Relationships between vocational high school students' future expectations, career decision self-efficacy, academic motivation and achievements

The aim of this research is to determine the relationships between future expectations, career decision self-efficacy, academic motivation and success of vocational high school students. The study employed a survey method, with an exploratory correlational design shaping the research framework. The sample of the research consists of students studying in vocational high schools within the public schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in a province of the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey in the 2023-2024 academic year. 796 students from five different schools participated in the research. Personal information form, "Future Expectation Scale", "Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form", "Academic Motivation Scale" were used as data collection tools. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS 23v and IBM Amos 24v software packages. According to the research findings, significant and positive relationships were determined between the future expectations, career decision self-efficacy, academic motivation and success of vocational high school students. In light of these findings, recommendations were made such as increasing the importance of guidance and counseling services in determining students' career goals and making plans to achieve these goals, and organizing regular goal-setting workshops or individual counseling sessions in the school environment.