THE EFFECT OF PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON THE CHOICE OF

CAREER AMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF

DATACOM INSTITUTE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to identify the effects of parental

influence has on the child's learning and his future life, endeavour

of student in Datacom Institute of Computer Technology. A

population of 39 student drawn from Grade 11- Topaz were

randomly selected and used for the study, to each student

questionnaire was administered and answer offered were collated

and analyzed. The result obtained from the study show that,

illiterate parents have little or no time for their children's

education. Children from educated home background show more

interest in education lack of motivation of parents forcing them

to do their will. It was also found out that only few students are

interested in their parent's occupation. Discoveries from the study

reveals that illiterate parents have no interest in their children’s

academic growth, parents are not a factor influencing the choice

of career among their children. Furthermore, there is no

significant difference between children from educated home

towards education of given the necessary motivation. This is due

to the fact that a consideration number of children live without

parental support, as in orphans, children living in the streets,

displaced and refused children who on account of the poverty of

their parents are subjected to inhuman and sadistic ordeals. This

reduces their desire to learn as it happens frequently in Datacom

Institute.
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Choosing a course or career path has become an arduous task

among senior high school students in the face of ever– changing

society. Since the Department of Education (DepEd) mandated

the Republic Act 10553 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of

2013, which added two more years to secondary education to

students need to choose their preferred tracks after their junior

high completion . With students choosing careers that may not

suit them, a worrying scenario could emerge. Some of which

could be stuck in careers like round pins in square holes.

According to Lane (2013), this is detrimental for the students

because reconsidering a career is an enormous decision.

Moreover, uncertainty and fear of doing something that is not

within their capability and interest had led students to question

their careers of choice. Based on the foregoing statement as

basis, the researcher aim to find out the influence of parental

involvement in the career choices of the senior high school

 students of Datacom Institute of Computer Technology. The

researcher also hope to provide academic recommendations that

could help the students, their parents and the school.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Career plays a very fundamental and significant role in the

life of the individual not only because they determine the pattern

of income but also because they affect the individual personality

and concepts in life, career therefore is a choose pursuit, life work

or success in one's profession occupied by a person throughout

his/her lifetime. In a nutshell, career is the totality of work one

does in his life time and is person centred it is of utmost

importance to every individual as he or she prepares for the

future.

Career choice is something very hard to decide, especially as

his life will depend on it. Her (2003) indicated that, career is the

totality of experience through which one learns about and

prepares to engage in work as part of his way of living ' Splete

(12001) Stress career is an enjoying process that occurs over the

life span and includes homes, schools and community. Every

human being needs to do one job or the other to help contribute

his quote to the development of the country.

Ipaye (2000) refers to the need for one to discuss with one's

peer school counsellors, parents and teachers on the need to

choose a life span work as “career convention” or “career

conference”. However, career convention according to him is an

instrument of career information. This occurs for a number of

reasons, which includes:

1. To stimulate career thinking and widen occupational

horizon.

2. To focus attention on particular jobs in order to help an

individual crystallizes his preference.

3. To create a situation in which parents can on one hand

meet employers and discuss the opportunities they offer

and on the other hand meet the career teachers or career

officers with whom they can exchange views.

 Work experience during industrial training or those experiences

acquired during vocational education also aids the students in

choice of career. This is a technique in which students do job

under realistic conditions without payment this may help them

choose a career to that effect.

James (2004) Observes that the influence home has on the

child's learning is the fundamental concepts of life. This cause

and most of the habits and basic adjustment were established

during pre-school years. The highlights of the fact that home and

parents occupy the most important position in the child’s

education. It should be stressed that work experience is not an

attempt to find job for the students but an attempt to widen the

horizons of students and ease the ultimate transition from school

to work. This is usually based on the information given to the

school by the parents, such guidance and information are

necessary because most school children are adolescents and are

controlled by double standards, hypocrisy, truancy, materialism,

dishonesty etc. .
 The factor that may influence choice of career includes.

