This study attempted to investigate the nature and characteristics of educational barriers perceived among boys attending high schools in Korea, and the correlation between the educational barrier and career decision. A preliminary inventory with 67 i...
This study attempted to investigate the nature and characteristics of educational barriers perceived among boys attending high schools in Korea, and the correlation between the educational barrier and career decision. A preliminary inventory with 67 items was developed on the basis of the review of related literature, ever established assessment instruments of educational and career barriers and a survey with high school boys. The preliminary inventory was administered to 403 high school senior boys and an item and factor analysis was conducted. The item analysis showed that high school senior boys perceived that a great variety of educational barriers was somewhat likely to obstruct their career goal achievement.
The factor analysis of the survey resulted in 7 factors including
(1) psychological burden of top school grades and entering a top level university
(2) uneasy mental status
(3) poorbstudy habits and skills
(4) forced decision made for higher education regardless of their personal traits
(5) lack of career information and information searching skills
(6) issues of college entrance system
(7) issues of family background and financial support
It seems that the factors such as burden of entering a top level university and issues of educational system reflect the reality of college entrance examination system in Korea. They perceived personal internal psychological factors and study skills and attitudes, lack of information searching ability as the higher career barriers. In contrast, the degree of perceptions of potential sex and class discrimination, household climate, financial support was relatively lower. And there appeared meaningful correlation (p< .01) between career barrier test and career decision test. Career barrier test scores were different according to whether career was decided or not. That is, career-non-decided groups was likely to perceive higher educational barriers than career-decided groups.