DESIGN AND MATHEMATICS EFFICACY AS CORRELATES OF ENGINEERING STUDENTS’ EXPOSURE TO CAREER INTEREST INVENTORY ASSESSMENT AND TESTING VIA VOCATIONAL COUNSELLING IN EDO STATE

Abstract

 This study investigated design efficacy and mathematics efficacy as correlates of engineering students’ exposure to career interest inventory assessment and testing via vocational counselling in Edo State. Using a correlation survey design, 185 engineering students that have had vocational career counselling experience either at secondary school level before their transition to tertiary institution or at their University or Polytechnic Counselling Centre were purposively selected for the study. The Federal Ministry of Education Career Interest Inventory (CII) (α = 0.86). Design Self-Efficacy Scale (0.82) and Mathematics Self[1]Efficacy Scale (MSES) (0.80) were used for data collection. Two research questions were answered and two hypotheses tested. Data collected were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Multiple regression at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that design efficacy (r = .244**, N= 185, P < .05) and mathematics efficacy (r = .337, N= 185, P < .05) positively and significantly correlated with engineering students’ exposure to career interest inventory assessment and testing via vocational counseling. Also, relative impact of engineering students’ exposure to career interest inventory assessment and testing via vocational counselling was higher on expressed mathematics efficacy of engineering students (β=0.325) followed by design efficacy (β=0.232). Likewise, engineering students’ exposure to career interest inventory assessment and testing via vocational counseling significantly correlates with engineering students design efficacy(r = .244**, N= 185, P < .05) and engineering students mathematics efficacy in the study (r = .337***, N= 185, P < .05). Therefore it was recommended that students should be exposed to vocational career counselling enlightenment programmes that will help them to be aware of the strength and weaknesses and the potential capabilities they possess to adapt in their choice of career.