Relationships Among Initial Conditions, Career Path Development, and Career Path Satisfaction: A Chaos Theory Perspective

• Other Authors: Garmon, Joseph M. (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Educational psychology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-4357

The purpose of this study was to explore career paths satisfaction based on chaos theory. Phase I of the analysis provided information about the relationships among the predictor variables of opportunity, congruence, ability, and social connectedness and the criterion variable of career path satisfaction. Phase II of this study was a qualitative analysis of career path development. A criterion sample was drawn from the population of retired adult white males (n=65). The age of the participants ranged from 53 years old to 94 years (m=71.3, sd=9.9). Career path satisfaction was measured by the Career Path Satisfaction Index (CPSI) (m=7.9. sd=3.8), calculated by measurement of the Career Satisfaction Trace Line. The area above and below the neutral line (0) was measured by counting the grids on the Career Satisfaction Trace Line. Possible scores range from –15 to +15. The area below the line was subtracted from the total area above the line and divided by the total number of years in the career path. . Opportunity (ISP) was measured using the Hollingshead Two-Factor Index of Social Position (Hollingshead, 1965). A significant, but negative, relationship was found between career path satisfaction and opportunity at the 0.01 level (F=7.16, df=1, r=0.319, p=0.003). Congruence (CPCI) was the congruence between the individual Holland Code and the weighted average of the Holland Occupation Code for each job. The relationship between congruence and career path satisfaction was not found to be significant at the 0.05 level (F=2.9, df=1, r=0.21, p=0.09). Ability (APS) was based on an 11-point scale. A significant relationship ( p<0.01) was found between career path satisfaction and ability (F=5.4, df=1, r=0.282, p=0.023). Social connectedness (CIS), which was determined by the Social Connectedness Survey. A significant relationship (p=<.01) was found between career path satisfaction and social connectedness (F=4.33, df=1, r=0.319, p=0.041). Multiple regression indicated a significant relationship (p=< 0.01) between career path satisfaction and the predictor variables (F=3.79, df=4, R=0.450, p=0.008). The ISP was significant at the 0.05 level. CIS and APS were significant at the 0.05 level. The ISP was the most influential variable but in a negative direction. This was an unexpected result that may reflect perceptions of generational progress. === A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === Fall Semester, 2004. === July 26, 2004. === Career Paths, Life-Span Developmen, t Career Development, Chaos Theory, Career Satisfaction, Career Satisfaction Trace Line === Includes bibliographical references. === Gary W. Peterson, Professor Directing Dissertation; Lee P. Stepina, Outside Committee Member; Stephen A. Rolln, Committee Member; Robert C. Reardon, Committee Member.