CHAPTER 2

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

In this study, the researchers gathered theories, other researcher’s studies and literature

related to the factors Influencing the Decision of Grade 12 Accountancy Business and

Management (ABM) Students of Caniogan High School to Enroll in College for S.Y. 2024-2025

Relevant Theories

According to the Holand’s Theory of Student Success (1985) individuals are drawn to

work environments in which they can present their interests in the theory of vocational

personality types. The theory was developed to understand and predict the individual's choice

including fields of study, occupations, or jobs (Holland, 1997). The choice of Holland’s theory to

guide this project resulted from its capacity to help resolve several crucial problems inherent in

contemporary efforts to understand college student success. While initially proposed as a theory

of careers to assist individuals in their selection of occupations in which they have the greatest

likelihood of success, Holland has consistently and repeatedly noted that the hypotheses about

educational behaviors in his theory are identical to those for vocational behavior. Holland’s

theory thus focuses specifically on either vocational or educational success.

In addition to the appropriateness of the theory to study student success, Holland and his

colleagues have developed psychometrically sound instruments for the measurement of

constructs in the theory. Finally, Holland’s theory places equal emphasis on attributes of

individuals and academic environments in efforts to understand student success in postsecondary

education. This aspect of the theory responds to our concern about the imbalance that exists in
many contemporary efforts in which attention to psychological considerations far surpasses

attention to sociological considerations.

The Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) formulated by Lent,

Brown, and Hackett's in 1994 is a model of career development that

delineates how person inputs, contextual affordances, and social cognitive

variables affect the formation of vocational interests, career goals, and

actions.

Furthermore, in the article made by Melinda M Gibbons and Marie F

Shoffner entitled Prospective first-generation college students: Meeting their

needs through social cognitive career theory revealed that First-generation

students, or students whose parents did not attend college, represent 27% of

M graduating high school students. They have unique needs that separate

them from other students and that must be addressed in counseling. This

article examines how schools and career counselors can help these students

with Social Cognitive Career Theory. This theory and its focus on self-

efficacy, outcome expectations, barriers, and goals can help with career and

academic decision-making. A case example working with a high school junior

is provided us with an example of how this theory can assist this population.

Implications for future research and counseling strategies are suggested as

well.

The Simon Decision Making Theory (1947) is a descriptive theory

that gives a clear picture of the world in which decisions are significant.
Here, decisions will decide the outputs or prices. Simon says in the theory

that the decisions are the choice of selecting an option among the different

possibilities of options. Moreover, In decision theory and game theory, Wald's

maximin model is a non-probabilistic decision-making model according to

which decisions are ranked on the basis of their worst-case outcomes – the

optimal decision is one with the least bad worst outcome. This proves that

the decision that the students of the grade 12 ABM weigh a variety of options

and depends on different factors that may influence the decision that they

will make.

Related Literature

The book Don't Go to College, A Case for Revolution by Timothy Gordon and Michael

Robillard (2022) focuses on examination of how America's colleges have become an intellectual

hell on Earth for anyone who wishes to think rationally and seek truth and wisdom, as well as a

plan for how young citizens can claim and safeguard the learning and heritage to which they are

entitled. From safe-spaces and trigger warnings to grievance studies and neo-Marxist

indoctrination, to sexual degeneracy and hook-up culture, to student loan indentured servitude, to

useless degrees with no translatable real-world application, the modern-day American university

now functions as the complete inversion of its original purpose. This book tells us that rather

than creating civically minded, competent citizens and adults able to provide for themselves,

their families, and their society, America’s universities now function as institutional assembly

lines to produce the new 21st century global citizen-serf: atomized, infantilized, dependent, and

pacified. This book showed that there is a reason as to why students choose to continue life and

still become successful without going to college.