- Socio-economic factors

- Personal or family factors

- Cultural factors, which include schools, peer group, age and

work experience. The effect of parental influence on choice

of career is both negative and positive this is due to:

- security factors

- No usual hazards to health

- Assured steady income

- Certainty of continued employment

- Career or occupational satisfaction

- Prestige

- Social rewards.

To increase students interest and ability to use his hands

and brains, the parents, must be involved to give desired

assistance/guidance to the students.

 1.2 OBJECTIVE

Parental involvement in education has an objective to

improves student achievement, self – esteem, and behavior. It

also helps to build strong relationships between parents and their

child’s school. There are many ways that parents can get involved

in their children’s education.

Effective parental involvement support helps parents to

understand what their children are learning, how well they are

doing and how they can support learning in the home

environment.

Best Parenting Goals:

 Develop mutual respect

 Allow open communication and bidirectional feedback.

 Spend more time in self – care.

 Take care of your child’s mental health.

 Be supportive and foster independence.

 1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The main purpose of this study is the attempt to find out the

effect of parental influence on the choice of career among

students in Datacom Institute of Computer Technology

It will as much as possible, try to find out to what extent,

the influence of the parent will play on the students choice of

career, and whether the influence will always aid the students

positively or negatively.

It will also focus on how processing techniques learned from

family system can lead to effective career counselling research

concerning the impact of a family social economic status has

ultimately divided. This lack of consensus is partially during the

limited research in this particular area as it is rarely the main

focus of the students. (Brown, 2001) but also because of the lack

of detail given by the researcher about their participants.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

The research question which the study attempt to verify are

as follows:

1. Do you always desire most things your friends do?

2. Is student’s choice of career influenced by their peer group?

3. Does career choice affect the academic performance of

students?

4. Is your choice of career based on your interest and value

towards that career?

5. Illiterate parents have no influence on their children’s choice

of career?

1.5 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This research is based on the effect of parental influences on

the choice of career among Grade 11- Topaz students at

Datacom Institute of Computer Technology. The parents may

desire what they think is good or best for their ward.

 This may affect the child positively if the child can cope with

it but negatively when such a child has other things in mind,

which he/she wishes to do. The result of this is that the child may

not concentrate on the parents needs and so may not adjust

positively towards the career. This sometimes leads to students

waywardness, secrete cult involvement, armed robbery and so

on. The child may not cope with the parents continual force

against his/her will.

The world is marking such drastic demand upon the coming

workers of every truthful man and woman. Everyone teaches

and reflecting parents is planning a way to fit the students for the

life and needs of this new century. This statement which is still

relevant today was written by Mejer Bloomfield in his book

“finding ones place in life” in (2007) since the early 2000 career

development or vocational guidance as it was then known has

increasingly gained more and more attention and respect in

essence of career counselling. It is a specialty within the

profession of counselling one that fosters vocationally

development and work adjustment of individual abilities, interest

and goals with the work roles structured by the community and

occupation organized by companies and assist a developing and

deciding individual to make suitable and viable choice why

examine the factors affecting career choice on senior high school

students, in the past and even now for many. It was assumed

that an individual going through late adolescent would be

developing their independence and slowly eliminating his or her

family’s constraints as he or she formed his or her own identity

into the larger world in effect the person would make career

decision based on his or her own interest research and

occupational goals with limited influence from others. In fact even

when young adult move away from home, their family will likely

still have a strong influence upon them on two significant life

events, marriage and their career.

 1.6 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The research study is limited to the effect of parental

influence on the choice of career among students in Datacom

Institute of Computer Technology. This research work will cover

forty randomly selected Grade 11- Topaz students, teachers and

parents of Datacom Institute of Computer Technology,

Furthermore, for the survey to be properly conducted

questionnaires will be employed. Students’ questionnaires,

teacher and parent’s questionnaires will be given to men and

women in the school to know their degree of involvement in their

children’s education and choice of career.

