Influence of Social Media on Academic Performance of Business Education Students of Public Universities in South-East States of Nigeria (Published)
The main purpose of the study was to determine the influence of social media on academic performance of business education students in public universities in South-East States of Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypothesis guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population was 397 students of business education programme in the seven public universities in South-East states of Nigeria. The entire population was used for the study, therefore there was no sampling. The instrument used for data collection was a 20 items questionnaire structure in four point rating scale. The instrument was validated by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was conducted using Cronbach Alpha and it yielded 0.86. Out of 397 copies of the questionnaire distributed to the respondents 374 was returned representing 94.21% returned rate. Mean with standard deviation was used to answer the research questions and the null hypothesis were tested at 0.05 level of significant using t-test. The findings of the study showed that social media influences the students’ academic performance positively and negatively in business education. Based on the finding, recommendations were made which include that students should be encouraged to utilize social media in the way that it will positively influence the academic performance, and students should be given assignments and research work to keep them busy away from the negative use.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Business Education, Internet, Social media
Effect of Multi-Media Instructional Strategies on Academic Performance of Students in Radio and Television Electronic Work Trade in Technical Colleges in Kano State (Published)
This study investigated the Effect of Multi-Media Instructional Strategy on Academic Performance of Students in Radio, Television and Electronic Work Trade in Technical Colleges of Kano State. Quasi-experimental design was adopted. A sample size of 40 Technical College (NTC III) students participated in the study. Purposeful sampling technique was used to select two intact classes from two colleges. A validated 40 – items instrument from NABTEB standardized test was used to collect data on the students’ performance in the following topics; Radio Communication, Satellite Transmission / Reception and Television. To avoid bias, the researchers prepared lesson plans that were used for the teaching of the two groups. The teachers from the two technical colleges were trained on how to use the lesson plans and multi-media instructional strategy, so as to control variability in the instructional procedure in the study. Four research questions and one hypothesis were raised. The data was analyzed using SPSS, mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the null hypothesis. Multi-Media instructional strategy improved the mean performance of the students in Radio, Television and Electronic Work Trade, as seen in the post-test mean performance of 46.75 as compared with pre-test mean performance of 25.75 respectively, for the experimental group. There is significant mean difference in the post-test academic performance of students taught Radio Communication, Satellite Transmission / Reception and Television using Multi-Media instructional strategy. Among the recommendations made was: Stakeholders in education should make available and encourage the use of multimedia instruction in technical colleges of Kano State by providing multimedia instructional tools.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Electronic, Multi-Media Instructional Strategies, Radio, Television, Work Trade Students.
Correlation between Instructional Leadership and Students’ Academic Achievement in Public Secondary Schools in Baringo County, Kenya (Published)
The significance of instructional leadership as it relates to students academic performance has assumed greater importance in education today as stakeholders demand for greater accountability. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between instructional leadership and student achievement, considering the dismal academic performances of students in public secondary schools in Baringo County. The study adopted the cross sectional survey research design. The target population of the study was 1070 secondary school teachers from 122 public secondary schools. A sample size of 291 teachers was selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected by use of questionnaire and Document analysis. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize and describe data whereas the Spearman correlation analysis was used to establish relationship of the variables in the study.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Instructional Leadership, Secondary Schools, Students, Teachers
Dating and Academic Performance: An Empirical Analysis among Babcock University’s Undergraduate Students in Ogun State (Published)
