ABSTRACT
This study investigated motivational variables and retention ability of senior secondary school students in physics in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State. Three (3) null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A quasi experimental design was used. Three motivational variables such teachers communicative skills, self-efficacy and reinforcement was selected to test retention ability. All the Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) Physics students in the two (2) chosen public secondary schools in Calabar South Local Government Area formed the population of the study. A total of 120 SS2 Physics students who were randomly selected formed the sample of the study. They were treated with motivational variables. Motivational Variables and Retention Ability Achievement Test of Physics Student (MVRPATT) and questionnaire (MVRQSP) was used. The reliability coefficient of MVRPATT was found to be 0.97. Analysis of data using t-test statistics at .05 alpha level of significant revealed teacher’s communicative skills has a significant effect on retention ability of physics students. Other findings of the research was that self-efficacy and reinforcement does not have any significant effect on retention ability of physics students. Theresearcher recommends among others that in-service training programs for science teachers like seminars, workshops and conference, should focus more on the kind of motivational variables adopted to enhance retention ability.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE – – – – – – – i
CERTIFICATION – – – – – – ii
DECLARATION – – – – – – iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT – – – – – iv
ABSTRACT – – – – – – – vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS – – – – – vii
LIST OF TABLES – – – – – – xii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study – – – – 1
1.2 Theoretical framework – – – – – 10
1.3 Statement of the problem – – – – 14
1.4 Purpose of the study – – – – – 14
1.5 Research questions – – – – – 15
1.6 Research Hypotheses – – – – – 16
1.7 Significance of the study – – – – 17
1.8 Limitation of the study – – – – – 18
1.9 Delimitations of the study – – – – 19
1.10 Definition of terms – – – – – 19
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Physics Students’ motivationand academic
performance – – – – – – 22
2.1.1 Retention of Physics students in public secondary
Schooland academic performance – – – 26
2.2 Related empirical studies on motivational variable
and retention of physics studentsand academic
performance – – – – – – 28
2.2.1 Concept of teacher’s communicative skillsand
academic performance- – – – – 34
2.2.2 Concept of self-efficacyand academic performance 38
2.2.3 Concept of reinforcementand academic performance -44
2.2.4 Influence of teachers’ communicative skills on Physics
student retention abilityand academic performance 47
2.2.5 Influence of self-efficacy on Physics students and
retention abilityand academic performance – 48
2.2.6 Influence of reinforcement on Physics students’
retention abilityand academic performance – 53
2.3 Summary of literature review – – – – 57
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH MYTHOLOGY
3.1 Research Design – – – – – – 60
3.2 Area of the Study – – – – – – 61
3.3 population of the study – – – – – 62
3.4 Sample – – – – – – – 64
3.5 Sampling techniques – – – – – 66
3.6 Instrumentation – – – – – – 66
3.7 Validity of the Instruments – – – – 67
3.8 Reliability of the instruments – – – – 68
3.9 Procedure of data preparation and scoring – – 68
3.10 Procedure of data collection – – – – 70
3.11 Procedure of data analysis – – – – 71
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Presentation and Interpretation of Results – – 72
4.2 Discussion of Results – – – – – 77
4.3 Summary of Finding – – – – – 79
CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – 81
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – 83
5.3 Implications of the Findings – – – – 83
5.4 Recommendations – – – – – 84
5.5 Suggestion for Further Studies – – – 84
REFERENCES
QUESTIONNAIRE
