SS2 Students Research Articles

Writing anxiety: an affective filter for essay writing instruction among ESL students in Ibadan

This study which adopted the descriptive research design investigated the relationship between writing anxiety and students’ achievement in essay writing. SS2 Students from six schools in Ibadan Metropolis were used for the study. The instruments used were Essay Writing Achievement Test(r=0.81) and Writing Anxiety Questionnaire(r=0.86). Data collected were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed a negative significant relationship between writing anxiety and students’ achievement in essay writing. This implies that the higher the writing anxiety, the lower the achievement in essay writing. It was therefore recommended among others that the teaching and learning of essay writing in classroom should be devoid of unnecessary tension and stress so as not to heighten students’ anxiety in essay writing. Also, English language teachers should devise any means of reducing writing anxiety among students so they can write better essays.

Influence of Gender and Location on Students’ Achievement in Chemical Bonding

Is students’ achievement in chemical bonding a function of their gender and school location? This question and two hypotheses guided the study. Pre-test-post-test non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used, with a population of 5,966 senior secondary class one (SS1) chemistry students in 57 senior secondary schools in Nsukka education zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. Adopting purposive sampling technique, nine schools were selected to draw 311 SS1 students. Intact classes were used. Instruments for data collection were Students’ Interest Scale on Chemical Bonding (SISCB) and Chemical Bonding Achievement Test (CBAT). The instruments were validated and had reliability coefficients of 0.68 and 0.87 respectively. Regular chemistry teachers of the selected schools taught the students using instructional software package method of teaching (ISPMT). Research questions were answered, using descriptive statistics. The hypotheses were tested using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) at P DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n3p309

Self Esteem among Private and Public Secondary Schools Students in Rivers State : Implications for Counselling

The study investigated self-esteem among private and public secondary school students in Rivers State. The study used simple random sampling method to select 200 SS1 students from 3 private and 3 public schools, all in Port Harcourt municipality. The “Students Self Esteem Scale” (SSES) was use for collection of data for the study. Test-retest method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. Reliability coefficient of 0.78 obtained. The t-test statistics was used to test two null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Null hypotheses one and two were rejected, meaning that private school students, both male and female demonstrated high self-esteem, while public schools students demonstrated low self-esteem. Based on the findings of the study, four recommendations were made for effective implementations.

Teachers’ Assessment Patterns and their Effect on Senior Secondary Students’ Achievement and Retention in English Grammar

This study investigated teachers’ assessment patterns and their effect on senior secondary II students’ achievement and retention in English grammar. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A quasi experimental design was used. The instruments used for data collection were English Grammar Achievement Test (EGAT) and Teachers’ Assessment Patterns Questionnaire (TAPQ). The sample size was 78 SS2 students of both sexes drawn from two secondary schools within Makurdi Metropolis. Data collected were analyzed using means and t-test statistics. The results showed that students benefitted from assessment patterns that included assessment for learning and assessment as learning more than those assessed solely by assessment of learning. The results also indicated that both male and female students benefitted equally from assessment patterns that included assessment for and as learning. It was recommended that teachers should employ assessment approaches that involve assessment as and for learning and should not use assessment of learning only. It was further suggested that Educational administrators/implementers, publishers and policy makers, should endeavour to incorporate assessment for learning and assessment as learning into the nation’s education policy and ensure their implementation.Key words: assessment patterns, grammar, achievement, retention

Principals’ School Plant Management and Academic Performance of Biology Students in Public Secondary Schools in Uyo Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State

This study investigated the relationship between Principals’ School Plant Management and Academic Performance of Biology students’ in Public Secondary Schools in Uyo Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State. The population of the study comprised all principals, and 18,573 SS2 students. However, teachers in the study area were involved in the study as they were used to rate principals ability to manage school plant. Correlational design was adopted. To guide the study, three research questions and three null hypotheses were formulated. Stratified random sampl-ing technique was used to select 281 teachers and 371 SS2 Biology students as respondents for the study. Two-researchers-developed-instruments tagged School Plant Management Questionnaire (SPMQ) and Students’ Achievement Test in Biology (SATB) were used to collect data needed for the study. The instruments were validated by experts in measurement and evaluation .The reliability of the two instruments was established using randomly selected members of the population who did not take part in the study. The data obtained was analyzed using Cronbach alpha technique and a reliability co-efficient of .801 and .803 was obtained; The data were analyzed using Simple and Multiple Regression Analysis. The formulated hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. Findings revealed that: There is significant relationship between management of instructional facilities, circulation space, and academic performance of Biology students. The result also shows that there is no significant relationship between management of recreational facilities and academic performance of Biology students.. This study therefore concludes that systems approach should be instituted by principals in the management of school plant components under review to improve on academic performance of students. It is recommended among others that, Education Board, Ministry of Education, Institutional planners, and all stakeholders in secondary education should adopt effective and sustainable strategies to ensure adequate provision, utilization, maintenance and management of school plant in the secondary system.

