Relationships Between Critical Thinking Dispositions, Career Decidedness, and Career Motivation Among Adolescents

In an era in which critical thinking is regarded as an essential skill, many students lack a clear understanding of what it entails and how it can be applied to career decision-making; therefore, this study examines the relationship between critical-thinking dispositions, career decidedness, and career motivation among high school students. The research sample consisted of 220 high school students, and data were collected using the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale, the Career Decidedness Scale, and the Situational Motivation Scale. The results indicate a positive correlation between critical-thinking dispositions and external regulation within career motivation. In addition, career decidedness was positively associated with career motivation, particularly with its dimensions of external regulation and amotivation. These findings suggest that aspects of motivation linked to external influences play a role in both critical-thinking dispositions and the level of certainty in career decisions, highlighting the importance of addressing motivational factors in supporting students’ career development.