Volume 5, Issue 2, February – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Environmental Factors As a Predictor of Students

Career Choices in NDOP Central Sub-Division,
North West Region of Cameroon
Tigma Maxmillian Younyi
Nkemanjen Donatus Achankeng

Abstract:- This study was carried out on environmental argues that we have three types of environments that
Factors as a predictor of students Career Choices in include: Natural, Biological and Social environment. He
Ndop Central Sub-Division, North West Region of holds on the point that, the natural environment is that
Cameroon. Indicators of Environmental Factors were man’s surroundings which is the product of natural process
peer groups, school environment and religious groups that consist of natural phenomenon such as air, water, land
that were used to test the relationships between as well as climate and its elements. The natural
environmental factors and students Career Choices. environment has some influences on man as according to
Descriptive survey design was used with the sample of Brown (2002), he opined that matching temperament to
140 students randomly selected from three secondary well-suited environments would lead to job happiness and
schools (Government Bilingual High School Ndop, St. fulfillment. To him work related to individual personality
Mary Catholic Secondary School Ndop and leads to success and satisfaction. Looking at a compatible
Comprehensive High school Ndop) in Ndop Central Sub work environment by Holland and Gottfredson (1976), they
Division. The instrument used for data collection in this argued that majority of people are in reality, Realistic-
study was the questionnaire. Data analysis was done by Investigative, or Artistic-Social. This means that, people
means of frequency counts, percentages and Pearson will undoubtedly want to consider occupations in many
test to establish the link between environmental factors category, individuals will be happy and satisfied working if
and career choices of student. Findings showed a they choose to do something that matches their personality
positive relationship between peer groups and trait.
secondary school student’s career choices. Findings
equally affirmed there was a substantial and affirming Krumboltz (1976), came up with the social learning
affiliation between school environment and secondary theory of career decision making that people develop
school students’ career choices. Similarly, findings happiness based on countless number of their learning
equally disclosed that there exists a substantial and experiences. Individual’s observation in the environment
positive relationship between religious groups and will help to form their experiences and personal beliefs. He
career choices of secondary school students. Based on opined that their abilities and emotions from there either
the findings, it was recorded that school Counselors can reinforce or influences their activities positively or
should guide students so that they can choose careers negatively. As a result, individuals will certainly put
based on their personality trait and interest. This will interest where they feel passionately by their parents and
help students to gain career satisfaction. where found themselves (Krumboltz, 1993).

Keywords:- Environment Factors, Career Choice, Peer The consequences from experiences and observations
Group, School Environment and Religious Institutions. generate an internal acceptance (whether realistic or not)
that individuals then use as their pattern for making future
I. INTRODUCTION career decisions. Fouad and Byars-Winston (2005)
maintain that, when individual alterations such as interest
A choice of student career is a multifaceted decision or decision-making are exclusive, other factors that could
since it determines the kind of profession that they intend to affect a person's career decision may be cut off. To them,
pursue in future. As students work toward making these factors outside these individuals should also be taken into
choices, they face problems in matching their career account.
choices with their abilities and school performance
(Kochung and Migunde, 2011). Environmental factors are Betz (1989) opined that outside influences such as
some of the problems faced by students on career choices. religion could make people to chase career objectives.
However, environmental factors like any other factors have Therefore, both the internal systems and systems (factors)
an effect on the student’s career choices. These can affect individual career. Still in line, the objectivist
environmental factors can have some impacts on career theory recognized a systematic and logical relationship
choices of secondary school students, thereby affecting between a persons’ character and his or her demands in a
them in future if not properly taken care of. Talking about work setting (Chen, 2003). The objectivists theory holds
the environment, we have the social, natural and the that work-related matches can be measured and forecast
biological environment and there are factors among this (mainly through scientific assessments) and will rationally
three that influence student career choices. Olatunji (2003) predict the type of career choice that best fits an individual.

