Domain-Specific Career Aspirations, Motivation, and Achievement in Math and Reading Across Adolescence (Poster 26)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Wednesday 4:20 p.m.
  In Poster Session: Motivation, Emotion, and Engagement Across Contexts

Abstract

Based on expectancy-value and dimensional comparison theory, domain-specific motivational beliefs (e.g., self-concept) are important predictors of adolescents’ career aspirations. However, we know relatively little about how domain-specific career aspirations evolve across adolescence, and whether they predict future domain-specific motivation. This study used longitudinal data from Germany (N=8,289) to evaluate the stability, trajectories, and predictors for math- and reading-related career aspirations. Further, we investigated whether within- and cross-domain associations to self-concept and motivation change over time, as well as if career aspirations predict future self-concept and motivation. We observed increasing stability and importance levels of math- and reading-related career aspirations. We found longitudinal within- and cross-domain effects mainly for the reading domain, and discuss implications for career orientation.

Authors

• Elisabeth Graf, TU Dortmund University

• Joerg-Tobias Kuhn, TU Dortmund University

• Nele McElvany, TU Dortmund University