Document Type : Original Research
Authors
1 School of Business, Malaysia University of Science and Technology, Kota Damansara, Selangor, Malaysia
2 School of Business, Malaysia University of Science and Technology, Kota Damansara, Selangor, Malaysia.
Abstract
On an annual basis, data shows that there are numerous university and college students that fail to complete their courses and graduate with the intended degree or diploma in hand. The aim of this study is to explore the factors that influences the decision making of a student when it comes to choosing varsity courses, investigate how these factors can impact the students’ decisions and provide recommendation on how the cognitive behaviour and academic excellence can be used to make a sound decision, setting the students for success in their varsity life. This research has narrowed down to three major factors which are personal, interpersonal and environmental. The study is conducted using a Likert scale method further expanding the factors into subdivisions for the participants to rank. The population (data set) for this survey is 50 students from all walks of life but concentrated in Klang Valley. The key findings from the study shows the most prominent factor are Personal factors. The second most influential item are Environmental factors. Interpersonal factors come in third. Concluding this research, it is prudent to obtain a bigger and robust data set. A future practical application of this research can be developed by a tool which further provides a systematic solution for all its users to yield the best potential and make the best-informed decision when furthering their education.
Keywords
Pascual, N.T. (2014) Factors affecting high school students' career preference: a basis for career planning program. Retrieved from http://www.urs.edu.ph/wp-content/ uploads/2016/06/2261-4881-1-PB.pdf
Study Malaysia (2015, March 16) A Glance At The Malaysian Education System. Retrieved from https://www.studymalaysia.com/education/higher-education-in-malaysia/a-glance-at-the-malaysian-education-system.
Lankard, B. A. (1995). New ways of learning in the workplace. College Park, MD: ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation. (Eric Digest No. 161. ED385778)
Zahorsky, D. (2018, January 8) 5 Elements of a SMART Business Goal. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancesmb.com/elements-of-a-smart-business-goal-2951530
Cooper, P. (2017, December 19) College Completion Rates Are Still Disappointing. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/prestoncooper2/2017/12/19/college-completion-rates-are-still-disappointing/#2f9315db263a
Amadeo, K (2018, February 19) Why the Dollar Is the Global Currency? Retrieved from: https://www.thebalance.com/world-currency-3305931
Kolodner, M. (2017, April 6) 6 Reasons You May Not Graduate on Time (and What to Do About It). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/06/education /edlife/6-reasons-you-may-not-graduate-on-time.html
Selingo, J. (2017, June 8) Why do so many students drop out of college? And what can be done about it? Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/06/08/why-do-so-many-students-drop-out-of-college-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.9147adcfc03a
Klotz, T. (2018, March 12) INVESTING IN PRIVATE EDUCATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. Retrieved from https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Publications/Investing-in-private-education-in-Southeast-Asia.html
Hamid, A. & Aziz H. (2016, August 24) Malaysia aims to have varsities in the same league as Oxford, Cambridge within 20 years. Retrieved from https://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/08/167849/malaysia-aims-have-varsities-same-league-oxford-cambridge-within-20-years
Amadeo, K. (2018, August 29) What Is Competitive Advantage? Three Strategies That Work. Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-competitive-advantage -3-strategies-that-work-3305828
Brackett, M., Rivers, S.E., Shiffman, S., Lerner N. & Salovey, P. (2006). Relating emotional abilities to social functioning: a comparison of self-report and performance measures of emotional intelligence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91,780-795. (PDF) Emotional intelligence in Education. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228389182_Emotional_intelligenc e_in_Education%20[accessed%20Jul%2023%202018].
Mayer, J.D., Salovey, P. & Caruso, D. (2000). Models of emotional intelligence. In R.J. Sternberg (ed.), Handbook of intelligence (pp. 396-420). New York: Cambridge. (PDF) Emotional intelligence in Education. Retrieved from https://www. researchgate.net/profile/Pablo_Fernandez-Berrocal/publication/2283 89182_Emotional_intelligence_in_Education/links/0912f50a3e6fe8adff000000/Emotional-intelligence-in-Education.pdf?origin=publication_detail
Oermann, M. H. (1990). Psychomotor skill development. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 21(5), 202 – 204.
Schmidt, R. A., & Wrisberg, C. A. (2008). Motor learning and performance: A situation-based learning approach. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Simpson, E.J. (1966). The classification of educational objectives, psychomotor domain. Illinois Teacher of Home Economies, 1966, 10, 110-144.
