A Path Analytic Study of Profile Characteristics on Attitude and Career Preferences of Polytechnic Students

Path analysis was used to identify the direct and indirect effects of independent variables on dependent variables. The study intends to find out the key independent variables which affect the attitude and career preferences of polytechnic students. A sample of 240 students were selected from three polytechnics viz., Agriculture, Seed technology and Organic farming using simple random sampling procedure. Path analysis was used to understand the route of influence of independent variables (profile characteristics) on the dependent variables namely attitude and career preferences. Path analysis revealed that the direct effect of profile characteristics with attitude was exerted by achievement motivation followed by self confidence, mass media exposure, whereas highest total indirect effects profile characteristics with attitude was exerted by achievement motivation followed by mass media exposure, self confidence, Size of land holding. Path analysis revealed that the direct effect of profile characteristics with career preferences was exerted by caste followed by family occupation, achievement motivation, whereas highest total indirect effects profile characteristics with career preferences was exerted by family occupation followed by achievement motivation, caste.