 Why Would-Be Students Aren’t Choosing College by Sara Weissman

(2022). This study explores why students drop out of college or choose not to

enroll. The researchers draw on responses from 11 focus groups and an

online survey of 1,675 people between the ages of 18 and 30 who decided

not to go to college or stopped out of a college program. People had a

variety of reasons for not attending or completing college, including but not

limited to financial barriers. The study found that 38 percent of students

didn’t enroll because of fears about the cost of college and amassing debt,

27 percent felt college would be “too stressful” or “too much pressure,” 26

percent believed it was more important to work and earn money, and 25

percent felt uncertainty about their career trajectories and what they wanted

to study. In conclusion, this study reveals that students choose to stop out of

college and others choose not to enroll in the first place because of a range

of “psychographics,” or psychological factors, including doubts about the

financial returns of a college education and an awareness of other career

training options outside traditional degree programs. As a graduating

student, the hardest decision that we will make is what to do next? We have

so many factors that need to be considered.

According to the article (2023) from StudyQA, the top 3 factors

influencing the students' decision making in entering college are Academic

reputation and program quality. Students, regardless of their nationality, are

keen on receiving a quality education. A university's academic reputation

and the quality of its programs are pivotal in their decision-making process.
Second is financial considerations. The cost of education is a major concern

for many students. Tuition fees, living expenses, and the availability of

scholarships or financial aid programs are critical factors. Universities that

provide transparent information about costs and offer various financial

assistance options tend to attract a more diverse and financially prudent

student body. Lastly is Global exposure and career opportunities. Institutions

that have partnerships with international organizations, study abroad

programs, and robust career services tend to be more appealing. Students

want to know that their education will lead to meaningful career

opportunities, and universities that can demonstrate strong job placement

rates and alumni networks often have an advantage.

Successful People Without a Formal Education an article made by John

Michael Olonan (2023). Traditionally, formal education has aided us in

acquiring knowledge of the sciences and arts. We receive specialized training

to prepare us for our career jobs. Before we can practice our chosen

profession, whether it is teaching, law, or medicine, we must complete

certain educational requirements and obtain a license or certificate.

However, a college education does not guarantee success. According to a

survey conducted by the Do it website, 56% of college graduates remain

unemployed and unsuccessful because of limited employment opportunities,

and many careers do not pay well enough to justify the cost of a degree.

Moreover, there are also individuals who do not possess a degree but are

successful in their careers. Some are entrepreneurs, and it is a clear

indication that those without a four-year degree now, almost outnumber

those with a bachelor’s degree or higher according to CNBC/Survey Monkey

Small Business Survey, except for those 65 and older. As proof,

entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, the late Steve Jobs,

the founder of Apple, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, are among the

world’s wealthiest people without a formal education. All of them left school

earlyThese individuals are excellent examples of how you can succeed in life

without a college degree. The reality is that while a college degree is

required for many careers, it is not required for all. Having said that, you can

be successful without a college degree if your skills and abilities qualify you

for employment. For example, start-ups in the technology sector may be

more interested in your skillset and potential than in your degree.

Additionally, you can start a business in an area where you excel, such as

consulting, marketing, design, or freelance programming — all of which pay

well without a degree. While education is critical for some and has been

accepted as a social obligation, it does not guarantee success with whatever

you gain from spending so much time in educational institutions.

Perseverance and diligence are required for success. It is entirely up to your

own will and determination.

According to the businessnews titled Should You Skip College to Start a

Business? written by Skye Schooley 2023, Entrepreneurship can be a great

way to financial freedom, but building a successful business takes a lot of

time, hard work and perseverance. A college degree, on the other hand, is
not required to start a business – but it certainly helps. College not only

teaches students educational topics that can be helpful in starting a

business, but also soft skills, like how to be lifelong learners. However, any

choice comes with pros and cons. A decision as paramount as forgoing a

formal education has some notable advantages as well as drawbacks. This

news said that people don't need a degree to start a business, but that

doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get one. Especially for industries that are more

technical and complex in nature, a college degree can be very beneficial –

sometimes even necessary – to your success. According to Lauren Grech,

CEO and co-founder of international event management firm LLG Events,

getting a degree – or at least some form of higher education – can be very

helpful for starting your own business. She said the college experience

teaches you skills like ownership, accountability, time management,

prioritizing and emotional maturity. Starting a business instead of going to

school is a biggest decision that you need to evaluate first before committing

your life for, you need to consider a lot of pros and cons to know what

decision is better. Although, some people have the power to do both.

