The Relationship between Selected Psychological Factors and Female Students’ Choice of Career in Science TVET in Technical Training Institutes in Siaya County, Kenya.

Abstract

This study aimed at establishing the relationship between selected psychological factors and female students’ choice of career in science TVET in technical training institutes in Siaya County, Kenya. Social Cognitive Theory postulated by Bandura (1986), and Holland's Theory of Occupational Choice (1959, revised 2017) guided the research. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. It is based on the conceptual framework whereby the choice of careers in TVET by female students is assumed to depend on social-cultural, economic, psychological and institutional context factors. The test-retest method was used to test the reliability of the instruments. Cronbach alpha method was also used to test internal reliability. The research instruments were questionnaires for lecturers, female and male students. Piloting was done in the village polytechnics. The sample size was 316 female students sampled using census method. In addition, 291 male students from a total target population of 1136 determined using Krejcie and Morgan Table of Sample Size Determination (1970). Proportionate sampling technique was used to sample respondents in different strata and TTIs. Tools in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 were used to analyse data. Frequencies, percentages and means were computed. Inferential statistics, namely; regression coefficients, T-statistics, F-statistics, correlation of coefficients, were derived. The findings were presented in tables. Further, a negative and non-significant relationship between psychological factors and female students’ career choice in science TVET Programmes (r=- -0.163*; p<0.01) was established. The researcher recommends that principals should institute measures for changing students’ attitudes towards TVET courses.