision making of grade 12 students involves integrating theories that

explain how and why students make certain career choices. One effective approach is to combine

theories from developmental psychology, sociology, and educational psychology to provide a

comprehensive understanding.

In developmental psychology, Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, particularly the

stage of identify vs. role confusion, are crucial here. This stage highlights the importance of

identity exploration in adolescents, including career identity. (Erikson, E. H. 1950)

Further, social capital theory can be applied to understand how student’s network-family,

friends, and community provide resources and influence career choices. It raises questions about

role of social support and the impact of socioeconomic status on access to career opportunities.

Furthermore, Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, is another key element. This theory explores

how student’s beliefs in their abilities to succeed in specific tasks. (e.g., career-related task)

influence their choices. How do student’s academic achievements and experiences shape their career

self-efficacy. Integrating these theories provides a multifaceted career decision-making among high
school students. It allows for a deeper understanding of the interplay between personal beliefs,

social beliefs, and development stages in shaping career choices.

Conceptual Framework

In This study, titled “Exploring career decision making of grade twelve students in Las

Navas National High School” the framework will be structured by using the Input -Process-Output

(IPO) model to explore career decision making of grade twelve students.

The input of this study consists of the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of

Age, Sex, strand, and the factors that may affect the career decision making of the grade twelve

students in Las Navas National High School, and also the factors on how the grade twelve students in

Las Navas National High School decides their career.

The process indicates the data gathering procedure through survey questionnaire. Afterwards,

the data that has been gathered will be analyzed with the use of statistical tools.

The output of this study encompassed the research findings, recommendations, and

significance or implications of the research. This study will explore the career decision making of

grade twelve students in Las Navas National High School. This concept is illustrated in the

foregoing paradigm to further illustrate the scope and limitations and the conceptual framework of

the study.

Paradigm

Input Process

What is the Output

demographic profile 1. Data
gathering
of the senior high will be
students in terms through
ss
of: the use
of
1.1 Age survey/
questionn
1.2 Sex aire.

2. Interpret
Figure 1.1 This illustration shows the study’s conceptual framework which consists of Input,

Process, and Output.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Career Decision-Making. Conceptually, it refers to the process of making choices

regarding one’s career path. https://www.typeset.io Operationally, it refers to the process by which

students in Las Navas National High School use specific, measurable their personal interest, values,

skills and goals.

Factor. Conceptually, it is a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a

result or outcome. https://languages.oup.com Operationally, it is the factors shaping not only the

direction students in Las Navas National High School choose, but also how they navigate the

challenges and opportunities they encounter along the way.

Student. Conceptually, it is a person who is studying at a school or college.

https://languages.oup.com Operationally, it is a random people who study at Las Navas National High

School.
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

There are opposing views to the factors in senior high school student’s career decision

making. Factors in senior high school student’s career decision making is fascinating because it

delves into the psychology behind our choices and aspirations. Some argue that intrinsic motivation,

internal desires like passion for a subject or the joy of learning is the key driver. On the other

hand, extrinsic motivation which includes external rewards like family’s expectation is a

significant factor for many. (Deci & Ryan 2008).

Foreign Literature

In the literature review of Kulcsar, Dobrean & Gati (2020), entitled “Challenges and

difficulties in career decision making: Their causes, and their effects on the process and the

decision” The goal of the present review is to propose a taxonomy for analyzing, comparing, and

classifying assessments of the career decision-making process in terms of three facets: (i)

Antecedents – assessments of the challenges that may emerge prior to or during this process and

cause difficulties, (ii) Effects of the challenges and difficulties on the process, namely, the

individual's behavioral responses, and (iii) Effects on the decision, as reflected in individuals'

career decision status and their feelings about the process and the outcome.

Further, literature review of Priyashantha, Dahanayake & Maduwanthi (2022), entitled

“Career indecision: a systematic literature review” that aims to Research has been conducted to

investigate the factors that influence career indecision. This study attempted to synthesize

empirical research on career indecision to (1) find the common determinants over the last two

decades and (2) find the factors/areas that need to be addressed for future research on career

indecision.

Furthermore, in the literature of Ajayi, Moosa & Aloka (2023), entitled “Relationship

Between Career Interest and Career Decision-Making of Grade 12 Learners in Township Secondary

Schools in South Africa” they examined the relationship between career interests and career

decision-making of Grade 12 learners in township secondary schools in South Africa.

Local Literature

In the local study of Llacer (2021), entitled “Factors Affecting the Career Choices of

Graduating Public Secondary Students in Ligao City Division, Ligao City, Philippines” the purpose of

this study was to determine the career choices of graduating public secondary students in Ligao City

Division, Ligao City, Philippines, and the factors affecting their career choices.

