Undergraduates’ Work Ethics, and Motivation for Occupational Preference: What Nexus Therein?

Abstract

Decision-making, particularly on career choice, could be tasking. This is because lots of competing variables are at play during the process. Confusion within the individual and influences outside the individual(s) affect career outcomes. Ethical consideration is also an important construct in professional and other human relationships. This paper studied the association between work ethics and the drive for occupational preference among undergraduates in Ogun State, Nigeria. Two hundred and fourteen Philosophy students in the penultimate and final years at a State-owned University in Ogun State, Nigeria, participated in the study. Two standardised instruments – the Multidimensional Work Ethics Questionnaire (MWEQ) and the Motivation for Occupational Preference Scale (MOPS) - were utilised for data collection. Findings revealed a significant contribution of work ethics to the prediction of motivation for occupational preference (R2 = .480; F (10,203) = 18.771; p <. 05). It was concluded that work ethics significantly impact on career preference of participants. Some recommendations were made based on the findings.