Self-Concept as a Correlate of Secondary School Students Academic Performance in Mathematics

This study investigated self-concept as a correlate of the academic performance of Secondary School Students in Mathematics in Edo North Senatorial districts of Edo State. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent that self-concept explained students’ academic performance in mathematics. The population consisted of 3,000 SS1 students of which the multi stage random sampling procedure was used to locate a sample size of 600 students. Data collected with the aid of a 20 item self-concept questionnaire (SCQ) was analysed using multiple Regression. The results show that self-concept had positive correlation with students’ academic performance in mathematics. Based on the findings some recommendations were made.

Can Integrating Media into Science Learning Activities Improve Students’ Learning Outcomes?

Improving science teaching as a way of improving of science products from Nigerian schools is a top priority of the present. This is due to the importance attached to the vision 20:2020 policy of the government which is striving to use science learning as a launching pad for growing her economy. However the exigencies of the present economic situation of most countries including Nigeria show strict economic policies that have placed constraints on funding of science education. This has resulted in poor and ill-equipped laboratories, poor manpower and inadequate resources for teaching of science and consequently, poor science products. The attention of science practitioners have therefore turned to other possible ways of improving science teaching and learning in schools. The attributes of videos and other audio visuals in compelling learners to learn have been variously reported. This study thus investigated the effect of these audio visuals in helping science learners improve learning outcome in science. 40 SS2 students in two groups of 22 (experimental) and 18 (control) participated in the study that lasted for seven weeks. A pretest- posttest- control group design was adopted. While the experimental group viewed videos of conduct of experiments and activities before engaging in the same activities, the control group used manuals carefully prepared by the researcher showing experimental procedures. Three instruments: test of attitude towards science, test of manipulative skill and test of achievement in science concepts were administered to both groups. Data collected was subjected to t-test and result showed no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in attitude, manipulative skill and achievement except in the overall performance in which the experimental group showed marginal superiority. Study concluded that though there are inherent benefits of the use of audio visuals in science teaching, there is need to apply it in addition to other techniques. It also recommended the enhancement of the videos with direct focusing attributes to improve its effectiveness.

Physical Abuse and Self-concept of Senior Secondary School Students in Cross-River State, Nigeria

Survey data collected from 2,000 senior secondary school two (ss2) students in Cross-River State, Nigeria were analysed to determine the influence of child physical abuse on their selfconcept(such as social self-concept, physical selfconcept, moral self-concept, financial self-concept and family self-concept) were considered in the study. One Way Analysis of Variance was used for data analysis and the hypothesis was tested at 0.05 alpha level. The result obtained showed a significant negative influence of physical abuse on the student’s self-concept in terms of the social self, physical self, moral self, family self and financial self-concept respectively.

Influence of Cultural Practice–Related Misconceptions on Achievement of Senior Secondary Biology Students in Zone C of Benue State, Nigeria

This study investigated the influence of cultural practice-related misconceptions on achievement among Biology students of senior secondary schools in Zone C of Benue State in central Nigeria using the survey design. A multi-stage method was used to select the sample of 2,879 SS3 students from 29 mostly coeducational schools. The two researcher-designed instruments for data collection were the Biology Cultural PracticeRelated Misconceptions Questionnaire (BCPMQ) and Cultural Practice-related Misconceptions Biology Achievement Test (CPMBAT). Using the Spearman-Brown Case Study British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioural Science, 4(12): 1703-1715, 2014 1704 prophecy formula, the reliability index of the instruments were 0.83 for BCPMQ and 0.96 for CPMBAT. Results of the study showed that students bring a substantial amount (88.89%) of their cultural practices into their Biology classes and that there is a significant relationship between the mean achievement scores of senior secondary Biology students and the cultural practice-related misconceptions they hold (r =0.331,p = .01< .05). There is a significant difference between the mean achievement scores of male and female students in favour of the female students. The study recommends, among other things: adequate training of serving and pre-service teachers to correct identified cultural practice-related misconceptions to facilitate understanding of Biology concepts.