Malaysian Student Statistics. Retrieved from https://moe.gov.my/index.php/my/statistik-kpm/statistik-bilangan-sekolah-murid-guru
Zajonc, A. (2006). “Cognitive-affective connections in teaching and learning: the relationship between love and knowledge”. Journal of Cognitive Affective Learning, 3/1, (2006), s. 1-9.
Culpepper R.A. (2006). The Role Of Perceptions Of Future Extrinsic Utcomes And Person-Environment Congruence In Career Choice. Retrieved from https://www. abacademies.org/articles/jocccvol10no22006.pdf
Cebula, R., & Lopes, J. (1981, November 2). Determinants of Student Choice of Undergraduate Major Field. Retrieved from https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/ 49826/1/MPRA_paper_49826.pdf
Eidimtas, A., & Juceviciene, P (2014, February 21). Factors Influencing School-leavers Decision to Enrol in Higher Education. Retrieved from https://ac.els-cdn.com/S1877042814008945/1-s2.0-S1877042814008945-main.pdf?_tid=2ad87df2-aad7-4d5d-b2cd-a7342e251d9b&acdnat=1546776024_cf590e7ab5b63d0881dc85d09a6fbab9
Chen, L.S., & Liew, S.A. (2015). Factors Influencing Career Decision-Making Difficulties among Graduating Students from Malaysian Private Higher Educational Institutions. Retrieved from https://wbiworldconpro.com/uploads /malaysia-conference-2015-february/management/1422955559.pdf
Mansor, M., & Rashid, A.M. (2013). Career Indecision: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Students of National Youth Skills Training Institutes. Retrieved from https://www.idosi.org/mejsr/mejsr17(8)13/12.pdf
Teo, A.K. (2009). A Study On The Values, Interests, Skills, And Career Indecision Among Students At The College Of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia. Retrieved from http://etd.uum.edu.my/1870/2/1.Teo_Aik_Chuan.pdf
Porter, S.P., & Umbach, P.D. (2006, June 4). COLLEGE MAJOR CHOICE: An Analysis of Person–Environment Fit. Research in Higher Education, 47 (04). Retrieved from http://stephenporter.org/misc/collegemajorchoice.pdf
Sridhar, S. (2014, September 3). Instead of a doctor or an engineer… Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/features/education/careers/career-oriented-youngsters-looking-out-for-other-options-than-medicine-and-engineering/article6372997.ece
Simpson, J.C. (2001, January). Segregated by Subject: Racial Differences in the Factors Influencing Academic Major between European Americans, Asian Americans, and African, Hispanic, and Native Americans. Journal of Higher Education, 72 (01). Retrieved from https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-69257781/segrega ted-by-subject-racial-differences-in-the-factors
Hodges, N., & Karpova, E. (2010, July). Majoring in fashion: A theoretical framework for understanding the decision-making process. International Journal of Fashion Design, 21(2), 67-76. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/ 233256543_Majoring_in_fashion_A_theoretical_framework_for_understanding_the_decision-making_process
Afterschool. (2017, April 18). 5 reasons students choose the wrong course. Retrieved from https://afterschool.my/articles/5-reasons-students-choose-the-wrong-course
Sani, R. (2017, March 15). What's next after SPM? Retrieved from https://www.nst .com.my/news/2017/03/220926/whats-next-after-spm
Leach, L., & Zepke, N. (2005). Student decision-making by prospective tertiary students: A review of existing New Zealand and overseas literature. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.600.7751&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Donnelly, K. (2015, August 25). Wrong course choice by half of drop-outs. Retrieved from https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/wrong-course-choice-by-half-of-dropouts-31475552.html
Lee, W.V. (2009, December). Choosing a college major: Factors that might influence the way students make decisions. Retrieved from https://conservancy.umn.edu/ bitstream/handle/11299/58517/Lee_umn_0130E_10888.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Heppner, P.P. et al. (1995, July). Progress in Resolving Problems: A Problem-Focused Style of Coping. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 42(3), 279-293. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232440520_Progress_in_Resolving_Problems_A_Problem-Focused_Style_of_Coping
Sia, K. (2012, March 9). Don't Go To University For The Sake Of It. Retrieved from https://www.malaysia-students.com/2012/03/dont-go-to-university-for-sake-of-it.html
Villella, E.F., & Hu, M. (1990, September) College Choice as a Linking Variable Between Recruitment and Retention. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 3(1), 79-88. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/ 10.1300/J050v03n01_06?scroll=top&needAccess=true
Krause, K.L. et al. (2005, January). The First Year Experience In Australian Universities: Findings From A Decade Of National Studies. Retrieved from http:// citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.469.9673&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Singh, J.S. (1987). “Malaysia: International Higher Education. International Higher Education Volume 1: An Encyclopedia, 1 (1), 511-523.
