Cultural Differences in Career Decision-Making Styles and Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This study examined the cultural relevance of two important career constructs: career decision-making style and career decision-making self-efficacy. Two distinct cultural groups of college students, Americans (N ϭ 540) and Taiwanese (N ϭ 1026), participated in this cross-cultural study. Results suggested that career decision-making styles have differential impacts on career decision-making self-efficacy, depending on the cultural background of the individuals. Results also showed significant differences in career decision-making style and career decision-making self-efficacy as a function of nationality and gender. Counseling implications and suggestions for future studies are discussed.

Career decision-making, career barriers and occupational aspirations in Chinese adolescents

“…As participants were adolescents attending a high school in the People's Republic of China, the study also contributed to the understanding of career development in this country. There are very few studies of career development in China, and there appears to be no direct investigation of career aspirations with Chinese students, whose decision-making styles may not parallel those of students in Western cultures (Mau, 2000), and who may be subject to different influences compared with adolescents in the West (Li & Wright, 2000).…”

“…Decision-making Self-efficacy Scale -Short Form (CDMSE-SF: Betz, Klein, & Taylor, 1996; Chinese translation, Mau, 2000). They responded to questions such as, "How confident are you that you could determine what your ideal job would be?…”

“…Betz et al (1996) reported an internal reliability for the CDMSE-SF of .94, which is consistent with reliability coefficients reported in other studies (e.g., Creed, Patton, & Watson, 2002). Mau (2000) used the CDMSE-SF with a Chinese (Taiwanese) sample and reported an internal consistency of .92 and expected relationships with other career constructs. The internal reliability coefficient for the present sample was .88.…”

The study of sport manager s decision making styles who are working in Center and Rural Organizations of General Directorate of Sport

“…In the study conducted on Dutch adolescents by Tuinstra et al (31), while sub-dimension of self-reliance in decision making was high in favour of males; sub dimensions of hypervigilance, buckpassing decision making and acting without thought were high in favour of females. In his study conducted for American and Taiwanese students, Mau (20) stated that self-esteem in decision making and decision making styles of American students had no significant difference based on gender variable; whereas self-esteem in decision making and decision making styles of Taiwanese students had significant difference based on gender variable and such difference was in favour of female students. The fact that different results were obtained in the studies conducted abroad brought the effect of socio-cultural differences in decision making into the forefront.…”

“…The fact that different results were obtained in the studies conducted abroad brought the effect of socio-cultural differences in decision making into the forefront. As a matter of fact, Mau (20), Man et al (19) put forward that differences between the cultures are important elements in decision making.…”