The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences ISSN: 2411-0132(E), 2411-5487(P) Vol-2, Issue (2):49-51 www.theexplorerpak.org
ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION AND CAREER DECISION MAKING AMONG YOUTH Maryem Rauf Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi Corresponding Author: Maryem Rauff PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi maryemrauff1995@gmail.com Abstract: This study was conducted to look at the impact of motivation on career decision making and achievements. Sample of 50 youngsters, age 18-30 years were recruited from Islamabad and Rawalpindi as respondents. Results conclude that there is well-built bond among achievement, motivation and career making. Respondents are required to have career decision making ability to maintain their life style and to get high status in society which is a great source of motivation for youth.
Key Words: Achievement, Motivation and Career Making INTRODUCTION The notion of “need for achievement” was devised in the 1950s (McClelland, et al. 1949). Definitions of Motivation are based on “behaviour patterns closely related to reward contingencies” (Pintrich and Schunk 2002). It can be furthered explored to “the extent to which individuals differ in their need to strive to attain rewards, such as physical satisfaction, praise from others and feelings of personal mastery” (McClelland 1985). Motivated behaviour was also described in many early theories in terms of “drives, instincts, motives, and other internal traits” (Weiner 1990). However, Motivation in an academic context refers to “cognitive, emotional, and behavioural indicators of student investment in and attachment to education” (Tucker, et al. 2002). To achieve a better profession and career development, career decision making style as a cognitive construct is a vital element (Jepsen and Prediger 1981). Definitions of Decision-making style are based on individuals’ “habitual pattern” or their “characteristic model of perceiving and responding to decision-making tasks” (Driver 1979). Taking a decision is a cognitive process whether it is about career making or daily routine problems like buying a car, selecting home and choosing an academic subject. When individuals are independent enough to select their jobs, occupation and career, they are more motivated and encouraged thus a certain job or career becomes the function of their personality, attitudes, and values ( Schneider 1987). The need for achievement is also closely associated to
successful performance in an entrepreneurial role (McClelland 1961). Highly motivated people remain active and successful in entrepreneurial situation as compared to those individuals who are low achievers and less motivated (McClelland 1965). A person’s strong will also effects his decision towards career making. Those, who are highly motivated and encouraged by their parents, environmental factors and positive peer pressure, are more competent to pursue a successful career. Such kinds of people are high achievers, as compare to less motivated people. To lead a successful life, an individual has to make his own decisions about his/her education, job and social life, which totally depends upon motivation level and career decision making style. Therefore, people with low motivation level cannot compete with highly motivated people in the fast pace and race of life. OBJECTIVES 1. To check the impact of motivation on career decision making and achievements 2. To assess connection between achievements, motivation and career decision making. 3. To check motivation level of youth to achieve their career METHADOLOGY The present study was conducted in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The purpose of study was to assess the impact of motivation on the achievements among youngsters. It was a quantitative research study. A structured questionnaire was prepared for data collection. The questionnaire was based on close ended questions. A sample of 50 respondents was
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selected by using purposive sampling technique. Respondents of the study were youth, between the age of 18-30 years. RESULTS Table.1: Sex wise Distribution of the Respondents
Response
Frequency
Percent
Male
17
34.0
Female
33
66.0
Table.5: Purpose of Struggle
Responses
Total 50 100.0 Table no.1 shows sex wise distribution of the respondents. Data was collected from both male and female respondents.34 percent of the respondents were male while 66 percent respondents were female. Table.2: Educational Profile of the Respondents
Response
Frequency
Percent
FA/Fsc
7
14.0
BA/BSC
18
36.0
MA/MSC
25
50.0
Total 50 100.0 Table no.2 is about educational profile of the respondents. It depicts that 14 percent students were at intermediate whereas 36 percent students were at graduation level. And 50 percent students were of post-graduation level. Table.3: Family Structure of the Respondents Responses Frequency Percent Nuclear
43
86.0
Extended
1
2.0
Joint
5
10.0
Total 50 100.0 Table no.3 represents family structure of the respondents. Most of the people live in nuclear family system which is about 86 percent.2 percent of the respondents live in extended family system and 10 percent of them live in joint family system which is very low percentage. Table.4: Influencing Factors in Career Decision Making
Responses
high status in the society. 4 percent of the respondents want to influence their peers or group members. 6 percent told that were aiming to increase their family income while 76 percent respondents want to maintain a good life style that is why they wanted to work hard to have a better career after completion of their education.
