Psychological Factors Influencing Career Choice Among Technical College Students: A Descriptive Study in Uzbekistan

Career choice is an important developmental decision shaped by personal preferences, family expectations, peer relationships, and educational experiences. Understanding whose opinions students perceive as influential may help technical and vocational education institutions improve their career-guidance practices. This study examines the reported sources of influence on career choice among students at a technical college in Andijan, Uzbekistan. A paper-based questionnaire was administered in a classroom setting, and responses from 186 students across nine groups were analyzed descriptively. Students selected one of four reported sources of influence: parental advice, personal opinion, friends, or teachers. The findings indicate that parental advice was the most frequently reported influence, accounting for 99 responses (53.23%). Personal opinion was reported by 51 students (27.42%), teachers by 21 (11.29%), and friends by 15 (8.06%). These findings suggest that students’ perceived career-choice influences include both family-related and individual factors, while teachers and peers were less frequently selected in this sample. The results highlight the potential value of career-guidance activities that involve families while also strengthening students’ capacity for independent decision-making. However, the study is descriptive and based on one institution; it does not establish causality or represent all technical college students in Uzbekistan.