THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAREER SELF-EFFICACY AND CAREER EXPLORATION IN GRADE IX STUDENTS OF SMP NEGERI 22 MEDAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66851/ijcp.v1i3.332Keywords:
career self efficacy, career exploration, junior high school student, scct, counselingAbstract
This study aims to examine the relationship between career self-efficacy and career exploration in Grade IX students of SMP Negeri 22 Medan. The study employs a quantitative correlational design with 118 students selected through simple random sampling from a population of 281 students. Data were collected using a career self-efficacy scale (30 items; α = 0.899) based on Taylor and Betz’s (1983) Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSE), and a career exploration scale (31 items; α = 0.895) based on Stumpf et al.’s (1983) framework. Due to non-normal distribution in one variable, Spearman’s Rho correlation was applied. Results revealed a positive and significant relationship between career self-efficacy and career exploration (r = 0.618, p < 0.001), categorized as a strong correlation. Career self-efficacy contributed 38.2% to career exploration variance. Both variables were predominantly at a moderate level. These findings support Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and underscore the importance of developing students’ career self-efficacy through targeted school guidance and counseling programs to promote more active career exploration.
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