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Cited by 75Career Development and DiversityHigher Education and EmployabilityHigher Education Research Studies

Decided and Undecided Students: Career Self-efficacy, Negative Thinking, and Decision-Making Difficulties

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Bullock-Yowell, Emily, McConnell, Amy E., Schedin, Emily A.·2014·NACADA Journal
DOI 10.12930/nacada-13-016
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Abstract

The career concern differences between undecided and decided college students (N = 223) are examined. Undecided college students (n = 83) reported lower career decision-making self-efficacy, higher incidences of negative career thoughts, and more career decision-making difficulties than their decided peers (n = 143). Results reveal that undecided students are as ready to make a career-related decision as their decided counterparts but may lack or be receiving inconsistent career information. Academic advising implications include ways to more effectively serve these populations. Practical suggestions from social-cognitive career theory and the cognitive information-processing approach are provided .

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  • The findings support using SCCT as a lens to focus on interpersonal and contextual variables to understand incoming students' interests and aspirations.

    “The findings support using SCCT as a lens to focus on interpersonal and contextual variables to understand incoming students' interests and aspirations (Bullock-Yowell et al., 2014).”

    From Demographics, Purpose, and Dreams: Predicting Entering College as an Undecided Major Student (2023) · cites this paper as Bullock-Yowell et al., 2014

    The Implications for Advising section recommends SCCT as a framework for strengthening undecided students’ career decision-making self-efficacy. It also advises assessing students’ interests and internal or external barriers, but it does not specifically present SCCT as a lens for studying interpersonal and contextual variables shaping incoming students’ interests and aspirations. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • Undecided students reported lower levels of career decision self-efficacy according to SCCT.

    “As mentioned, Bullock-Yowell et al. (2014) found undecided students reported lower levels of career decision self-efficacy according to SCCT.”

    From Demographics, Purpose, and Dreams: Predicting Entering College as an Undecided Major Student (2023) · cites this paper as Bullock-Yowell et al. (2014)

  • Bullock-Yowell et al. (2014) found that undecided students reported lower confidence in identifying a career path.

    “Similarly, Bullock-Yowell et al. (2014) found that undecided students reported lower confidence in identifying a career path.”

    From Demographics, Purpose, and Dreams: Predicting Entering College as an Undecided Major Student (2023) · cites this paper as Bullock-Yowell et al. (2014)

  • Undecided students reported more negative career thinking and career decision-making difficulties.

    “Undecided students also reported more negative career thinking and career decision-making difficulties (Bullock-Yowell et al., 2014).”

    From Demographics, Purpose, and Dreams: Predicting Entering College as an Undecided Major Student (2023) · cites this paper as Bullock-Yowell et al., 2014

  • Research links undecidedness and lower career decision-making self-efficacy.

    “This mirrors research linking undecidedness and lower career decisionmaking self-efficacy (Bullock-Yowell et al., 2014).”

    From Demographics, Purpose, and Dreams: Predicting Entering College as an Undecided Major Student (2023) · cites this paper as Bullock-Yowell et al., 2014

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References 39 · Cited by 75

Research works printed but not linked: 38

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  38. Amy McConnell can be reached at Mcconae@ gmail.com. Emily Schedin is a counseling psychology doctoral student at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a member of Dr. Emily Bullock-Yowell's vocational psychology research team and is currently in the dissertation devel opment stage of her training.

Authors
Bullock-Yowell, E., McConnell, A. E., & Schedin, E. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • University of Southern Mississippi (US)
Venue
NACADA Journal
Publisher
NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising Inc.
Published
2014-06
Volume
34
Issue
1
Pages
22-34
ISSN
  • 0271-9517 (ISSN-L)
  • 2330-3840
DOI
10.12930/nacada-13-016
OpenAlex
W2073963480
Cited by
75
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 1
FWCI
7.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
NACADA Journal (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Career Development and Diversity
  • Social Sciences › Education › Higher Education and Employability
  • Social Sciences › Education › Higher Education Research Studies
Keywords
undecided students, career decision-making self-efficacy, career decision-making difficulties, career concerns, university students, academic advising, social cognitive career theory, career information

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