The Attitudes of Students Towards the Study of Social Studies in Junior Secondary Schools in Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
- To find out if the attitude of students towards social studies influences their study of subject in secondary schools.
- To ascertain if there are any significant differences between the attitudes of males and females towards the study of social studies.
- To find out if there, are factors that influence students’ attitudes towards the study of social studies.
- To find out if there are factors that can improve the attitude of students towards the study of social studies.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Works related to the present study were reviewed under the following broad headings:
Conceptual Framework
Concept of Social Studies
Concept of curriculum
Concept of curriculum implementation
Concept of curriculum evaluation
Theoretical Framework
Literature Review
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
CONCEPT OF SOCIAL STUDIES
According to Mezieobi (2002), Social studies is focused on the society and is created to sharpen the creative potentials of the learner, in terms of thinking creatively and Contributing ideas towards identifying societal problems as well as proffering solution.
Social studies is a programme of study which a society uses to instill in the students, knowledge, skills, attitudes and actions it considers important concerning the relationship human beings have with each other, their world and themselves. Akubue.(2005), pointed out that the committee on the development of social studies programme viewed the subject as that area of curriculum that will cultivate a good citizenship in the children.
They defined social studies as all subject matters relating to the organization and development of human society and to man as a member of a social group. Enem (2000), sees social studies as the study of man in his environment. He opined that Nigerian Education is aimed at developing the skills and knowledge of the social studies student and to achieve an overall development social studies enables. A good social studies programme aims at the integrating of the knowledge, experience and effective use of resources for the purpose of fostering national unity and citizenship education. Social studies exposes students to their cultural environment which enables them develop desirable concepts, values and attitudes. It gives students good idea of their environment and the problems therein, so that they may be involved deeply in life and problems of the community, promote the appreciation of cultural and cultural heritage and build patriotic and self actualized citizens. Social studies inculcate the spirit of inter-dependence, unity in diversity and co-operation of all members of the local government’ as well as the national and international communities. It equally equips the students with the basic skills and social habits which should help them to adapt into the society in which they may find themselves.
Social studies enables people to develop a good sense of judgment and a sense of moral and social responsibilities which enables them become useful members of the society (Uchendu 2000). In summary, social studies is applied social sciences, the Humanities and other fields of study that bear direct or indirect relevance to effective social action. The ultimate goal of the study being or is to enable man adapt to his environment, utilize available resources optimally for his betterment, appreciate his ecological limitations, constraints and conditionalities as well as preserve his environment. The aims and objectives of social studies as enshrined in the National Policy of Education document (FRN 2004:16), are:
- Equipping students to live effectively in modern age of science and technology.
- Developing and projecting Nigeria culture, art and language as well as the World’s cultural heritage.
- Raising a generation who can think for themselves, respect the views and feelings of others, respect the dignity of labour and appreciate those values specified under our broad national aims as citizens.
- Fostering the unity of Nigeria with emphasis on the common ties that unite us even in our diversity. Five global objectives that could be achieved through the study of social studies as:
- The development of an understanding of their society, physical, economic, scientific and technological environment.
The development of an awareness and appreciation of their cultural heritage, belief, values and behaviour patterns, skills, for role in the society and to enable them apply such knowledge to new situation.
- The development of the ability to examine one’s own beliefs, values and behaviours and relationship between them.
- The development of independence, self-reliance and democratic living in the school and society.
- The development of the honest and morally upright citizens. Enem (2000) listed the aims and objectives of social studies to include:
- The education of students to become full citizens of the country and understanding their environment.
- Making students understand, the effect of the environment on man and the interaction of man with them.
- Assisting students to appreciate the achievement and roles of the society.
- Helping students to realize the need for interdependency with various groups.
- Inculcating in students values, ideas, knowledge and skills to enable them function properly and play their roles as members of the society effectively. In the words of Ezeudu (2007), the aims and objectives of social studies include:
CHAPTER THREE
THEORETICAL FRAME WORK
INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals with the methodology of the study. it explains the research design, research population, sample and sampling techniques, instrument of data collection, validation and reliability of the instrument, method of data collection and data analysis, this chapter also explains the sources of data collection and the analysis techniques used in the study.
RESEARCH DESIGN
According to Paboson (1993), Research design refers to the overall strategy that you choose to integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby ensuring you will effectively address the research problems; it constitutes i.e blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data. the researchers will use quantitative approach. the study will use descriptive cross sectional and correlational designs. Cross sectional will be used because the data will be collected at once due to its advantages over other designs such as longitudinal in terms of saving, less time taken, accuracy of the data and more convenience.
RESEARCH POPULATION
The population for the study is made up of the students in some junior secondary schools in Dala local government area of Kano State.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter attempts to analyze the data presented as obtained from the questionnaire administered to the students,
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
Students’ attitude towards some school subjects are measured based on their academic performance. Students whose performance are low, lack positive attitude towards such subjects and do not show interest in the subject. Similarly, some studies linked poor academic performance of students to their attitude towards the subjects. In analyzing the factors that contribute to students’ indifferent attitude in Social Studies as a school subject, asserts that teachers’ approaches of teaching Social Studies are complex whereby making the comprehension of the subject difficult. The unavailability of instructional materials in teaching the subject stands as barriers to the level of their attitude. Social Studies teachers should use the recommended teaching approach and styles in teaching the student Social Studies as a subject. Studies on students’ attitude towards the teaching of Social Studies are non-availability of instructional materials. In schools where there are non-availability of instructional materials, students comprehension becomes a tedious task and this affect students attitude. Thus, students attitude tend to increase in subjects taught with instructional materials and therefore understanding the subject help the students to internalize knowledge.
CONCLUSION
Social Studies are subjects that teach value, norms, right attitude and skills development. This needs to be emphasized at the junior secondary school. The value of Social Studies as a subject to the students requires better attention and enthusiasm. And to arouse students attention, value, attitude, only specialist teachers of Social Studies should teach the subject at all levels. The Social Studies teachers should employ the approaches enumerated above to enable students participate actively during teaching-learning process. The reason for this is that knowledge can only be internalized adequately when students are involved in learning process. Orientation should be given to students by Social Studies specialists to enlighten them that Social Studies is useful for the overall development of the nation; that no subject is superior to one another.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The findings of the study have given rise to the following recommendation:
- Only Social Studies specialist teachers should teach the subject.
- During teaching-learning process in the normal classroom situation the approaches as indicated in this study should be used by Social Studies teachers in teaching the students.
- There is the need to overhaul Social Studies curriculum regularly due to societal dynamism.
- Teachers from other subject areas should not be allowed to teach Social Studies at this because they approach the subject from the perception of their subject areas thereby causing boredom and unnecessary negative attitude by the students towards Social Culture.
- There has been the need for urgent upsurge in the awareness level of Social Studies among the secondary school students. In order to achieve this goal, students should be made to appreciate the subject. This will enhance their attitude and interest towards the subject. Teachers of Social Studies should employ teaching methods that will make the subject gain more attention than ever before.
References
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- Anfara, V.A. Jr. and Mertz, N.T. (eds). (2006). Theoretical frameworks on the concept of social studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
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