Social Perspective Factors Influencing Career Decision of Post Graduate Students: A case of the Open University of Tanzania

Assenga, Steven J. (2019) Social Perspective Factors Influencing Career Decision of Post Graduate Students: A case of the Open University of Tanzania. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study sought to investigate social perspective factors that influence the choice of career among post graduate students at the Open University of Tanzania. The investigation serves as a ground to establishing a career counselling section that would assist students at the Open University of Tanzania and all youth in the community at large to help students make career choice from a well-informed perspective. A survey design which was mainly quantitative in nature was used in this empirical study. A questionnaire was used in collecting data from the participants. One hundred and thirty three post graduate students participated in the study. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 calculated the percentages and mean that were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that family members, both nucleus and extended, had an influence on students’ choice of careers. The parental influence, parental education, and parental actions was rated highly as compared to other family related aspects. The study also revealed that peers had an influence on students’ choices of careers through peer advice and encouragement. However, the influence of gender on career choice was significantly rated. In other words, gender influenced students’ choice of careers since respondents agreed there were career special for men and other career special for women. Some recommendations had been made. The study recommended there is a need to orient parents on matters related to careers and youth to be close and associate with positive influential peers. Lastly, the study also recommended the improvement of career counselling chamber at the Open University of Tanzania to cover and assist students and community at large on matters relating to career decisions.

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