This study examined the predictive power of dating on undergraduates’ academic performance at Babcock University, Ilishan-remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was employed while two hundred and eighty-nine participants were selected through the multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. A self-developed questionnaire tagged Undergraduates’ Dating Scale (UDS) was used for data collection, while Students’ academic performance was measured the Students’ CGPA. The data collected was analyzed using statistical analysis of simple percentage, correlation coefficient, Z-test, t-test, and multiple regression analysis. The results revealed a significant difference do exist between male and female undergraduates’ dating behaviour (t-cal = 11.309 > t-crit. = 1.96, < 0.05); and a statistical difference do exist between the academic performance of those involved in dating and those who do not (z-cal = 3.543 > z-crit. = 1.96, < 0.05). The study further revealed a positive significant relationship between undergraduates’ dating behaviour and academic performance (r = .671; p>.05); while dating behaviour accounted for 27.1% of the variability in the undergraduates’ academic achievement (R = .538; R2 = .289; Adj. R2 = .271; F(1,287) = 21.501; p <.05). Based on the findings, it was therefore recommended that among other things, sexual and reproductive health education is necessary, which should be channeled from different angles of human interactional opportunities: home, school, play grounds, churches, etc.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Dating Behaviour, Ogun State., Undergraduates
A Comparison of Academic Performance between Public and Private Secondary Schools in Wareng District, Kenya (Published)
Good performances in private schools have not only attracted many parents but also left the public wondering what secret could be behind their success. Despite government investing heavily in public schools, not much in terms of performance is yet realized. Most public schools, especially in urban areas, are well staffed. Teachers in public schools are better paid compared to those in private. This paper undertakes a comparison between Public and Private secondary schools in terms of academic performance. The paper is based on a study carried out to determine the level of variation in academic performance between public and private primary schools in Wareng District and the major possible causes of such variations. The study covered a total of 55 public and 17 private schools distributed evenly among the five educations Zones in the district. The figures translate to 52% and 68% of public and private schools respectively. Data collection was by means of questionnaire administered to teachers and head teachers. Results on performance were collected from District Education Office. Performance in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) was used because it is a national examination that is not biased. The duration covered three years, 2007-2009 inclusive. The findings of the study revealed that despite government investing generously in public schools private schools still outshine them. It is clear that private schools perform much better in academics than public schools. KCPE results for the three years (2007-2009) where private schools were ahead of public ones consecutively – in all the zones. Moreover, public schools in the District are relatively well staffed with pupil-teacher ratio in urban areas at 21:1 in rural areas in average pupil-teacher ratio in the District was 31:1. The research findings are of significance to Ministry of Education policy makers and public schools.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Private Primary Schools, Wareng District, public
Effect of Test Item Arrangement on Performance in Mathematics among Junior Secondary School Students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State Nigeria. (Published)
The study investigated the effect of test item arrangement on performance in Mathematics among Junior Secondary School Students in Obio-Akpor L.G.A of Rivers State. The study adopted the quasi-experimental research design. A sample of one hundred (100) Junior Secondary School Students drawn from the population using the simple random and non-proportionate sampling techniques was used for data collection. The sample included three experimental group labelled ‘A-C” and the control group labelled “D” This was selected from a population of 6,777 JS II students from four public schools in the area. A test instrument tagged the “Mathematics Performance Test” which had four types A-D was used. Type A was arranged in ascending order of difficulty. Type B was arranged in descending order of difficulty while type C was arranged based on order of topic presentation in the class. On the other hand, type D was arranged in no particular order. Validity of the instruments was determined using table of specification (TOS) while a general reliability index of 0.96 was determined using Kuder Richardson formular 20 (KR20). Mean, standard deviation as well as t-test analysis were used to compare the mean of each of the group against the control group and test. The findings of the study were that item arrangement based on ascending order of difficulty has a positive and significant effect on students’ performance in mathematics at 0.05 alpha level respectively while item arrangement based on descending order has a positive but insignificant effect on student’ performance in mathematics. Finally, item arrangement based on no particular order of difficulty has a positive and significant effect on students’ performance. It was recommended among others that classroom teachers, test constructors and professional examination bodies should endeavour to arrange items from simple to complex in order to boost students’ morale.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Test item arrangement, ascending and descending order of difficulty, order of topic presentation
Biology Teachers’ Workload and Academic Performance of Secondary School Students in Abia State (Published)
