SOUTH EAST ASIA INSTITUTE OF TRADE AND TECHNOLOGY

2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan

Marilao Branch

College Course Decision Making of STEM Students of South East Asia

Institute of Trade and Technology Amidst

COVID-19 Pandemic  

Submitted by:

Afable, Mark Jason A.

Agustin, Angelica
Alcantara Marco
Badiangon, Janry N.
Caballero, Venneth Cruz
David, Ralf
Garcia, Eloisa Marie
Labog, Jonathan
Morte, Albert Buban
Stamaria, Edson

Submitted to:

Ms. Joanna S. Guiterrez

Research Adviser

SEPTEMBER 2021

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2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan
Marilao Branch

Table of Contents

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2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan
Marilao Branch

Acknowledgement

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2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan
Marilao Branch

Abstract

Afable, M.J., Agustin, A., Amir, M., Badiangon, J., Caballero, V., David, R., Garcia, E.,

Labog, J., Morte, A.B.

This study is conducted to examine the college course decision-making of the South

East Asia Institute of Trade and Technology students. This investigation is focused primarily

on factors that can affect student’s college course decision making. The information and data

was acquired through survey questionnaires and internet interviews.

Dedication

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SOUTH EAST ASIA INSTITUTE OF TRADE AND TECHNOLOGY
2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan
Marilao Branch

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2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan
Marilao Branch

Chapter I

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Choosing a college course is a difficult task. The process of choosing a career is one

of the biggest decision in an individual’s life because it is the process of defining what they

want to become in the future. In a moment of uncertainty caused by the COVID-19

pandemic, incoming college students make difficult decisions about which course to choose.

There are many factors that might affect this decision including family, financial stability,

own preference or any role model in student’s life. Some people are lucky enough to just

know what they want to do and end up satisfying careers without giving it too much thought,

most are not. Family background refers to the kind of family and kind of surroundings of the

student. Parent’s information may affect a student’s decision in choosing course. Parent’s

think that when they suggest to their children in what course is better, yet they tend to ignore

what their children desire. Choosing a career has a significant impact on student lives.

Nevertheless, some student has difficulties in choosing a career.

Friends or peer influence can also affect student’s decision on choosing a course

since, as a teenager it is important for them to feel accepted in a group. Student who wants to

belong to a group could affect their decision and tend to end up taking a degree where their

friends or peer wants. This choice point is undoubtedly the most critical stage. This is

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2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan
Marilao Branch

because making a wrong career decision can make one’s happiness in life as this could result

to career mal adjustment. Choosing and deciding on something have consequences. The

result of what have chosen can either help them in the future or not. It is also the same with

the course that you will have decide. Studying throughout college years should take part and

not being take for granted. Decision-making is logical way of setting one’s mind to choose

amidst to possibilities to satisfy man’s ease. This is true as stated that good decision-making

is an essential skill for career success generally and effective leadership particularly, it is the

time for an individual to be a successful person, must possess good decision-making.

When choosing a career path, an individual is looking far into his or her future at

their ultimate objective. It's a difficult decision to make because it affects their happiness,

work fulfillment, and career advancement. This can guide them in to choose positions that

they want to achieve in an overall income and building a personal and professional networks

in an industry they are interested.

This research will help those upcoming students that will engage in their college life,

because there are many students who are suffering from choosing their preferred track, so the

researchers made this research to lessen the suffering of students. This will make their life

much better. It will help those students that has been pressured by their peers and their

family. The researcher knew that if an individual does not love his or her job, it will not be

able to succeed. According to (Qualifax, 2020), The best way to make sure the happiness and

contentment of an individual is to make a well-throughout decision.

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2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan
Marilao Branch

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The aim of this is to guide students to easily choose their preferred college

course. Hence, the research problem and the objectives of the study are the following:

1. What are the factors that influence STEM students in selecting STEM related

courses?

2. What are the factors that affect graduating student’s decision in choosing their

course?

3. What demographic characteristic that could affect students in choosing their course?

4. Is there a significant relationship between college decision making and the current

situation which is COVID-19 Pandemic?

HYPOTHESIS

Null Hypothesis: There is no significant relationship between college decision making and

the current situation which is COVID-19 Pandemic.

Alternative Hypothesis: There is a significant relationship between college decision making

and the current situation which is COVID-19 Pandemic.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Every study has its own importance and implication. Pursuing the study will

serve and give the readers a number of purposes. The researchers believe that this study will

benefit the following:

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2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan
Marilao Branch

To Administrators, The study would serve as a reading that will enable them

to work with the teachers to help the students deciding on what path are they going to take. It

will also help them to conduct seminars in school regarding decision-making and choosing

career to take.

