PEARSON’S CHI-SQUARE TEST ON SOME PARENTAL ATTRIBUTION FACTORS INFLUENCING SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS VOCATION CHOICE IN WUKARI EDUCATION ZONE

Obiji, Donatus; Israel Philip Gani; Kefas Vivian Azumi

ABSTRACT

The main objective of the study was to investigate the Pearson’s chi-square test on some parental attribution factors influencing secondary school students’ vocation choice in Wukari Education Zone, Taraba State, Nigeria. Two research objectives alongside two corresponding research questions and research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 3,184 secondary school students in Wukari Education Zone. The sample size of the study consisted of eight hundred and sixty-nine (869) SS1 students drawn from twelve (12) public secondary schools in both Ibi and Wukari Local Government Areas of Wukari Education Zone through simple random sampling technique. An instrument titled “Influence of Parental Background on Vocational Choice Questionnaires” (IPBVCQ) was constructed by the researcher for data collection using four-point Likert rating scale. The instrument was validated through content validity. The instrument was pilot tested among fifty (50) SS1 students in Jalingo and a reliability index of 0.72 was obtained which justified that the instrument was reliable. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics which include; frequency distribution tables, simple percentages, mean and standard deviation. All the null hypotheses were tested using Pearson-chi square at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that the, parental income status and parental values and expectations had significant influence on the vocational choices of secondary school students in Wukari Educational Zone. The study concluded that parent’s background influenced the vocational choice of secondary school students in Wukari Educational Zone. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the choice of parental vocation should be made voluntary. Parents should not force students to pursue careers similar to their own against their will as this would result in students choosing vocations that fall out of their talents and potentials.