The effect of co-operative education on career decision making of secondary students in Newfoundland

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not Co-operative Education affects career decision making by secondary students in Newfoundland and Labrador. Five schools were involved in the study, with a total of 109 students responding. There were two groups of students involved in the study, an experimental group, students involved in Co-operative Education 2220 and a control group, students not involved in Co-operative Education. These students (both male and female) were in levels I to III and ranged in age from 14 to 19. All students were pre-tested at the beginning of the school year and were post-tested at the end of the school year using The Career Decision Scale (1976) to discover levels of career certainty and career indecision. The study used a quasiexperimental method for randomized samples. Using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) the researcher discovered that Co-operative Education did in fact affect career decision making. That is, Co-operative Education students are more certain after completing Co-operative Education than are the control group of students. However, both groups became more certain and had less indecision regarding a career at the end of the school year, which could be due to a number of factors. Other career-related events also affect career decision making, including seeing a Guidance Counselor for career information and completing a Career Education Course.