Grace Joseph Akpakip, Ima Ibiok Willie & Efon Udo Inyang
Abstract
The study assessed the influence of birth order and age on secondary school students’ career preference in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. Two research questions and corresponding two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population of this study comprised all the 15,202 (7,068 males and 8,134 females) senior secondary school students in all the 72 public secondary schools in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Nigeria. The sample size of 588 senior secondary two students (280 males and 308 females) was obtained through stratified random sampling technique, representing 15 per cent of the entire population. Instrument for data collection was adapted from Bakare’s Vocational Preference Inventory. Data generated from the instrument were analysed using Chi-square statistics, which was used for testing the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed that birth order has significant influence on students’ career preference, while no significant influence of age on career preference was found. Based on the findings, the researchers recommend, among others, that career counsellors should design a programme of activities, targeted at various secondary school students, on birth order and career preference.