Abstract:

The study investigated if learning styles have any relationship with career aspirations among upper basic students in basic science in Taraba State, Nigeria. The sample of this study was made up of 392 UBE3 students that were drawn from 14 upper basic schools. This study adopted the correlational research design. The instruments known as Learning Styles Preference Questionnaire (LSPQ) and Career Aspirations Questionnaire (CAQ) were used to collect data for this study. LSPQ and CAQ were trial tested which yielded the reliability values of 0.87 and 0.79 using Cronbach Alpha. Five research questions and five null hypotheses guided the study. The research questions were answered using multiple regression analysis while, the hypotheses were tested using ANOVA of regression analysis. The study revealed among other that there is no significant relationship between visual learning style and career aspirations [F1, 107= .825; p>0.05]. There is no significant relationship between auditory learning style and career aspirations [F1, 107 = .017; p >0.05]. There is significant relationship between visual, auditory, reading-writing, kinesthetic learning style and career aspirations [F4, 391 = 6.818; p < 0.05]. It was recommended among that, since only one learning style is not a determinant of students’ career aspirations but the combinations of different learning styles. Thus, students should be encouraged to adapt different learning styles to facilitate learning in order to make their career aspirations a reality.

Keywords:

Learning styles, career aspirations, and Basic Science.