Gender and career Choice Differences on Bakare Vocational Interest Inventory: Implications for Vocational Counseling In Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined gender and aspired occupational differences on Bakare Vocational Interest Inventory (BVII). Two hundred and twenty (56 males and 164 females) undergraduate students participated in the study. Their ages ranged between 16-30 years with a M age of 21.79 and SD age of 2.61. The BVII by Bakare (1977) was used to gather information on the participants’ interest areas. A survey research design involving MANOVA statistical analysis was used in data analysis. The result of the findings showed significant gender differences on the Outdoor F(1,890) = 11.74, Mechanical F(1,189) = 8.28 and Computational F(1,189) = 1.47 interest areas of BVII. Similarly, aspired occupational choices differed significantly on Outdoor, F(5,189) = 3.24, Computational F(5,189) = 7.77, Artistic F(5,189) = 6.16, Musical F(5,189) = 3.25 and Clerical, F(5,189) = 2.28. Conversely, significant gender and aspired occupation interactions were found on the Outdoor F(5,189) =2.29 interest area of BVII all at p< .05 level. The discussions centered on the import of gender item bias, gender and occupational influences as well as societal influences on vocational interests.

Keywords: Career choice differences, Gender, BVII, Vocational counseling, Nigeria

International Journal of Development and Management Review (INJODEMAR) Vol. 7 June, 2012