Student Curriculum Decisions

TLDR: The authors found that grade 10 students tended to select information which counselors had judged to be most relevant; their information search sampled the available information areas with the exception of values, which tended to be neglected; and their information-search pattern changed as they received information, i.e., information at first considered important would be reclassified as unimportant as new information was received.

Abstract: Grade 10 students at two high schools took the Case Development Questionnaire, an information-search assessment instrument. A description of the way these students sought to make curricular decisions was obtained: (1) they tended to select information which counselors had judged to be most relevant; (2) their information search sampled the available information areas with the exception of values, which tended to be neglected; (3) their information-search pattern changed as they received information, i.e., information at first considered important would be reclassified as unimportant (and vice versa) as new information was received; (4) the information area of abilities was considered the most important, plans and interests less important, and values least important.