Date Approved
3-28-2019
Embargo Period
4-2-2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
EdD Doctor of Education
Department
Educational Services and Leadership
College
College of Education
First Advisor
Ferguson, Sarah
Second Advisor
Kerrigan, Monica Reid
Third Advisor
Cavallaro, Marion
Keywords
Career Decision-Making, Community College, Higher Education, Leadership Development, Quasi-Experimental, Self-Efficacy
Subject(s)
Vocational guidance; Community college students
Disciplines
Higher Education | Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Abstract
The overall purpose of this quasi-experimental research study was to determine if a formalized leadership development program had an effect on a community college student's level of career decision-making self-efficacy. This research study utilized the Career Exploration & Decision-Making Learning Experiences Scale (CEDLE) and the Career Exploration & Decisional Self-Efficacy Brief Decisional (CEDSE-BD) questionnaire to determine a student's level of career decision-making self-efficacy before and after participation in a leadership intervention (n = 411). Propensity Score Matching was utilized to account for a variety of confounding variables and self-selection bias. Results showed that community college students who participated in a leadership development intervention had lower levels of career decision-making self-efficacy than those who did not participate (p = .05). Although it was statistically significant, the data showed a very small treatment effect size (less than 2%). Additional variables were studied including gender, race/ethnicity, age, and the management of the leadership program. Results indicated that gender, race/ethnicity, and management were not statistically significant in relationship to career decision-making self-efficacy, however age was found to be statistically significant (p = .01). Research limitations, implications for policy and practice, and future areas of research are discussed.
Recommended Citation
McElroy, Sarah Jane, "Impact of a leadership development intervention on career decision-making self-efficacy of community college students: A quasi-experimental research design" (2019). Theses and Dissertations. 2638.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/2638