Starting their business and at the same time going to school is so difficult to

do but they did with self-discipline and time management. Your life depends

on what choice you make.

Why students need to start working while studying in college, Ben

(2019) Students can gain from working while studying a lot of various

benefits. However, most students feel that having these jobs can distract
them from their studies. The truth is it indeed can get overwhelming.

Whether one has a part-time or a full-time student job or online jobs where

you offer college essay help, it is possible to do both work and school or

college. It will take extra effort to hold down the job and have excellent

grades, but it is possible, and many students are doing it. Before you choose

to work and take up that job to build your career, you need to evaluate

yourself. You must figure out whether you can handle both responsibilities. It

can help students avoid debt. When working while in college, it is an

excellent chance for one to get off debt. Learners get valuable job

experience. One of the things employers look for today is an experience.

Earn better time management skills. one of the biggest challenges that

learners face today is time management. Time wastage in college comes in

many forms. Helps improve students' grades. Getting better grades is not

just about studying all day, waking up at dawn and drowning yourself in

books.

Recognizing the Reality of Working College Students Perna, Odle

(2020) Students who do not have sufficient savings, wealth, or access to

other financial resources have few options for paying costs that are not

covered by grants: they can take on loans, get a job, or do both. While these

options pay off for many students, a higher education finance system that

requires the use of loans and paid employment disproportionately

disadvantages individuals from groups that continue to be underrepresented

in and underserved by higher education. Many undergraduates are working

more than twenty hours per week. the US Department of Education reported

that, in 2017, 43 percent of all full-time undergraduate students and 81

percent of part-time students were employed while enrolled. Working for pay

is more common among undergraduates from underserved groups. The

financial need to work while enrolled, with all its negative consequences,

disproportionately burdens students from historically underserved groups.

Working for pay while enrolled is more common at under-resourced

institutions. The rate of employment and the rate of working more than

twenty hours per week are higher among full-time students attending two-

year institutions than among those attending four-year institutions. That is

why other students are still working while studying because they benefit

from it even its so small income.

Why Is College Important? Welding Castillo (2023). The Top Reasons

According to Students The most popular reason students reported was to

pursue a passion. They also ranked quality-of-life improvements in their top

three reasons, like creating a better life for themselves or their families and

improving their income or career prospects. "Pursuing a passion" topped

students' lists of why college is important. One in five said it was their most

important reason for attending college. Nearly half (49%) ranked it among

their top three reasons for attending college. Nineteen percent of students in

our survey said college was important to create a better life for themselves

or for their families. Students ranked "improving income or career prospects"

third among the top reasons for attending college. Only 8% of students said
college was important to them to enhance their social, cultural, or economic

status. About one-quarter of students (24%) said their least important reason

for going to college is because they want to keep up with their peers. and

that’s the top 5 answer for the students why college is important to them.

Why A College Education Is Important Joe Emerson (2018) involves

more than just identifying the superficial benefits of more career

opportunities. At a deeper level, college is where you will map a path

through life that can take you to places you never expected to go. A recent

study broke the higher education benefits down even further, finding among

other things, that a bachelor’s degree now means the holder will earn 84

percent more than someone with no postsecondary education. The report

went even further, projecting lifetime earnings based on virtually all

education levels and The unemployment rates in 2017 for people in those

education categories was 1.5 percent for doctoral degree holders, 1.5

percent for professional degree holders, 2.2 percent for master’s degree

holders, 2.5 percent for bachelor’s degree holders, 3.4 percent for associate

degree holders, 4 percent for people with some college, 4.6 percent for

people with a high school diploma, and 6.5 percent for people without a high

school diploma.

In Daniel Gagnon (2023) article about the Top 7 Reasons Why College

is Important he emphasizes that College is important for many reasons,

including increased career stability and satisfaction, and the ability to make

an impact on your community. With growing numbers of careers requiring

advanced education, a college degree can be critical to your success in

today's workforce. Research indicates that earning a degree can have a

significant and expansive impact on your life. It also has the potential to help

you positively impact your family — and the world. People have the saying of

Education is the key to success. College is Important for it will increase

chances of employment. Also, if you finish college, you can earn respect

from other people and the prestige of being one can help you to become a

successful individual.

