Title: PREDICTORS OF CAREER CHOICE IN MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Authors:
Umar Yunus, Ariyo Samson Oluwatimilehin, Akuh Emmanuel Eneojo

Abstract: Abstract The study was carried out to determine the factors influencing Mechanical Technology Education as a Career Choice by undergraduate students in Northern Nigeria. Three research questions were answered and corresponding null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted correlational design. The population for the study was 460 mechanical technology education students from three Universities in Northern Nigeria. Cluster sampling technique was adopted to draw a sample size of 160 for this the study. The parental support scale, and peer influence scale and the student personal interest questionnaire were adapted and administered to the respondents. The instrument for data collection was face validated by three experts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The statistical methods used to analyze the data for the study were Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient for the research questions and Regression analyses for the hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed a very strong and positive correlation exists between parental support and the selection of mechanical technology education as a career choice. Also, the findings revealed that Parental support and peer influence are significant predictor in the selection of mechanical technology education as a career choice. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that public sensitization workshops and intervention programs should be organized for parents and students’ so that interest in technical education as a career choice will be increased. Keywords: Interest, parental support, peer influence, career choice, mechanical technology

Publication Date: 2026-07-20