CAREER CHOICE:

A CASE STUDY IN DECISION MAKING OF

INTERIOR DESIGN TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS OF
CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS

A Thesis
Presented to
The Graduate School
CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Main Campus, R. Palma St., Cebu City

Submitted by:
Años, Kyle
Cabacoy, Mel Jhared
Cabase, Mark Rennier O.
Saludar, Ma. Bebina

Year & Program

BIT III-J (IDT)

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER Pages

1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INTRODUCTION

Rationale of the Study 1

Theoretical Background of the Study
Related Literature and Studies
THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

Null Hypothesis
Significance of the Study
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design
Flow of the Study
Research Environment
Respondents
Research Instrument
Data gathering Procedure

DEFINITION OF TERMS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CURRICULUM VITAE

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 Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale
College tuition has been rising year by year so it is understandable that some
students would be leaning towards the highest-paying college majors. And one of those
is interior design. The field has had significant contributions to the realm of human
comfort, especially when people are forced to stay indoors for long periods. While there
are thousands of interior design businesses in the United States (IBIS World, 2021), it is
entirely possible for someone with a degree in interior design to shift to other career
fields, especially design-related ones. Their creativity, graphic design skills, and project
management skills are sought in many industries, including marketing and advertising,
media, and fashion, to name a few Interior designers naturally have an inclination in the
field of art.

Interior designers may expand their employment horizons by taking courses in

landscape construction and site design. Professionals in this field, much like interior
designers, are experts in using design software. Degrees in this field must be approved
by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. Further, Landscape architects must
pass the landscape Architect Registration Examination to be able to practice their
profession. Interior design has changed significantly over the past 20 to 30 years and
has established itself as a recognized profession (Martin, 1998). This profession has
evolved from one predominantly concerned with surface ornamentation to one based on
designing for human behavior.

Six in 10 craft and fine artists are self-employed or independent (U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 2021). This would be an ideal field for interior designers who do not
find themselves fitting in with the corporate world. Like other interior designers, the job
of a furniture designer is multifaceted, ranging from drawing and planning to building
models and prototypes. Their customers can be individuals or a group of a company's

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suppliers. Custom furniture is created as part of their job to best fit a room in a house for
daily use, a showroom to highlight or accompany a product, or an office. Many furniture
designers have backgrounds in architecture, craftsmanship, and carpentry. They make
use of wood, metals, fabrics, and textiles.

Once an Interior Designer has received an interior design degree certification,

the next step is finding the best interior design jobs that match their specialization. While
not strictly necessary for the job, many hiring clients consider a degree and certification
to be the basic interior designer qualifications. Furniture, exhibition, kitchen, and lighting
design are the top four career paths for an interior designer. Accredited Interior Design
courses aim to educate you to be competent, skilled, and educated design practitioners.

Most of the Interior Design Technology students did not pursue or proceed with
their bachelor degree. The students think that rendering another 2 years is a waste of
time and they are not financially capable to study in order for them to be a licensed
interior designer. Due to lack of demand in the industry, they chose work that is not
related to their field and others chose to work to provide for their family and younger
siblings financially.

Practicality is a smart thing to pick in regards to income and sometimes skill.

Passion in a career is pursuing something you love and pursuing it because you’re
interested and it’ll make you happy. Money is the driving force behind choosing a career
and that’s why jobs are generally regarded as chores. According to an article posted by
The University of Southern California, the time that we spend doing events we are
passionate about contributes to our happiness and lowers stress. Moreover, people
spend most of their time at work, whether that be in an office or at home and many
would prefer doing something compelling to them. Nevertheless, these jobs can turn
into chores and it may no longer be something that motivates people to work. There is

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also the issue of money, your job might not fit with your financial needs or may not fit
the market.

The goal of the study is to identify the chosen career path of interior design
technology students as to what are the possible factors of their decision-making in
choosing their career path. The researchers focus on this difficulty in Cebu
Technological University students for this ground is where it is most convenient. The
students in the mentioned school are also the reason because the school mentioned
offers Interior design technology courses.

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Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

This study is relatively based on John Holland’s Theory of Career Choice. This
theory maintains that in choosing a career, people prefer jobs where they can be around
others who are like them. They search for environments that will let them use their skills
and abilities, and express their attitudes and values, while taking on enjoyable problems
and roles. Behavior is determined by an interaction between personality and
environment.

