Relationship Between Career Interest and Career Decision-Making of Grade 12 Learners in Township Secondary Schools in South Africa

Q: What relationship does the study examine?

The study examines the relationship between learners’ career interests and their career decision-making in Grade 12 township secondary schools in South Africa.

Q: How many participants were included, and how were data analyzed?

The sample included 204 Grade 12 learners from six township secondary schools. The study used Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and regression analysis to analyze the data.

Q: Which career interest type showed the strongest and weakest relationship with decision-making?

Enterprising career interest had the strongest relationship with career decision-making (r=0.535, p<0.001). Operational career interest had the weakest relationship (r=0.284, p<0.001).

Q: What recommendation does the study make?

The study recommends that school psychologists conduct early assessment of learners to determine their career interests.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Aran

The study examines how career interests relate to career decision-making among Grade 12 learners in South Africa’s township secondary schools. A correlational survey design was used with 204 learners sampled from six schools. Data were gathered using career interest and career decision-making scales and analyzed with Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and regression. Findings show the strongest link for enterprising career interest, followed by adventurous interest, while operational interest showed the weakest relationship. The study concludes that the career interest model significantly predicts decision-making and recommends early assessment by school psychologists.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Career Interest and Career Decision-Making

Research Design and Methods

Results and Findings

Conclusion and Recommendations

Relationship Between Career Interest and Career Decision-Making of Grade 12 Learners in Township Secondary Schools in South Africa By Oluwakemi BAjayi *, Moeniera Moosa± & Peter JO Aloka ° This study examined the relationship between career interests and career decision-making of grade 12 learners in township secondary schools in South Africa. The correlational survey research design was adopted. The sample size comprised 204 grade 12 learners selected from six township secondary schools. The career interest and career decision-making scales were used to collect data from the learners. The inferential statistics such as Pearson correlation, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and regression analysis were used to analyse data. The results indicated that the correlation between enterprising career interest and career decision-making was established to be the strongest (r=0.535, n=204, p<0.001), followed by the relationship between adventurous career interest and career decision-making (r=0.465, n=204, p<0.001), but operational career interest had the least relationship with career decision-making, r (204)=0.284, p<0.001. The study concludes that the career interest model, F (9, 194)=17.403, p<0.01, is a significant predictor of career decision-making among the 12th grade learners. The study recommends that school psychologists should do early assessment of learners to ascertain their career interests. Keywords: Career interest, career decision-making, secondary school, grade 12 learners, township schools Introduction Career is a lifetime process that entails decision making that is linked to an individual’s general experience. A career is a series of connected vocational knowledge and activities that are extend over an individual’s life (Dobson, Gardner, Mertz, & Gore, 2014). Kaur (2016) describes career decision making as a process that entails individual’s choice when choosing a career. Career decision-making is a complicated and delicate process that individuals experience in life. A prudent career decision making could be acknowledged as a decision that took place after a thorough analysis of all career preferences and personal capabilities necessary to function in a career of choice (Kaur, 2016). Making a career decision has recently developed into an extremely complex science; bearing in mind that many aspects in life affect this. However, choosing the correct career is essential in leading a satisfying life, and accomplish outstanding vocational output that sets the platform for organizational growth and development (Sovet et al., 2018) . To this end, career interest is the process through which individuals investigate, explore and examine * PhD Student, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. ±Senior Lecturer, Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.° Senior Lecturer, Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. their interest prior to making a career decision. However, choosing the right career is a challenge for most people because converting personal interest into a practicable career could be overwhelming sometimes. Moreover, career interest is a person’s inclination regarding vocational activities and environments. Nevertheless, the understanding of one’s capabilities, skills, beliefs, personality and interests could help when making career decision. Exploring a probable career requires knowledge of what a person takes pleasure in doing, what they are good at and what serves as an inspiration to a person in their environment as a key factor for career motivation (Nyamwange, 2016). Therefore, it is crucial for individuals to be conscious of aspects that affect, that motivate such a significant decision from a position of adequate understanding (Nyamwange, 2016) . Recognizing one’s career interest assists individuals to make informed and amore logical decision regarding career. By an individual understanding their career interests and

FAQs

What relationship does the study examine?

The study examines the relationship between learners’ career interests and their career decision-making in Grade 12 township secondary schools in South Africa.

How many participants were included, and how were data analyzed?

The sample included 204 Grade 12 learners from six township secondary schools. The study used Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and regression analysis to analyze the data.

Which career interest type showed the strongest and weakest relationship with decision-making?

Enterprising career interest had the strongest relationship with career decision-making (r=0.535, p<0.001). Operational career interest had the weakest relationship (r=0.284, p<0.001).

What recommendation does the study make?

The study recommends that school psychologists conduct early assessment of learners to determine their career interests.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Aran