Effect of Home Economics Students’ Self-Efficacy and Perception of Teachers Social Learning Environment Management Practices on Their Interest in Integrated Science

Abstract

Teachers and students spend considerable part of their days in school or classroom environment. Therefore, classroom has to be a pleasant place to go . It must be modern, secure and well-functioning surroundings for both students and teachers. Learning environment is valued but also analysed as an indicator of qualitative education. It is not only the aesthetic need why the appearance of the learning environment should be contemporary. But also, since the learning environment impacts considerably on knowledge acquisition and learning activities. Consequently, the result of this study will provide basis for researchers and administrators such as Heads of Science and Home Economics Departments who may be interested in studying about classroom social learning environment management practices in the context of Integrated science, especially regarding Home Economics students, in replicating the study at other geographical areas and also ensure the application of relevant management practices. Thus , the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Home Economics students’ perception of integrated science teachers’ management of the social learning environment and self-efficacy levels on their interest in Integrated Science. The research design employed in this study was the cross-sectional survey design. The study was carried out in the Eastern region of Ghana. The target population of this study was all Form Three and Two students who offered Home Economics as a programme in public Senior High Schools (SHS). Simple random sampling technique was used to select 513 students from 26 schools selected from each local government district of the Eastern region of Ghana to participate in this study. In this survey, questionnaires were the main instruments used to gather data. It was found that students self-efficacy levels were high. However, their interest levels in Integrated Science were found to be moderate. The results also showed that the students perceived the management of their social learning environment by the Integrated Science teachers very moderately. We therefore recommend that Integrated Science teachers in Eastern Region Senior High Schools handling Home Economics classes should improve their management of the social learning environment in order to raise students’ self-efficacy and subsequently, their interest levels. Keywords: Integrated Science, Home Economics, Social Learning Environment, Interest, Self-efficacy DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-6-05 Publication date: February 28 th 2023