Parental Involvement and Cultural Practices on Secondary School Girls' Achievement and Attitude towards Chemistry

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Date
2018
Authors
Okafor, N
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Great AP Express Publisher Ltd
Abstract
This study examined parental involvement and cultural practices on secondary school girls' achievement and attitude towards chemistry. The extent to which school location (urban and peri-urban) could influence school girls' achievement and attitude towards chemistry was also determined. Three null hypotheses guided the study. A Correlational survey research design was adopted with a sample size of one hundred and sixty (160) SSS3 girls' selected from urban and peri-urban secondary schools in two of the Education Districts in Lagos State of Nigeria. The sample was drawn using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. Parental Involvement and Cultural Practices Scale (PICPS), Attitude Towards Chemistry (ATC) and Chemistry Achievement Results (CAR) were the instruments used for data collection. Validity and reliability indices for internal consistencies of the instruments were ascertained. Data collected were analyzed using t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The results show significant relationship of parental involvement on girls' achievement and attitudes towards chemistry. The cultural practices on girls' achievement are not significant but a significant positive relationship of cultural practices on girls' attitude towards chemistry was detected. School location (urban and peri-urban) does not have significant influence on girls' achievement but urban location has significant influence on girls' attitude towards chemistry. The study recommends that the school authority should promote parents-teachers' forum, where they will be intimated on the importance of home enabling environment, and school learning materials on girls' achievement and positive attitudes towards chemistry. It concludes that Nigeria's industrialization, productivity and economic competitiveness could be in jeopardy if girls' participation, completion, retention, achievement and attitude towards chemistry are not assured due to socio-cultural expectations and parental poor involvement.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Parental involvement , Cultural beliefs , attitude , achievement , Urban and Peri-urban , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Education
Citation
Okafor N. (2018). Parental involvement and cultural practices on secondary school girls’ achievement and attitude towards chemistry. In Z. C. Njoku; U. M. Nzewi & C.V. Nnaka. (Ed.); Perspectives on Science and Technology Education in Nigeria. Festschrift in Honour of Professor Eunice A.C.Okeke. Great AP Express Publishers Ltd, Nsukka, Nigeria, 160-170.