 1.7 Theoretical Framework

This presents a theoretical model that shows the effect of

parental involvement.

1. Theory of Planned Behavior Ajzen’s (1991)

theory of planned behavior is “a theory designed to predict and

explain human behavior in specific contexts” (p.181). The theory

focuses on the motivational reasons that lead to higher intentions

to perform a behavior on the basis that “the stronger the

intention to engage in a behavior, the more likely should be its

performance” (Ajzen, 1991, p.181). According to the theory of

planned behavior, one should understand the reasons that lead to

intentions in order to be able to predict future involvement in a

behavior.

Figure 1: Theory of Planned Behavior

BEHAVIOR

(Parental Involvement)

Perceived Control Attitudes and Beliefs

Subjective Norms
 The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) sets a model for

humans’ actions in which intentional behavior is determined by:

(a) attitudes and behaviors, (b) subjective norms, and (c)

perceived controls (see Figure 1.). Attitudes and behaviors

include feelings and attitudes towards a certain behavior.

Believing that a certain behavior has positive outcomes will surely

lead to more intention to perform that behavior. Subjective

norms are the opinions of the people surrounding the person

wishing to engage in a certain behavior, which can lead to peer

pressure and social pressure, both of which can lead to one’s

higher intentions to perform a certain behavior. Finally, perceived

control is one’s own perception of his/her ability to perform a

certain behavior; perceived control contributes to both having the

intention to perform certain behaviors as well as whether or not

the person would actually perform the behavior (Ajzen, 1991).

The theory of planned behavior can be used to explain and

predict the behavior of parental involvement in children’s

schooling. Perry and Langley (2013) suggest using Ajzen’s

Planned Behavior Theory; they argue that the theory of planned

behavior is “versatile enough to account for the dynamic and

complex nature of paternal engagement” (p. 181). Furthermore,

according to Bracke and Corts (2012), parents’ culture, having

examples of parental involvement, and having role models or

neighbors that do or do not get involved in their children’s

education are all factors that help shape the “subjective norms

about the role of parents in education” (p. 194). 2. Theoretical

Models of Parental Involvement Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler

(1995) provided a theoretical definition for researching parental

involvement. Their theoretical model defines parental

involvement according to three main points: (1) why parents

become involved in their children’s education,(2) how parents

choose specific types of involvement, and (3) why parental

involvement has a positive influence on students’ educational

outcomes. According to Fan and Chen (2001), this theoretical

framework “promises to be more than a typology for parental

involvement, because it not only deals with specific types of

parental involvement, but more importantly, it attempts to

explain why parents choose to be involved, and what the

mechanisms are through which parental involvement exert[s]

positive influence on students’ educational outcomes.” (p.3)

Epstein and Dauber (1991) proposed a model that distinguishes

six different types of parent-school connections: First, “Basic

obligations of families” (p.290) which refers to the parents’ role in

raising their children and preparing for their school years by

providing a suitable home environment and conditions that foster

their children’s growth and development throughout their school

years. Second, “Basic obligations of schools” (p.290) which refers

to the role of schools in communicating with the parents about

the academic progress of their children and providing constant

feedback to parents about their children’s schooling and

development. Third, “Involvement at school” (p.290) which refers

to parents’ visits and volunteer work at the school to help support

their children with both academic and extracurricular activities;

