Comparing Two Groups of Student-Athletes: Implications for Academic and Career Advising

Abstract

In this study, we explored the career variables of goal instability, vocational identity, and career decidedness levels in two groups of student-athletes. We compared scholarship student-athletes who had been selected to participate in a summer academic-support program designed for at-risk students to scholarship athletes who were not included in the summer-support program. Both groups consisted of student-athletes from various sports with football and basketball the primary sports for the summer program participants and swimming and cross country the primary sports for student-athletes not included in the summer-support program. Results of the study indicated that no significant differences were found between the two groups of college student-athletes with regard to their goal instability, vocational identity, or career decidedness. Implications for academic and career advising as well as future research are discussed.

Testing the structure of the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire across country, gender, age, and decision status

“…We also tested for differences in the scores among decision status groups. In light of previous results (e.g., Amit & Gati, 2013;Buzzetta, Lenz, & Kennelly, 2017), we predicted that higher scores would be associated with a less advanced career decision status.…”

“…Participants are instructed to choose the one statement out of six that best describes their current career decision status. The RCA has been found useful in measuring advancement toward making a career decision (Amit & Gati, 2013;Saka, Gati, & Kelly, 2008), measuring career decidedness (Buzzetta et al, 2017), and assessing the effectiveness of interventions (Buzzetta et al, 2017;Gati, Ryzhik, & Vertsberger, Structure of Career Decision-Making Difficulties 12 2013;Lipshits-Braziler et al, 2015).…”

The identification and validation of five types of career indecision: A latent profile analysis of career decision-making difficulties.

“…The RCA resembles the Occupational Alternatives Question (OAQ; Slaney, 1988) but has six response options instead of four. Participants were asked to select the statement that best describes their current career decision status: (a) “I do not even have a general direction,” (b) “I have only a general direction,” (c) “I am deliberating among a small number of specific occupations,” (d) “I am considering a specific occupation, but I would like to explore other options before I make my decision,” (e) “I know which occupation I am interested in, but I would like to feel sure of my choice,” and (f) “I am already sure of the occupation I want.” The RCA has been found useful in measuring career decidedness (e.g., Buzzetta et al, 2017), career decision status (e.g., Gati et al, 2011), and the effectiveness of interventions (e.g., Perez & Gati, 2017).…”

The Associations Between Career Decision-Making Difficulties and Negative Emotional States

“…This is a self-report measure that assesses how far individuals have narrowed down the range of occupational alternatives they are considering, thus reflecting their subjective sense of their career decision status (Gadassi, Waser, & Gati, 2015). The participants were asked to choose the one statement that best described their current career decision status: (1) “I still do not have even a general direction,” (2) “I only have a general direction,” (3) “I am deliberating among a small number of specific majors or occupations,” (4) “I am considering a specific major or occupation but would like to explore other options before I make a decision,” (5) “I know what major or occupation I am interested in but would like to be certain of my choice,” and (6) “I am already certain of the major or occupation I will choose.” The responses to the RCA have been found valid in assessing advancement toward making a career decision (Saka et al, 2008) and the effect of career interventions (Buzzetta, Lenz, & Kennelly, 2017).…”