Factors influencing career choices of Native American and Caucasian American high school students: a replication study

Abstract

Senior high school level students are at a critical career decision stage. Indian educators historically postulate Native American students have difficulty in their secondary educational experiences. Native and Caucasian students need direction, education and encouragement for post-secondary plans to occur. With high dropout rates still a major problem for Native American students, research on career choices seems critical. Stout student Cynthia Scharr Newcomb completed an original study in 1992 in Bayfield and Ashland High schools. This replication study was conducted to determine relative factors influencing career and occupational decision making. Factors to be identified involved relatives, peers, school faculty, community members and immediate family members. A three–page modified survey was given to similar junior and senior level subjects. The survey results were analyzed to examine major influences in career paths for junior and senior students at the Hayward and Lakeland High Schools. These two groups of selected subjects are located within northern Wisconsin. The research compared two Northern Wisconsin ethnic groups, Caucasian and native Americans, to identify factors that can assist educational personnel in improving post-secondary opportunities for high school youth of both ethnic backgrounds. A Stout statistician calculated descriptive statistics from the student’s self-identified ethnicity. Comparison scores were conducted to determine factors of importance to each ethnic group career choice. Non reservation and reservation students’ choices were also examined.