THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL BACKGROUND ON STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS EDUCATION IN UYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
ABSTRACT
The present study focuses on the influence of parental background on students’ attitude towards education in Uyo local government area of Akwa Ibom State. The study basically used a descriptive survey research design. Literature were reviewed to buttress the findings of the study. From a study population of two hundred and fifty eight (258) senior secondary two (2) students in Uyo Local Government Area, a multi-stage random sampling method was taken for study. Primary data were sourced from the secondary schools using questionnaires and personal observation. A total of 258 questionnaires were made and distributed among senior secondary school II students in Uyo Local Government Area. The data generated was analyzed descriptively, and statistically using the one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test the hypotheses. From the research findings, it was established that parental background has an influence on the attitude and academic achievement of senior secondary students. Based on the finding of the study, it was concluded that socio-economic status of parents, occupation of parents, educational attainment of parents and marital status of parents has significant influence on students’ attitude towards education in Uyo Local Government Area. Recommending Parent should set the paces for their student positive attitude toward education. The government should consider the training of family counselors and dispatch them to serve in the local communities even at the divisional levels, so as to facilitate the provision of counseling services to the locals, especially the parents so as to get information on effective ways of bringing up children. The Ministry of Education should also initiate self-help projects among the poor communities in order to alleviate poverty. Low income may lead to unavailability of reading materials at home. It may also lead to child labour hence reducing time for studying at home, the negative home influence may impact negatively on students’ attitude towards academics.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENTS PAGE
Cover Page………………………………………………………………………i
Declaration…………………………………….………………………………ii
Certification…………………………………………………………………..iii
Dedication……………………………………………………………………..iv
Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………….v
Abstract……………………………………………………………………….vi
Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study…………….……..…………………………1
1.2 Statement of the Problem………………………………..…………….4
1.3 Purpose of Study……………………………………..…..…………….5
1.4 Research Questions……………………….……………………………5
1.5 Research Hypotheses…………..……………………..……………….6
1.6 Significance of the Study……………….……………………………..7
1.7 Limitations of the Study………….……………………………………..8
1.8 Delimitations of the Study………………..………………………..…..9
1.9 Definition of Terms………………………………..……..……………9
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Theoretical Framework…………………………………………..……11
2.1.2 Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura’s 1986)………………….11
- Personality Theory (G.W. Allport’s 1966)…………………….…..……………………………………….13
- Conceptual Review………………………………………………..…15
2.2.1 Concept of Attitude…………………………………………………15
2.2.2 Influence of Socio-Economic Status of
Parents on Students’ Attitude……………………………………….19
2.2.3 Influence of parental occupation on students’ attitude……………….21
2.2.4 Influence of educational attainment of parents on students’ attitude..22
2.2.5 Influence of marital status of parents on students’ attitude………….23
2.1 Review of Related Empirical Studies……..………………………….24
2.2 Summary of Related Literature Reviewed…………………..………30
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction…………………………………………..………………31
3.1 Research Design….………………………..………………………………..31
3.2 Area of Study…………………..…………………………..…………31
3.3 Population of the Study…………………….…………..…………….34
3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques………..…………………….…….35
3.5 Research Instruments…………..……………………..….…………..35
3.6 Validity of Instruments…………………..…………………………..35
3.7 Reliability of Instruments………………………..…………………..35
3.8 Data Collection Technique…………………………………………..36
3.9 Method of Data Analysis…………………………………………….36
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS RESULT AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 Results Presentation……………………..……………………………37
4.1.1 Research Questions…………………………………………………..37
4.2 Finding of the Study.…………….……………………………………43
4.3 Discussion of Findings……………………………………………….44
4.3.1 Socio-Economic Status of Parents and Students’
Attitude toward Education……………………………………………44
4.3.2 Occupation of Parents and Students’ Attitude toward Education……45
4.3.3 Educational Attainment of Parents and Students’
Attitude toward Education……………………………………………45
4.3.4 Marital status of parents and students’ attitude toward education…….46
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of the Study..………………………………………………47
5.2 Conclusion ……………………….…………..…………………….. 48
5.3 Implication ……………………..……………..………….…………..48
5.4 Recommendation…………………………………………..…………48
5.5 Suggestions for further study…………………………………………49
References…………………………………………………….………50
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study One of the variables affecting success in education is the attitude of the students towards the discipline, school, teacher and other learning items. Education is the best legacy parents can give to their children. The development of the nation starts from the family. When the family succeeds in teaching and impacting good values in their children, the society becomes a better place to live. It is generally believed that the basis for any true development must commence with the development of human resource. Formal education is the demonstration of such desires to effectively and efficiently build a sound and strong economy. However, the over-all philosophy and objective of education in Nigeria states among others that: the integration of the individual into a sound and effective citizen and equal education opportunities for all citizens of the nation at the primary, secondary and tertiary level (National Policy on Education,2004). Numerous factors have been identified in various research studies to be responsible for the continuous declining of our educational system. Various factors such as classroom size, poor teacher-student relationship, school-community relationship, attitude of teachers towards work, lack of seriousness on the part of students, in-adequate instructional materials and other facilities. Motivation for this study is based on the fact that some students have a positive attitude towards education while some are extremely negative. When such variations in attitude are traced, it is more often discovered that family background is a major contributory factor. It is therefore important that the levels of such contributions and the influence they have on children be examined so that useful suggestions to parents, teachers, educational planners and government could be made. Orhungur (1990) asserts that the cultural background of the family is determined to a large extent by its socio-economic background. As the child grows up, moves out to interact with the wider society, his/her interaction with it and perception of it are largely determined from his/her earlier experiences at home. The family setting and its socializing influence mould the personality of the child. Nigeria, for instance is a society with diverse ethnic groups with various cultural background in areas like family size, occupation and in extreme cases, beliefs, religion. These factors pose their own restrictions on educational upbringing of children. The social setting or mode of settlement of the family and extended family system may equally influence the attitude of a child and by extension, their educational upbringing. Motivation is most needed in order to perform more efficiently in their area of endeavor. When certain factors are eminent in a child’s family background, it is clear that the child will be motivated and driven towards high positive attitude. Denga (1986) in Eyake (1997) advised that praises, incentives, recommendations and other forms of reward system should be employed as motivational factors to stimulate students to higher achievements. It is likely that the much a child achieves during his school days is largely dependent on the kind of family to which he/ she belongs.
THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL BACKGROUND ON STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS EDUCATION IN UYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
