Final Year Project 2011

NAME STUDENT ID FACULTY SUPERVISOR

: Puspanathan A/L Sinamuthu : 0800692 : BUSINESS AND MARKETING : Mr. Saravanan

BMBM 33115 FINAL YEAR PROJECT

AN INVESTIGATION ON SIJIL TINGGI PELAJARAN MALAYSIA (STPM) STUDENTS BEHAVIOR TOWARDS CHOOSING TERTIARY COURSES IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

Prepared by

PUSPANATHAN A/L SINAMUTHU

BUSINESS AND MARKETING

STUDENTS ID: 0800692

Supervisor

Mr. Saravanan

TABLE OF CONTANT Chapter Chapter 1 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Background of Study 1.3 Type of Schools 1.4 Overview of Malaysian Education System 1.5 Research Problem 1.6 Problem Statement 1.7 Research Objectives 1.8 Research Question 1.9 Scope of Study 1.10 Significance of Study Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Institution Image 2.2 Programme Offered 2.3 Family background 2.4 Personal Factors 2.5 Social Factors 2.6 Hypothesis Development 2.6 Research Framework 2.7 Research Hypothesis Chapter 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Population 3.2 Sampling 3.3 Instrument of Measurement 22 22-23 23 13-14 14 14-15 15 16 17-18 19 20-21 Title INTRODUCTION 1-2 3-5 6 7-8 9-10 10 11 11 12 12 Pages(s)

3.4 Data Collection Method 3.5 Data Analysis Method Chapter 4 RESULT ANALYSIS 4.1 Profile of Respondents 4.2 Expected Results 4.3 Reliability Analysis 4.4 Descriptive Analysis 4.5 Correlation Analysis 4.6 T-Test between Independent Variable 4.7 One-Way ANOVA analysis 4.8 Regression Analysis 4.9 Result Analysis of Independent Variables 4.9.1: Result Analysis of Dependent Variables Chapter 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 5.1 Conclusion 5.2 Overall result of hypothesis testing 5.3 Recommendation 5.4 Limitation and Future Research References Appendices

24 25

26 27-30 30-31 31-33 33-35 35-36 36-41 41-42 42-64 62-64

66-68 69 69-70 71 72-75 76-80

Acknowledgement

First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor, Mr Saravanan Raman, who assisted me and guided me in finishing this project. Thanks also for gave me a lot of suggestions and guidelines in order to complete this final year project successfully. His willingness to spend time to assist me after and during office hours is most appreciated. Besides that, thanks to my other lecturers who have also helped me with full of patience and kindness to finish this project. Furthermore, I also would like to thanks my batch mates, who gave my support and assistance when needed to help finish my project on the time.

Abstract

Choosing their preferences career is one of the fundamental decisions that all STPM science stream students have to make after graduate from secondary school. This decision making can be influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors to the STPM science stream students to make their further decision. When making decision about choosing tertiary courses, they consider factor differently that previous generation. Therefore, from time to time, higher education institution marketers need to study the underlying factors that affect STPM students tertiary courses choice. In summary, this study report about the important factors that significantly influence STPM science stream students intention to choose a tertiary course and the differences among students gender, race and academic background with regard to their perception of important attributes towards of decision making. This study conducted in selected public secondary schools. The sample that collected was 150 which taken from three schools in Kedah. The results of this study indicate that the main factor that students consider when choosing tertiary courses is programme offered in higher education institutions. This study shows that students choose tertiary courses based on programmes offered. Gender and race differences does not influence students choice meanwhile schools background influence their tertiary courses choice. This study was applied in a smaller scope whereby only STPM science stream students from three schools in Kedah are chosen. This study having limited students because at the time this survey is done only upper six students are available.