Skip to main content
Log in

The Influence of Career Beliefs and Socio-Economic Status on the Career Decision-Making of High School Students in India

  • Published:
International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper responds to current discussions in career psychology that emphasise the importance of understanding how socio-economic backgrounds and social-cognitive environments influence career development. Located in India, this study examines the interaction between career beliefs and socio-economic status within a sample of Indian high school students. Significant socio-economic status differences were observed, with the lower SES groups showing higher levels of negative career beliefs. The relevance of these findings to career psychologists who work in multi cultural contexts is discussed within the framework of the Social Cognitive Theories of Career Decision Making.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arulmani, G. (2000). Mindsets and career choices: An intervention study for boys from low socio-economic status backgrounds. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Portsmouth, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arulmani, G., & Nag-Arulmani, S. (in press). Career counselling: A handbook. Bangalore, India: Tata McGraw Hill.

  • Arulmani, G., Van Laar, D., & Easton, S. (2001). Career planning orientations of Indian high school boys: A study of socio-economic and social cognitive variables. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 27, 7-17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arulmani, G., Van Laar, D., & Easton, S. (in press). Development and initial validation of the Career Belief Patterns Scale. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology.

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. New Jersey: Englewood Cliffs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatnagar, A., & Gupta, N. (1999). Guidance and counselling: A practical approach (Vol. 2). New Delhi, India: Vikas Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandra, S. (1997). Problems and issues of child labour in India. Social Change, 27, 3-4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chartrand, M.J., & Rose, L.M. (1996). Career interventions for at-risk populations: Incorporating social cognitive influences. The Career Development Quarterly, 44(4), 341-353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desai, G., & Whiteside, T. (2000). Vocational higher secondary education graduates in the state of Gujarat. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 52(1), 49-61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fouad, A.N., & Brown, T.M. (2000). Role of race and social class in development: Implications for counselling psychology. In D.S. Brown & W.R. Lent (Eds.), Handbook of counseling psychology (3rd ed., pp. 379-407). New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harmon, L.W. (1994). Frustrations, daydreams and realities of theoretical convergence. In M.L. Savikas & R.W. Lent (Eds.), Convergence in career development theories (pp. 225- 234). Palo Alto: CPP Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilaiah, K. (1994). Caste and contradictions. Economic and Political Weekly, 29(43), 2835- 2836.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jhaj, D.S., & Grewal, J.S. (1976). A study of occupational aspirations and socio-economic status of advantaged and disadvantaged children. Indian Journal of Applied Psychology, 13(2), 70-13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kapoor, S.D., & Singh, R.N. (1998). Socio-economic status questionnaire. New Delhi, India: The Psycho-Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krumboltz, J.D. (1979). A social learning theory of career decision making. In A.M. Mitchell, G.B. Jones & J.D. Krumboltz (Eds.), Social learning and career decision making (pp. 19- 49). Rhode Island: Carroll Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krumboltz, J.D. (1994). Improving career development theory from a social learning theory perspective. In M.L. Savikas & R.W. Lent (Eds.), Convergence in career development theories: Implications for science and practice (pp. 9-31). Palo Alto: CPP Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krumboltz, J.D., & Nichols, C.W. (1990). Integrating the social learning theory of career decision making. In W.B. Walsh & S.H. Osipow (Eds.), Career counselling: Contemporary topics in vocational psychology (pp. 159-192). Hillsdale: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuppuswamy, B. (1959). A scale to measure socio-economic status. Indian Journal of Psychology, 34(1), 1-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lent, R.W., & Brown, S.D. (1996). Social cognitive approach to career development: An overview. Career Development Quarterly, 44, 310-321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lent, R.W., Brown, S.D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choices, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behaviour, 45, 79-122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lightbody, P., Nicholson, S., Siann, G., & Walsh, D. (1997). Arespectable job: factors which influence young Asians' choice of career. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 25(1), 67-79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, G., & Jain, U. (1988). Achievement cognitions in deprived groups: An attributional analysis. Indian Journal of Current Psychological Research, 3(1), 45-54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, G., & Misra, S. (1986). Effect of socio-economic background on pupils' attributions. Indian Journal of Current Psychological Research, 1(2), 77-88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, A.M., Jones, G.B., & Krumboltz, J.D. (1979). Social learning theory of career guidance. Rhode Island: Carroll Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, F.D., & Krumboltz, J.D. (1994). The independence of aptitudes, interests and career beliefs. Career Development Quarterly, 43(2), 152-160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ojha, J.M. (1996). Mental health of working children and their needs. In A.S. Kohi (Ed.), Research in social welfare (Vol. 1) (pp. 15-25). New Delhi, India: Anmol Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, S.M. (1993). Work in people's lives: A location for counselling psychologists. Journal Counselling Psychology, 40(4), 425-433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siann, G., Lightboy, P., Nicholson, S., Tait, L., & Walsh, D. (1998). Talking about subject choice at secondary school and career aspirations: Conversations with students of Chinese background. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 26(2), 195-207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, P.G. (1991). Socio-economic status scale - Urban. Agra, India: National Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, M., Fouad, N.A., & Smith, P.L. (1999). Asian Americans' career choices: A path model to examine factors influencing their career choices. Journal of Vocational Behaviour, 54(1), 142-157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilgosh, L., & Mueller, H.H. (1993).Work skills for disadvantaged and unprepared youth and adults. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 16, 99-105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arulmani, G., van Laar, D. & Easton, S. The Influence of Career Beliefs and Socio-Economic Status on the Career Decision-Making of High School Students in India. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance 3, 193–204 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:IJVO.0000006599.92116.0a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:IJVO.0000006599.92116.0a

Keywords

Navigation