Perception of Sexually Transmitted Infection-Preventive Measures among Senior Secondary School Students in Nnewi-North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Sexually transmitted infections-preventive measures are effective methods employed in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections [STIs]. Sexually transmitted infections are among the most common infections in the world and therefore a major public health problem as they cause devastating long term consequences if untreated, especially in adolescents. Sexually transmitted infection-preventive measures, if correctly and consistently used, have been proven to be efficacious. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among SS2 and SS3 students in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra state, Nigeria. A structured, self administered questionnaire was administered to consenting senior secondary students to gather relevant information about socio-demogaraphic characteristics, knowledge about STIs, sexual behaviours. Three hundred and thirty four students participated in the study. Multi stage sampling technique was used. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. Results were represented in tables and graphs. Results: Three hundred and thirty four students participated in the study, of which females and males are 167 each. 89% understood the meaning of STI. The majority of the respondents got the knowledge from TV/radio (34.4%), teachers (28.1%) and mother (27.0%). The majority of respondents knew that HIV/AIDS (89.8%), syphilis (58.1%) and Gonorrhoea (56.9%) were STIs. Good numbers of respondents knew the symptoms of STIs and risk factors of STI with unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners (57.5%) and (42.2%) respectively, as the highest risk factors. About 75.7% of respondents knew that HIV/AIDS cannot be cured. The Majority knew that avoiding sexual intercourse, being faithful to one partner and use of condom are preventive measures respectively. The majority of respondents (71%) felt they cannot be infected with an STI. 92.8% believed that STIs can be prevented. Age range for first sexual intercourse was 13 - 18 years for females and 8 - 19 years for males. Of the 86 that have had sexual intercourse, 48.8% had experienced one or more of the symptoms of STIs and the majority (80.9%) went to a hospital for treatment. Males (31.4%) are more likely to have multiple sexual partners than females (4.7%). Conclusion: The majority of the students had an objective knowledge on STIs transmission and prevention. Their overall attitude was positive but their practices were not satisfactory, especially for the males. Females were more careful and health conscious than their male counterpart.

Determinant of Students Educational Mindset (SEM) and the Implication for Life-Long Education in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study investigates the factors that determine students' educational mindset which are responsible for their decision- making in the life-long educational process. The sample comprised 400 SS1 students in ten secondary schools in the Yenagoa Capital City of Bayelsa State, Nigeria, selected through simple random sampling technique. A 4 point Likert questionnaire titled: Assessment of Students' Educational Mindset Questionnaire (ASEMIQ) and A Factor Influencing Students' Mindset Questionnaire (FISMIQ) were designed as instrument for data collection. The JSSC result of students was also obtained to determine students' achievement test. The reliability coefficient of the instruments was ascertained using the Split Half Method which gave the value of 0.72and 0.69 respectively and two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 alpha levels. A Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis was further used to predict factor determining students' educational mindset. The study shows that Government and Peer influence have a significant part to play in determining the mindset of students' towards their academic achievement. It recommended that students should desist from negative vices and government should transform the schools as centres of excellence to motivate students for learning in the pursuit of their life-long educational career.

Effect of Diagnostic Remedial Teaching Strategy on Students’ Achievement in Biology

The study investigated the effect of diagnostic remedial teaching strategy on students’ achievement in Biology. The purpose of the study was to diagnose and remedy identified students’ weaknesses in Biology by comparing their performances in Conventional Teaching Method (CTM) and Diagnostic Remedial Teaching (DRT) strategy. A sample of 12 teachers and 427 randomly selected SS2 students was drawn from three secondary schools in each of the four selected Local Government Areas in Osun and Oyo States of Nigeria. A pretest-posttest control group design with the students randomly assigned into experimental, conventional teaching and control groups was utilized for the study. Two instruments titled Error Patterns Among Biology Students (EPABS), and Test of Achievement in Biology (TAB) were developed, validated and used for data collection. The findings of this study largely showed that the use of DRT is more effective in improving the students’ achievement and retention than the CTM in Biology classroom practices. Hence, the diagnosis, knowledge and correction of identified students’ weaknesses can strengthen Biology teachers with necessary teaching competence, behaviour and innovation required to rescue the students from learning difficulties. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n7p282

Effect of Peer Tutoring Method on Students Academic Achievement in Home Economics