Within this theory there are six basic types of work environment, which correlate
directly to the personality types. Holland emphasizes that people who choose to work in
an environment like their personality type are more likely to be successful and satisfied.
This idea is important as it shows Holland’s theory can be flexible, incorporating
combination types (Jones, 2008).

Figure 1 presents the entire process of the research that will be studied by the
researchers. It shows the variables that will critically affect the entire study for the
analysis and findings will be examined and done through gathering data.

The Respondent’s Personality types will determine the truthfulness of John

Holland’s Theory of Career Choice. As explained in the first part, the theory emphasizes
that people who choose to work in an environment like their personality type are more
likely to be successful and satisfied. (Jones, 2008)

The Profile of the respondents, the selected ones will undergo the procedures to
whether in that age, they decided to work in their desired career and passion.

After the last part of the process, the data gathered, verified, tested, and
analyzed the findings and conclusion will be formed. If John Holland’s Theory of Career

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 Choice will be proven true, then most likely the researchers will know if the students of
Interior Design Technology will choose practicality over passion among their career
paths.

Career Choice: A case study in

decision making of Interior Design
Technology Students of Cebu
Technological University Main
Campus

Demographic Profile of the

Personality Types: Parental Guidance: Respondents:
 Average  Advice a. Gender
 Reserved  Enlightenment b. Age
 Role-Model c. Year Level
 Self-Centered d. Hobbies

Tools and Procedure in Gathering

and Analyzing Data:
John Holland’s Theory
a. Questionnaire
of Career Choice
b. Interview

 Satisfaction
 Career Path

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 Figure 1. Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

Statement of the Problem

This study seeks to discover the career path of Interior Design Technology students of
Cebu Technological University Main Campus.

More specifically, it aims to answer the following:

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 age and sex
1.2 year
1.3 income
2. What is the level of competency among IDT students in terms of:
2.1 skills in manual drawing
2.2 software literacy
2.3 knowledge in furniture making
3. What are the possible factors as to why they chose this degree program:
3.1 self-choice
3.2 peer pressure
3.3 parents
4. Is there any significant difference in terms of the opportunity of students in the dying
industry of interior designing?
5. Is there any significant difference in terms of the financial status of students in
choosing their career path?

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Null Hypothesis

H04. There is no significant difference in terms of the opportunity of a students in the

dying industry of interior designing.

H05: There is no significant difference in terms of the financial status of students in

choosing their career path.

Significance of the study

This study hopes to ascertain an understanding on the matter of the Interior
design technology students of Cebu Technological University in choosing their career
paths. Moreover, this pushes to see the difficulties of Interior design technology
students and if any factors are greatly affected by their paths. This study will help
people to have a broader perspective regarding this matter. Furthermore, this study
could be of importance to the following:

Graduates. The graduates of Interior Design Technology are the main reason
why the researcher sought to study this topic. This study could help the graduates to
have more knowledge about the two-way path after graduating.

Parents. The information presented in this study will enable parents to see the
views on this matter and can help them improve their parenting skills. This matter will
also help them know better and obtain information regarding with the chosen careers
with their children.

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 Incoming IDT students. The outcomes that will be shown in this study will help
them to identify the factors in choosing their career paths after graduation. whether
choosing practicality is an option or a long-term goal over choosing a job by their field.

Future Researchers. The information and ideas presented in this study can be
used as reference for their future studies. Future researchers can attain findings and
information in this study that will give them a background for the success of their study.

Definition of Terms
This section identifies the unusual words or phrase used by the researchers to
conduct the research that is being presented. To understand the concepts here is
important information in the study.
The following are thoroughly defined:

Interior design. is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve
a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space.
Inclination. is a person's natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way; a
propensity.
Predominant. it is having superior strength, influence, or authority and being most
frequent or common. being the most noticeable or largest in number or having the most
power or influence.
Multifaceted. having many different parts or sides: It's a multifaceted business, offering
a range of services.
Career path. is a smaller group of jobs within a career cluster that use similar skills.
Each career cluster contains several career paths. You can start in a lower-lever job in a
career path and, with more education and experience, move up within that path.

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 Research Methodology

Research Design

The descriptive methods of the researcher will be used in this study to identify the

decision making of the Interior Design students in Cebu Technological University

Flow of the study

The study's input, process, and output (IPO) paradigm are followed. Data about the

profiles of the respondents is provided. Additionally, it looks at the caliber of the

decisions interior design students make regarding their profession choice. Case studies,

techniques, approaches, and statistical tools are among the several processes. Simple

percentage, weighed mean, and two-simple T-test are the statistical tests that the

researcher will employ.

