The study investigated the motivational factors that influence female undergraduates to enrol for a non-traditional degree. The sample for this study was made up of 280 participants drawn from the three technical/technological faculties of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Nigeria. From the analysis of data, it was found that all the four factors — vocational self-efficacy, perceived social support, structure of opportunity and valence of occupation — influence female undergraduates' enrolment in non-traditional degrees, while perceived structure of opportunity has the least influence. The paper also advocated some ways counsellors could assist female undergraduates in furthering their enrolment in non-traditional degrees.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BrooksL. (1988). Encourage women's motivation for non-traditional career and life-style options: A model for assessment and intervention. Journal of Career Development, 14, 223–241
2.
BrooksL. (1990). Recent developments in theory building. In BrownD.BrooksL. & associates (Eds.), Career choice and development (2nd ed.) (pp. 364–394). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
3.
BruckanR. J. (1965). Perceived parental attitude and parental identification in relation to field and vocational choice. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 12, 39–47
4.
ClementS. (1987). The self-efficacy expectation and occupational preferences of female and males. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 60, 257–265
5.
DoughertyB. (1990). Wider opportunities for women (Vocational Equity, No. 60). Madison: University of Wisconsin, Vocational Equity Resources Centre
6.
FajojuS. A. (1998). Motivational factors influencing the choice of guidance and counseling as a profession in Edo State of Nigeria. Unpublished BSc. (Ed.) research project, Edo State University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
7.
FarmerH. (1985). A model of career and achievement motivation women and men. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 32, 363–390
8.
HotchkissL.BorowH. (1990). Sociological perspective on work and career development. In BrownD.BrooksL. & Associates (Eds.), Career choice and development (2nd ed.) (pp. 262–307). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
9.
ImaheC. I. (1998). Factors influencing female undergraduates choice of non-traditional careers. Unpublished BSc. (Ed.) research project, Edo State University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
10.
KerlingerF. N. (1986). Foundations of behavioural research (3rd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston
11.
MessingK. (1992). Occupational safety and health concerns of Canadian women. Ottawa: Women Bureau
12.
National Displaced Home makers Network (1990). Low-wage job and workers: Trends and options for change. Washington, D.C.: Institute for Women's Policy Research
13.
ReadB. (1991). Women's career choices: VTAE students' selection of traditional and non traditional programs. Unpublished report, Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
14.
ReadB. (1994). Motivational factors in technical college women selection of non-traditional careers. Journal of Career Development, 20(3), 239–258
15.
RoeA.LunneborgW. (1990). Personality development in career choice. In BrownD.BrooksL. & Associates (Eds.), Career choice and development (2nd ed.) (pp. 68–101). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
16.
RotbergH. L.BrownD.WareW. B. (1987). Career self-efficacy expectations and perceived range of career options in community college students. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 34, 164–170
17.
SmithN. J.LeducS. K. (1993). Women's voices on women's choices: Counseling women into non-traditional careers. In National Consultation on Career Development. (Eds.), National consultation on career development papers (pp. 308–315). Toronto, Ontario: Author
18.
VockellE. L.AsherJ. W. (1995). Educational research (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.