This study was carried out to determine Teachers’ workload and academic performance of secondary school students in Biology. It was conducted in University of Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria. The sample comprised of 220 Biology teachers which was purposively selected randomly from three educational zones (rural and urban locations) in Abia State. Two research objectives and two hypotheses were used in the study. The data was analyzed using mean and rank order statistics to answer the research questions while z-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The reliability co-efficient obtained using Pearsons product moment co-relation coefficient was 0.70. The study found that teachers’ workload has effects on students’ performance in Biology. In addition, it was found that teachers’ supply have great influence on students’ academic performance. It was recommended amongst others that in order to reduce teachers’ workload, Biology teachers should only teach a particular arm of class as this will enable the teachers’ cope with the stress of the workload.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Teachers’ supply, Workload
Superstitious Beliefs and Academic Performance of Pupils in Early Childhood Science in Ogoja Educational Zone, South Eastern Nigeria. (Published)
This study was designed to investigate the influence of superstitious beliefs on academic performance of pupils in early childhood science. The research design was ex-post factor. A random sample of four hundred (400) pupils was used. Data for the study were collected through a forty item three-point Likert-scale type questionnaire on Superstitious Beliefs and Science Achievement Test. The data were analyzed using Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) and tested at P < 0.05 level of significance. A post hoc pair-wise comparison was made using LSD to compare main and interaction effects. Results showed that academic performance of early childhood pupils was significantly decreased by superstitious beliefs in the four basic categories of “Good luck”, “Bad luck”, “Impending danger” and “Perceived effect”. Social study curriculum in early childhood schools was recommended to be broadened to teach concepts in superstitions which may reduce pupils beliefs and enhance the teaching of science.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Beliefs, Early Childhood Science, Nigeria, Superstition
THE EFFECT OF INTEGRATION ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE FOR STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS: A CASE STUDY OF INTEGRATED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KERICHO COUNTY, AINAMOI CONSTITUENCY, KENYA (Published)
Vision is ordinarily a very important source of information about the world, the ‘stuff’ on which cognition comes to operate. The provision of the low vision services in Kenya started in 1980s. Before then, all learners were educated as blind irrespective of their degree of vision loss. Christoffel Blinden Mission conducted a survey, which revealed that there was need to encourage children with low vision to use their sight, since they were using techniques for the blind. It was also discovered that 15-25% of the learners did not require special education services at all. This low vision services was first provided in the school for the blind students and then in the integrated schools. This paper thus sought to establish the effect on academic performance for visually impaired students brought about by this integration. To achieve this, the author considered carrying out a study in Kericho County. The study was done between September and November 2006 using a case study design. Questionnaires focus group discussion and document analysis were the main techniques used in data collection. A total of 200 respondents participated in the study and data was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. It was found that an integrated education program has recorded better performance for students with visual impairment than in the specially designed schools for the visually impaired students as perceived by students. On average, it was observed that students with visual impairments perform better than their sighted counterparts.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Effect, Integration, Students with visual Impairments.
CULTURAL FACTORS HINDERING MASTERY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A CASE OF KILIFI COUNTY, KENYA (Published)
This study examined the various cultural factors hindering the mastery of English language in Kilifi County. A sample of 236 respondents representing Students, pupils, head teachers, teachers, parents, religious leaders, Pwani University Language specialists, Ministry of Education officers was drawn from Tezo Location. The proposed study was a descriptive survey, and both qualitative and quantitative data was collected by means of self administered questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, and scheduled interviews. Qualitative data was analysed by thematic analysis while quantitative data was analysed by simple descriptive statistics and ranking by participatory methods. The study identified the cultural practices that hinder good mastery of English as frequent usage of Kiswahili and Mother Tongue when speaking at home, the declaration that English is a foreign language and the belief by the local community that speaking in English at home is a sign of pride and disrespect. Based on the findings, recommendations were made on how to promote good English mastery in Kenyan Schools.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Kiswahili language, Language of Instruction, Mastery of English, Mother tongue, language of interaction