The information acquired responses on the respondent's profile will be tested using the

straightforward percentage technique. The performance, characteristics, reliability, and

conformance to the norm are analyzed using the weighed mean using a 5-point Likert

scale.

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 INPUT

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 age and sex
1.2 year
1.3 income
2. What is the level of competency among IDT students in terms of:
2.1 skills in manual drawing
2.2 software literacy
2.3 knowledge in furniture making
3. What are the possible factors as to why they chose this degree program:
3.1 self-choice
3.2 peer pressure
3.3 parents
4. Is there any significant difference in terms of the opportunity of students in the dying industry of interior designing?
5. Is there any significant difference in terms of the financial status of students in choosing their career path?

PROCESS

Descriptive method in research

Approved transmittal method
Data gathering procedure
Researcher-made Questionnaire
Statistical tools
Presentation and interpretation of data

OUTPUT

CAREER CHOICE: A CASE STUDY IN DECISION-MAKING OF INTERIOR DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

STUDENT OF CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS

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Research Environment

The study will be conducted at Cebu Technological University Main Campus. The

University is located at M.J Cuenco Ave, Cor R. Palma street Cebu. CTU is one of

premiere University in Cebu that offers free tuition to the students. This state University

is beside of Plaza Independencia and back part of pier 2. From Basilica Minore del Sto.

Nino straight to Cebu Cathedral CTU is nearby of this famous churches

Respondents

The respondents of this study are the IDT students from freshmen to seniors in Cebu

Technological University Main Campus wherein there were twenty interviewees who are

BIT IDT students of CTU main campus.

Research Instrument

The primary tool to gather data is through interview which is prepared by the researcher

base on their observations, reading articles, interviews, and internet, which are all

related to the study. The researcher will use a questionnaire in gathering the data.

Data gathering Procedure

Data gathering will be conducted after personally acquiring permissions from the Interior

Design Technology Students of Cebu Technological University Main Campus. A

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schedule is set base on their vacant time to avoid conflict on their working hours. The

researcher does all the possible ways of gathering the data thorough instructed

interview, Facebook and other social media, chitchats in person, asking from relatives,

unplanned meet ups, etc. After the data has been gathered, the researcher will express

the gratitude of appreciation for their time in participating the study.

Definition of Terms

This section identifies the unusual words or phrase used by the researchers to

conduct the research that is being presented. To have an understanding of the

concepts here is important information in the study. The following are thoroughly

defined:

Interior design. is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve

a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space.

Inclination. is a person's natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way; a

disposition or propensity. A tendency to a particular aspect, state, character, or action.

the clutch has an inclination to slip and deviation from the true vertical or horizontal it

also the degree of such deviation.

Landscape Architectural Accreditation board. The program conducts a self-study to

evaluate how well it is meeting its educational goals. It also develops and promulgates

the accreditation standards, rules and procedures for conducting the accreditation

process.

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Predominant. it is having superior strength, influence, or authority and being most

frequent or common. being the most noticeable or largest in number, or having the most

power or influence.

Multifaceted. having many different parts or sides: It's a multifaceted business,

offering a range of services.

Career path. is a smaller group of jobs within a career cluster that use similar skills.

Each career cluster contains several career paths. You can start in a lower-lever job in a

career path and, with more education and experience, move up within that path.

BIBLIOGRAHPY

APPENDICES

CURRICULUM VITAE

References

Bouchrika, I. PhD (2022) Interior Design Careers: 2022 Guide to Career Paths, Options
&Salary
https://thespellbinder.net/3271/features/career-path-choice-passion-or-practicality/?
fbclid=IwAR3NTDtJ5n14acnyzP-PTtSCxHUZPgtpQFi93zT9ibdY9i8Pata1n-JcFzU

Robledo, A. (2018) Career Path Choice: Passion or Practicality?

https://thespellbinder.net/3271/features/career-path-choice-passion-or-practicality/?

fbclid=IwAR3NTDtJ5n14acnyzP-PTtSCxHUZPgtpQFi93zT9ibdY9i8Pata1n-JcFzU

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Alkhadi, A. (walay year sa link inatay or sa akong phone ra di makita??) Future

Directions in Interior Design Education

http://www.scholarpractitionerjournals.com/article/future-directions-interior-design-education?

fbclid=IwAR1_l3TbuUz0Xszzz4gfMIXcdCvmNC7uthyJQwegEbs4foPwmrblG4iIysI

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