Investigating Psycho-Sociological Factors In Predicting Career Decision Among Some Selected Secondary Schools
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Investigating Psycho-Sociological Factors In Predicting Career Decision Among Some Selected Secondary Schools
Chapter one
1.0 Introduction.
1.1 Background for the Study
In a nation’s socioeconomic downturn, a circumstance in which the nation’s economic stability is shaken, it is critical for an individual to take the correct courses that will lead to a continuous and life-changing career.
In summary, in any economic crisis nation such as Nigeria, individuals’ chances of economic survival are solely dependent on their ability to choose a path that maximises their economic sustainability. As a result, developing a professional path is critical.
Decision-making is the process of discovering and selecting alternatives based on individual preferences. As a result, good career planning necessitates several decisions, the capacity to create goals, and the ability to achieve those goals within a reasonable time frame. Nonetheless, it should be remembered that profession choices are among the most difficult decisions one may make in life.
This is because when a bad decision is made, the consequences are constantly visible in the way, manner, and attitude of that person throughout his or her life. It is also clear that decisions entailed ambiguity
which makes many individuals uncomfortable. Nonetheless, preparation can reduce uncertainty and raise the likelihood of obtaining the desired outcomes.
Career decisions can be risky when people are unaware of the consequences. Nonetheless, Sharf (2002) believes that career decision making helps to uncover aspects involved in a person’s career selection and provides insight into how these factors influence their career decision and choice.
According to Sharf, professional decisions are a vital component of every human’s path to a successful career, especially in a country like Nigeria that is experiencing an economic crisis.
Examining the underlying notion of career decision, Patteon and McMalion (1999) and Siriwan (2011) find three main aspects that influence the outcome of profession selection. These factors include a clear understanding of oneself, which includes each individual’s abilities, aptitudes, interests, ambition, resources, limitations, and knowledge of their causes;
the second factor is knowledge of the requirements that preclude success, advantages and disadvantages, compensation, opportunities, and prospects in various fields of work.
The final factor indicated by Patton and McMalion (1999) in Siriwan (2011) is true reasoning about the relationships between the two groups mentioned above. As a result, several aspects contribute to the failure or success of professional decisions among individuals, particularly secondary school pupils.
Attitude is a psychological element that influences how an individual perceives a job opportunity and makes professional decisions (Pitts, 2007). Okonkwo (2010) elaborates on the concept of attitude towards appropriate decision making, stating that bad attitudes of students’ parents, relatives, and teachers presupposely influence students’ attitudes towards choosing a job in life.
Della (2003) defines attitude as a style of behaving towards someone or something, particularly when expressing one’s feelings. In essence, attitude is an ingrained trait that can only be noticed when it is on show. As a result, an individual’s attitude tactically influences the outcome of students’ reported views or perceptions towards a specific job.
Emphasising the topic of interest, the family plays an important role in this regard because many parents may discourage or encourage their children to pursue a specific career path. As a result, the attitude of parents towards their chosen vocation can influence students’ interests.
According to Chukwu (2002), curiosity has been seen as an emotionally orientated behavioural feature that determines a student’s inclination and rigour in handling educational programs or other activities.
As a result, attitude is an emotive behaviour that can be elicited and maintained by students’ relatives, parents, and/or teachers when making career decisions.
Another factor of importance in this study is personality. Personality is defined as someone’s character, particularly their behaviour towards others. According to Della (2003), personality is what makes someone engaging, friendly, and enjoyable to be around.
As a result, personality is an important factor in determining every student’s career path. In Siriwan (2011), Holland (1959) discusses the features of jobs in relation to individuals’ personalities and interests.
As a result, personality is thought to play a significant role in students’ profession choices and outcomes. Brown (2002) argues that when students choose a career, their personality predetermines what the selection will achieve; thus, it is a significant truth that an individual’s personality influences career choices.
Self-efficacy is another aspect under consideration in the study. It can be seen as a self-evaluation of one’s competency in successfully carrying out a course of action required to achieve desired results. According to Eimmerman (2000), self-efficacy is a multidimensional construct that varies depending on the area of demands, and hence must be evaluated at a level unique to the outcome domain.
Albert Bandura created the notion of self-efficacy in 1977, when he applied social learning theory to personality development. According to Siriwan (2011), Bandura’s (1977) theory states that personality emerges through learning experiences and human cognitive processes.
Individual factors refer to behaviour; environmental factors refer to the external aspect associated with an individual’s learning; and psychological factors refer to the cognitive process associated with how individuals learn as a result of the interaction of individual and environmental factors, such as their perception of learning experiences and approach to problem solving.
As a result, self-efficacy is regarded as one of the most important personality variables impacting professional decisions. Bandura, Barbaranelli, Caprara, and Pastorelli (2001) discovered that children made profession decisions based on their perceived occupational self-efficacy rather than their academic performance.
It is also clear that the socioeconomic environment has an indirect impact on kids since it influences parents’ self-efficacy and educational goals for their children.
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