Moreover, in the literature of Nazareno, et al. (2021), entitled “Factors Associated with

Career Track Choice of Senior High School Students” discussed that selecting a career track is

crucial and must be thought of carefully because of its long-term impact on an individual’s future
career. With the implementation of the K to 12 programs in the Philippines, students need to choose

from four career tracks before entering senior high school (SHS). Knowing the factors that may

influence students’ career track choices can be helpful in the development of strategies that may

help them make intelligent decisions.

In Addition, the literature of Baldon, Cerna, Sotes, Enriquez & Bacatan (2023), titled

“Parent Career Behavior and Career Decision Making Self-Efficacy Among Senior High School Students”

this study aimed to investigate the connection between parental career behavior and the career

decision-making self-efficacy of senior high school students at UM Peñaplata College.

Foreign Studies

In the Foreign study of Wu (2020), titled “Study abroad Experience and career decision-

Making: a qualitative Study of Chinese students” explores factors influencing Chinese overseas

students' career decision-making. Based on the social cognitive career theory, a semi-structured

interview schedule was devised to qualitatively investigate how Chinese students evaluated different

factors and coped with career decision-making while studying abroad.

Further, the study of Kasman & Ali (2022), titled “Literature Review Factors Affecting

Decision Making And Career Planning: Environment, Experience And Skill” seeks to confirm the factors

that influence decision-making and career planning, including environment, experience, and skills.

This article aims to build a hypothesis of the influence between variables to be used in further

research. Human Resource Management literature study results from library research are that: 1)

Environment influences decision making; 2) Experience influences decision making; 3) Skills

influence decision making; 4) decision making affects career planning; 5) Environment influences

career planning; 6) Experience influences career planning; 7) Skills affect career planning.

Furthermore, the study of Cordova (2022), entitled “The Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy

and Career Action Steps of Humanities Students: A Quantitative Survey Analysis” aims to explore

relationships within career decision-making self-efficacy and career action steps of undergraduate

humanities students in majors that do not have corresponding career titles (English, Philosophy,

Anthropology, and History), in order to discover populations and areas that require further career

preparation.

Local Studies

In the Local study of Valencia, Flores & Ventosa (2019), titled “Family Communication

Patterns and their roles to Grade 10 Filipino students Career Decision Self-Efficacy” they aim to

alleviate the growing number of misfit graduates, unemployed citizens, and those indecisive in their

future careers. The study undertook an interdisciplinary approach in adherence to the social

cognitive career theory, cites model of career maturity, and family communication patterns theory to

determine the significant relationships between perceived family communication pattern in terms of

its dimensions and career decision self-efficacy and its domains among grade 10 Filipino students.
 Moreover, in the study of Almario (2021), titled “Factors Affecting the Career Choice

Decision of Shs in Central Luzon” the focus of the study was the determination of the factors

significantly affecting the career choice decisions of the Senior High School students. The factors

affecting the career choice decision of the Senior High School students were determined by asking

the students to respond to provided statements on socio-economic profile as indicators of its sub-

categories namely: social, economic, environmental; and student profile with sub-categories on

personal and academic ability.

In addition, the study of Digamon & De La Pe (2021), titled “Attitudes of Senior High School

Students towards Career Decision Making” this descriptive study investigated the attitude towards

career decision-making of the 302 senior high school students of Gingoog City Comprehensive National

High School, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.

Generally, the essential aspect of career decision-making for Grade 12 students lies in its

impact on their future. At this stage, students are about to transition from secondary education to

higher education or from senior high school to College, and the choices they make can significantly

influence their career and personal fulfillment.

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The researchers of this study will use quantitative research and descriptive research design

to explore the Career Decision Making of Grade twelve Students in Las Navas National High School.

Descriptive research design helps in capturing a detailed snapshot of their decision-making process,

the factors influencing their choices, and the various outcomes they anticipate. By using this

approach, researchers can gather valuable insights and patterns that could inform educational
strategies, career counseling programs, and support systems tailored to the needs of high school

seniors.

Locale of the study

This study will be conducted in Las Navas National High school, Specifically in Senior High

School department located in Brgy. Rebong Las Navas Northern Samar. The research spanned the

academic year 2024-2025, encompassing the period during which the data will be collected and the

study conducted. Subject of the study

The subject of this study will be the grade twelve students in Las Navas National High

School. It focuses on Grade 12 students as respondents, and this is especially enlightening

because they are at that juncture when important decisions about higher education and career

choices are at hand. It is often a period accompanied by strong pressure from the environment and

great self-reflection; hence, their opinions are particularly valuable. By understanding their

decision-making processes, real-time data regarding the effectiveness of current educational and

career guidance systems would be provided, with interventions that are timely and relevant to

target areas. Additionally, such insights from Grade 12 students give a snapshot of the emerging

trends and challenges in career decision-making processes that may be different from those younger

students or those who have entered into post-secondary education.

