Personality and Educational Choice of General versus Vocational Studies among 16- to 19-Year-Olds

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Abstract
Achievement motives, future time orientation, and perceived instrumentality of theoretical subjects were investigated in relation to educational choice of general versus vocational studies at secondary school. Among 257 students, multivariate regression of educational choice showed that the higher the scores on the motive to achieve success, the lower the scores on the motive to avoid failure, and the higher the scores on perceived instrumentality, the more likely a student will be to choose general, i.e., mainly theoretical, studies at secondary school. No significant effect of future time orientation on educational choice occurred. The results are discussed in relation to achievement motivation theory, school attachment and achievement, and implications for reform of the school system.