Related Study

The Study Factors Influencing Student’s Career Choice Rebecca et al.

(2016) as cited in Sharif (2017) conducted a study on 399 students in Kenya

which resulted in that there is a relationship between personality types, and

career choice. Most of the students were satisfied with the course they

selected before entering university, which indicates that suitable career

choice for students would improve satisfaction and success in their course of

study and future employment. But on the other side, when students make

changes in their course section it indicated that the choices of subject

selection did not go in line with their future career choices. Consequently, it

constructs probability of the status of the relationship between personality

types and career choice among undergraduate students in Kenya. The study
revealed that there is a significant relationship between personality types

and career choices among undergraduate students.

Failure in career planning causes problems for society. Ahmed, Sharif,

& Ahmad (2017) asserted that a wrong career choice directed efforts and

resources to a wrong direction. Misalignment with expectations exhausts

personal energy and wastes resources. Furthermore, Pascual (2014)

associated underemployment in the Philippines to the misfit of the needs of

the workforce needed in different companies to the graduates of the

different colleges and universities. Another predicament was mentioned in

the study of Anbuselvan et al. (2013) where he said that there were

problems faced by the students due to the matching of their skills and school

performance with the right career choice. Students do understand the

importance of career planning and the problems caused by failure to plan for

their careers. The study of Hiebert et al. as cited in Witko, Bernes,

Magnusson, & Bardick (2005) revealed that three (3) career-related concerns

were in the top five students’ needs.

There are several factors to be considered in choosing a college

course. Many researchers have argued over the most significant factor/s, and

in this sense, many studies have already been made. Ahmed, Sharif, &

Ahmad (2017) considered the level of social class, financial resources,

affordability, and future employability as influential factors in students’

career choice. They investigated the factors that influenced the career

selection choice of the student and create a possible alignment between

their preferences and the institutions curriculum and offerings - the former

objective being relatively replicated in this study.

Factors Affecting Grade 12 Senior High School Students in Choosing

Course for Tertiary Education by Mark Daen (2018) This study intends to

investigate the factor affecting students in choosing course for tertiary

education. There are many factors that could be considered in selecting

courses like quality education, the people from the environment, personal

choice and accessibility of the school from student`s residences. This study

utilized a descriptive type of research method with Grade 12 students in STI

College Legazpi as respondents. Students’ career success can be best

attained if proper guidance is given in choosing the right course in college,

suited to student`s personality, ability and intellect. Helping students choose

the career that suits them can be done by integrating career plan with the K-

12 curriculum so that students can make good decisions in what course to

take in college. Collaborative effort of the school administrators, teachers,

and parents should also be made to come up with better career plans for

every individual student`s. This study delves into the complex decision-

making process of Grade 12 students as they navigate the selection of

courses for their tertiary education, taking into account a multitude of factors

such as the quality of education offered by institutions, personal preferences

and aspirations, accessibility and proximity of the school, availability of

scholarships or financial aid, career prospects, and the influence of family,

peers, and societal expectations.

 What influences the course major decision of accounting and non-

accounting students? Owusu (2019). The purpose of this study is to

investigate the factors that influence the course major decisions of

accounting and non-accounting students. A set of questionnaires was

developed and administered to 550 undergraduate business students from

the University of Ghana Business School. The results demonstrate that

students’ confidence in their academic strength and abilities to manage

academic work are good predictors of their course major decisions. Also,

students who major in accounting are driven more by self-interest, while

non-accounting students are largely motivated by extrinsic interest.

Moreover, students’ academic performances were found to be influential on

their course major decisions. The paper provides some useful insights into

the factors that inspire students to major in accounting. As a means of

addressing the supply deficit of accountants globally, policymakers should

find the results useful in developing the appropriate strategy that will attract

students to the accounting field. The study provides new insights into the

course major selection discourse from a developing-country perspective.

