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journal article Open Access Feb 18, 2022

Perceptions of future careers for middle year engineering students

Catherine McGough Spence ORCID Adam Kirn ORCID Lisa Benson ORCID
Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 111 No. 3 pp. 595-615 · Wiley
View at Publisher Save 10.1002/jee.20455
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundOne facet of motivation relevant to students' learning is their perceptions of the future, including future career goals and how those perceptions influence their present actions; this is collectively referred to as their future time perspective (FTP).Purpose/HypothesisThis study describes the different FTPs of engineering students. We aim to help researchers and practitioners leverage students' motivations to improve learning experiences and inform future studies by providing a model of engineering students' FTP.Design/MethodA phenomenographic approach was used to determine students' different characteristic FTPs within the context of their engineering courses. Interviews with engineering students (n = 18) at a southeastern US research‐intensive university were analyzed for differences and similarities in their descriptions of their FTPs.ResultsThree groups emerged from the data that were visualized as different shapes within the outcome space. Cone, a long narrow shape, represents students who narrowed down their future careers deep into the future. Cup, a wider truncated cone, represents students who have conflicting desired and realistic future careers. Bowl, a short and wide shape, represents students who have broad perceptions of their future careers and do not describe how their future goals affect their present actions.ConclusionsUsing a phenomenographic approach to examine engineering students' FTPs revealed three characteristic groups and allowed us to document how different FTPs affect students' perceptions of tasks in their engineering courses. Our findings can help educators foster students' interest in and value of learning engineering concepts and their positive perceptions of their future careers.
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Showing 50 of 66 references

Metrics
7
Citations
66
References
Details
Published
Feb 18, 2022
Vol/Issue
111(3)
Pages
595-615
License
View
Authors
C
Catherine McGough Spence

Department of Integrated Engineering Minnesota State University, Mankato Virginia Minnesota USA

A
Adam Kirn

College of Engineering University of Nevada, Reno Reno Nevada USA

L
Lisa Benson

Department of Engineering and Science Education Clemson University Clemson South Carolina USA

Cite This Article
Catherine McGough Spence, Adam Kirn, Lisa Benson (2022). Perceptions of future careers for middle year engineering students. Journal of Engineering Education, 111(3), 595-615. https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20455
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