Mohamad, M. (2001, April 3). THE THIRD OUTLINE PERSPECTIVE PLAN (OPP3). Retrieved from http://www.pmo.gov.my/ucapan/?m=p&p=mahathir&id=1623
Lajiun, J. (2012, September 26). Staggering dropout rate before SPM. Retrieved from http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/09/26/staggering-dropout-rate-before-spm/
Burke, L. (2016, September 9). University attrition rates: Why are so many students dropping out? Retrieved from https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/ university-attrition-rates-why-are-so-many-students-dropping-out/news-story/3e4 91dd119e1249a5a3763ef8010f8b5
Chen, X. (2013, November). STEM Attrition: College Students’ Paths Into and Out of STEM Fields (NCES 2014-001). Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2014 /2014001rev.pdf
Azhar, K. (2018, January 11). Cover Story: Two years to 2020: High-income or developed nation? Retrieved from http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cover-story-two-years-2020-highincome-or-developed-nation
Weale, S. (2018, March 8). University drop-out rates in UK rise for third successive year. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/mar/08/university-drop-out-rates-uk-rise-third-year
Cooper, P. (2017, December 19). College Completion Rates Are Still Disappointing. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/prestoncooper2/2017/12/19/college-completion-rates-are-still-disappointing/#5fda3dc2263a
Gustavus (n.d.) Choosing Your Major: Importance of the Decision-Making Process. Retrieved from https://gustavus.edu/care/majors/
James, R. (1999, August 25). Non-traditional students and their university participation: An Australian perspective on persistent inequities and the new ideology of ‘student choice’. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1 .1.201.6881&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Taylor, J., & Anh, N. (2003, February). Post-high School Choices: New Evidence from a Multinomial Logit Model. Journal of Population Economics, 16(2), 287-306. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24059183_Post-high_School_Choices_New_Evidence_from_a_Multinomial_Logit_Model
Payne, J. (2003, April). Choice at the end of compulsory schooling: A research review. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/cfd1/36e9589233d58ba4d4ae4a 3907ee76dccd8e.pdf
Maxwell, G., et. al. (2000). How people choose vocational on aspiration and personal influences education and training programs. Retrieved from https://www.ncver.edu.au/__data/assets/file/0015/8016/how-people-choose-494.pdf
Bloomer, M., & Hodkinson, P. (1997). Moving into FE: The Voice of the Learner. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED414494.pdf
James, R. (2000, January). How school-leavers choose a preferred university course and possible effects on the quality of the school-university transition. Retrieved from http://www.aair.org.au/app/webroot/media/pdf/JIR/Journal%20of%20Institutional%20Research%20in%20Australasia%20and%20JIR/Volume%209,%20No.%201%20May%202000/James.pdf
Brennan, L.M. (2000, January). A buyer behavior perspective of university choice. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235329986_How_prosp ective_students_choose_universities_A_buyer_behaviour_perspective
Latifah, I. (2015, October). Factors Influencing Malaysian Students’ Choice Of Major In Universities In The United Kingdom. Retrieved from https://www.tojqih.net/ journals/tojqih/articles/v02i04/v02i04-02.pdf
Harren, V.A. (1979). A Model of Career Decision Making for College Students. Journal of Vocational Behaviour, 14(1), 119-133. Retrieved from https://www.academia .edu/544006/A_model_of_career_decision_making_for_college_students
Janis, I.L., & Mann, L. (1979, March). Decision Making: A Psychological Analysis of Conflict, Choice, and Commitment. American Political Science Association, 73(1). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232576704_ Decision_Making_A_Psychological_Analysis_of_Conflict_Choice_and_Commitment
Sangodiah, A., et. al. (2015, January 31). Minimizing Student Attrition In Higher Learning Institutions In Malaysia Using Support Vector Machine. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 71(3). Retrieved from http://www.jatit.org/volumes/Vol71No3/8Vol7 1No3.pdf
)