Determinants of Bachelor Students’ Intention to Enter a Research-Oriented Career

Abstract

The career opportunities of university bachelor students are multiple. Some bachelor students might consider a career in research. In this article, we explore, first, the degree to which bachelor students in a research intensive university intend to enter a research-oriented career, and second, the factors influencing this intention. 1,232 students of a research-intensive university answered an on line questionnaire. 4.08% scored 4 or higher out of 5 on a scale that measures the intention to become a researcher. A regression model (R² = .47) showed that among a set of 13 variables, the attitude towards research proved to have the strongest influence on the intention to enter a research-oriented career, next to gender, and study major. The occupational focus, frequency of use of ICT (information and communication technologies) instruments, and the opinion that scientific research needs ICT have a negative influence.