Epstein and Dauber (1991) suggest that schools can improve this

type of involvement by offering flexible schedules that allow more

families to be involved. Fourth, “Involvement in learning activities

at home” (p.291) which includes parents being involved in their

children’s homework and learning activities through the guidance

of a school’s teachers; this promotes collaboration between the

teachers and parents allowing them both to keep track of

children’s development and academic growth. Fifth, “Involvement

in decision-making” (p.291), which refers to active participation

in parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and other community

support groups. Sixth, “Collaboration and exchanges with

community organizations” (p.291) which refers to the overall

collaboration among parents, schools, and other organizations

that share the responsibility and interest in children’s education

through providing different services outside of schools such as

providing health care or child care services. Researchers have

investigated Parental Involvement through several theories such

as identity theory,the paternal investment theory, the theoretical

model of father involvement, the conceptual model of responsible

fathering, the ecological theory, the role theory and the social

exchange theory (Perry & Langley, 2013). However, Perry and

Langley (2013) argue that those theories have “limited

applicability with regard to explaining and predicting paternal

involvement” (p.181) because such theories assume that active

involvement of parents only relies on the parents’ will and desire

to be involved in their children’s education. As an alternative

theory to help explain and predict parental involvement, Perry

and Langley (2013) suggest using Ajzen’s Theory of Planned

Behavior (TPB); they argue that TPB is “versatile enough to

account for the dynamic and complex nature of paternal

engagement” (p. 181). This theoretical framework was mainly

guided by Ajzen’s (1991) theory of planned behavior to help

explain the motivation for Parental Involvement and the factors

that affect parents’ levels of involvement. The theory of planned

behavior sets a model for understanding and predicting humans’

intentional behaviors in which intentional behavior is determined

by: (a) attitudes and behaviors, (b) subjective norms, and (c)

perceived controls. The theory of planned behavior

(demonstrated in Figure 1.) provides additional factors, such as

subjective norms, attitudes and beliefs, and perceived control

that might also affect parental involvement and explain variations

in parents’ levels of involvement.

1.8 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

What is the implication of How is the parent-child

This study in the field of relationship significant

Guidance & Counseling? in the career decision of

INPUT the students?

OUTPUT

Parents have a strong impact on

the career development of
young adults. The participants
felt a desire to comply with the
career wishes of their parents
at one point or another.
Moreover, Young adults would
benefit significantly from
seeking career counselling.

What are the negative and positive effects of

parental involvement on the career choice of the

students?
 1.9 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of this researcher work is to find out to what

extent the influences of the parent will affect the student choice

of career and the attendance performance of students on the

subject that would heard them successfully toward this

occupation or job as a life span endeavour.

1. It will enable the research give recommendations to the

parents about their children’s response to the advice

given to them.

2. It will enable the researcher make concrete

recommendations to the government about the choice of

career among students especially now that the rate of

unemployment is high.

3. It will enable the researcher to make recommendation to

school administrators.

4. The findings will also enable the researcher made

recommendations for further research on the issue of

career prospects.
 5. It will enable the peer and the students’ community to

have an impact on the youth adult expectation and

perception of vocation.

1.10 DEFINITION OF TERMS

- CAREER - A chosen pursuit or course of business activity or

enterprise, especially one's professional life or employment

that offers advancement and honour.

- INFLUENCE- The power of acts by which parents or a

person has to control the desire of another.

- CHOICE: An act of choosing between two or more

possibility. The right to choose or the possibility of choosing.

- FACTORS: One of several thing that cause or influence

something or somebody to include as particular fact or

situation when you are thinking about or planning

something.

- EFFECTIVE: Producing strong feeling of sadness and

sympathy.
- COUNSELLING: This is the process where a troubled or a

confused person is helped by a professional to solve his

problem and to make better adjustment to his society.

- GUIDANCE: This is the process of helping the student to

understanding himself and his environment in other to

develop self defectiveness.

 CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

1.1 RELATED LITERATURE

Attempts will be made in this chapter to critically examine

views, opinions, and perceptions of past researcher as they ears

in books, journals lectures, magazines newspapers and abstracts

in doing this, those that are related to choice of career among

students will be highlighted no two persons are born exactly alike

each differs from the other in natural endowments, one being

suited for one occupation and another for the other. All things

will be produce of in superior quantify and quality and with

greater ease, when each man works at a single occupation in

accordance with his natural endowment.

