Abstract:

A present study is an approach to investigating the attitudes that students have towards choosing a future professional career. Attitudes have been shown to have a predictive effect on human behavior. In professional vocation, they can influence the choice of a career path that does not necessarily align with their abilities or preferences, but instead, choose one with a profile profitable career path that delivers social status. For this study, a sample of 1155 students (763 men and 392 women), from state schools (50%), private (17.7%), and subsidized (31.95%) from the last two years of secondary education in the province of Arequipa (Peru) was collected.

A short four-item questionnaire was designed that explores:
(1) the assessment of the profitability of a career over the vocation,
(2) the assessment of following the wishes of the parents over the vocation,
(3) the belief that there are careers more valuable than others, and
(4) the belief in the existence of careers for people more intelligent than others.

The items were measured on a 5-point Likert scale (completely agree - completely disagree) and applied with informed consent. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed, which showed good general fit (x2 = 2.77, df = 2, p = 0.251). In a Poisson regression model, it could be observed that men maintain 9% (p <0.001) more this type of attitudes than students women. Furthermore, students from private schools show 5% (p = 0.03) less profitability and status attitudes than students from state schools; and students from subsidized schools maintain 8.1% (p <0.001) less profitability and status attitudes than students from state schools. No differences were observed in vocational attitudes between students who reported wanting to study STEM and non-STEM careers. The social factors that favor maintaining attitudes more oriented to economic profitability and social status search are discussed. Men from lower socioeconomic strata are more pressured to seek them due to the need for a future with greater economic certainty.

Keywords:

Attitudes, Vocation, Secondary Students, STEM careers.