CORRELATIONAL STUDIES OF INFLUENCE OF MARITAL STATUS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION STUDENTS’ IN RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY PORT HARCOURT
ABSTRACT
This study examines the correlation between students’ academic achievement and marital status of science education at Rivers State University in Port Harcourt. 385 Rivers State University science education students were used as a sample. The study was conducted using a survey design. The dependability of the research equipment was estimated using the test-retest and cronbach alpha methods. Findings showed there was no discernible difference in academic success between married and single students. (t = 0.279, p – 0.781). Married and single students approach their studies differently, although not much. (X2= 3.841, p = 0.551). Academic attainment of surface learners and deep learners differs significantly (t = 1.96, p = 0.000). Male and female students differ significantly in their learning strategies (X2 = 3.841, p = 0.000). To raise academic accomplishment in schools, it was advised that school psychologists, teachers, and counsellors be made aware of the impact that marital status has on learning styles.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Education has a significant impact on every person’s physical, mental, emotional, social, and ethical growth. It is apparent that the forces of education, both formal and informal, are the only ones capable of raising human standards and ideas. According to Mimkolf (1965), education values support the married complex’s social, political, and personal adjustment in any given culture. Therefore, education is essential for a better family life. According to Gerda and Dennis (1982), the family’s dependence on education and its application to daily activities is significant. Any person deserves the greatest education, regardless of their marital status or gender.
In this piece, the term “marital status” refers to whether a person is married or single. Both negative and positive conclusions may be taken about the effects of marital status on male and female students’ academic performance. The possibility that a student’s marital status may affect both their learning strategies and their academic performance, both favourably and adversely, has grown to be a source of worry.The foundation that influences how students study in every other subject area is referred to as an approach to learning. It includes the involvement, engagement, and motivation of students in the classroom. There is widespread consensus that there are two basic methods of learning: deep and superficial. Swedish studies conducted in the early 1970s recognised the deep and surface methods as two fundamentally distinct learning strategies used by students in response to their perceived learning environment (Marton and Saljo, 1977). In order to be used to problem solving in unfamiliar circumstances, deep learning entails the critical study of novel concepts and the connection of them to previously understood notions. Deep learning encourages comprehension and real-world application. Surface learning, in contrast, involves memorising discrete, unrelated facts and accepting knowledge.
Academic accomplishment is an indicator of how well a person has met specified objectives that were the focus of their efforts in educational settings, particularly in school, college, and university. The majority of cognitive goals in school systems are either general (such as critical thinking) or entail the acquisition of information and comprehension in a particular intellectual field (such as numeracy, reading, science, or history). As a result, academic accomplishment need to be viewed as a complex construct that includes a variety of learning domains (Steinmayr, Meibner, Weidinger, Wirthwein 2014)..
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Academic achievement issues among students are many and occasionally difficult. Combining the duties of wife and husband or father and mother with those of a student is only one of the famous ones. Because married students are expected to adequately care for the house and perform well academically, this issue may be a barrier to their successful accomplishment in school. On the other hand, some married students could outperform single students in the classroom despite having to simultaneously fulfil the responsibilities of being parents and students.
Additionally, it has been shown that although some students who were previously single tend to do worse following marriage, others tend to perform even better. In light of this, the researcher seeks to determine how students at River State University’s approach learning and achieve academic success in relation to their marital status.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objective of the study is to;
- Find the influence of marital status on academic achievement of science education students’ in Rivers state university.
- Examine the influence of marital status on approaches to learning of science education students’ in Rivers state university.
- To determine the influence of approaches to learning on academic achievement of science education students’ in Rivers state university.
- To assess gender difference in approaches to learning of science education students’ in Rivers state university.
- To assess gender difference in academic achievement of science education students’ in Rivers state university.
1.4Â Research Questions
For the purpose of this research, the following research questions are raised.
- What is the difference between academic achievement of married and unmarried science education students’ in Rivers state university.
- What is the difference between approaches to learning of married and unmarried science education students’ in Rivers state university.
- What is the difference between in academic achievement of deep and surface learners of science education students’ in Rivers state university.
- What is the difference between approaches to learning of male and female science education students’ in Rivers state university.
- What is the difference between academic achievement of male and female science education students’ in Rivers state university
1.5 Research Hypotheses
For the purpose of this research, the following hypotheses are stated.
H1: There is no significant difference in academic achievement of married and unmarried science education students’ in Rivers state university.
H2: There is no significant difference in approaches to learning of married and unmarried science education students’ in Rivers state university.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study is important in a variety of ways. The results will be fascinating to the science education students at Rivers State University, the ministry of education, as well as all other stakeholders since they will help them understand how learning strategies affect students’ academic performance. The issues surrounding learning styles and academic performance among married and single science education students at Rivers State University will be addressed in part by the findings of this study. Additionally, it will assist the kids in figuring out how to improve their learning strategies in order to improve their academic performance.
Teachers will find the study helpful in understanding why married and single students perform academically differently and in assisting students in developing strategies to improve their learning styles and academic performance at school. This study will help educational psychologists and counsellors plan seminars and conferences to educate students and provide them knowledge on how to adopt effective learning strategies in order to improve their learning.
The study will also educate the general public on matters that affect married and single students’ academic success and attract their attention to the fact that bad learning strategies might result in subpar academic performance.
It will give guidance and counsellors the ability to plan conferences and seminars to educate and inform students and the general public on topics such as methods of learning and academic achievement of married and single students; issues with marital adjustment and how to handle studies.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This study focused on approaches to learning, marital status and academic achievement as the major variables. It encompasses all science education students’ in Rivers state university, involving both male and female students.
1.8 Limitation Of The Study
In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. However, the researcher were able to manage these just to ensure the success of this study.
1.9Â Â Definition Of Terms
Approaches to Learning: refers to the foundation that affects how student learn in every other content area. It encompasses student‘s engagement, motivation, and participation in the classroom.
Gender: Is the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural rather than biological perspective).
Marital Status: refers to the condition of being married or unmarried i.e. that is single or married.
 Academic Performance: this is used in the study to refers to students’ attitude to competition for excellent in their attitude toward participating in classroom activities and home work. It also used to students’ interest in learning.
1.10 Organization Of The Study
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.
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