The oxford advanced learners dictionary of current English

defines career as ''a job or profession especially one with

opportunities for progress or promotion'' A profession is therefore

'' is a dignified occupation based on intellectual training and

desirable mental exercise the purpose of which is to render

service'' .

Henry-bell (2006) Stress that career is the totality of

experience through which one learns about and prepares to

engage in work as a part of his way of living. Chen (2003)

objectivist believe that occupational matches can be measured

and predicted mainly through scientific assessment and will

logically state what type of career choice best fits that person.

This type of thinking was dominated in the early 20 th century-

Frank Person the designated founder of the vocational guidance

movement. Henry-Bell (2006) stress that career is the totality of

experience through which one learns about and prepares to

engage in work as a part of his way of living.

Speete (2002) Observe '' career is an ongoing process that

occurs over the life-span and includes homes school and

communities''.

Eduwen (2000) opined'' it is realistic that students desire

help in order to make satisfying choice of the occupation.

1.2 RELATED STUDIES

WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE CAREER

We must decide what manner of man we wish to be and

what walking in life will follow and this is most difficult problem in

the world''.

Oladele (2001) Observed that secondary school students

need right decision on choice of career as.

- Career work should enable them choose a life rather than

simply a living

- The chosen occupation will globally shape the person and his

life style.

- Lead to occupational satisfaction among individual students.

- To bridge the gap of individual different.

- That our society may not be run by disgruntled, frustrated

and unrealistic and unrealistic individuals.

According to Caplow (2000) Occupational choices are made

at a time when the student is still remote from the world of work.

They are made in terms of school requirement, which may call for
quite different abilities and taste from those which will be related

to eventual jobs.

Krumboltz (2001) Opined that the process of occupation

decision making could be analysed in terms of three periods

fantasies tentative and realistic choice. These can be

differentiated by the way in which the individual translates his

impulse and needs into occupational choice. These can be

differentiated by the way in which the individual translate his

impulse, and wants into occupations choice. Baker (2009) opened

the doors to the practice of matching one’s self to ones job traits.

A process that continues to this day. Niles (2001) A persons work

was the foundation for his unique interest, abilities and values,

while each occupation has unique characteristics related to tasks,

skill required a rewards. As the oldest and most widely used of

the career development theories. Trait and factor theories believe

that these unique characteristics of both individuals and job can

be measured objectively and will produce the highest amount of

satisfaction for both workers and employers when they are

correctly matched together. Irch (2000) this approach is much

more assessment based and pays limited attention to a client

emotional or motivational state. In essence the client narrows

their occupational search by gaining an understanding of their

career aptitude and interest based on one more vocational

interest inventories. Based on those results, the counsellor then

assist the client in finding occupation where his/her reported skill

and interest have the strongest match, thereby placing the client

into an area where they have the greater likelihood for success

for example, if a clients assessment demonstrates his or her

highest interest and abilities with people, he or she is primarily

working with data/materials or one that has limited interaction

with other workers, or clients John Holland’s subsequent work in

(2006-2007) was based on shared psychological features, such as

skill and personality, from his testing, Holland eventually came to

the conclusion that every person or occupation can be broken

down into six categories known as RIASEC code (realistic- skilled

trader/technical/occupation, investigative scientific occupation,

artistic/literacy/musical occupation social educational/religious

occupation. Enterprising persuasive occupation and conventional

clerical business occupation. Figler and Bolies (2007), Holland and

Lutz (2000) assessments based on trait and factor theory where

a person thought and behaviour were assumed to start fairly

constant over their lifetime, continued to strengthen as more and

more test were created to match a person’s personality and skill

to a specific job.

FACTORS INFLUENCING CHOICE OF CAREER

- INTEREST- Eduwen (2000) Opined interest is one of the

essential factors that help an individual to choose a career

the individual may be interested in a career that involves

frequent interaction with people and demonstrate his love of

dealing with people by being humorous, friendly, helpful and

understanding.

