Date of Graduation

12-2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Human Resource and Workforce Development (EdD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders

Advisor/Mentor

Hughes, Claretha

Committee Member

Biggs, Bobbie T.

Second Committee Member

Mamiseishvili, Ketevan

Keywords

Career choice; Work experience; Education

Abstract

Prior research on the relationship between self-efficacy and career decision making is inconclusive because of the lack of theoretical background and causal conclusions. More research is needed to investigate how the educational background, career choice, and work experience, of entrepreneurs, influences their career decision-making self-efficacy beliefs and how those beliefs effect their decision to become entrepreneurs. The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent career choice, education, and work experience related to the level of career decision-making self-efficacy among participants in the Ventureprise business incubation program who are or are intending to become entrepreneurs. The education and longevity of work experience were examined. The objectives of this study were to investigate to what extent the level of career decision-making self-efficacy was affected by career choice in entrepreneurship, education level completed, and longevity of work experience. The results of the study indicated that, although there were observed increases in levels of career decision-making self-efficacy among those who chose entrepreneurship as a career, the results were not statistically significant. Similarly, increases in career decision-making self-efficacy were observed among participants with higher formal education levels. Finally, no correlation existed between years of work experience and career decision-making self-efficacy beliefs among participants. Findings were inconsistent with prior research, and recommendations for further research are made based on limitations of the current study.

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