To Teachers, This information gathered disclose the possibilities that the

teachers would probably give some advice and information about the different career that

students might take. They also become one of the factors in realization of students choosing a

goal that cause for a better future.

To Parents, This research aims to help the parents understand their child’s

endeavor. The would take a big part on their child’s decision-making towards setting their

goal.

To Student, particularly STEM student. This would help them to be more

aware of their interests and more certain of what they want to become in the future.

To Curriculum Designer, This research would also benefit the curriculum

designer because it could improve programs and activities aligned to education and they

could develop the minds of the students in choosing career path they want to take.

To Future Researchers, This research would serve as a reference that would

help in conducting their own research study.

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2nd Floor, Grand Rial Building, Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan
Marilao Branch

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS

This research will be conducted  in the 1st semester of the school year 2021-2022

at South East Asia Institute of Trade and Technology at Marilao, Bulacan. The scope of this

research focused on factors that affect student’s decision in selecting a career amidst COVID-

19 pandemic. This study coverage on the selected Grade 12 Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Mathematics students and delimited to respondent’s perception on the

factors that could affect the student’s decision for college course.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

1.) Senior High School – In this research, Senior High School is the additional two

years for students based on the K-12 program.

2.) STEM – In this research, STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics is the Senior High School strand for the students who wants to pursue

STEM related courses such as engineering, nursing, doctor and other science and

other careers involving science and technology.

3.) Demographic – In this research, Demographic refers to distinct characteristics of a

population.  Some examples of demographics are age, sex, education, nationality,

ethnicity, income and employment.

4.) Track – In this research, Tracks are field of education that students will choose upon

entering Senior High School.

5.) Strand – In this research, Strand is a division of a track that specialize a certain field.

6.) Career - In this research, Career is an occupation that the students will have in the

near future after they decide what course would they choose.

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7.) COVID-19 Pandemic – In this research, the COVID-19 pandemic is an infectious

disease affecting the educational system and college decisions.

8.) College Course – In this research, College course is a class offered by a college or

university. It is a series that consists lessons or lectures on a particular subject or

course.

9.) Decision Making - In this research, Decision making is an action that takes

responsibility after doing it, to decide what the students want especially when

choosing a college course.

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Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

RELATED LITERATURE (LOCAL)

The goal of this is to enable each learner in institutions of learning to derive optional

benefits to utilize his or her potential (Ibrahim, 2014). It also instils confidence and positive

attitudes, derives fulfillment and incolcates an eagerness for life-long learning (Ajofo, 2013).

According to Erikson (2013), career choice is seen as one of the major tasks in late

adolescents' identity development. As you gain experiences through different stages of your

career, you will find yourself in this process again. As you start to explore career options,

first assess your interests, values and personality to develop an understanding of your

technical and transferable skills. Doing this inventory will help focus your search so that you

can direct your efforts in the most productive way (Yale).

There are different factors that affect students undecidability in making career

choices. One of which is family related factors. According to Pascual (2014), study revealed

that Filipino immigrants and non-immigrants rely heavily on their family's decision making.

Furthermore, she stated that, "sad to say but very few studies are made to investigate success

of career path used in the students of the Philippines, even the factors that affect the career

choice of Filipino students". Students are not properly oriented as to what course to choose

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out of their interest and skills. More so, students are opt. career they think will give better

paying job in the future. As what Salazar (2014) posts, "what College education could the

students may take to finish they studies quickly to get a job quickly?". In other words, their

concern is not finding guideposts in a career path, but peso signs that would lead them out of

poverty.

According to Franco and Patel (2017), there are five related categories regarding the

understanding and experiences of the students: students’ thinking of engagement, challenges

influencing engagement, teachers’ facilitation of engagement, course assignments, and

engagement, and facilitation of content utility.

A strong positive STEM identity is a predictor of future career choice in a STEM

field (Martin-Hasen, 2018). According to Villena (2017), the K to 12 program

implementation helped the students to be prepared in their future career, as they finish the

SHS, the career guidance program assisted them in deciding the best career to be taken in the

future.

RELATED STUDIES (LOCAL)

Career Choice Choosing the right career is becoming more and more important for

young students today (Fizer, 2013) and preference of the student on the career to take in the

future is affected by other factors other than skills and personalities they have (Pascual,

2014).

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According to Khane (2015), the role models influence adolescents career choice.

"The decision of making of students on what career they may take could be based on what

they seen to the people around them " and such factors relate positively to desirable career

due.

Holland (2015), claimed that both people work environment can be categorized and

then matched to each other. Holland's theory aims to categorized people according to what

type of work they are most interested in and then categorized occupations under the same

scheme to measure their congruence. In Holland's words “Some people tend to act on their

dominant interest and seek occupations aligned on their interests". Assuming the energy

human being seeks satisfaction from his or her work; It is correlates, their meaning and

sources of satisfaction, that are likely to vary across cultures. "It is based on the underlying

premise that career choice is an expression of one's personalities and similar histories"

(Swamson & Fraud:64, 2012).

