Making Good Decisions: A Focus on Academic, Financial, Career and Stress Management Decisions Chapter 4

4 | 2 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Questions to Consider What are the steps involved in effective decision making? How can you practice good decision making with your study choices? Is it important to study in a quiet environment? Does working while attending college positively or negatively impact school performance? How does it impact your family and involvement in clubs?

4 | 3 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Questions to Consider How can financial decisions you make today affect you later? Is it important to decide on a major during your first year of college? Why or why not? How can you decide on a career path? Will your Facebook account impact your career opportunities? If so, how? What stress management techniques really work?

4 | 4 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Kulm and Cramer (2006) Research Question: Does employment affect student success? iQoncept/Shutterstock.com

4 | 5 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. The Study 500 college students completed survey on: Employment Related factors (social interactions, family relationships) Study time, GPA, Attendance, Socializing, Family

4 | 6 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. The Findings Working many hours was connected to less study time and lower GPA Working many hours was connected to less campus activity involvement and socializing Working did not seem to impact attendance or family relationships

4 | 7 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. The So What Factor Working too much can negatively impact academic performance Working too much can also negatively impact your social and campus life Look at how many hours you REALLY need to work and whether working will help you achieve your goals

4 | 8 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. The Decision Making Process See Figure 4.1 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!

4 | 9 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Step 1: Keep your goal visible What do you want? How will this decision impact the likelihood of achieving your goal? iQoncept/Shutterstock.com

4 | 10 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Step 2: Gather relevant information See Gathering Information: What to Consider in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!

4 | 11 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Step 3: Creatively identify and explore lots of possible options Be open and flexible Avoid judging options at this step Consider seeking ideas from others

4 | 12 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Step 4: Evaluate options Keep goal visible Pros and cons Consider future consequences and impact on others Seek input from others iQoncept/Shutterstock.com

4 | 13 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Step 5: Decide and take action Trust the process and act on your decision

4 | 14 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Step 6: Assess whether your choice supported your goal and was effective Did your choice move you closer to or farther from your goal? Set a date to assess your choice

4 | 15 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. The Impact of Your Decisions on Others Some cultures place greater value on group versus individual (collectivist) Your decisions can have a personal impact on others Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

4 | 16 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Study choices: What decisions do you have to make? Studying in an environment with distracters (music, TV, friends) connected to lower grades (Gurung, 2005) Diego Cervo/Shutterstock.com

4 | 17 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Work and Money Management Some research shows connection between work and poorer academic performance (Lammers et al., 2001) Some research shows that students working hours per week performed the best (Dundes & Marx, 2006) Solvod/Shutterstock.com

4 | 18 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Money Management Making impulsive financial decisions can be problematic because of the emotion-logic connection See Figure 4.2 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!

4 | 19 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Credit cards See Table 4.3 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works! Stop

4 | 20 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Loans Subsidized Do not accrue interest while you are a student The amount you borrowed is the amount you owe at the time you have to start re-paying the loan Unsubsidized Starts to accrue interest as soon as you take out the loan The amount you owe will be more than the amount you borrowed at the time you have to start re- paying the loan

4 | 21 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Career Decision Making: Knowing Yourself Interests Abilities Values

4 | 22 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Saving for the future Saving now will pay off later $10 a month for 40 years at average return rate of 5% can result in $15,000! Dave Allen Photography

4 | 23 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Values- What Matters to You? Flexible hoursSalaryStructured environment9-5 Schedule

4 | 24 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Holland’s Career Theory Focused on interests Person-environment fit See Figure 4.3 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!

4 | 25 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Finding Career Information Websites Occupational Outlook HandbookOccupational Outlook Handbook Career One Stop O-NET Ferguson’s Career Guidance CenterFerguson’s Career Guidance Center Information Interviews Interview someone in the field Great for rich information Be careful about relying on information from only one person Great for networking!

4 | 26 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Krumboltz: Taking Action Many enter careers because of “happenstance”- it was not planned Take Action Steps –Talk to others about careers –Take different courses –Seek out internship opportunities

4 | 27 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Your Actions Today and How They May Impact You Later Make good impressions and decisions today Information posted electronically is never completely deleted 1000 Words/Shutterstock.com

4 | 28 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Bohnert & Ross (2010) The influence of social networking web sites on the evaluation of job candidates.

4 | 29 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. The Study 148 undergraduate students made hiring decisions about hypothetical job candidates Alcohol emphasis Family focus Professional focus No Facebook page Perceptions, Offer interview, Salary

4 | 30 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. The Findings Applicants with higher qualifications perceived more positively. Applicants with professional focus were more likely to be perceived as more conscientious, be offered an interview, and have higher starting salary than those with alcohol focus.

4 | 31 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. The So What Factor! Your actions today may matter tomorrow Professional image is linked to more positive outcomes Be careful what you post on the internet

4 | 32 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Stress Management Techniques Eat healthy Exercise Get enough sleep AP Photo/Bradley C Bower

4 | 33 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Stress Management Techniques Relaxation techniques –Deep breathing –Muscle relaxation Challenge negative thinking –How do you know? –What evidence exists? –What are the other possible outcomes? Talk with friends, family, or professionals

4 | 34 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Avoiding Unhealthy Behaviors: Substance Abuse Addiction is a gradual process All college students do NOT drink alcohol in large amounts Alcohol use is associated with increase in: –Casual sex –Unprotected sex –Regret about sexual activities NitroCephal/Shutterstock.com

4 | 35 Copyright 2013 Harrington © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Accessing Help for Substance Abuse See Table 4.6 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!