Frequency Percent
Ambition to achieve a high status
6
12.0
peer pressure
2
4.0
Increase family income
3
6.0
Maintain good life style
38
76.0
Total 50 100.0 Table no.4 shows that the factors that affect career decision making and later achievements in job. 12 percent respondents wanted to achieve
Frequency Percent
Get good job
8
16
Raise economic status of the family
6
12
higher education
15
30
Improve life style
17
34
0thers
3
6
Total 50 100 While talking about purpose of their struggle, the 16 percent of the respondents related it to get a good job while12 percent of the respondents wanted to improve their socioeconomic status. Another 30 percent replied that they want to get higher education. However, a large percentage of 34 percent wanted to uplift their life style and 6 percent gave other reasons for their struggle. Table.6: Effect of Social Economic Status on Education
Responses
Frequency
Percent
Yes
28
56.0
No
12
24.0
To some extent
9
18.0
Total 50 100.1 The effect of social economic status on students shows that 56 percent students attributed that social economic status does influence the education while 24 percent students felt that it does not affect at all. Only 18 percent of the students said that social economic status influence them to some extent. DISCUSSION The most important purpose of my study is to measure the effectiveness of the motivation among youth. If they are encouraged they work hard to achieve the goals of their life and if they are disheartened they give up. Overall the respondents, irrespective of their gender answered that they want to improve their life style with a good career. However, they were not much concerned about their self- grooming. Respondents got inspired by those who have attained their desired career field; resulted in a better career decision making ability. As a
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promising career increases family income that is very important in Pakistani culture. Youth in Pakistan is experiencing a lot of hardships in career related decisions making; as 60 percent of youth remains confused in choosing a career while 92 percent of them depend on others for choosing a career. Cultural demands are negatively effecting the decision making power of the youth, which results in the redefinition of their aims for life achievements. Only 44 percent youth remains successful in getting career counselling from their family members. CONCLUSION This research study concludes that there is a strong connection between achievements, motivation and career decision making. The study results showed that youngsters are greatly influenced by luxuries of modern life styles therefore they are motivated to achieve their career for attaining a high status in the society. It is concluded that highly motivated people can aim high to achieve better careers for bringing improvements in their living standards as compared to less motivated people. Both motivation and career decision making are interrelated. REFERENCES Driver, Micheal J. 1979 Individual Decision-making and Creativity. Organizational Behaviour.
McClelland, David C. 1965 Toward a Theory of Motive Acquisition. American Psychologist 20(5):321.
Jepsen, David A., and Dale J. Prediger 1981 Dimensions of Adolescent Development: A Multi-instrument Analysis. Journal of Vocational Behavior 19(3)350 –368.
© 2016 “The Explorer Islamabad” Journal of Social Sciences Pakistan
McClelland, David C., Clark Russell A. Roby, Thornton B., Atkinson, John W 1949 The Effect of the Need For Achievement on Thematic Apperception. Journal of Experimental Psychology 39(2): 242-255. McClelland, David C. 1985 Human Chicago: Scott Foresman.
Schneider, Benjamin 1987 The People Make the Place. Personnel Psychology 40(3): 437453. Pintrich, Paul R., and Dale H. Schunk 2002 Motivation in Education: Theory, Research and Applications. Upper Saddle River, N.J.:Merrill, PrenticeHall International. Tucker, Carolyn M., Rose A. Zayco, Keith C. Herman, Wendy M. Reinke, Mark Trujillo, Kirsten Carraway, Cory Wallack, and Phyllis D. Ivery 2002 Teacher and Child Variables as Predictors of Academic Engagement among Low-income African American Children. Psychology in the Schools 39(4): 477-488 Weiner, Bernard 1990 History of Motivational Research in Education. J. Educ. Psychology 82(4): 616–622. Publication Date: Jan-31 -2016
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