Sources of Student Academic Department Choice in Higher Learning Institutions: The Case of Bahir Dar University

Abstract

 The purposes of this study were to investigate whether interest, ability, perceived job prestige, family and peer influence affected on students’ academic department choice; to examine mean score differences between male and female students’ scores in the variables compared, and to see whether relationships exist between interests, ability, perceived job prestige, family and peer influence and academic department choice. The data used in the study was obtained through questionnaire from 4th year students of Bahir Dar University. A total of 247 participants (185 males and 62 females) participated in the study. The data were analyzed using Regression, t-test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The correlational analysis revealed that there were significant relationships among interest, ability, perceived job prestige and academic department choice. t-statistic also revealed that there were no mean score differences between male and female students on the variables compared, except ability which was found to be in favor of male students (t=1.699,α = 0.02, df = 245). Results obtained through multiple regression and beta weights depicted that interest had a statistically significant direct effect on academic department choice ( =0.230, t = 6.800, P<0.05). However, ability, perceived job prestige, family and peer influence had no direct effect on students' academic department choice. Based on the findings obtained, implications were discussed and recommendations were forwarded. 