- ATTITUDE - Alport (2003) Posit that attitude is a mental

or neutral state of readiness organised through experience

exacting a directive and dynamic influence upon an

individual’s response to all objects and situation with which

it relates. Different people have different attitudes and it is

 necessary for the individual to identify those abilities and

nurture them.

- PARENT FINANCIAL STATUS/ENVIRONMENT

INFLUENCE- Herbart (2006) opened that environment are

necessary for developing abilities to levels close to capacity

levels and if children are raised in healthy home where

parents live in harmony and are kind and supportive to their

children a child is bound in this situation to take directives

from his parents. Hence their occupational aspiration is

influenced by their parents occupational status.

- LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT- The level of

educational achievement to a great extent influences an

individual choice of career people have different

opportunities of climbing to different opportunities of

climbing to different levels of education some individuals

may possess the school certificate, while others a first

degree. Sadler (2000) States that the more one reads the

more he comes across publication giving information about

the work people do time is arranged for student for

 acquiring , sorting, assimilating and dispensing such

information space is needed to accommodate career

literature and those who use this enable the students choose

subject directing them to careers they wish to do in future.

- PARENTAL INFLUENCE- Parents play vital roles in the

choice of career amongst their children. Olayinka (2005)

Stresses that parent sometimes censoriously set up

standard worthy of emulation for their children and this

motivated them to be achievement oriented Roe (2004)

States that , that choice of career among students is partly

influenced by the behaviours of their parent towards the

particular child and the condition of the home environment.

- VALUE- According to Eduwen (2000) the value attached to

given career by an individual is a product of many variable

such as his early life experience, education and

environment. Williams (2003) Opined that '' ones job must

furnish an outlet suitable to ones emotional life is live in

ones job not elsewhere as is commonly supposed.

- INFLUENCE OF THE SCHOOL - According to Edwuen

(2007), the nature of the school attended by the individual

influence the choice of career in the future. The influence of

schooling is manifested in curriculum offering and

subsequent choice of an occupation. Oladele (2001)

Stresses that guidance is necessary in school as more and

more students are enrolling into post -primary institutions

were a substantial number of primary school leaves will have

access to secondary school.

WHY PARENTS INFLUENCE CAREER CHOICE

Henry (2011) Observes that one cannot choose what are

does not know and many occupations are unknown to most of us

one may stumble into an appropriate occupation by sheer luck,

but the wise choice of occupation requires accurate information

about what occupation are available the knowledge and

acceptable of one's own attitude, abilities, needs, limitations,

interest values feelings, fears, like and dislike are essential and of

relative importance in the choices of career.

 Margaret (2005) Opined that on first admission to school,

parent are seen taking their children to school only to come back

to school at the age of about thirteen. Yet such parents have

guts to make choice for their children about their future course

and subjects and then around sixteen when it is a question of

activities and choice of occupation might determine whether one

will be employed or unemployed in some occupations

employment is irregular while in others, its more stable and

secure by choosing an occupation in which employment is known

to be relatively stable, one may increase the probability of having

a job.

Olayinka (2005) Posit that most of the youth in his study

choose career without relation them to their interest and capacity

to cope with the nature of job. Adeyinka (2000) However

identified the variable ''school type'' as excreting the major

influence on youth vocational as well as perceptions and

misconception of working life and the needs, determination and

aspiration that colour them (Daws 2004).

 VARIABLE DECISION MAKING TABLE

Students perception of familiar and societal

pressure, pressure and or assistance from other
people

Personal Self knowledge Personal goals and Decision about ones

and self evaluation value based on self career
experience of the
knowledge as
student’s e.g
centred to identify
educational, social, self concept
psychological and
cultural

Constraints and incentives levels of motivation,

existing in occupational environment e.g.
academic, incapability, social norms, non
availability of desired job.

Guidance and counselling: A functional approach by Oladela J. O.

