Examining the Effect of the Future Readiness Psychoeducation Program on Gifted Students' Career Decision-Making Competencies and Future Expectations

Abstract

There is a great need for intervention programs related to career studies in today's world where the importance of career studies is increasing day by day. Gifted children also feel necessary to career guidance more due to many factors such as their special talents, multi-potentials and early career awareness. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the "Turkish Science and Art Centers (SAC) Future Readiness Psychoeducation Program" developed for gifted middle school students who also continuing education in SAC. The aims of program are increasing career awareness, decreasing career decision making difficulties and effecting positively to future expectations. Thirty-two 7th grade students who were identified as gifted in Kilis province participated in the study. The study was designed in a pre-test post-test one-group quasi-experimental design. The data were analyzed using Mann Whitney U and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test from non-parametric techniques according to group structure. Career Decision Difficulties Scale (CDDS), Adolescent Future Expectations Scale (FESA) and program evaluation form were used as data collection tools. When the results of the study were evaluated, it was seen that the career development program prepared for gifted students reduced their career decision-making difficulties and positively affected their future expectations. It was observed that gifted female students had higher career decision-making difficulties than male students, while there was no significant difference in terms of future expectations. When the evaluation form data and opinions of the participants were examined, it was seen that the satisfaction with the program was high, the activities could be enriched in terms of practice, and it would be more beneficial to spread the activities over a wider period of time and implement them as a single activity in each session.