Correlational Studies of Influence of Marital Status on Academic Performance of Science Education Students in Rivers State University Port Harcourt
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
The objective of the study is to;
- Find the influence of marital status on the academic achievement of science education students at Rivers State University.
- Examine the influence of marital status on approaches to learning of science education students at Rivers State University.
- To determine the influence of approaches to learning on the academic achievement of science education students at Rivers State University.
- To assess gender differences in approaches to learning of science education students at Rivers State University.
- To assess gender differences in academic achievement of science education students in Rivers State University.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Marital Status
Marital status is the state of being married or unmarried. According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, marital status refers to whether someone is married, single, divorced or widowed.
Marital status refers to the status of an individual in relation to marriage classified as follows:
Single: A person who has never been married, Married: couple living together as husband and wife, Divorced: person whose bond of matrimony has been dissolved legally therefore can remarry, Separated: A person separated legally or not from his/her spouse because of marital discard or misunderstanding, Widowed: A person whose bond of matrimony has been dissolved by death of his/her spouse NSCB resolution No11 series 2003).
Marriage.
Marriage is a special contract or union between a man and woman in accordance with the law which establishes conjugal and family life. It is the foundation whose nature consequences and incidents are governed by law and stipulation (Ochidi 2012).
Marriage is a relationship and bond, most commonly between a man and a woman that plays a key role in the definition of many families. Precise definition varies historically between and within cultures, but it has been an important concept as a socially sanctioned bond in a sexual relationship (Ochidi 2012)
Marriage is encouraged for people who have reached the age of physical and psychological maturity. It should not be unnecessary delayed if there is a suitable partner available and the means of establishing and sustaining a family. Divorced people and widows are also encouraged to re-marry (Quran: 2:187)
Marriage is the appeared social pattern where by two or more persons establish a family. It involves not only the right to conceive and rear children, but also a host of other obligation and privileges affecting many people, and the recognition of this new status by others. A legal marriage legitimizes a social status and creates a set of legally recognized duties. In Islam, marriage is a religious duty and is consequently a moral safeguard as well as a social necessity. It is a social necessity because through marriages, families are established and the family is a fundamental unit of our society. Furthermore, marriage is the only legitimate way to indulge in intimacy between a man and a woman.
Marital Adjustment.
Marital adjustment defined as the success and functionality of the partners in marriage is accepted as a broader concept that also involves the concepts of marital satisfaction and happiness. (Ersanlı&Kalkan, 2008).
Marital adjustment is the state in which there is an overall feeling in husband and wife of happiness and satisfaction with their marriage and with each other. Marital adjustment calls for dual-career for maturity that accepts and understands growth and development in the spouse. The phenomenon of marital adjustment involves adjustment to mate, sexual adjustment, emotional adjustment, adjustment towards in-laws, and the like. (Jaisri, M &Joseph, M. I. 2014).
Marital adjustment: Marital or dyadic adjustment may be conceptualized as a process and the outcome is determined by the amount of: (1) troublesome dyadic differences; (2) interpersonal tensions and personal anxiety; (3) dyadic satisfaction; (4) dyadic cohesion; and (5) consensus on matters of importance to dyadic functioning‖ (Spanier, 1976, p. 17). These aspects of adjustment are applicable to both married and unmarried couples ((Spanier, 1976) (Suvarna Joshi &Nutankumar S. Thingujam 2009).
Importance and factors involved in marital adjustment
According to Alfred Adler (1978), marriage is part of the three tasks (i.e., work, friendship, and love) that the human community sets for every individual.
Relationship importance
Over the course of life, people learn to establish different relationships, with different values, expectations and commitments. One of those relationships is the marital relationship. For A good marital relationship marital adjustment is essential. Sinha&Mukerjee (1990) defines marital adjustment as “The state in which there is an overall feeling in husband and wife of happiness and satisfaction with their marriage and with each other”.
Locke & Wallace (1959) defines marital adjustment as: “accommodation of husband and wife to each other at a given time”
According to Spanier and Cole (1976), marital adjustment is a process, the outcome of which is determined by the degree of: a) troublesome marital differences, b) interpersonal tensions and personal anxiety, c) marital satisfaction d) dyadic cohesion, e) consensus on matters of importance to marital functioning.
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.
Population of the Study
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals, as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out a Correlational studies of influence of marital status on academic performance of science education students’ in Rivers state university Port Harcourt. Hence, the population of this study comprises of science education students’ in Rivers state university Port Harcourt.
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 three hundred and eighty-five(385) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which three hundred and fifty-nine (359) were returned while three hundred and fifty (350) were validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 350 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
This chapter presented the summary, conclusion and recommendations of the study. The main objective is Correlational studies of influence of marital status on academic performance of science education students’ in Rivers state university Port Harcourt.
Summary
This study‘s Correlational studies of influence of marital status on academic performance of science education students’ in Rivers state university Port Harcourt. To effectively carry out this research, the study is structured into five chapters. Chapter one presented the background to the study, statement of the problems, five objectives in line with the research questions, research hypothesis and basic assumptions. Findings of the study will be significant to psychologists, teachers, counselors, students and the general public by helping to address issue regarding approaches to learning and academic achievement with respect to marital status.
In chapter two literatures were reviewed where concept and theories relating to the variables were reviewed, previous study were also reviews in the same chapter. Chapter three presented the methodology. A sample of 385 students were selected from the population. Findings revealed that there is no significance difference between married and unmarried students in their academic achievement. There is no significant difference between married and unmarried in their approaches to learning. Significant difference exists between deep and surface learners in their academic achievement. Significance difference exists between male and female students in their approaches to learning. Significance difference exists between male and female students in their academic achievement.
Conclusions
Following the analysis and findings of this study, it is concluded that, marital status does not have any influence on academic achievement of students and that students marital status does not have any influence on their approaches to learning. It is also concluded that students‘ academic achievement is influenced by their approaches to learning. With respect to gender, female students are more into surface approaches to learning than their male indulged into deep approach, gender does not have any influence on academic achievement.
Recommendations.
The following recommendations are suggested as a result of the analysis of the study;
- School psychologists, teachers and counselors should be sensitized on the influence of marital status on approaches to learning in order to improve academic achievement in schools.
- Seminars, conferences, symposium should be organized with a view to educating teachers, students and the general public on how positive and negative approaches learning affects students‘ academic achievement.
- Students should be exposed to different approaches to learning in order to enhance their academic achievement irrespective of gender.
- Married students should be counseled on how to cope with and adopt appropriate learning approaches that will enhance academic achievement.
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