An Assessment of the Effect of Parental Level of Income on the Academic Performance of Junior Secondary Students in Bayelsa: Perspective of Low Income Earning Parents
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives Of The Study
The major aim of this study is to examine the effect of parental level of income on the academic performance of junior high school students in Bayelsa State. Below are the specific objectives of this study:
- Ascertain whether parental level of income influences students’ interests and attitudes towards academic activities.
- Determine whether the level of parents’ income affects the participation of students in academic activities.
- Investigate whether parents’ level of income affects the academic attainment of junior secondary school students.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept of Family Background
Family background plays a very big role on a child’s life. Family background refers to all the objects, forces and conditions in the family which influence the child physically, intellectually and emotionally (Muola 2010). Children coming from different family backgrounds are affected differently by such variations and that is why some children have good family background while the family background of others are poor. Citing Fleege, Eke (1999) noted that with some families, the background may vary from time to time for the same individuals. The author further stated that because it is parents who are primarily responsible for establishing the family and exercise control over it, they are responsible for the type of family background that exists. This means that parental attitudes are very important in promoting healthy family background, and healthy family background is possible when parents adapt to the culturally defined roles of parents to the needs of the changing young generation.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain an assessment of the effect of parental level of income on the academic performance of junior secondary students. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of an assessment of the effect of parental level of income on the academic performance of junior secondary students
Summary
This study was on an assessment of the effect of parental level of income on the academic performance of junior secondary students. Three objectives were raised which included: Ascertain whether parental level of income influences students’ interests and attitudes towards academic activities, determine whether the level of parents’ income affects the participation of students in academic activities and investigate whether parents’ level of income affects the academic attainment of junior secondary school students. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from residents in Bayelsa state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Parental income position is associated with good parenting in the home, the provision of secure environment, intellectual stimulation, parent-child discussion, good models of constructive social and educational values, high aspirations relating to personal fulfillment and good citizenship, contact with schools to share information, participation in school events, monitoring the academic related activities in school and so on. The findings of this study have led the researcher to conclude that there was a significant relationship between parental income position and students’ academic performance in public senior secondary schools in Bayelsa state. This implied that parental income position influenced students’ academic performance in public senior secondary schools in Bayelsa state
Recommendation
Parents should endeavour to pay the school fees of their children on time. Parent should create enough time to monitor the academic related activities of their children closely.
The school Administrators should use Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meetings as a medium to always remind the parents the need to provide educational materials for their children for better academic performance.
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