Influence of Delinquent Behavior on Academic Achievement of Senior Secondary School Students
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of this study was to examine the causes of delinquency, the acts of delinquency and the effects of delinquency on students in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State. The specific objectives were to
- examine the causes of delinquency among students
- identify the acts that are found among delinquent students
- examine the effects of delinquency among students in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEWED OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept of Juvenile Delinquency
Alemika (2018) and Muncie (2019), defined Juvenile delinquency as any act in violation of criminal law, committed by a person defined under law as a juvenile, which if had been committed by an adult will be treated as a crime or criminal conduct. According to Scalia (2017), juvenile delinquency is a violation of federal law committed by a person prior to age eighteen which would have been a crime if committed by an adult. According to the Bartol and Bartol (2011) textbook the Psychological Definition of juvenile delinquency is a child’s engagement in extreme anti-social behaviour. Thus, children are supposed to be a sign of innocence and loyalty, yet they are killing other children and even killing their own parents. Mason (2015) opined that delinquency is the behaviour consequent to the failure of personal and social control to produce behaviour in conformity with the norms of the social systems to which legal penalties are attached. Elliot and Voss (2011) and Sarason (2013) observed that juvenile delinquency is largely the result of failure of primary groups to offer the child appropriate non-delinquent social role models or to provide the child with the forms of social control which will ensure the acceptance of those social roles which are preferred in accordance with his needs. However, juvenile delinquency is a legal term for the behaviour of children and adolescents that in adults would be judged criminal under law. Siegal, Larry Walsh and Brandon (2011) stressed that juvenile delinquency is the participation in legal behaviour by minors (individuals younger than the statutory age of majority). It is the resistance antisocial, illegal or criminal behaviour by children or adolescents to the level that it cannot be controlled or corrected by the parents, therefore endangers others in the society and becomes the concern of law enforcement agency. The term juvenile delinquency was established so that law breakers could avoid the disgrace of being classified in illegal records as criminals. A juvenile delinquent in Nigeria is a person who is typically under the age of nineteen and commits an act that otherwise could have been charged as a crime if they were adults. According to Moffit (2016), a higher proportion of youths have experienced arrest by their early 20’s than in the past although some scholars have concluded that this may reflect more aggressive criminal justice and zero tolerance policies rather than changes in youths’ behaviour. Further more, juvenile delinquency can range from status offences such as; under age smoking, alcohol drinking to property and violent crimes.
Factors Influencing Juvenile Delinquency
Home environment/Family socio-economic status and juvenile delinquency among secondary school students
Family socio-economic status is based on family income, parental occupation and societal values in the community. The seeming undependability of our families to curb the menace of juvenile delinquency is not uncommented with the unprecedented global inflation that has had alarming influence on families, resulting in near break down of family ties. This generally shows the negative effect it has on the adolescent member of the family who are mostly found in secondary schools. Family socio-economic status affects parents’ ability to send their children to school and also affects students’ performance in school. According to Uche (2014), children from parent with adequate income, good occupation and high status are likely provided with good quality education from nursery up to university level, given this opportunity, it is possible that such child will be less delinquent than their counterpart from lower socioeconomic background. However, Coughin and Vuchimah (2016) in their empirical studies observed that there is a relationship between family socio-economic status and juvenile delinquency. Dishon and Loeber (2015), also observed that female secondary school students tend to act out as a result of low level of support from their mothers while boys tend to act out as a result of low parental monitoring. Weis (2012), in her study of ethnicity, gender and socio-economic status:
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 of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine Influence of delinquent behavior on academic achievement of senior secondary school students. Selected secondary schools in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State forms the population of the study.
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 Influence of delinquent behavior on academic achievement of senior secondary school 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 Influence of delinquent behavior on academic achievement of senior secondary school students
Summary
This study was on Influence of delinquent behavior on academic achievement of senior secondary school students. Three objectives were raised which included; examine the causes of delinquency among students, identify the acts that are found among delinquent students and examine the effects of delinquency among students in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected secondary schools in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
This research work has examined the influence of delinquency among secondary school students. It is clear that home environment/family socioeconomic status and peer group influence are the major causes of delinquency in the area. This includes lack of proper counselling from parents and school guidance and counsellors and their unwillingness to reason with the child, students uncooperative stand, educational level of parents, etc. The researcher has verified the various findings and come to a conclusion that if the problems mentioned above are addressed the students will have a better academic performance.
Recommendation
Based on the findings of the study the following recommendations are made:
- Parents should serve as a good role model to their children. This means that the conduct of parents should be worthy of emulation by their children.
- Parents are required to resolve their marital differences amicably without recourse to divorce in the interest of their children.
- Based on the extent of school influence on male and female students development of psychopathic behavior it is recommended that a functional disciplinary committee which would adjudicate on students misdemeanor and recommend appropriate punishments for offences to school authorities should be set up in each school by the principal.
- It is imperative for a strong counseling unit to be established in each school by the government in order to ameliorate student’s behavioral and academic problems.
References
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