ABSTRACT
This study attempts
to explain the socio-cultural factors influencing student's career choice in
Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos State. The study adopted a qualitative
approach. While a total of 150 respondents were selected using simple random
sampling, the research instrument was a structured questionnaire having both
open and closed ended questions. The social cognitive career development theory
and the career development -model were used to explain the concept further.
Also, two hypotheses were tested in the course of the study. The finding
reveals that there is no significant relationship between socio-cultural
background and student career choice, and there is a significant relationship
between parental influence and student career choice. The study recommended
that there should be better effort put into counseling and guidance on career
choice by the government, and that parents should endeavour to identify
personal qualities in their ward and encourage them to pursue a career along
that line.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background
to the Study
1.1 Statement
of the Problem
1.2 Research Questions
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Significance of the Study
1.5 Scope and
Delimitation
1.6 Definition
of Terms
CHAPTER TWO:
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
2.1 The Concept
of Career Choice
2.2 Theoretical
Orientation
2.2.1 Social
Cognitive Career Development Theory
2.2.2 Career
Development Practices
2.3 Conceptual
Framework
2.4 Statement
of Hypotheses
CHAPTER THREE:
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study
Population
3.2 Sample Size
and Sampling Procedure
3.3 Research
Instrument and Data Collection Method
3.4 Methods of
Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Testing Of Hypotheses and Interpretation
of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Summary
5.1 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations
References
Research Questionnaire
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background to the Study
Students career ‘choice’ is a subject which has attracted
academic, professional as well as public attention due to its multifaceted
nature. Since career is a result of the interplay between individuals within
organizational and social structures, it yields well to analysis form diverse
perspectives ranging from occupational psychology to organizational sociology.
Research on students career choice is not uncommon on occupational groups such
as accountants and , health care professionals (Morrison 2004; Hallissey et.
al, 2000, Kyriacou and Colthatt, 2000. The aim of such research is often to
predict students career choice behaviour based on personality as well as
demographic distributive factors.
When we think about career choice, several things
immediately come to mind, such as job description, training and education
required, career outlook, as well as salary - but there are a number of other
factors that may influence an individual’s decision. Thus, skills and
abilities, that is, considering the individual's skills and abilities and how
they may fit a particular occupation comes out of one of the earliest career
development field, trait factor theory, and is still in use today.
It is important to understand that career choice is not
made based on any one factor is our choices are subject to many influences;
individual, cultural, social and environmental. The combination and interaction
of various influences on an individual decision-making are unique to him or her
and the individual's" situation. The number of choices that we are aware
of and the number of choices that exist and are available to us in reality may
differ. Furthermore, there may be choices that we are not aware of, or which
are unavailable to us due to structural constraint that we may fail to
recognize. Lack of awareness of our full range of choices may lead us to make
use of a limited range of career alternatives or opportunity structures.
Understanding factors that impact on career `choice' would be instrumental in
designing and delivering better informed counselling and mentorship (Rant and
Michael, 1983). Sheridan et.al, noted that the initial career ‘choice’ of
managers and the relative status of their department play a role in outcomes of
their career tournament, such as promotion, transfer, and salary progression.
Therefore, identifying possible influences of career choice is important as
such influences may impact on job entry behaviour as well as subsequent career
outcomes.
Some people strongly belief that university graduation
provides advantages in employment in comparison to high school graduation.
Thus, a university entrance examination is regarded as the most important stage
and pathway for business life and employment. As a result of this believe,
admission to university, even a less preferred one is regarded as more
important than the quality of the match between occupations and individual
abilities. (Ozkale et. al; 2004).
The mismatch and graduation from a less preferred discipline have considerable
impacts in the early years of careers (Erdogmus, 2003), resulting in a
continuation of the career `choice' process subsequent to graduation from the
first university degree. Parents as the key source of funding for children
education may be interpreted as an indication of a form of collectivist culture
(Price, 1997).
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Although career choices are important for young people,
they are not a matter of life and death. In fact, most people do not get into a
settled career until their mid-20s. If a student aspires to be a doctor, lawyer
or other professional, it's a long haul - as it always has been. For others,
though, the route is likely to be much less predictable. But before a student
starts a career, they'll probably have to consider further some socio-cultural
ideals. Many recent changes have occurred in this area.
Higher education costs money, and there is an increasing
number of part-time (often poorly paid) jobs open to students, with many
universities and colleges having reduced study hours to enable students to
earn. In terms of post-university work, employers are increasingly looking for
experience as well as academic qualifications. It is as important that a student
builds towards a body of experience as it is to make good career choices in
relation to his or her socio-cultural background.
One
of the most challenging educational issues facing Nigeria is understanding and
solving the persistent disparities in achievement among racial and ethnic
groups. while much of the focus on this issue has centered on student
achievement as measured by grades and test scores (Jencks and Phillips, 1998;
Steinberg et. al;
1992), there has been considerable attention to understanding and explaining
differences on students career choice (Fernandez et. al., 1989; Ogbu 1989).
1.2 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
This
study is attempting to identify socio-cultural factors that influence student's
career choice. To achieve this aim, the following questions will be
investigated:
1. What influences students' choice of
career in any way?
2. How do parents perceive their children's
course of study?
3. Do parents have influence on their
children's career choice?
4. Are there any chance for parents to deciding what their
children will be in the future?
5. What is/are the motivating factor(s) of
student career choice?
1.3 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The
objectives of the study are as follows:
1. To investigate the socio-cultural factors which influence
student's career choice?
2. To discover the role of parents in the
choice of career of students.
3. To explore the motivating factors that
determine students choice of career.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This
study is significant for its effort in identifying the socio-cultural factors
that affect choice of career. Also, when completed, it will help students to
have .a better understanding of what `career' is really all about, as it is common in our society that most
children and students do not know what career choice really entails, hence they
choose based on peer influence, common social sentiment or parental advice.
Some also choose based on the pecuniary gains inherent to
the `career', when it is not what really interests them. Therefore, this study
will serve as a stitch in time as young people will learn to consider their
socio-cultural situation before making career choices.
1.5 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
The scope of the work is limited to young and adolescent
students, both male and female in Kosofe
Local Government of Lagos State.
The limitations of this study includes that it only
applies to students in Kosofe Local Government, and the study is limited to
data received to cover the set scope. Also, inadequate finance and time
constraint both contributed limitation to the study.
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Socio-cultural: Cultural practices as connected with the
society.
Influence: The effect that
somebody or something has on the way a person thinks or behaves or on the way
that something works or develops.
Interplay: The way in
which two or more things or people affect each other. Disparities: A
difference, especially one connected with unfair treatment. Multifaceted: Having many different
aspects to be considered, complex.
Essentialist: One who
does what is extremely important in every or a particular situation.
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