Research Instrument

A structured survey questionnaire will be use as the primary research instrument in this

study. The use of a questionnaire in this regard is an effective method of exploring the career

choice decision-making of Grade 12 students because it has the potential to collect data from a

large number of respondents in a structured and systematic way. This can deal with a wide range of

factors that influence choice, such as personal interests, family expectations, and trends across

society. Hence, questionnaires can be made to incorporate quantitative questions, which yield

measurable data. In addition, questionnaires are fairly easy to administer as well as analyze.

Thus, they are usually practical tools of gathering overall and diverse data that may well inform

educational policies, too as career guidance programs.

SCALE RANGE RESPONSE VERBAL

INTERPRETATION

5 4.01 – above Strongly agree Very High

 4 3.01 – 4.0 Agree High

3 2.01 – 3.0 Neutral Medium

2 1.01 – 2.0 Disagree Low

1 0.01 – 1.0 Strongly Very Low

Disagree

Further, the researchers will be dividing the questionnaire into two parts. The first part

will be composing of questions that will be used to determine the profile of the respondents,

Specifically, their name, age, sex, and strand. The set of the questionnaire was retrived from studocu.com

Scoring and Interpretation

The respondents will answer the statements by marking (/) and scoring using this scale.

This will also be use to score and measure the weighted mean of the student’s choice

regarding their preferences on the given questionnaire.

Population and Sampling

The respondents of this study will be the grade twelve students in Las Navas National High

School. There were four strands in the grade twelve level: GAS which was composed of students,

HUMMS which was composed of students, ABM which was composed of 30 students, and TVL which was

composed of students, a total of respondents. However, since the researchers cannot have all the

grade twelve students as their respondents, the researchers will be using the systematic random

sampling.

Systematic random sampling made sure that the students have an equal opportunity as being

the respondents of the study. On the other hand, to determine the sample size of the respondents

the researchers will use the interval formula.

Interval Formula

i = n i =
N n =
N =

i = interval
n = population

N = sample size

Data Gathering Procedure

In gathering the data, the researchers will follow the steps:

1. The researchers will ask permission to the senior high school Department Head and from teachers,

and respondents.

2. If the head, teachers, and respondents agreed, the researchers will distribute the instruments to

the respondents.

3. After the respondents finished answering the questionnaire;

4. The researchers will collect the questionnaire, then analyze and interpret the data presented.

Statistical Treatment of the Data

The following statistical test will utilize by the researchers in this study. To facilitate

interpretation and the use of statistical tools, the following variables of the study will score and

interpret.

A.Percentage

P = F
N
P = Percentage

F = Frequency for each category

N = Total number of Respondents

B. Weighted Mean Formula

WM = Weighted Mean

Σ = Summation Symbol

F = Frequency for each option

W = Assign Weight

Research Timeline

DATE ACTIVITIES REMARKS

August 8, 2024 Brainstorming for research Came up with research study.

topic

August 10, 2024 Submitted the chapter 1 Submitted

 August 12, 2024 Revision of Chapter 1 Revised

August 13, 2024 Finalized the Chapter 1 Finalized

August 18, 2024 Submitted the chapter 2 Submitted

September 5, 2024 Finalized the chapter 2 Finalized

September 19, 2024 Submitted the chapter 3 Submitted

Questionnaire

“Exploring Career Decision Making in Grade 12 Students

in Las Navas National High School”

Part I.

Name(optional):

Age:

Sex:
 Strand:

Part II.

Below is a list of factors that may hinder your career choices. Please check the boxes that

correspond to your answers.

Financial Constraints Academic Pressure

Peer Pressure Lack of Guidance

Parental Expectations Cultural Norms

Lack of Self-Awareness

Fear of Failure
 Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly

Statements Disagree (2) (3) (4) Agree

(1) (5)

1. My grades will determine my career

choice.

2. Socio economic status of student always

affect the student’s choice of career.

3. I have access to employment in a family

business.

4. I plan to work in a job for a while, then

attend a school or get a training.

5. I will have to work for the money needed

to attend any training after secondary
school.

6. I am fully aware of what technical

colleges have to offer.

7. I will consider working after secondary

school rather than make a career choice.

8. I have on one to motivate me in making a

career choice.

9. Opportunities and privileges do affect

career choice.

10. Educational status of parents can affect

career choice.

Source: https://www.academia.edu/31634480