THE INFLUENCES OF PERSONALITY TRAITS, SEX AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AS PREDICTORS OF CAREER PREFERENCE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MAKURDI, BENUE STATE

Abstract

This research examined the influences of personality traits, sex and parental involvement as predictors of career preference among secondary school students in Makurdi, Benue State. 289 participated in the study, representing a return rate of 96.3%. The participants ranged from 14 – 23 years. Data were collected using the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) developed by Gosling, Rentfrow and Swann (2003), which has a Cronbach’s alpha of .67, the Family Involvement Questionnaire developed by Grover, Houlihan and Campana (2016) has a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .81 and Career Choice Questionnaire, developed by Timber (1999) has a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient .76. Four hypotheses were tested and data for the research were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that, Personality trait (?=-.234, p<0.05), Sex (?=-.146, p<.05), Parental involvement (?=.364, p<0.05), Personality traits and Parental involvement (?=.635, p<0.05). It was concluded that personality trait, sex and parental involvement produced significant influenced to the prediction of career preference among secondary school student in Makurdi, Benue State while only sex produced significant independent contributions to the prediction of career preference among secondary school students in Makurdi Benue State. It was therefore recommended that parents and counsellor should be mindful of the personality traits, parental involvement and role of sex in children when guiding them into career choice and the ministry of education should include career education in the school curriculum that will guide students on how to make right career preference and plans in the future.