Motivated Behavioral Choices of Young Technological Talents - From Adolescence to Career Success

Year 2018, Volume: 11 , 1 - 9, 01.12.2018

Ossi Autıo

Abstract

Technical abilities are fundamental
to human existence. At each stage within the cycle of life, humans continuously
strive to acquire new skills or to refine existing ones in the hope that
productivity and quality of life are enhanced. Despite the fact that skilled
behavior underlines nearly every human activity, our understanding about the
factors that contribute to the attainment of expertise in technology education
is far from complete. Not to mention, that we do not really know what is needed
in career success for technological professions. This article builds on earlier
research that defined and assessed technical abilities among adolescents. The
aim of the study was to examine determinants of technological competence and
try to predict student potential for career success. It tracks the students
whose technical abilities were assessed in a study twenty five years ago. The
follow-up study was carried out as a qualitative case study. Although, we must
be cautious about final conclusions because of the limited number of research
subjects, the study shows that it is possible to predict student potential for
career success in the technical professions. However, the process in making
motivated behavioral choices in the area of technology seems to be much more
complicated for technologically talented females than for males.

Keywords

Motivated behavioral choices, Technological talent, Career success

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