The study conducted to find out the effect of peer tutoring institutional method on the academic achievement in Home Economics among secondary school students in Dunukofia L.G.A of Anambra State. Quasi-experimental design was used. All the senior secondary school students in the local government area constituted the population of the study. Four secondary schools out of eight secondary schools was randomly selected, and all the 145 SS1 students offering Home Economics in these four schools were selected and assigned to experimental and control groups. One research question and one hypothesis guided the study. Data on student’s achievement was collected using Home Economics achievement test (HAT). The research question was answered using mean t-test statistics. The results indicated that students taught Home Economics using peer tutoring instructional methods achieved higher than those taught using lecture method, it was recommended that peer tutoring should be used in teaching Home Economics in secondary schools to enhance student’s achievement. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n5p193

PSYCHOSOCIAL PREDICTORS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ADJUSTMENT TO SCHOOL

The study investigates the psychosocial predictors of secondary school students adjustment to school in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State Nigeria. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted correlational design. A sample of 452 SS2 students was drawn from the population through stratified random sampling technique. Two instruments were used for data collection- Psycho-Social Predictor Scale (PPS) and School Adjustment Scale (SAS) which were developed by the researchers. The instruments were validated by experts in Educational Psychology, Measurement and Evaluation. The reliability coefficient of PPS subsections were 0.76, 0.68 and 0.71 respectively for self-concept, emotional intelligence and peer group while SAS had 0.82 reliability coefficient. All reliabilities were obtain via Cronbach Alpha technique. The results of the simple linear regressions and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) show that self-concept significantly predicted secondary school students’ adjustment to school while emotional intelligence and peer group do not. In terms of the relative effects of the psychosocial factors, self-concept was found to be most effective, followed by emotional intelligence and lastly peer group. Based on the findings, recommendations were made including that parents, teachers and counsellors should provide the students adequate orientation towards development of positive self-concept and self-confidence.

Students’ Preference of Method of Solving Simultaneous Equations

The study focused on students’ preference of two methods of solving simultaneous equations. The researcher adopted three research questions and three hypotheses. The research questions were answered using the descriptive statistics of percentages, while, the hypotheses were tested using the chi-square. The study research design was survey. The total population of SS2 students in Sapele local government area in 2007/2008 Session was 776. Using proportionate stratified random sampling technique to obtained equitable sample size in the three-urban, semi-urban and rural areas. The total sample size used for the study was 458. The instrument for data collection was a Structured Test Questions (STQ) for the SS2 students taught by the researcher. The STQ given to the SS2 students was named Students’ Preference of Method Assessment Test Questions (SPMATQ). The SPMATQ was face-validated by eight mathematics teachers. Kudder Richardson – 21 was applied to test the reliability of SPMATQ to obtained r = 0.73. The findings revealed that SS2 students’ preferred substitution method irrespective of their gender for solving simultaneous equations. A recommendation was that students’ preference order (substitution method) should be encouraged or followed in teaching and learning of simultaneous equations.KEY WORDS: Preference, Simultaneous, Equations, Substitution, and Elimination

Influence of Home on Study Habits of Secondary School Students in Kolo-Creek Development Centre of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study investigates the home and its influence on students’ study habits. Simple random sampling technique was used to obtain 200 out of 660 SS2 students in Kolo-Creek Development-Centre of Bayelsa State. Four research questions were posited, data were collected using Student Study Habit Questionnaire, (SSHQ) which was analyzed using percentages, mean and standard deviation. It was found that 134 (67%) of the respondents agreed that motivation from parents like provision of the recommended books influences them to read at home. Also some independent variables like parent income, education, living abode influence their wards’ study habits. The study went further to investigate some practical steps that parent could take in order to improve their wards’ study habits: which include making home a miniature of schools (that is homes should be conducive for reading), drawing up reading time table for their children and encouraging them to follow through every evening as well as devote their time to teach their children, although, parents level of education could be a set back to the latter. Finally, it was recommended that parents should be more responsive to their children’s education by providing learning facilities as well as conducive and motivating learning atmosphere at home.

Self-concept and Performance of Secondary School Students in Mathematics

The study investigated the relationship between self-concept and performance in Mathematics as well as the influence of gender on self-concept and performance in Mathematics. 320 SS1 students (male=160, female=160) were used for the study. They were selected from 16 secondary schools (urban=8, rural=8) in eight local government areas of Ekiti State. Random sampling was used to select the local government areas, while stratified random sampling technique was used to select the schools and the participants. Data were collected using a 20-item self-concept questionnaire and a 30-item multiple-choice Mathematics Achievement Test with reliability coefficients of 0.74 and 0.83 respectively, and analysed using Pearson product moment correlation and t-test statistics, tested at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that self-concept moderately correlated with performance in Mathematics, while gender had no significant influence on self-concept and performance in Mathematics. However, the mean scores of male and female students in Mathematics were below average. It was suggested that teachers should develop in their students positive self-concept towards Mathematics and pleasant teaching experiences to enhance higher self-concept and better performance in mathematics.