According to McQuiad and Bond (2011), the student perception of being suitable for

particular jobs also has been found to be influenced by a number of factors including ethnic

background, year in school, the level of achievement, choice of science subjects, attitudes and

differences in job characteristic.

And Quinter (2011), concluded that the availability of advancement opportunities and

learning experiences are the most influential factors affecting career choices. The National

Career Service (NCS) built on the Previous Next Step and Career Advice Service, and

launched in 2012 to provide high quality careers information and independent professional

advice and guidance (Drehmann, 2012). Other publicy-funded advisers, such as those in

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Jobcentre Plus, and informal support from family, friends and colleagues have also been

identified as sources of career advice in a recent evidence review (UK Commission for

Employment and Sales, 2011).

RELATED LITERATURE (FOREIGN)

Career choice is a significant issue in the developmental lives of youths because it is

reported to be associated with positive as well as harmful psychological, physical and socio-

economic inequalities that persist well beyond the youthful age into an individual’s adult life

(Robertson, 2014; Bubic and Ivanisevic, 2016).

Younger children are more likely to offer answers about their ideal career which may

represent their envisioned utopia and phenomenal perceptions about what they want to do

when they grow up (Howard and Walsh, 2011). As children get older, they are more likely to

describe their career choice as a dynamic interplay of their developmental stages and the

prevailing environmental circumstances (Howard and Walsh, 2011).

Youth career decision making is required to go through a process of understanding by

defining what they want to do and exploring a variety of career options with the aid of

guidance and planning (Porfeli and Lee, 2012). Proper handling of the process affirms

individual identity and fosters well-being, job satisfaction and stability (Kunnen, 2013).

Nobleza and Cleo Bernadette M. Valliente, (2016), academic experience is the most

influencing factor in choosing senior high school academic track and recommendation of

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friends and family backgrounds have a moderate influence. Students have their own life.

They are still normal people who are being affected by other people. The academic

performance of people has the most influencing factor because it determines their ability to

do work in the future. The students are just children who play at their playground, which is

the whole world.

RELATED STUDIES (FOREIGN)

According to the study entitled Factors Affecting High School Students’ Career

Preference: A Basis for Career Planning Program by Dr. Nancy T. Pascual, (2014), the

personality, ability, and intellect serves as the guide of students in choosing their career or

course to take in college. He also added that experiencing the career suited for the students

could be a big help in the future of the students.

Career usually really depends on the individual. For some, career is measured by

financial and material accumulation others base career on recognition and popularity. Still

others believe that career or success comes only through helping others or making a

contribution to society.

Career is a critical decision that every individual makes as it impacts all aspects of his

or her life in the future. Preparing for a career is an important task in adolescence when career

exploration is an important is a key developmental task. Exploration involves active seeking

of information about careers. Therefore, it has been of interest to researchers to explore the

various avenues from which adolescents seek career information (Levine & Hoffiner:

Millward, Houston, Brown & Barett).

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Dagang and de inesa (2017), said that parents have strong influence on their

children's decision making. It is deeply noted in the consciousness of the Filipino people the

respect for elders, hence the strong influence of parents on children decision. In a Filipino

family, children are financially dependent on their parents. Ibrahim (2017) revealed that

family members have the highest contribution in influencing students to the profession or

career to the fact that family is usually who provided financial supports to them. Eremie and

Okwulehie (2018) indicated that factors such as environmental, opportunity and personality

can influence the choice of career among students. In terms of environmental factors, it

revealed that family, socioeconomic status and peer groups have significant influence on the

students' choice of career while in opportunity factors such as education and mentorship also

had infirence to the choice of career as well as the personality factors such as the students

interest, values and skills in choosing their courses. In comparison, study of Kazi and Aklaq

(2017), an individual environment, talents, skills and academic achievements exert an

influence on career choice.

Olaoswbikan and Olusakin (2014) indicated that parental influence will not have

significant effect on adolescent’s career choice and that perception of parental occupational

satisfaction will not have effect on career aspirations of adolescents based on the intervening

variables such as sex and type of school. Malubay, Mercado and Macasaet (2015) noticed the

primary factor affecting the decision of freshmen students in taking up specified courses or

programs is the economic factors that include economic stable wages and in demand jobs.

