The Effect of Alcoholism on the Academic Performance of Students in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State
Chapter One
Purpose of the study
The main purpose of the study is to examine the effects of alcoholism on student’s academic performance among students in secondary schools in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The specific objectives include:
- To examine the relationship between alcoholism and students’ absenteeism from school.
- To determine the relationship between alcoholism and the time students spend on academics.
- To investigate the correlation between alcoholism and a student’s GPA in a session.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter reviews the relevant literatures on the phenomenon of effect of alcohol and academic performance of students. The goal of literature review is to contribute towards a better comprehension of the significance and nature of the identified problem (Iyaniwura, 2007).
The literature will be reviewed under the following subheadings;
- Alcoholism and students absenteeism from school
- Alcoholism and time student spend on academics
- Alcoholism and students Grade Point Average of each session
Alcoholism and students’ absenteeism from school
Despite a growing literature in this area, no study has convincingly answered the question of whether alcohol consumption inhibits high school students’ learning. Alcohol consumption could be an important determinant of how much a high school student learns without having a strong impact on his or her decision to stay in school or attend high school. This question is fundamental and timely, given recent research showing that underage drinkers are susceptible to the immediate consequences of alcohol use, including blackouts, hangovers, and alcohol poisoning, and are at elevated risk of neurodegeneration (particularly in regions of the brain responsible for learning and memory), impairments in functional brain activity, and neurocognitive defects (Zeigler et al., 2004).
Alcohol use could conceivably affect a student’s quality of learning and academic performance regardless of its impact on school completion. This possibility is suggested by Renna (2008), who uses a research design similar to that used by Dee and Evans (2003) and finds that although binge drinking does not affect high school completion rates, it does significantly increase the probability that a student graduates with a GED rather than a high school diploma. Drinking could affect learning through a variety of mechanisms. Recent neurological research suggests that underage drinking can impair learning directly by causing alterations in the structure and function of the developing brain with consequences reaching far beyond adolescence (Brown et al., 2000; White & Swartzwelder, 2004).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In this chapter, the different phases of research methodology will be discussed. The research methodology concentrates on each step in the research process, including the development of the data gathering instrument(s) and action to be taken.
Research design
A research design according to Okonta, (2007) is the structuring of investigation aimed at identifying variables and their relations to one another. Thus, it is a plan of action for data collection from the respondents.
In this study, the survey design is adopted because it enables relevant information to be collected through the use of questionnaire. A survey design is an attempt to elicit information from a sample of a population in order to determine the correct status of the population with regards to one or more variables. The survey design is recommended because it affords the researcher the empirical opportunity for generalizations.
Area of study
The study was carried out in Laurel High school, Calabar South. This area was chosen on ground of familiarity of the study area and the peculiarity of the issue under discussion. Calabar South was created on May 5th, 1992 during Rtd. General Ibrahim Babaginda Administration.
Geographically, it is located at the southern senatorial District of Cross-river State and has latitude of 50 N and longitude of 50E. The present Calabar South has ten (10) political and contains predominantly Qua settlements covers an estimated population of 179, 375. The entire area is Qua land and it is bounded to the North by Odukpani, to the South by Calabar Municipality, to the East by Akpabuyo Local Government Area, and to the West by the Calabar river.
The people are basically farmers and the major occupation is trading. The influences of early missionaries are basically felt in the area. Although they still worship their ancestors, they are seriously imbedded in Christianity. The people in the area have a peculiar cultural, value and belief system. Nyoro, which is known as the Ekpe festival is one of the predominant festivals. One characteristics of the area is that of linguistic homogeneity. Ejagham is the main language but the common language is spoken in Efik and it is a language of Ethnic reference. Due to time and tide, Calabar South Local Government Area is fast becoming one of the most modernized areas in Cross-River State due to high growth and development in her urban areas and centers.
Population of the study
The target population consists of senior secondary students (SS1-SS3) in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
In this chapter, the thrust is in the analysis of data obtained from respondents with the help of the research instrument. The result of findings is presented in tables in order of the hypothesis. In addition, the chapter is concerned with the interpretation of the empirical results, summary of the major findings as well as discussion of the results obtained from the field survey.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CONCLUSION
Summary of the study
To achieve the purpose of this study, adequate literature search was done and three hypotheses were formulated based on academic performance variables such as absenteeism from school, number of time student spend on academic, and students GPA for each session. Laurel High school was selected as the case study and a sample size of 202 senior secondary school students were systematically drawn from the school. Chi-square (X2) statistical tool was adopted to test the hypotheses of the study. All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance, the results of the analysis revealed that majority of students’ academic performance were majorly influenced by alcohol. Notably, students tend to be lazy and looking for short cuts, due to many distractions, they engage in so many illicit activities that endangers their academic achievements and success in life. It was also observed that alcoholism can lead the students to become wayward, reckless, missing school and dropping in their gross point. Some parents laisseze-faire attitude, poor parental guidance, physical body change, hormonal increase, increase in social emphasis on “feeling among”, peer influence, and the adolescents necessary rehearsal for adult roles are all cogent factors which affect the behavior among students.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:
- Parents should try to give their children moral, spiritual, social, psychological, and financial support so as to guide them against peer and societal influences.
- Children should obey their parents and be satisfied with the little support given to them and they should also keep away from bad company.
- Teachers should familiarize themselves with their students so they are able to discover any anti-social behaviour and provide immediate solutions to it. Guidance counselors should give necessary counseling to the drug abusers, as well as to their parents or guardians.
- Government should provide all necessary materials and equipment to make teaching and learning interesting so as to reduce anti-social behaviours in school.
Conclusion
For mitigating alcohol use, many schools are already working on this through alcohol awareness programs, community approaches, and online courses. “An online alcohol education mandate for everyone coming into campus has been shown to be an effective product,” says Wyatt, who works in this field. But some schools are now looking at individual approaches as well, targeted toward specific students.
REFERENCES
- Adelaka, M. L., Abiodun, O. A., Imoukhome, Obayan A. O., Oni G. A. & Ogunremi O.O.(1993). Psychological correlates of Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis use. Finding from Nigerian University. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 33:234-256.
- Adlaf, E. M., Demers, A., & Gliksman, L. (2005). Canadian Campus Survey 2004. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
- Aertgeerts, Bert and Frank Buntinx. ―The Relation between Alcohol Use Dependence and Academic Performance in First-Year High school Students. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2002: 31(3): 223-225.
- Ali, Shoukat, Frank Joseph (2013). “Factors Contributing to the Students’ Academic Performance: A Case Study of Islamia University Sub-Campus.” American Journal of Educational Research. 1(8): 283-289. Annu Rev Public Health 2005; 26: 259–79.
- Atkinson R. C., Shiffrin R. M. (1968). Human memory: a proposed system and its control processes. In: Spence K. W., Spence J. T., editors. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation, London: Academic Press;, p. 90–191.
- Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173-1182.
- Brown, S., Tapert, S., Granholm, E. Delis, D. Neurocognitive Functioning of Adolescents: Effects of Protracted Alcohol Use. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2000: Vol. 24, No. 2: 164-169.
