Career maturity, career knowledge, and self knowledge among psychology honours students : an exploratory study

Abstract

This study explores career maturity, self knowledge and career knowledge and how they influence career decision-making processes among psychology honours students at a South African institution of higher learning. A mixed method approach was used to collect data among (N=62) students who were asked to fill in two career development questionnaires namely, the Career Decision-making Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ) and the Career Development Questionnaire (CDQ). 10 scales were measured using the CDDQ. Analysis of the CDDQ revealed moderate difficulties on the General Indecisiveness, Dysfunctional Beliefs and Occupational Information scales. Pertaining to the CDQ, 5 distinct scales which explore the levels of Self information (Self knowledge), Decision making, Career information (Career knowledge), Integration of self information and career information, and Career planning were assessed. Analysis of the CDQ revealed that respondents had adequate levels of career maturity. The results of the content analysis on the qualitative data indicate clinical psychology to be the most popular in relation to other fields of study, followed by research psychology counselling psychology and psychometry.