OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION AND CAREER PREFERENCE AMONG SECONDARY STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN BAYELSA STATE.

Abstract

The study investigated the correlation between occupational information and career preference of Secondary students in public schools in Bayelsa State. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. Correlation research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 2,847 students. A sample of 400 students was selected through stratified sampling method. The researchers adopted vocational interest inventory (vii) and also developed an instrument tagged Occupational Information Questionnaire (O.I.Q) for data collection. Cronbach’s Alpha formula was used to determine the reliability coefficient. Vocational interest inventory (vii) yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.902 while Occupational Information Questionnaire (O.I.Q) yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.941. Pearson product moment correlation was used to answer the research questions and test the hypothesis at 0.5 alpha level. The result of the study revealed that, there is a significant correlation between occupational information, and career preference, significant correlation between student’s participation in Field Trip and career preference, significant correlation between career day and career preference, significant correlation between career guidance and career preference. Based on the findings, the following recommendations among others were made, that Guidance Counsellors should provide adequate occupational information to students. The Government and Parents Teachers Association and philanthropists should assist in the sponsorship of Field trip and career day in schools.