ABSTRACT
Attitudinal studies have been areas
of exploration by many researchers because of the desire to gain insights into
the foundation of such attitudes and the variables that influence their
formation. This study did an
investigation into the analysis of the attitude of students towards the study
of social studies. One hundred (100)
secondary school students provided the data for the investigation.
The following findings were made at
the end of collecting questionnaire and analysis of data: Students have positive attitudes towards the
study of social studies. It was also observed
that lots of factors positively influences students attitude towards the study
of social studies.
It was also discovered that a lot of
factors can positively impove the attitude of students towards the study of
social studies.
Based on the findings
recommendations, were made and some include:
The need for schools and teachers to motivate students with positive
attitude towards the study of social studies in schools.
The need for government to look
seriously into the factors that influence students’ attitudes towards the study
of social studies such as non-availability of teaching aids in the teaching of
social studies, the frequent transfer of teachers from one school to the other
etc. by providing relevant teaching aids for the teaching of social studies and
stop transferring teachers from one school to the other on a regular bases.
The need for the government to look
into those factors that can improve the attitude of students towards the study
of social studies by providing conducive learning environment for studying
social studies, adequate learning facilities, non-transfer of teachers from one
school to the other. The government
should also embark on the training of more social studies teachers and
enlighten the public on the need for social studies in the society.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table of Centents vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study 1
Statement of the problem 5
Research Questions 7
Research Hypothesis 7
Purpose of the Study 8
Significance of the Study 8
Scope of the Study 10
Limitation of the Study 10
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction 12
The Concept of Attitude 18
The Concept of Learning in Relation
to Social Studies 22
Gender and Learning Experiences 28
The Role of Social Studies in the
Society 33
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
Research Design 44
Population of the Study 44
Sample and Sampling Technique 44
Instrument used for Data Collection 45
Validity and Reliability of
Instruments 46
Administration of Instrument and
Collection 47
Method of Data Analysis 47
CHAPTER FOUR
Data Analysis and Discussion of
Findings 48
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary 57
Conclusion 58
Recommendations 59
Suggestions for Further Research 60
References 62
Appendix 65
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Over the years, there have been
growing concerns about the attitude of students towards the study of social
studies in secondary schools. The need
to adapt our education to the needs of the Nigerian society started before and
after independence. Many educational
elites began to recognize that the functional inadequacies of the educational
system inherited from the colonial education failed to develop positive values,
attitues and habits in our society because the social studies they taught was
British oriented and has nothing to offer to the Nigerian child.
Fafunwa
(1974) observed that the present educational system instead of developing
positive values in the society which the African child lives, tends to alienate
him from his cultural environment. This
was the reason behind the re-evaluation of the educational system and the
curriculum of the school and objectives that are relevant to the society.
The major ideas and philosophies
behind the curriculum innovation in the 1969 Naional Curriculum Conference
according to Akinlaye (2001) were:
i.
The need to make education more relevant to the
needs of the individuals and the society.
ii.
The need to use education for national
integration and socio-economic development.
iii.
The need to develop the right societal value and;
iv.
The need to make an individual responsible to
the society in which he lives.
This
been the case, the National Policy on Education (2004) has in recognition the
important role social studies will play towards the achievement of the
country’s educational aims and objectives.
Thus, social studies was made a core subject. Hence, there is a greater
responsibility for social studies teachers in Nigeria today than the days before
independence, this is because the Nigerian youths now live in an environment
characterized by social ills and moral decadence which have to be curbed at all
cost. The youths therefore need social
studies education which focuses on the problems and issues of human beings in
their changing environments and seeks to devlop desirable habits, values,
attitudes and skills in order to solve them.
Researchers have concentrated much on
the cognitive aspect of teaching in our secondary schools because of the
importance attached to success in public examinations, however, there is an
interplay between the cognitive and affective areas of teching. For example, Taylor (2001) and Gunsch (2005)
have shown that there is a relationship between interest and developments in
different school subjects, therefore, it is believed that favourable attitude
towards social studies may influence to a considerable extent the uptake of
knowledge in social studies.
Studies relating to specific aspects
of pupils’ attitude towards social studies and other related subjects have been
undertaken by several researchers.
Jekayinfa (2007) has reported that high grade in social studies at lower
forms is a factor that can pull students to history in the secondary schools in
Nigeria. In the study of factors associated with
interest in science, Ormerod and Dukworth (2000) have also identified a number
of factors like personality, home and other environmental factors among
American and British
High School students.
Statement of the Problem
The poor attitude of students towards
the study of social studies in secondary schools is an unsatisfactory state of
affairs and imbalance in the educational sector in particular and the nation’s
development in general.
Social studies as a core subject in
the junior secondary school level suggest the importance the government,
parents and students themselves attach to the study.
The phenomena increase in students’
attitude towards the study of social studies in junior secondary schools should
not be allowed to remain for too long unattended to.