Analysis of factors affecting the career aspiration of university students: The case of Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University FEAS

The aim of this thesis is to analyze the demographic and individual variables that may influence students in determining their career aspirations at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University's Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, to examine whether career aspirations vary significantly based on demographic factors, and to elucidate the relationships between career planning and career aspirations. To this end, career aspirations are examined under three primary sub-dimensions: Leadership Aspirations, Educational Aspirations, and Achievement Aspirations. These three sub-dimensions, which define students' career orientations, are analyzed in relation to demographic variables such as age, gender, and grade level through statistical methods. A questionnaire incorporating demographic information and items from a career aspirations scale was used as the data collection tool, with the career aspirations scale rated on a five-point Likert scale. Data gathered from 1127 participants were analyzed using the SPSS 29 statistical software package. In evaluating the scores obtained from the career aspirations scale and its subscales, factor analysis, reliability and validity analysis, and correlation analysis were performed. In line with the research objectives, the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the relationship between the three subscales that define students' career orientations and demographic variables—such as age, gender, and grade level—as well as to compare the mean scores obtained from the measurement tools. Normality tests, including the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests, were also conducted. The study revealed that a significant portion of demographic factors impacts career aspirations. Overall, the findings suggest that university students' career aspirations vary according to certain demographic variables and career planning behaviors. The study indicates that students' career aspirations are shaped not only by demographic factors but also by their long-term professional plans and intrinsic motivations. The research outcomes elucidate key factors that should be taken into account in the formation of career aspirations and career planning processes. The quantitative assessments in this study are expected to provide valuable insights for future research in this area.