Career Guidance, Motivation and Career Decision-Making among Public Senior Secondary School Students in Sokoto State
*1Mukhtar Nawait Salihu and 2Aminu Abubakar
1*&2Department of Counselling Psychology, Sokoto State University, Sokoto. State Nigeria Email: muknawait@gmail.com
Abstract
This study investigated the Career Guidance, Motivation and Career Decision-Making among Public Senior Secondary School Students in Sokoto State. The study addressed two main objectives, two hypotheses the study guided by Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and Frank Parsons’ Trait and Factor Theory, the study adopted a quantitative correlational survey research design. The target population comprised teachers across six educational zones in Sokoto State (Bodinga, Gwadabawa, Wamakko, Sokoto North, Yabo, and Goronyo). Using a simple random and proportionate sampling technique, a sample size of 234 participants was utilized for data analysis. Data were collected using structured, four-point Likert-scale questionnaires: the Career Guidance on Career Decision-Making Questionnaire (CGCDMQ) adapted from Hirschi (2012) and the Motivation on Career Decision-Making Questionnaire (MCDMQ) adapted from Betz and Taylor (1996). Face and content validity were established by experts in Counseling Psychology at Sokoto State University, while instrument reliability was established through a test-retest method evaluated via SPSS. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) to test the research hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed a strong, statistically significant positive relationship between career guidance and career decision-making (r=.903,p<.05), leading to the rejection of the first null hypothesis (H01). Similarly, a strong, statistically significant positive relationship was found between motivation and career decision-making (r=.881, p<.05), resulting in the rejection of the second null hypothesis (H02). The study concluded that structured career guidance and high student motivation are crucial, complementary drivers for successful career choice preparation. Recommendations include establishing functional guidance counseling units in all secondary schools and integrating motivation-enhancing initiatives, such as mentorship and goal-setting workshops, into school curricula.
Keywords: Career Guidance, Motivation, Career Decision-Making, Senior Secondary, Sokoto State
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