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Volume 5, Issue 2, February – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
This type of rational was leading in the early 20thcentury. Research carried out in other countries with different
Frank Parsons, the founder of career guidance movement cultures shows a different relationship among variables
(Baker, 2009 & Parsons, 1909), unlocked the doors to the selected for is study. With respect to school environment,
practice of matching one‘s self to one‘s job qualities, which students’ curiosity in a subject is an aspect that impact their
has continued to this day (Niles, 2001). career choices (Fatima et al., 2015). As such, an individual
attitude towards a particular subject contributes in his or her
II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE career selection decision. Interest shown by students in
some subjects will typically lead to academic performance
 Peer Group Influences and Students’ Career Choices and a possible choice of profession in the subject path.
Wentzel (1991) argued that peer groups interaction Alexander et al (2011) holds that, students love toward a
has a role to play on student career plans for the future. subject has paramount implication when selecting a career
Zellman and Quigley (1999) argued that friends shared the part in life. Edward and Quinter (2012) revealed that
same educational and career orientation characterized by person’s inclination towards a specific field or subject is an
high educational standards that can affect student career important factor contributing to his or her career path.
plans for the future. Moreover, Rowe, Woulbroun and
Gulley (1994) argued that the consistency of behavior In addition, students some time see themselves in a
among students who belong to the same or similar peer role in which personality is a determining factor that
group cannot be credited or attributed entirely to peers influences their chosen careers. Some careers mandate that
group influences. you have the disposition to match the qualities of the
occupation. For example, sales people have to be out-
Peer group are important factors that influence student going.
career choices through socialization and behavioral
modification. Peer group influences may be influenced by Opportunity is an influential factor that can shape
numerous factors such as advice, situation, accident, or career choices for students. Opportunities explored by
association. Sebald (1992) view that, the career students in any school environment will have effects on the
development of an individual is always a product of the student career. According to Alutu (2001) career choice
family that makes them to adopt a lifestyle. Similarly, peers should be introduced in school at different levels of the
are pivotal and influential in individuals’ perceptions, academic ladder so as to prepare students with appropriate
attitudes and ideas to understand the outside world and Career decision skills that will make them becomes highly
future lives. (Baron, Kerr and Miller, 1992). imperative in schools.

Research and scholarships on the issue of friends and  Religious Institutions and Students’ Career Choice
peer influence suggest that peer and friends look beyond Gostein (2003) opined a direct relation between
the confines of home to explore and find avenues that make religion and career choice. That is religious institutions
their direction and self-expression more evident (Adler and assert on the choice of schools and even the areas that
Adler, 1998). Similarly, Peers groups help individual in student concentrate on. Religious institutions to an extent
selecting and scrutinizing feelings, opinions and thoughts in are setting a predetermined career for students in their
an acceptable way (Corsaro, 1992). Besides, at the level of institutions. At times, this occurs irrespective of the child’s
decision making and career selection among youth today capacity, interests and desires for it. Where the youth have
are influence by their teacher counseling (Palos, and no strong objection to the choice being made for them, they
Drobot, 2010). get predestined to a life career which does not suite them.
One of the motives of religious institutions action is to get
Further, informational provided by friends or peers the children to take up the career, that the religious
have a positively link with career choices and their institutions are attractive to the institution. (Gostein, 2000).
behaviors. (Bellemare, Lepage and Shearer, 2010). Thus, religious institutions live viciously through children.
Summarizing the contents, peer group play a significant
role selecting in choosing students careers since they Kinnaman, (2015) submitted that schools and career
influence individuals either positively or negatively. decision making signify an important prospect for faith
leaders to impact students. At times, many persons do not
 School Environment and Students’ Career Choices understand how the Christian faith and the gospel ought to
Johnson (2004) say school environment influences enlighten their career ambitions. Religious institutions and
student’s career choices based on their frequent interactions faith leaders are not as purposeful as they should be with
with such students. He opined that such influences are when it comes to the issues of teaching and coaching
common due to closer rapport with teachers than other students in the domain of career decisions. Understanding
students. Dick and Rallis (1991) say teachers are influential how young people hope to spend their professional lives
on girls’ choices of career in schools as they tell students can help faith groups and organizations better support
careers that could suit them better and not what the student students make clear career decisions as they discern God’s
want. calling in their lives.

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Volume 5, Issue 2, February – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
According to Basseyet al., (2012) and Sigalowet al., III. METHODOLOGY
(2012) religious institutions have a significant impact on
the career selection of students, as religious leaders advice This study was a descriptive survey and was made up
student to choose careers that don’t interfere with religious of 140 participants who were secondary schools’ students
programmers and the church expects children to choose a purposively and randomly selected from (Government
career relating to the activities they promote. Religious Bilingual High School Ndop, St. Mary Catholic Secondary
institutions have significant influence on the career choices School Ndop and Comprehensive High school Ndop) Ndop
of people (Basseyet al., 2012; Sigalowet al., 2012). Central Sub Division. Purposive sampling enabled the
researcher to include participants who demonstrated a
range of characteristics of different series; meanwhile
random sampling was used to select a number that was
demographically representative and also sizable enough
for the study. Questionnaire was the instrument used
which was designed and self-constructed.

Conceptual Cronbach’s Alpha Variance Number of valid cases Number of

Components/variables Coefficient valid items
Peer Group 0.612 0.049 15 10
School Environment 0.568 0.062 15 10
Religious Institutions 0.517 0.040 14 10
Career Choice 0.492 0.057 15 10
Integrated value mapping 0.723 0.066 15 50
Table 1:- Reliability Analysis

The overall reliability analysis of the instrument (IVM) was 0.712. Generally, when the Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient value
is above 0.5 especially in a context where the test items to some extent are directly related to one another, as it was the case in the
context of this study, the instrument is considered valid and reliable for analysis.

