PEER GROUP AND CAREER CHOICE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT

Abstract

Career decision making continues to be a constraint on Nigerian youth, despite Nigeria government’s emphasis on career guidance and counseling in schools. This research examined the influence of peer pressure on students’ career decision making. This study determined the peer preasure on students’ career choice in public and private secondary schools in Kisii central district, Nigeria. Previous studies generally covered non-learner related factors but learner related factors were never given attention. It was in this perspective that the research specifically looked at the students’ perspective and compared them since differences in public and private secondary schools exist due to learner exposure to different information and knowledge forums.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPETR ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION 

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Objective of the study

1.4        Research Hypotheses

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope and limitation of the study

1.7       Definition of terms

1.8       Organization of the study

CHAPETR TWO

2.0   LITERATURE REVIEW

CHAPETR THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1    sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introductions

4.2 Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

Appendix

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

A peer group is both a social group and a primary group of people. Peer group many be defined as a group of people who share similarities such as age, background, and social status. The members of this group are likely to influence the person’s the persons behavior and beliefs. Peers groups contain hierarchies and distinct patterns of behavior. The group provides the standard of behavior in form of rules and regulations, dos and don’t attitudes and opinions to be obeyed and upheld by every member of the group. Among peers, children learn to form relationships on their own and have the chance to discuss interest that adults may not share with children, such as clothing and popular music, or may not permit, such as drugs and sex.
However, JR Harris (1977) suggests that an individuals peer group significantly influences their intellectual and personal development several longitudinal studies support the conjectures that peer groups significantly affect scholastic achievement, but relatively few studies have examined the effect peer groups have on test of cognitive ability. More so, to attain one’s goal in life is not an easy task, it involves a rigorous process of decision making, advice and counseling. It is against this background that the choice of subjects for the senior secondary school certificate examination (SSCE) by students is based on the relevance of the subjects to his or her future career, and in most case based on the wishes of peer group and parents.  One of the goals of education is that of helping the individual not only to fit into the society properly but also, help to develop the mind of the individual to understand his environment and bring about national consciousness in the life of the individual. Apart from this general aims of education, secondary education s meant to prepare the child for life in the presence of rapid technological and computer age. In this present age of Western education, which has brought with it knowledge explosion, the society has become complex, to the extent that senior secondary school students have become exposed to the problem of choosing from a number of subjects to qualify for the course of their choice in the university. The choice of the subjects is very important because, what ever choice that is made can affect the rest of the students either positively or negatively.
According to Durojaiya and Olayinka (1973), most of the time students make unrealistic choices, as such choices are based on encouragement, peer group influence, prestige, occupational value and sex. In the light of the above, it is therefore important for the students to be properly guided in heir choice of career. This will help the students to choose the courses in which they have aptitude.  Presently, Nigeria as a country is unable to provide employment for all her graduates. This is a very big problem because ability to gain employment is the ultimate goal of formal education this problem may have been due to lack of proper students guidance from the lack of guidance and counseling services in the secondary schools.
Statement of the Problem 

As stated earlier, students of secondary school are prove to a lot of problem while choosing their life career. The major problem that they encounter is that of choosing the subjects that will qualify them for their life career. Some of them depend on either their parents or peer group to choose for them, while others just base the choice on their own personal decisions. The reason why they find themselves in such problems of choice is consequent on the absence of guidance and counselling units in most secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. Where they are present, their activities are not felt, as experts are not employed to handle the unit. The result of this situations has not been favourable to both the students and their parents, since majority of them as a result of wrong subjects find it difficult to gain admission into university to start their career and others who manage to enter into the university graduated to sit down at home without being gainfully employed
Research Questions 

The following research questions are stated to guide the study.

1. Does the opinion or suggestion of peers influence students career choice.
2. Does peers approval influence the career choice of students
3. Does boys and girls respond differently to the influences of peer group on their career choice.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following research questions are stated to guide the study

H₀: peers group approval does not influences the career choice of secondary school students

H₁: peers group approval does influences the career choice of secondary school students

H₀: boys and girls do not respond differently to the influences of peer group on their career choice

H₂: boys and girls do respond differently to the influences of peer group on their career choice

The Purpose of the Study 

This research work is aimed at investigating the influence of peer groups on students choice of career. In view of this, the study will:

1. Find out the extent to which peer opinion or suggestion can influence students choice of career.
2. Find out if peer approval influence the career choice of students.
3. Find out if boys and girls respond differently to the influence of peer group on their career choice.

The Significance of the Study 

This study when completed will be of great benefit to both the educational planners, parents, teachers, students and the general public.
To the educational planners, the study is important because it will help them to take cognizance of the manpower requirements necessary to meet the socio-economic aspirations of all sectors of the economy and therefore, evolve implementable policies and proposals.
To the teacher and parents, the study is significant because it will provide them with an insight on how it help students to make wise career choice.
To the students, the study is equally significant because it will reveal to tem the factors that can influence their career choice negatively or positively. In addition, the study will aid them in their career choice.
Finally, the study is important to the members of the public because, it will assist them to know the amount of knowledge the young adolescent suppose to have as regards career choice the job available not only in Edo State, but in Nigeria as a whole

Scope and Limitation of the Study 

The scope of the study covers the covers peer group and career choice of secondary school student in Edo state; but in the cause of the study, there were some factors that limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Finance: Limited Access to the required finance makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Peer group

In sociology, a peer group is both a social group and a primary group of people who have similar interests, age, background, or social status. The members of this group are likely to influence the person’s beliefs and behavior

Career choice: The broad opportunities that exist for lifelong vocations. These vocations are set out in a frame work of strategies moving towards personal goals.

Environment: the complex physical factors that make up our surrounding (Britannica, 2002) and in turn act upon us for the purpose of this study they would include the forces of family, social and economic issues that both typical and non-typical students may deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Motivation: forces acting on or within a person causing an initiation of behaviour (Britannica, 2002) or what it is that moves us. In this study we will deal with the issues that help or hinder students in making career choices.

Opportunity: those choices in one’s life which are exposed either in a subtle or obvious manner. These choices or paths give the individual a selection between two or more outcomes. The outcomes of one’s choosing may or may not exceed one’s present abilities.

Personality: a characteristics way of thinking, feeling and behaving (Britannica, 2002). The personality is the collection of impression in the appearance of the student’s body and the impression believed to have been made on others, good or bad. Ones personality may embrace attitudes and opinions that affect the way we deal with interactions of people and in particular to this study, the situation of choosing a career.

Gender: not biological in nature but psychological, psychomotor feature or attributes associated to an individual weather male or female by sex.

Culture: the custom, arts, social and religious institutions and achievement of a particular people or nation.

Family: the people one lives with and sees daily.

Peers: peers are adolescents who are about the same age of maturity level.

Students: in this study, it refers to individuals who are officially admitted and registered in the secondary and non secondary school system as full time candidates.

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

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