The efficacy of reality therapy in the reduction of Hiv/Aids – risk behaviour among adolescents in Nigeria

Over the years HIV had been a life threatening virus. Governments, organisations and parents are not comfortable particularly when the thought of their adolescent children comes to mind. Consequently, it became necessary to embark on investigating the efficacy of RealityTherapy (RT) on reduction of HIV-risk behaviour among adolescents in Ogun state. Interactive effects of gender differences and age group on HIV- risk behaviour among the population were also investigated. Using a multi-stage approach a total of twenty (20) SS2 students (10 males and 10 females) identified to exhibit HIV risk behaviour were randomlydrawn from two public co-educational schools from two local Government Areas in Ogun state after administering an assessment questionnaire [HIV Risk Behaviour Assessment Questionnaire (HRBAQ). A 2x2 pre -test, post- test control group design was used. The psychometric properties of the instruments used in the study were established using contentvalidity and test-re-test methods. Group one was exposed to RT while the control received “placebo”. Three research hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 significant levels. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Also used werepercentages, Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) for post-hoc test. Results showed significant difference between the pre and post test mean scores of the participants in the treatment group and those in thecontrol [F (2, 20) = 39.86; p < 0.05]. Significant differences were also found in the HIV risk behaviour of participants (i) between the age group of 16-17 years and 18 years and above [F (2, 10) = 6.21; p< 0.05 ]. (ii) in gender [F (2,10) =5.83; p < 0.05 ]. It was recommended that there was a need to integrate cognitive restructuring procedures into counselloreducation curriculum as a corrective measure as well as a preventive measure in dealing with HIV- risk behaviour among adolescents and adults. Based on the efficacy of the therapy used in this study, it was further recommended that counsellors should arm themselves withthe technique and apply same on students from time to time in order to check their HIV-risk behaviours.

A Study of Gender Differences in the Attitude of Mathematically Gifted and Non-gifted Senior Secondary School Student in Nigeria.

The aim of the study is to investigate the differences in the attitude of boys and girls who are mathematically gifted or mathematically non-gifted in the Nigerian senior secondary schools. The population for the study was made up Senior Secondary Three students (SS3) of a school in Osun State. The study sample was made up of 150 (69 boys and 81 girls) SS3 students who were selected using stratified random sampling techniques with sex serving as the stratum. Three instruments were used in carrying out this study. The first instrument was an adopted RAVEN‟s Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM). It was a non-verbal assessment of general intelligence in people, applicable to people aged 5 years and over. The second instrument was a self constructed Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) that covers the first two years of the Senior Secondary School Mathematics Syllabus. The third instrument was an adopted Andy (2007) Attitude Scale (AS) which was an adaptation of Fennema and Sherman (1976) AS. The collected data were analysed using t-test. The result indicated that the difference in the general attitude of male and female is significant. However, when considering the componential factors of the AS, it was discovered that there is a significant difference in the attitude of male and female students towards confidence in mathematics (t = 3.96 p <.05). It was also discovered that the male generally, the mathematically gifted male and average male students when compared with the girls showed a significantly more positive attitude towards confidence in mathematics (t = 3.8 and 2.92 respectively). While the girls generally and the underachiever girls when compared with the boys showed that they have a significantly more different negative feelings towards mathematics (t = -3.06 and -2.47 respectively). Based on these findings it is believed that boys‟ higher confidence in mathematics can encourage their pursuit of mathematics in their further studies and future career. However, the conclusions in this study are tentative. More research is needed.

Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Work-Role Salience Among Nigerian High School Adolescents.

This study sought to find out the influence of socio-demographic factors (age, class level, sex and socio-economic status) on the work-role salience of some selected adolescents in Ibadan. Two hundred and thirty students made up of 123 males and 107 females were randomly selected for the study from five schools in Ibadan. Green ha us\' (1973) Work-Role Salience Scale was used to collect data from the respondents. The findings showed that students from lower socio-economic status homes and those from high socio-economic status homes, and SSI and SS3 students differed significantly in their work-role salience mean scores. However, male and female students and students of ages 14 years and below and students of age 15years and above did not differ significantly in their work-role salience scores. The need to involve the students\' parents in career education programmes and utilise career development activities for each school grade was highlighted. The Nigerian Journal Of Guidance And Counselling Vol. 7 (1) 2000: pp. 142-152