Graduate Student Research Presentation Notes

Overview of Research Presentation

  • Purpose of Research: To explore how individuals enter and advance in outdoor recreation careers using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT).

Key Components of the Research

  • Career Self-Efficacy   - Measured using the LICAT skills.   - Definition: Refers to how confident students feel about performing outdoor recreation tasks.

  • Outcome Expectations   - Assessed using multi-item skills measuring what students believe a career in outdoor recreation will offer them.

  • Perceived Barriers   - Focuses on capturing access issues, exposure gaps, and cultural barriers that may prevent entry into outdoor recreation careers.

Study Two: Professional Identity Formation

  • Investigating how strongly undergraduates identify with outdoor recreation as a profession, linking back to SCCT.
  • Pipeline Entry: Emphasis on examining the transition from undergraduate experience into professional careers in outdoor recreation.
  • Expectation: Students are likely to have heightened perceived barriers in entering outdoor professional careers due to various factors.

Diversity Pipeline and Identity-Based Filtering

  • Diversity Pipeline   - Predictions indicate that identity-based filtering occurs during transitions, particularly during undergraduate career transitions.
  • Anticipation that professional identity formation will be influenced or mediated by:   - Mentorship Experiences: Relationship guidelines offered to students by mentors in the field.   - Internship Experiences: Opportunities that provide practical experience in outdoor recreation.   - Students with mentorship and internship experiences are more likely to persist in pursuing outdoor professional careers.

Focus Areas for Study Design

  • The research aims to:   - Trace how social identity operates at each stage of the pipeline.   - Identify the most significant narrowing points of the pipeline for underrepresented groups.   - Examine the transition from career interests in high school to the realities of professional practice in outdoor recreation careers.
  • Key Contribution: Highlighting the significance of identity and experience in shaping access and success in outdoor recreation careers.