EMBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS FOR CHOOSING ACCOUNTING AS A CAREER PATH (A STUDY OF AUCHI POLYTECHNIC, EDO STATE)

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of content

 CHAPETR ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Objective of the study

1.4        Research Hypotheses

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope and limitation of the study

1.7       Definition of terms

1.8       Organization of the study

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       LITERATURE REVIEW

CHAPTER THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1         sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1    Introductions

4.2    Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1    Introduction

5.2    Summary

5.3    Conclusion

5.4    Recommendation

Appendix

Abstract

Choosing the right career path is becoming more and more important for young students today. Students have to take into account many things when choosing a career and college major. Many factors can influence a student’s decision, including parents, coaches, religious figures, or any role models in a student’s life. In this study we examined the emblems and constraints of choosing accounting as a career path. The study made use of descriptive survey analysis. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used in testing the formulated hypotheses.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the Study

Every individual must, at one time or another, be confronted by the problem of occupational choice and many, encounter this problem when as students they are required to choose study programmes leading to their future careers, as parents helping their children select careers, as teachers, career officers or psychologists, who as part of their daily work, offer career guidance to students (Ferreira, Santos, Fonseca, & Haase, 2006). Perhaps, the significance of career choice can be underscored by the influence careers have on an individual’s income, standard of living, status in society, social contacts, as well as emotional health and feelings of self-worth. Therefore, making suitable career decisions implies less wastage of resources in education and training (Audit Commission, 1993).

Furthermore, careers once chosen will probably affect an individual throughout their lives. It is in this connection therefore that Sharf (2010) contends that clarity and meaning of life are expressed in ones career. Consequently, it is by being armed with better information and proper guidance that individuals are able to make appropriate career decisions. Due to need for specialization at the work place, choosing a career is not an easy and straight forward undertaking. It is a complicated and daunting task because the decision is influenced by various factors – extrinsic, intrinsic or a combination of both (Hewitt, 2010). Studies have shown that the main intrinsic factors responsible for influencing career choice decisions include an individual’s personality, interests, self-concept, attitudes and cultural identity. On the other hand, the main extrinsic factors include social contacts, role models; availability of resources such as information and finances, globalization, ethnic background, level of educational attainment, choice of subjects of study and differences in job characteristics (Kerka, 2000; Bandura, .Barbaranelli, Caprara & Pastorelli, 2001; McQuaid & Bond, 2003). Hewit (2010) notes that most people are heavily influenced either by professions that their parents favour; or the ones that their educational achievements have opened for them.

Yet, other individuals are influenced by careers that offer prospects of higher benefits including salary, allowances and holidays. However; there are also those who choose to follow careers that they have a passion for regardless of the prospects of the benefits; for the reason that a career is a critical element in determining an individual’s daily routine, life activities, standard of living; and the spiritual and social aspects of life. In fact a career affects the ordering of one’s entire life. Although there are differences among various population groups, generally extrinsic influences on career choice decisions are mostly influenced by parents, peers, friends, relatives, role models, and teachers especially career counsellors. This is possible through social support or interaction (Pummel, Harwood & Lavallee, 2008).

However, the extent to which each of them influences career choice decisions varies from one population to the other. Before making career choices, students are often provided with a list of careers from which they are supposed to make choices. However, most students lack adequate information regarding various careers hence the choices they make are embedded in their perception of the ideal job and the subjects they study in secondary school. Perhaps the only support students get within the school system is from career masters or counsellors who are expected to support students in their career choice. When the final examination results are released, and depending on the grades obtained, students are allowed to revise their choices. Then, the Joint Universities’ Admission Board selects students for admission to various courses on the basis of these choices.

1.2   Statement of the Problem

Career choice is one of the most important decisions a student or a professional has to make. Whether that decision is to select a specialization, organisation or a profession, it should be made after careful consideration of the internal (including physical, emotional and intellectual demands) and external environment (which might include one’s suitability to the type of work). This choice is crucial as it shall drive what will be the individual’s daily schedule for the rest of their life. Furthermore, it will have a direct impact on their other aspects of life such as life style, self-satisfaction, work-life balance and quality of life.

The career choice decision is also difficult not just because of the range of career options available to an individual in the current environment, but having an adequate understanding of a career without getting into it. Too often, only after a person has made sustainable commitments in time, energy, and money or has cut off other opportunities by taking steps to enter a career, does he or she find that it is not what was expected or wanted. Another difficulty lies in having a clear perception, occupational preference testing, guidance counselling, and experience in activities related to the career are all resources for making this choice. Making a career choice requires getting in touch with ourselves and our surroundings. There are clearly two ways of looking at and assessing options. On one hand it is about intuition and listening to the heart, which helps us create a vision of what one wishes to accomplish in life and how we influence the world. On the other hand it is about the evaluation of the inner self and the environment and use the brain to evaluate what option is the most suitable one.

The former evaluation is usually made in a relaxing environment both physically and mentally. The latter involves considering the pros and cons of each of the options that come from first part. Having a work life balance involves determination and persistence while looking ahead and at the same time being not hugely critical of the past and enjoy the accomplishments and achievements.

However, the sole aim of this project work is to evaluate the emblems and the constraints for choosing accounting as a career path.

1.3   Objectives of the study

The study is aimed at evaluating the emblems and constraints for choosing accounting as a career path. However, it has the following specific objectives:

1. To elucidate the emblems and constraints of choosing accounting as a career path.
2. To determine the influence of the environmental factor in choosing accounting as a career.
3. To recommend factors for consideration before choosing accounting as a career path.

1.4   Research Questions

The following research questions are what the study seeks to address:

1. What are the social and economic representation of accounting as a career path?
2. Does environmental factor influence the choice of accounting as a career path?

1.5   Research Hypotheses

The study formulated and tested the following Null Hypotheses:

H0: There is no significant relationship between choosing accounting as a career and economic and social status?

H0: There is no significant relationship between environmental factor and the choice of accounting as a career choice.

1.6   Significance of the Study

The study is of importance to the students who are at the lane of making career choices. The study will unveil some real facts about choosing accounting as a career choice, thereby keeping them informed to make a more realistic decision.

Also, the study is a contribution to so many literatures on career choice. Finally, the study will serve as a satisfaction for the requirement of a degree.

1.7   Definition of Terms

Emblems: something that is generally accepted as a symbol of a quality, idea, or principle

Constraints: the state of being checked, restricted, or compelled to avoid or perform some action

Career: The progress and actions taken by a person throughout a lifetime, especially those related to that person’s occupations. A career is often composed of the jobs held, titles earned and work accomplished over a long period of time, rather than just referring to one position.

Accounting: It is a systematic process of identifying, recording, measuring, classifying, verifying, summarizing, interpreting and communicating financial information. It reveals profit or loss for a given period, and the value and nature of a firm’s assets, liabilities and owners’ equity.

1.8   Organization of the Study

The study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one deals with the study’s introduction and gives a background to the study. Chapter two reviews related and relevant literature. The chapter three gives the research methodology while the chapter four gives the study’s analysis and interpretation of data. The study concludes with chapter five which deals on the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

Related Project Topics :