Date
11-13-2024
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Advanced Educational Studies (PhD)
Chair
Antionette Stroter
Keywords
social-emotional learning, career and technical education, career readiness, Panorama Social-Emotional Learning survey
Disciplines
Education | Vocational Education
Recommended Citation
Linkous, Helen K., "Investigating the Effects of Social and Emotional Learning on Career and Technical Education Students' Career Readiness Certification" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6191.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6191
Abstract
The purpose of this quantitative predictive-correlational study was to determine if social-emotional learning (SEL) impacts career and technical education (CTE) students’ career readiness certification. This study was guided by Albert Bandura’s social learning theory which has been applied to social emotional learning to help individuals develop the skills necessary to navigate social interactions effectively. It is important to understand the correlation between SEL and career readiness since it affects students’ graduation, employability, and the potential for high-skilled, high-waged careers. The 152 participants for the study were drawn from a convenience sample of high school students who completed a CTE program of study after the spring semester of the 2023-2024 school year. The Panorama Social-Emotional Learning survey was administered to CTE students who were on track to complete a CTE program of study. A binary logistic regression was conducted to determine if students’ social-emotional learning scores could predict their career readiness certification. Themes were identified as related to SEL in CTE. The results yielded a significant relationship between SEL and CTE students’ career readiness certification. The findings of this study revealed the intersection between SEL and CTE. The study's conclusions included the connection between SEL and students’ preparedness for the workforce as well as the unique niche for research specific to the career and technical education setting. Specific suggestions for future research are provided based on the results and limitations of this study.
