The Influence of Learning Motivation on Students' Career Planning

Abstract

Career planning is an important process that helps secondary school students recognize their potential, understand educational and occupational options, and plan steps toward their career goals. Learning motivation is assumed to be related to students’ ability to plan their careers. This study aimed to examine the effect of learning motivation on career planning among senior high school students. A quantitative, correlational design was used. The sample consisted of 131 students in grades X, XI, and XII at SMA Muhammadiyah 4 Yogyakarta, drawn from a population of 194 using the Slovin formula (5% error) and simple random sampling. Data weyre collected with four-point Likert scales for learning motivation and career planning. A pilot test with 52 students using the Rasch Model (TAM package in RStudio) retained 35 of 40 items, with an EAP reliability of 0.951. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple linear regression, Pearson correlation, an independent-samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Learning motivation had a positive and significant effect on career planning (F(1,129) = 48.177; p < 0.001; β  = 0.489), explaining 27.2% of the variance. Goal orientation was the indicator most strongly related to career planning (β = 0.341). Male students scored higher on career planning than female students (p = 0.040), while differences across grade levels were not significant. These findings highlight the need for guidance and counseling services that sustain learning motivation, clarify educational goals, and broaden career exploration.