Determinants of First College Major Choice among Yarmouk University Students and Estimating their Scaling Values Using Three Scaling Methods

Abstract

The study aimed at determining the determinants of first college major choice for Yarmouk University students, and estimating their scaling values using three different scaling methods, and determining the extent of agreement among these methods.  To achieve the purpose of the study, (165) male and female students from the university colleges volunteered to determine the determinants primarily, and two equivalent samples with regard to gender and college type were used to collect the scaling data. The first consisted of (120) male and female students studying a major which is their first choice, the second consisted of (120) male and female students studying a major differs from their first choice. The scaling values on importance scale were estimated using the Law of Comparative Judgments, Direct Estimation and the Law of Catogerical Judgments. The results showed that the most important major choice determinants are: opportunities to obtain work, secondary school exam scores mean, personal desire, and admission opportunities. Also, it was found that there was a consistency among scaling methods in ranking the determinants on the importance scale.