(2000)

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CAREER CHOICE

Oladele (2000) Posits that the influence of the parents on

students in the choice of career some problems to the child. This

includes.
- Some parent feel that their children do not need any career

advice because they are going to the university or

polytechnic this may lead to wrong career choice

- Some parents may refuse to sponsor their children to school

because the do not like the choice of career .

- Too much pressure and anxiety can have side effect on the

child.

- The imposition of the wish of the parents on their children in

their choice of career.

- It is common to observe that some parents do all the

working out the child's future by gathering all the

information about the subjects required for a course or job

which the child is left waiting passively for his or her future

to be sealed.

POSITIVE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS OF CAREER CHOICE

Some parents do not like to force their children allow their

children to make up their minds while they support them. This

seems to be an ideal approach while some other rely on the

school but give advice where necessary. Oladele (2000) Stresses

that parents consciously set-up standards worthy of education for

their children and motivate them achievement oriented.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON

CAREER CHOICE

Parental dynamic and interaction (e.g. attachment

enmeshment etc) have long been assumed to play a significant

role on their children’s career development. Bratcher (2000), Roe

(2001), Zingaro (2004). A plethora of research investigation and

articles related to parental influence have been published on

those topics, however, there is still this articles or provide the

empirical research and analysis needed to understand the depth

of a family influence upon a sons or daughters vocational choice.

Wiston and Keller (2004) regrettable less than two hundred

empirical studies have been conducted since Roe first advanced

the idea that the family play a part in individual career choice

over 50 years ago Keller & Whiston (2008) thinks lack of

conclusive evidence has led to vocational psychologist and career

counsellor to function with the underlying belief that people could

make decision that reflected their own dreams. Passion and

talents in the world of work. Unencumbered by family issues,

cultural roles racism classism and sexism. Blustein (2004) since

the year 2000 family therapist and career counsellor have

unearthed more information about the significant influence

parents have on their children’s development of vocational choice

late in life. Kinnier Brigman & Wobel (2006), Andres (2007) even

though adolescent actively began demonstrating their

independence from their parents in their high school years, these

young adults are still very much dependent on their parents for

their career growth.

THEORIES OF CAREER CHOICE

1. Accidental theories

2. Impulse theories

3. Talent theories

ACCIDENTAL THEORIES

It is widely stated by many people that individual choose

occupation accidentally. This hypothesis suggests that an

individual occupational choice is determined by an unplanned

exposure to a powerful stimulus for example. If a group of

workers are asked why they choose their jobs. Some would say

that they were looking for a job.

IMPULSE THEORIES

This is a comprehensive theory of occupational choice which

provides for an analysis of internal factor and element which help

to condition the response to external factors. This approach has

been stressed by those psychologists who are convinced of the

central and dominating importance of unconscious motivation in

everyday life.

TALENT MATCHING THEORIES

Individual have different strength and weaknesses. This is

why those who are concerned with vocational guidance should

focus or pay attention to the assets of a particular individual in

order to match the assets against the requirement of

occupations. This approach appears to have been the cornerstone

underlying the vocational guidance movement in the country.

Ginzbering Axeldred and Herma (2011) emphasised that effective

vocation guidance is based upon the ability of the individual to

understand his own value and goals. Theories contained from

basic element.

1. Occupational choice is a development process which typically

take place over it period of time.

2. The process is largely irreversible.

3. It ends in a compromise between interest and the

opportunities which are available.

4. There are three (3) period of occupation choice.

a. Fantasy stage is governed largely by knowledge about

capabilities and value which the realistic stage is a period

in which explanatory.

b. Supers earners development stage coinciding with

individuals life circle outlined below.

c. Growth stage (0-14 years). This is a stage in which a

child’s development self concept relating to his parents

and other within his environment.

d. Exploration stage (14-24) this is a stage exploration

relating to work and tentative career choice

implementation etc.
 CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

The study was design to examine parental influence on the

choice of career among students in Datacom Institute of

Computer Technology.