IV. FINDINGS

Test statistics Peer Group Influence Student Career Choices

Pearson test R-value 1.000 .234**

P-value . .007
N 140 140
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Table 2:- Peer Group Influence and Student Career Choices

Statistically, finding showed that there was a very significant positive relationship between peer group and students career
choices (P =0.007, far less than 0.05). The positive sign of the correlation value (R = 0.234**) implied that most of the students
choose their careers based on what their peers are doing or want them to do. Therefore, the null hypothesis that state peer group
has no significant influence on students’ career choice was rejected and the alternative hypothesis that state peer group has a
significant influence on student career choice was accepted.

Test statistics Environment Career Choices

Pearson test R-value 1.000 .278**
P-value . .001
N 140 140
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Table 3:- Relationship between School Environment and Career Choices of Students

Statistically, findings showed that there was a very significant positive relationship between school environment and career
choices of students (P= 0.001, far less than 0.05). The positive sign of the correlation value (R = 0.278**) implied that students
choose their careers based on the pressure from the school environment. Therefore, the null hypothesis that school environment
has no significant influence on students choice of their careers was rejected and the alternative hypothesis that states that school
environment has a significant influence on career choices of students was accepted.

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Volume 5, Issue 2, February – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Test statistics Religious Groups Career Choices of Students
Pearson test R-value 1.000 .259**
P-value . .002
N 140 140
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Table 4:- Relationship between Religious Groups and Career Choices of Students

Statistically, finding showed that there was a very students showed that school environment greatly influence
significant and positive relationship between religious their career choices as they said. Students want to be like
groups and career choices/decision of secondary school some of their teachers and school environment causes them
students (P= 0.002, far less than 0.05). The constructive to like what they want to become. Their teachers tell them
sign of the correlation value (R = 0.259**) inferred that about careers that could suit them better and not what they
students select their career choices grounded on their want and school counselors have been the supreme
religious beliefs. Therefore, the null hypothesis that state influence on students’ career choices.
religious groups has no significant effect on career choices
of students in secondary school was rejected and the Dick and Rallis, (1991) supported the above facts by
alternative hypothesis which states that religious groups has saying that, teachers do have an effect on students’ choices
a significant effect on secondary school students’ career of career in secondary schools. Teachers advice students on
choices was acknowledged. careers that could suit the student better and not what the
students want. This is also, in line with their grades as a
V. DISCUSSION determines to their career choice, Arudo (2008) originate
that students believe that their credentials can greatly
 Peer Groups and Students’ Career Choice impact the type of career they find themselves in and the
Findings showed a positive link between peer groups environment does not provide facilities that promote
and the career choices of students. The study was interested career choices. Lavallee (2008) come in to clarify
confirmed by Osa-Edoh and Alutu (2011) who argued that, that external influences such as social support from peers
occupational and the career concerns of students are helps to shape students’ career choice.
powerfully influenced by the socio-economic inheritance of
students, which may from time to tome have a direct and  Religious Institutions and Student Career Choices
superior effect upon the occupations open to them; or Findings exposed that there was a significant and
which they may find striking. Omrod, (2004) stated that positive relationship between religious groups and career
students’ careers choices are inclined or influenced by choices of students. Gostein (2003) who says religious
families, parents and peer groups as their friends advise institutions influences student career choices, since some
them to go for careers that have high pay. careers are considered as sin, based on different religious
beliefs, supports this finding. This makes student to focus
Wentzel, (1991) experimented that having friends or choose careers that are acceptable by such religions.
who serve as academic and social resources can have a Motives of religious institutions action are to get the
direct effect on s students’ academic achievement outcomes children to take up the career, that the religious institutions
and career plans for the future. In line, Zellman and are always interested in (Gostein, 2000). Thus, religious
Quigley (1999) presented that many students within a peer institutions has an impact on children.
groups shared the same academic and career orientation
categorized by high academic standards and career Also, Basseyet al., (2012) and Sigalowet al., (2012)
strategies for the future. As wanting to have the same career says religious institutions influences the career choices of
ambition like the others friends in the group. In divergence, students. As religious leader advice student to choose
Oyebode (1980) and Alika and Osa Edo (2009) state that careers that don’t interfere with religious programmers and
regardless of parental and peer group influences, children the church expects children to choose a career relating to
choose jobs or careers that are highly regarded in the the activities they promote.
society. Furthermore, Rowe, Woulbroun and Gulley (1994)
testified that the homogeneity of behavior and attitudes VI. CONCLUSION
seen among students who belong to the same peer group
cannot be credited entirely to peers’ influences but on other In conclusion, Career choices of students in Ndop
factures like family income, gender, inadequate information Central Sub-Division are being influence by peer, school
about a partial career, poor orientation and parental environment and religious institutions. Therefore, the
stereotypes. school counselors are encouraged to equally guide and
counsel students so that they can choose careers that
 School Environment and Students’ Career Choices matches their personality so that the will be efficiency and
Findings exposed that there was a significant and job satisfaction.
positive relationship between school environment and the
career choices of students. The results obtained from the

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Volume 5, Issue 2, February – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
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