The effect of social studies literacy possessed by secondary school students on their academic achievement (a case study of ss iii students in enugu east l.g.a. Of enugu state)

THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL STUDIES LITERACY POSSESSED BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (A CASE STUDY OF SS III STUDENTS IN ENUGU EAST L.G.A. OF ENUGU STATE)

Abstract

The study examined the impact of social studies literacy on students’ academic performance in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu state, Nigeria. To guide the study, four (4) questions were raised and answered. This is to determine the impact of social studies literacy on the academic performance of students in the senior secondary schools in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu state. Data were obtained with the use of an instrument titled: Questionnaire on Students’ Social Studies Literacy Level and Social Studies Usage (QSCLLCU). One hundred and twenty (120) out of 1,200 final year students, representing 10% were used from the fourteen (14) existing secondary schools in Enugu East local government area of Enugu state, Nigeria. The findings revealed that Social studies literate students perform better than non-Social studies literate; Social studies literate female students perform better than male students who are also Social studies literate; Social studies literate students who are not addicted to the use of Social studies facilities perform better than those who are addicted; Social studies literate students in co-educational secondary schools perform slightly better than those in single-sex schools. Based on the findings, one of the recommendations was that all the students in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu state should be taught how to use Social studies facilities to search for valid information related to their academic activities.

 

CHAPTER ONE

 INTRODUCTION

1.1Background of the study

It is generally believed that education is the bedrock for every technological and economic development of any Nation.

As a result of that, the three (3) tiers of government are trying to reform the educational system by training teachers by giving them scholarships, good conditions of service, enhanced salaries, and paying them salaries as due. Despite this effort made by the governments, there is still a persistent increase in failure rate as always indicated in the annual reports by the national examination bodies such as WAEC, NECO, NATEB, and JAMB. The failure rate has led to numerous types of research that looked at the teachers’ method of teaching, teachers’ characteristics, teachers' attitudes, and students’ attitudes towards education and its attendant effects on the academic performance of students as a result of the failure rate, the teaching process seems to move from teacher-centered to student-centered method of teaching, yet the story almost remains the same many studies have revealed that students have a poor attitude towards education and as a result of that academic performance is affected negatively. Hence, for many years now in Nigeria, many people have been in doubt about the quality of products of her education from primary, post-primary, and tertiary institutions. Education discourse on poor academic performance seems to be the issue of the day.

Perhaps Social studies literacy may improve the knowledge and ability of students for higher academic performance. Social studies literacy is the knowledge and ability to use Social studies and technology efficiently. Social studies literacy can also be referred to as the comfort level someone has by using Social studies programs and other applications that are related to Social studies. The occurrence of Social studies literacy continues to grow at an outstanding rate. A Social study is an electronic device that can accept data, store data, and process data by following a set of instructions (program) to produce results. Social studies always change; they become smaller, faster, and more powerful. These changes have motivated modern society to become comfortable with basic Social studies-related skills. Social studies are like common pen and paper for writing especially for primary and post-primary school students. Many applications especially communicating Social studies are preferred over pen, paper-type writers because of their ability to retain information and make editing easy. It is also a fact that Social studies is becoming commonplace and powerful. The concept of Social studies literacy is almost above basic functionality to a more powerful application under literacy. Could the expanding trend of Social studies literacy be responsible for students’ poor academic performance?

The above processing Social studies model or diagram indicates that Social studies literacy is the bedrock of sound academic performance. The diagram also indicates that when one is Social studies literate. ICT skill is developed and when the skill is developed, the use of internet facilities becomes very easy due to constant practice. Consequently, one gets efficient and has access to information, which is later processed and when this processed information is relevant and usable, there may be an improved academic performance of students. This is also applicable to the senior secondary students in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria.

Oviawe and Oshio (2011) and Mike(2003), in their findings of their studies, revealed that ICT facilities serve as a major contributor to effective teaching and learning.

 

1.2   Problem statement

From the reviewed literature, it can be deduced that there seem to be no research studies on the joint contributions of Social studies literacy’ socio-demographic, hours spent online/offline, and prior Social studies skills variables to their academic performance. Whereas, researchers and theorists (Coldeway, 1986; Calvert, 1986; Garrison, 1987; Kumar, 2001) have stressed the need for a comprehensive approach, taking into account all the experiences of Social studies literacy as well as the unique aspects of Social studies literacy environment. In addition, it has also been observed that little research has been devoted to exploring factors that predict the academic performance of Social studies literacy (Cookson, 1989) while those that even exist concentrated largely on demographic correlates as a component in their studies (Kumar, 2001).

 

Several studies have been carried out on academic performance, especially on conventional students, but not much on Social studies literacy students within the Nigerian educational system. The need to sever this ground to extend the frontier of knowledge to help improve the unimpressive Social studies literacy academic performance necessitates and serves as the motivating factor for undertaking the present piece of research to fill the existing important research gap. SOCIAL STUDIES LITERACY POSSESSED BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

1.3   Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study is to examine the Impact of Social studies literacy on students’ academic performance. Specifically the study:

1. Determine the difference in the academic performance of students who are Social studies literate and non – Social studies literate
2. Determine the difference in academic performance between male and female students who are Social studies literate
3. Determine the difference in academic performance between students who are addicted and non-addicted to internet facilities
4. Determine the difference in academic performance between students who are Social studies literate in co-educational and single-sex secondary schools

 

• Significance of the study

Web Based Training and its newer and more general synonymous term Social studies literacy are two of today’s buzzwords in the academic world. Decision-makers associate with its new ways of learning that are more cost-efficient than traditional learning strategies and allow students to better control the process of learning because they can decide when, where, and how fast to learn. The emergence of e-learning has tremendously transformed information – handling, and management in academic environments (Ani and Ahiauzu, 2008). Several Social studies literacy initiatives have been put in place to assist in the development training and use of electronic resources in several academic institutions.

 

These initiatives notwithstanding, some inadequacies in the development provision and utilization of electronic resources have been identified in several academic institutions. Several studies have been made with a view to proffering solutions to problems encountered in the development of electronic information resources. However, little or no efforts have been recorded in the identification of the influence and impact of Social studies literacy on the academic performance of students in higher learning institutions.  As the use of Social studies literacy is becoming more and more widespread in higher education it has become increasingly important to examine the impact that this teaching style has on student performance. This study will therefore help add information on the role of Social studies literacy on academic performance.

 

• Research questions

The following research questions were raised and answered to guide the study:

1. Is there any difference in the academic performance of students who are Social studies literate and non who are social studies literate?
2. Is there any difference in academic performance between male and female students who are Social studies literate?
3. Is there any difference in academic performance between students who are addicted and non-addicted to internet facilities?
4. Is there any difference in academic performance between students who are Social studies literate in co-educational and single-sex secondary schools?

 

Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study scope is limited to investigating the impact of Social studies literacy on students’ academic performance in senior secondary schools in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu state, Nigeria. Limitation faced by the research was limited time and financial constraint

 

• Organization of study

The study is grouped into five chapters. This chapter being the first gives an introduction to the study. Chapter two gives a review of the related literature. Chapter three presents the research methodology; chapter four presents the data analysis as well as the interpretation and discussion of the results. Chapter five gives a summary of findings and recommendations.

THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL STUDIES LITERACY POSSESSED BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (A CASE STUDY OF SS III STUDENTS IN ENUGU EAST L.G.A. OF ENUGU STATE). GET MORE  SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS

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