Interest Requires Knowledge: Initial Development of a Measure of Career Knowledge

• In Event: Examining Experiences in Career and Technical Education

Abstract

This paper details an initial pilot study of a measure of career knowledge that can be specified to career titles, focusing here on surveying and mapping careers in the engineering technician cluster. STEM technician and technologist careers can be accessible options for students requiring less advanced coursework and higher education. However, many students are not aware of these career options and have limited resources to explore through school-based career programs. A measure of career knowledge was developed and piloted to address the need for empirical data to support student knowledge of these careers. Exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis results are presented, as well as correlations with other related constructs to support the validity of this new measurement tool.

Authors

• Sarah Ferguson, Rowan University

• Kara Ieva, Rowan University

• Theresa Cann, Rowan University

• Christopher Winkler, Rowan University