Factors influencing career decision-making and post-secondary career choices of a cohort group of female Cuban immigrants.

摘要

The purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing career decision-making and post-secondary career choices of a group of Hispanic females. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority population in the United States, and the group with the lowest educational attainment. This research will contribute to fill the void of career development literature, particularly in the area of female ethnic minority gaining access to higher education, and their career choices. Among the Hispanic ethnic groups, Cubans have achieved the highest educational attainment in the United States.;The subjects for this study are part of a cohort group of a total population of 14,038 Cuban immigrant children, now adults, who came without their parents to the United States, during the early 1960's, and were part of a secret operation called "Operation Peter [Pedro] Pan." A cohort group of 57 female Pedro Pan adolescents from this group was sent to San Antonio, Texas. This study showed some unique characteristics and factors that influenced the cohort group's decision-making and career choices.;The research design was a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. The study consisted of an initial pre-interview questionnaire that was sent to all the subjects in the cohort group sent to San Antonio, Texas. Subsequent to the data analysis, a selected group of nine subjects were identified for in-depth interviews for case studies. The selection was based on the following criteria: (a) subjects who chose post-secondary careers and whose parents had post-secondary educational attainment; (b) subjects who chose post-secondary careers and whose parents did not have post-secondary educational attainment; and (c) subjects who did not choose careers in post-secondary education, regardless of their parents' educational attainment.;This study affirms Super's (1957) theory of career development for some of the factors (role, personal, and situational) which influenced career decision-making and career choices of this cohort group. However, other factors such as level of English proficiency; school climate experience, discrimination; self-esteem were also variables that emerged as having influence. This study suggests that Super's theory needs to be refined for a more comprehensive model of career development for female ethnic minorities.