Date of Award
8-28-2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
First Advisor
Topeka Singleton
Committee Members
Alicia Shaw; Amany Saleh; Audrey Bowser
Call Number
LD 251 .A566d 2021 A53
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between career and technical education (CTE) participation and students’ decisions to enroll in higher education in Arkansas. This quantitative study anchored by the social cognitive career theory and self-efficacy conceptual framework examined the implications of career development theories on specific influences of CTE participation and students’ decisions to pursue higher education in Arkansas. This framework showed the impact of how students determine whether factors such as CTE coursework and CTE teachers serve as internal and external environmental factors that influence decisions related to their future college and career aspirations. The literature reviewed provided evidence that students’ earning certifications in CTE positively influence students’ plans after high school graduation and their decisions to enroll in higher education in Arkansas. The literature addressed areas such as the history CTE programs, CTE in the 21st Century, and CTE in Arkansas. The research utilized a causal-comparative analysis in identifying whether a relationship existed between the influences of CTE participation and students’ decisions to enroll in higher education in Arkansas. A pilot study was conducted prior to the surveys being sent out to study samples. The CTE survey was used to collect data in Google Forms and Qualtrics. A total of 221 study samples completed the survey. The quantitative data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS software to determine the relationship between the influences of CTE participation and students’ decisions to enroll in higher education in Arkansas. The analysis of the data collected was done using multiple statistical techniques. This data was helpful to validate the quantitative findings. Additionally, the findings of this study suggest that the influences of CTE programs have a significant impact on students’ decisions to enroll in higher education in Arkansas. Overall, the research findings will help to improve state and local CTE programs in Arkansas, offer students’ experimental learning opportunities that empower them to choose meaningful college and career pathways, and provide essential 21st Century skills necessary to meet global workforce demands.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Anderson, Tameka Chanta, "The Impact of Career and Technical Education on Student Enrollment in Higher Education in Arkansas" (2021). Student Theses and Dissertations. 320.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/320