The methodology explains the population sample

instruments used for collecting data and analysis of data

collected.

3.2 SOURCE OF DATA

The sources of collecting data was the questionnaires.

3.3 POPULATION OF STUDY

The population from which the sample of the study was

drawn are student’s of Grade 11- Topaz classes, using the

random sampling procedures to select

.
3.4 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

In this study, Grade 11- Topaz students were randomly

asked for effective analysis.

The Grade 11- Topaz chosen consisted of 20 females and 19

male students; the respondents consisted of 39 students

randomly selected. To each respondent a questionnaire was

administered as a test instrument. All the students responded to

the questionnaire not on duress from the researcher.

3.5 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The research to be used in collecting information (data) is

questionnaires designed to match the aims and objectives of the

study. The questionnaires contained item designed to cover the

research questions, it was made up of twenty (20) items.

3.6 ADMINISTRATION OF INSTRUMENT

The questionnaires are administered to the respondents

personally by the researcher using random method. After the

introduction of the researcher to the principals of the selected

schools, permission was taken to address the students. Few

minutes was spent in explaining the aims and objectives of the

research to the respondents highlighting the advantages of

honesty in answering the questions.

3.7 VALIDITY OF INSTRUMENT

To ensure validity of the instrument the questions were

presented to my project supervisor for criticism, suggestion

correction and modification on the face validity in relation to the

topic of the study.

3.8 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

The researcher would use the simple arithmetic procedure to

analyze the data collected from the schools, hundred percentage

(100%) out would be used to consider general level of

acceptance to the questionnaire analyzed.

The formula used is R/S x 100/1

Where I = Percentage of respondents

R = Respondents

S = Total sample
QUESTIONNAIRE

This research is designed to find out parental influence on

the choice of career among secondary school students in

Datacom Institute of Computer Technology.

Please answer the following questions correctly and thick

answer in the appropriate box below.

SECTION A

Name:

Grade 11 - Topaz

Sex: Male ( ) Female ( )

Age: 16-18 ( ) 19-21 ( )

SECTION B

1. Will you like to take after your parent’s profession?

Yes ( ) No ( )

2. Are your parents anxious over your progress in school?

Yes ( ) No ( )

3. Are your parents rich? Yes ( ) No ( )

4. Can lack of cohesion in subject taught in school affect our

choice of career? Yes ( ) No ( )

5. Is your choice of career based on your interest and value

towards that career? Yes ( ) No ( )

6. Have you ever heard about career before? Yes ( ) No ( )

7. Has your parents ever brought to your notice the career

they intend for your? Yes ( ) No ( )

8. Does your school have a counsellor? Yes ( ) No ( )

9. Do you always desire most things your friend do?

Yes ( ) No ( )

10. Would the prestige according to a particular profession

affect your choice of career? Yes ( ) No ( )

11. Has the nature of the school you attend influence your

choice of career? Yes ( ) No ( )

12. It is true that your parental background could affect your

choice? Yes ( ) No ( )

13. Does your parents occupation affect your choice of

career? Yes ( ) No ( )
14. Does your school environment influence your choice of

career? Yes ( ) No ( )

15. Does your school counsellor influence your choice of

career? Yes ( ) No ( )

16. Has your friend influenced you in your choice of career?

Yes ( ) No ( )

17. Does students choice of career influenced by their peer

group? Yes ( ) No ( )

18. Does career choice affect the academic performance of

students? Yes ( ) No ( )

19. Does your school lecturers influence your choice of

career? Yes ( ) No ( )

20. Is your choice of career based on your knowledge of that

career? Yes ( ) No ( )

INTER – CODER RELIABILITY

3.9 RELIABILITY OF INSTRUMENT

To ensure that the instrument was reliable and established,

the instrument was done by the test and re-test method the
questionnaires that was administered, twenty responses from the

case mentioned had a strong association with the questions, we

therefore say that the instrument was reliable.

SUBMITTED BY:
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