A Comparison of the Perceived Prevocational/Career Development Needs of Inner-City Youth: Implications for Program Development.

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the differences in perceived importance and need of prevocational education, vocational counseling and career decision-making on the basis of sex, classification (grade or position), and work experience. Two hundred-six students and forty-four educators from four high schools in Detroit, Michigan, volunteered to participate in the study. Data collected was indexed and submitted to analyses by the t-Test and ANOVA. Post-hoc comparisons were done to facilitate in-depth exploration of indexed measures where significant differences were revealed. Comparisons of students based on sex showed females to have higher means on the perceived need of Prevocational Education and Vocational Counseling. Comparisons based on classification showed twelfth grade students to have higher means than ninth grade students on the perceived importance and need for all three variables. Students with more than one year of work experience had higher means than students with less than one year on perceived importance of all the variables. On the basis of sex and classification (teachers and counselors), comparisons of educators responses revealed no differences. Comparisons made on the basis of work experience showed educators with more than fifteen years of experience to have higher means than those with less than fifteen years of experience on the perceived importance of prevocational education and career decision-making, and the perceived need for prevocational education. All comparisons made between educators and students consistently revealed significant differences. The results of this study support the premise that perceived needs are useful in terms of developing and /or modifying programs, classroom experiences and counseling practices.