Perceived work uncertainties and expectancy-value as predictors of postgraduate intentions

Abstract

Current globalized labor market trends have been associated with protracted and uncertain work environments for youth and consequently, prolonged periods spent in education. To investigate this association, we assessed work demands which is the perception of growing work-related uncertainties, expectancies, subjective values and postgraduate intentions among final year Ghanaian tertiary students (N=504; females= 54.5%; mean age = 24; SD=4.43). We expected that expectancies and subjective values would mediate the relationship between the work uncertainties and postgraduate intentions. Regression results confirmed the mediation through the student's expectancies but not subjective values. Thus, work uncertainties affect student's assessments of their success expectations, which, in turn, are an indicator of whether or not a student intends to further their education. Copyright © 2013 Journal of Psychology in Africa.