Relationship between attitudes towards career counselling and uptake of career counselling services among students in universities in Nairobi city County, Kenya
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Opiyo-Newa, Elsie Nyadoi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Despite the importance of career counselling, there is evidence that a marginal number of student’s use career counselling services. Increasing uptake of career counselling could be a critical factor in enhancing employability and wellbeing of individuals and society at large. It has been suggested that attitudes might be a factor in depressing uptake of career counselling programmes. However, there is scant empirical data on the relationship between attitudes towards career counselling and uptake of career counselling services in Kenya. The study focused on establishing the relationship between attitudes towards career counselling and uptake of career counselling services among students in selected universities in Nairobi City County, guided by John Krumboltz’s Social Learning theory of Career Counselling and Albert Bandura’s Social Learning theory. The study used a correlational research design. The target population was 4,834 fourth year undergraduate university students and four career counsellors purposively selected from universities in Nairobi City County. The sample size was 369 students. Stratified random sampling was used to select four universities for the study. Simple random sampling was used to obtain a sample of 369 students from the selected universities. Purposive sampling was used to select fourth year students. Purposive sampling was used to select the career counsellors for inclusion in the study as they were deemed important because they closely interacted with students during their work and were likely to have expert opinion regarding career counselling. Data was collected using a questionnaire and focus group discussions for students, as well as interviews with the career counselors. Attitudes towards career counseling were assessed using the Attitude towards Career Counseling Scale, while the uptake of career counseling services was measured using the Uptake of Career Counseling Services Scale. The internal consistency of the instruments was determined through the calculation of Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient based on the piloted questionnaires. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 24, employing descriptive statistics such as frequencies and means, as well as inferential statistics. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was utilized to examine the relationship between attitudes and the uptake of career counseling services. The findings revealed positive attitudes towards career counselling and low uptake of career counselling services. The findings also revealed a significant positive but weak relationship between attitudes and uptake of career counselling services at r (360) = 0.159, p = 0.003 for uptake in terms of frequency of utilization and r (360) = 0.200, p = 0.000 for uptake in terms of perceived usefulness. The study recommended creation of awareness programmes for increased uptake and need for well-stipulated rules and regulations that support career counselling initiatives. The study also recommended comprehensive, multi-sectoral, collaborative approach of all stakeholders in the management of career programmes for enhancement of uptake of career counselling services in universities.
Description
A thesis submitted to the school of law, arts and social sciences in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of doctor of philosophy (counselling psychology) of Kenyatta University, June 2023
Keywords
attitudes, career counselling, students, universities, Nairobi city County, Kenya