Peers influence career choice through peer interactions. It was

revealed in Uganda (Okiror & Otabong, 2015) and in Kenya (Walaba &

Kiboss, 2013) that peer interactions influence students in choosing careers.

As the students interact, they share information about careers. This is in line

with Krumboltz’ social learning theory, which emphasizes the importance of

learners interacting with one another in their environment.

 Factors influencing the college choice decisions of students grade 12

Nguyen Ngoc Thi Kim Loan (2017) The purpose of this study was to identify

and assess the impact of the key factors affecting the decision to select

University of grade 12. The study used a binary logistic model to process of

data, the results show that there are four factors that affect the decision to

select University of grade 12 include: the capacity opportunity, admissions

consulting, communication efforts and fixed features of the University. From

the results, the study suggested some recommendations to help admissions

consulting work of Lac Hong University more effective in the future.

Ahmed (2014) and AlMiskry, Bakar, and Mohamed (2009) in their

research gave great importance to the interest of students in making choice

of their career. They noted that interest in a career is according to the

pattern of likes and dislikes of students. The indifference in activities related

to career and occupation predicts the career choice among students. Tekke,

Ghani, and Kurt (2015) discuss different stages in behavior change and the

manner of thinking of an individual while picking a career. A study was

conducted in Sri Lanka on personal factors influencing career choice among

business students (Anojan & Nimalathasan, 2013). The sample size was 103

students, and a survey method was used for data collection. The findings

indicated that personal factors are the greatest influential factor in

comparison to their family, professional, and market-oriented factors and

factors related to university.

 The first interactions of a child with people take place within its home

among members of its family who include parents, siblings and relatives

(Bollu-steve & Sanni, 2013). A child is affected by several family-related

factors such as the marital relationship of the parents, the socio-economic

status of the family, the atmosphere of the home (whether parents are warm

or hostile), the environmental condition, occupational status of the parents

and the number of siblings in the family (Bollu-steve & Sanni, 2013). The

family dynamics therefore play a pivotal role in the career readiness of the

students. Additionally, according to Khoo, Ban, Neng, Hooi and Joan (2015)

showed that college students and non-college students who were involved in

this study agreed that parents are the most influential or important person

when choosing their choice of college or university and course of study

because parents perceive as their main source of finance and normally seek

advice from them due to the perception that parents have the relevant

information or experience with regards to higher education, and hence,

parents are viewed as a credible source of advice.

Opportunities in career choice would include academic settings,

technical schools, entry level job openings, job shadowing, vocational

guidance, job placement, and industry contacts. Super (Super, 1957) stated,

surprisingly enough, that intelligence has little to do with getting entry-level

positions; rather, maturity, as in physical size and manner, is valued more by

the employer than intelligence. An academic background that closely meets

the desired qualifications for a job is a critical factor.

Related Literature

Why Would-Be Students Aren’t Choosing College by Sara

Weissman (2022). This study explores why students drop out of college or

choose not to enroll. The researchers draw on responses from 11 focus

groups and an online survey of 1,675 people between the ages of 18 and 30

who decided not to go to college or stopped out of a college program. People

had a variety of reasons for not attending or completing college, including

but not limited to financial barriers. The study found that 38 percent of

students didn’t enroll because of fears about the cost of college and

amassing debt, 27 percent felt college would be “too stressful” or “too much

pressure,” 26 percent believed it was more important to work and earn

money, and 25 percent felt uncertainty about their career trajectories and

what they wanted to study. In conclusion, this study reveals that students

choose to stop out of college and others choose not to enroll in the first place

because of a range of “psychographics,” or psychological factors, including

doubts about the financial returns of a college education and an awareness

of other career training options outside traditional degree programs. As a

graduating student, the hardest decision that we will make is what to do

next? We have so many factors that need to be considered.

Going to College: How Social, Economic, and Educational

Factors Influence the Decisions Students Make by Don Hossler, Jack

Schmit, and Nick Vesper The Johns Hopkins. Going to College examines what

may make a high schooler predisposed to attend college, how students

search for college opportunities, and what choices they ultimately make

upon graduation from high school.