engleski

The selection of a study program viewed as a decision process

The choice of undergraduate studies is one of the most demanding issues that face individuals, especially younger ones upon leaving secondary school, whose wish it is to continue on to an institute of higher education. Numerous factory, ranging from the characteristics of the individual to the immediate and extended encironment, can influence the choice of undergraduate studies. There are many ways to address this issue. In this paper, it is explored within the framework of decision analysis and from the viewpoint that regards decision-making as non-recurring i.e. as a series of new problem situation. This approach to the choice of undergraduate studies as a decision-making problem involves the clarity of the objective of studies, the alternative choices of studies considered, the approach applied to considering these alternatives, the criteria used in making a choice, the influence of knowledge and information in the choice of undergraduate studies, the impact of the environment, and controlling the decision process through specific action in case of deviation from the anticipated goal. Theoretical considerations have been complemented with a statistical analysis of the approach to the choice of undergraduate studies as a process of decision-making provided by the first-year students of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management (FTHM) in Opatija. Statistical analysis has provided statistically significant differences in responses with regard to gender, and the type and location of the secondary school attended. The results of this research show that the young people of Croatia approach the issue of choosing undergraduate studies in a serious manner, at least in the case of FTHM. This is illustrated in the way they collect information regarding the options available to them, and how they generate alternatives regarding different aspect of schooling and how they make their choice. The results also suggest that the issue of providing pertinent information regarding the undergraduate studies offered by individuals school should be more properly addressed and that information should be made available during the entire year and not only in the time preceding the choice of undergraduate studies, wich is generally the case.

statistical analysis; choice of undergraduate studies; decision-making

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