Rationale for Research Question 3

motivational factors that are most valued, as a general rule, these valued outcomes will likely motivate effort and lead to strong related self-concept beliefs. SCCT claims that background contextual factors influence individuals’ career expectations and behaviour (Lent et al., 1994). These background factors may include life learning and experience, which can act as a support or a barrier in the career choice process. In applying the SCCT model to this study, background contextual factors were conceptualised as the values, attitudes and beliefs represented by the IC dimension of cultural orientation.

Although Australia has evolved into a culturally and ethnically diverse society, as a country it is primarily considered to have a high level of individualist orientation (Hofstede, 1984). Over the past decade, international enrolments in local nursing programmes have increased, potentially creating significant variability within the student nurse sample, particularly as recent nursing student cohorts are largely

represented by individuals who identify (in part or entirely) as Chinese, Indian, Korean, Nepalese and Zimbabwean. All these cultures have a high level of collectivist

orientation (Hofstede, 1984). Additionally, immersion into a university context that supports individualist values and behaviours may influence students’ level of individualist orientation.

Despite numerous studies assessing the relationship between various Career Choice Motivations and Individualism separately on Professional Self-concept, an important issue left unresolved by previous research has been the influence of Individualism on the relationship between student nurses’ Career Choice Motivation and Professional Self-concept. This study aimed to examine the relationship between these factors, as well as analyse the role of Individualism as a moderator in the

relationship between motivation and self-concept. While acknowledging the importance of life learning and experience as background factors in the SCCT model, this research aimed to extend the work of Lent et al. (1994) by specifically investigating the

moderating role of Individualism on the relationship between those factors known to influence career choice and behaviour. The advanced motivation (NMM) and self- concept (NSCM) measurement instruments provided a strong avenue for evaluating this relationship.

The findings from this study have provided deep insights into the role that individualist values, beliefs and attitudes play in the relationship between nurses’ Career Choice Motivation and Professional Self-concept. This can provide educational

institutions with valuable information to assist them to attract and enrol the students who are most likely to develop a healthy Professional Self-concept (i.e., students who have a good fit between their expectations of nursing and the reality of the work). In addition, the findings of this study have provided nursing educators with an opportunity to exercise judgement with regard to the potential influence that cultural orientation has on students’ motivation and Professional Self-concept. Access to this information empowers students to assess the value of a career in nursing in Australia and at the same time, match their own motivations with the demands of a nursing career.

3.5 Summary

In this chapter, several key theoretical issues associated with motivation and self-concept measurement have been explored as these issues relate to the nursing profession. The crucial measurement developments of nurses’ Career Choice Motivation and self-concept have been examined in light of their contributions to developing construct validity in Career Choice Motivation and Professional Self- concept measurements. The current implications for nursing motivation and self- concept research and the present investigation have been reviewed, particularly in relation to the need for motivation and self-concept measures that can capture the specific domains relevant to an ethnically and culturally diverse nursing workforce in Australia today.

The creation of Career Choice Motivation and Professional Self-concept measures specifically designed for nurses have been developed from previous motivation, self-concept and career choice research, as well as nursing research. The specific design features included SDT (Deci & Ryan, 1985), SCCT (Lent et al., 1994) and multidimensional measurement models of nurses’ Professional Self-concept (see Angel et al., 2012a; Cowin, 2002) and attention to the within-construct development of the two new measures. The measurement of Individualism (which is discussed in Chapter 5) was adapted from Wagner (1995). These measures have been utilised in a model to explore the relationship between nurses’ motivation to undertake nursing and Professional Self-concept, as well as the influence of Individualism on the relationship between these two constructs.

The aims and research questions presented within this chapter explored the a) reliability and validity of a the new NMM (Study 1); b) reliability and validity of a new NSCM (Study 2); and c) moderating effect of Individualism on the relationship between

nurses’ motivation to undertake nursing and Professional Self-concept (Study 3). The use of a three-study approach to developing measures of nurses’ Career Choice Motivation and Professional Self-concept, and testing the relationship between these constructs, has been outlined. The utilisation of a moderating element completed the research questions and this aspect is likely to inform health services regarding the potential importance of Career Choice Motivation and Professional Self-concept for student nurses from culturally diverse backgrounds. The next chapter presents the research methodology that was used to address the research questions.

Chapter 4: Methodology