Factors affecting students' career choice of science and engineering at Mindanao State University (main campus)

• Main Author: Galliguez, Eleazar C.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Subjects: Choice (Psychology); Mindanao State University > Students; Career education; Engineering students; College students; Vocational guidance; Science students; Counseling
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/819
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study probes into factors affecting the career choice in the sciences and engineering of students at Mindanao State University (MSU), Main Campus.Data for the study were collected on September 8-10, 1997 using a previously developed FASSIPES (Factors Affecting Schools' Success in Producing Engineers and Scientists) questionnaire for a survey conducted in England (Woolnough, 1991) and a similar survey conducted in Western Australia (Young et al, 1994). The questionnaire was modified by the researcher to adapt it to the Philippine situation. The respondents in the study were 276 freshmen at MSU, Main Campus. The statistical analyses employed on the data were Analysis of Variance and Factor Analysis.Among the major findings were:1. The factors perceived to be highly significant at alpha (a) = .001 in encouraging students towards choosing careers in science and engineering were: the nature of science job characteristics, such as status, salaries and availability of jobs related to science and engineering high school focus on mathematics and the sciences, which includes the quality of science and math teaching in high school and extra-curricular influences, which include science and mathematics clubs and competitions. 2. The relationship between career choice and each of the following variables were also found to be highly significant at alpha (a) = .001: gender grade-point average in high school science and mathematics scholarship support for university education father's occupation and students' attitude toward out-of-school influences, which include talks by local scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, and work experience in science-based industry.3. Male and female students had significantly different perceptions on sex-stereotyping of mathematics or engineering as careers. Both careers were perceived as suitable for men.4. There were no personality stereotypes for science-career choosers.