Open Access

ARTICLE

Design thinking pedagogy effects on undergraduates’ career decision-making self-efficacy and employability: A pilot intervention study

Yahong Cai¹, Nalini Arumugam², Yukai Chen^3,*

1 School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, 521041, China
2 Faculty of Education, Languages, Psychology, and Music (FoELPM), SEGi University, Petaling Jaya, 47810, Malaysia
3 School of Geography, Tourism and Teochew Cuisine, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, 521041, China

* Corresponding Author: Yukai Chen. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2025, 35(3), 327-333. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.068042

Received 08 January 2025; Accepted 17 April 2025; Issue published 31 July 2025

Abstract

This study examined the effects of design thinking pedagogy on undergraduates’ career decision-making self-efficacy and employability in career education. Using a quasi-experimental design, Chinese college students (N = 93) were participants in two wings. The experimental group (n = 47) received the design thinking pedagogy, while the control group (n = 46) followed the regularly teacher-centered method. The students completed the career decision-making self-efficacy scale and employability scale before and after the intervention. Independent samples t-test results showed that design thinking pedagogy significantly improves students’ career decision-making self-efficacy and employability. The ANCOVA results showed that the pretest scores of career decision-making self-efficacy and employability had no significant association with the experimental intervention. There was no interaction between the treatment and pretest scores. It would seem that experimental design thinking pedagogy implemented in career guidance courses has little effect compared to the usual course presentation. Nonetheless, prospects for the implementation of design thinking-guided learning activities to support interdisciplinary learning for improved higher education and career development outcomes need further exploration.

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Keywords

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