According to Bennett, Kinght, Bawa, and Dockery (2021) The study engaged 12,576

students enrolled at Australian universities. The findings suggest that STEM(M) students'

career decision making is guided by their interest in the subject and their intentions to help

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people. Within the STEM(M) cohort, students in medicine and health were more confident in

their career decision making than either their STEM or non-STEM(M) peers. Of interest, they

were less aware of alternative career pathways and less prepared to reorient their careers

should this be necessary. Female students reported greater confidence than male students in

their career decision making, career identity, and career commitment. Implications include

the need for career narratives beyond the STEM industries and for career development

initiatives that are mindful of disciplinary and gendered differences.

Better STEM careers activity arises where subject teachers see the preparation of

young people for work, as an integral part of their professional role, and where they have the

professional skills and confidence to act on this (Finegold, Stagg, & Hutchinson, 2011).

SYNTHESIS OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Grade 11 and 12 are Senior High School (SHS) students who are enrolled in

specialization based on attitude, interests, and school capacity. The choice of career track will

define the content of the subjects a student will take in grade 11 and 12. Preparation in the

right education and right occupation is very crucial and must be supported or guided by

educational organizations. Career may never be achieved without containing education. The

essence of student will revolve around the things that student wants to do with their lives.

Kazi and Aklaq (2019) in view of foregoing, The need to teach the students with appropriate

career decision skills is highly imperature. There are different factors that affect student’s

decision in making career choices. According to Pasqual (2014), Study revealed that Filipino

rely heavily on their family’s decision making. Family influence has increased rapidly. The

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first interactions of a child with people takes place within its home among member of its

family who include parents, siblings and relatives. (Bollu, 2013).

Careers of parents may have an influence on children’s career choices. Indian

parents’ careers were found to be influential on student careers (Bakshi, Shandi, Shah &

Maru, 2013) The students lack of career information and wrong decisions was found to be the

most contributing factor to the country’s problem. According to Pascual (2014).

“Unemployment rate in the country is commonly associated with the misfit graduate

produced by universities and college. With the given facts, there is a need for an enhanced

educational system and career guidance activities that will help students choose the

appropriate career own based on their interest and competency, as well the market demand

must be strengthened.

The society has established the way that an individual chooses their career path.

Selecting a career path is a big opportunity that can also be a big loss to a life of an individual

if not decided properly about it. People focus on the obstacle of college, and the choice of

graduate with a degree in a particular field of study. Careers do not just achieve it fast, it

requires time. People need to planned out their career path since the beginning. In that

respect, is consistently there’s a question that comes up when selecting a career. Whenever, it

comes down to the decisions they make. Transitioning into a career brings up new challenges

for the younger generation of students. Even the ones who tend to accept their career plans

already and figured out their future. So it is better to think of what career does an individual

want before it is too late.

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The researchers examined students make an important real-life decision. Choosing

the courses that students will take in the upcoming academic year will measure their affective

reactions to the decision-making process. Students tended to list more options and criteria

when describing their decisions. As future college student, this decision is largely needed for

the Senior High School Student to make. Due to the reason that students are young adult, the

researchers suggested to students to seek the counsel of their parents, school guidance

counselor, and other individuals who have walked through this process in the past and can

guide them along the way. The students need to prepare to communicate with anyone who

may be supporting them financially, mentally and socially as they pursue their education.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Input Process Output

• College Course • Survey • Useful resource

• Questionnaire • Students are most

• Number of
likely to make
Students 20
decisions about
more likely to
their course easier
• Demographic

Characteristics
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Figure 1. Model of Students Career Path

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The study is founded on the theory of The Herbert Simon Decision Making. The

theory appeared first in his renowned book, Administrative Behavior (1947). He suggested

that decisions were critical because if they weren’t taken on time, it’ll negatively impact an

organization’s objective. The concept can be divided into two parts—one is the decision that

someone arrives at and another is the process or actions taken. In other words, implementing

a decision is as important as making that decision. The Decision Making Theory by

Simon also considers psychological aspects that classical economists overlooked or ignored.

Internal factors such as stress and motivations, among others, limit an individual’s capacity to

solve complex problems. In short, decisions are based on bounded rationality—humans

behave differently when there are risks and uncertainty involved. At the core of the theory

lies ‘satisficing’, which is a combination of satisfying and sufficing. It suggests that one

should pursue objectives or make decisions that involve minimum risks and complications as

opposed to focusing on maximizing profits.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

Interest - The desire to understand or know more about something.

Factor - A condition, event, or influence that influences the outcome or conclusion.

Perception - A method of considering, comprehending, or interpreting something.

Undecidability - Unable to be settled upon or unable to make a decision.

Competency - The capacity to do a task correctly.

Financial Stability - It is about being able to meet the needs of your household consistently.

It also means you're living comfortably within your means.

Influence - The power to affect someone's or something's character, growth, decision or

conduct, or the impact itself.

Career choice – The process of choosing a career path which can involve choices regarding

education and other factors.

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