Title page for ETD etd-03242008-212930

Type of Document

Dissertation

Author

Paivandy, Sheba

Author's Email Address

sheba_paivandy@yahoo.com

URN

etd-03242008-212930

Title

The Validity of Cognitive Constructs in Cognitive Information Processing and Social Cognitive Career Theories

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Department of

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
Robert Reardon, PhD	Committee Chair
Janet Lenz, PhD	Committee Co-Chair
Christopher Schatschneider, PhD	Committee Member
Donald Kelly, PhD	Committee Member

Keywords

Cognitive Information Processing Theory
Social Cognitive Career Theory
Career Counseling
Career Theory

Date of Defense

2008-03-17

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the validity of combining cognitive constructs presented in two principal cognitive approaches to career theory: cognitive information processing theory (CIP) and social cognitive career theory (SCCT). An exploratory factor analysis was conducted with the items from four cognitive measures used to measure the constructs of these theories. This analysis yielded a four factor model suggesting a different factor structure from what is currently being utilized for these measures. These four factors were identified as Factor 1: negative career thoughts, Factor 2: career decision-making self-efficacy, Factor 3: self-motivation and commitment to career decision making, and Factor 4: discouragement in career indecision. The overall contribution of CIP, SCCT, and the combined model to the prediction of self-exploration, environmental exploration, and level of career decidedness were compared using a series of regression analyses. The combined model did not consistently predict for the outcome variables over and above CIP and SCCT as hypothesized. However, the comparison of beta weights for factors from each model suggested that the combined model’s factors have stronger, more unique predictive power than CIP and SCCT. Implications for future research and career counseling are discussed.

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