Understanding Dutch students’ subject choices in secondary education using the Theory of Planned Behavior

ABSTRACT

Subject choices in secondary education are important decisions, since they critically determine the tertiary fields of study that pupils can pursue. Multiple variables may play a role in pupils’ decisions, such as their social environment and attitudes. The current study investigated subject choice intentions using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Fishbein & Ajzen, 2010). Structural equation modelling was used to investigate TPB for Dutch students in senior general and pre-university education (N = 1295). A new model with second-order factors accommodated the high correlations between the latent constructs. The new second-order factors were referred to as considerations (determined by attitude, subjective norm and perceived control) and beliefs (behavioral, normative and control beliefs). In total, 90.3% of the variance in choice intention was determined by considerations; students’ attitudes were the most important factor. Considering a broad spectrum of beliefs and considerations seems desirable when guiding students in their subject choices.

KEYWORDS:

• Theory of planned behavior
• subject choices
• secondary education
• confirmatory factor analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Declaration of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest and the research was not financed by a public, commercial or non-profit funding agency.

Ethics approval statement

The Ethical Committee Behavioural and Social Sciences of the University of Groningen approved the current study (approved on 13 March 2018 EC code: 13032018).

Data availability statement

Data and materials are not publicly available due to privacy reasons.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Nationaal Regieorgaan Onderwijsonderzoek: [Grant Number 405.17.303.2926].

Notes on contributors

M. A. Dijks

Dr. M. A. Dijks is an educational scientist at Stichting Cito, department CitoLab in Arnhem, the Netherlands. Her research focuses on educational transitions, education choices, reading comprehension, special needs education and educational measurement.

M. J. Warrens

M. J. Warrens is adjunct professor of Educational Sciences at the University of Groningen,GION Education/Research. His research focuses on school careers, educational choice options, the transition from primary to secondary education, school leavers attainment tests, educational datamining and statistical methods.

H. Korpershoek

H. Korpershoek is adjunct professor of Educational Sciences at the University of Groningen, GION Education/Research. Her research focuses on educational innovation and school improvement, evidence-informed decision making, educational trajectories, choice behaviour and motivation.

R. J. Bosker

R. J. Bosker is Honorary Professor Educational Sciences in the University of Groningen, GION Education/Research. His research focuses on educational effectiveness, inequality of educational opportunities, and multilevel modeling.