Department Choice Process of Psychology Students in Wide Perspective

Abstract

Career decision is very important in human life. So many career decision making studies were conducted in various occupational groups. However most of these studies include limited perspectives from different occupational groups and none of them includes psychology department specifically. In this study, researchers investigate underlying factors related to decision of the psychology department in a wide perspective. Firstly, researchers try to understand deeply their common points, motivations, cognitive, and contextual factors. Secondly, researchers consider department (career) choice as a process, which begins in their childhood; persist through their life-span. Semi-structured interviews and drawing tasks were used in this study with nine psychology juniors. After the thematic analysis, 5 main themes were found. Researchers modeled probable factors as, four of the main themes (goal-directed, contextual and, characteristic reasons, and alternative choices) directly affect decision making but one of them, which is process related experiences affects indirectly the decision itself. Psychology students’ general personality features are mostly achievement seeker, hardworking, helpful and problem solver, most of them are introverted and had a somewhat quiet childhood. Also, people who know about psychology, counselors of schools, suggest psychology whereas people who do not know about psychology, school teachers, and relatives, suggest law and even contempt psychology.