ATTITUDE OF GIRLS TOWARDS THE STUDY OF CHEMISTRY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

 ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to find out the attitude of girls towards the study of Chemistry as a subject in secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area. The study was carried out using seven randomly selected secondary schools in Benin City. From the data collected and analyzed, it was observed that girls in schools with well qualified chemistry teachers learn chemistry effectively compared to those in schools without the study also revealed that the attitude of girls to chemistry depended on the future profession they have in mind. It further revealed that the attitude of girls is not influenced by any external factors rather the decision to chose chemistry is self determined. In carrying out the study, data were collected with these of questionnaires. The data were compiled and computed in tables from which following conclusions were drawn.

i.There is a poor negative attitude of girls towards the study of chemistry in secondary schools.

ii.This poor attitude is traceable to the following factors: lack of adequate number of qualified chemistry teacher in most secondary schools. The influence of future profession. Therefore, for the effective learning of chemistry by female students educational administrators and all those who have anything to do with the preparation of teachers should ensure adequate number of highly qualified chemistry teacher in schools. The government should provide the various secondary schools with the necessary laboratory as well as library facilities.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE       

1.0      Introduction

1.1      Background to the study

1.2      Statement of the problem

1.3      Purpose of the study

1.4      Significance of the study

1.5      Hypothesis

1.6      Scope of the study

CHAPTER TWO      

2.0      Literature review

2.1      Interest and motivation

2.2      Sex difference in science achievement

2.3      Quality and qualified teacher

2.4      Style and method of chemistry teaching

2.5      Sex difference

2.6      Influence of peer group, friends and parents

CHAPTER THREE 

3.1      Method and procedure for data collection

3.2      Design of study

3.3      Sample procedure

3.4      Research instrument

3.5      Questionnaires for study

3.6      Teacher’s questionnaire

3.7      Method of data collection

3.7      Data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR 

4.1      Analysis of data interpretation and discussion of results

CHAPTER FIVE       

5.0      Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation

5.1      Summary

5.2      Conclusion

5.3      Recommendation

REFERENCE

APPENDIX II            =         

APPENDIX III          

CHAPTER ONE

1.0INTRODUCTION

1.1BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Science is a way of looking at the world. It ties to seek answers to question like “how”? Why? And “When”? about nature and man caused  events. Science, when taught, it encourages the student to ask question and to take critical looks at the situation and problems they may encounter. Kline (1991) views science as having substantive implication of teaching man about the universe. Its accessibility to man’s reason and its functioning can be described by laws. Science give factual knowledge about the physical world and man’s knowledge of himself.

Science is a discipline, a body of knowledge about the universe, the structure and reaction of matter, the conservation and transfer of energy and interaction between living things. Some also regard science as a systematized body of knowledge derived through investigation, using specific procedures often called the scientific methods. The concepts, laws, generalization and theories are all formulated using the scientific finding to interpret and explain natural phenomenon.

In studying science, one is searching for explanation to the natural objects and phenomena in terms of products. Sci9ence is attempting to find out the nature of matter, how they were formed, they react together and after reaction, what is the consequences. In attempting to find out generalization, principles, theories are made. It is agreed by (Stan) that science make students’ attention to be directed towards matters which are significant to the students as well as the society. If their creative traits are awakened or developed they can also harness or manipulate many things to their advantage and the society at large. For example, knowledge about rust and way of preventing its useful information to the society. Since is a very important to us, because we are in a scientific age, when our lives, homes, works are all fascinating and enjoyable. Science makes us to think scientifically and talk scientifically.

There are too fold important purpose in the study of chemistry. Firstly, it is a basis for scientific and technological advancement and secondly, it is the pursuit of the subject for its own worth in some ways, chemistry is unique. It is a science which depends on experiment and demand precision of thought and expression. Its development may lead to results which are of practical value. Chemistry being a science subject has contributed to many aspects of medicines, engineering, architecture, agricultural science to mention but few. Attitude applied to chemistry therefore is the general behaviour of an individual either positively or negatively toward its learning. Consequently, the burning issue at hand has been to bring to light how students behave to or feel about chemistry. In relation to this therefore, the attitude of girls towards the study of chemistry is the topic of this study.           

Whether the girls show positive or negative attitude or even show indifferent attitude to the study of chemistry would be revealed. It is on this basis that the researcher has decided to work on school in Benin City. The researcher also hope that this little contribution will be of great benefit to the educational administration, curriculum planners, teachers and students in Benin City and Nigeria as a whole.  

1.2STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Most girls in secondary schools in Benin City tend to study chemistry not mainly because they are interested in chemistry as a subject but due to the fact that West African examination council requires any students offering agricultural science to choose chemistry as one of her subject. Since no two person are identical, people behave differently under the same situation. In this study, therefore, girls are taken as a group and their attitude towards the study of chemistry are investigated in the course of this research works, efforts were made to investigate the underlisted problems as they relate to the attitude of girls towards the study of chemistry in secondary schools.

i.                    The availability of well equipped laboratory and library

ii.                  The role of trained and knowledgeable teachers.  

iii.                Advice from parents, friends and relation

iv.               The effects of teaching aids and motivation.  

1.3PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research is to survey the attitude of secondary schools girls in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, in the study of chemistry. However, issues such as factors influencing students attitude as well as the comparism between the attitude of boys to that of the question on how to find solution to some of the female problem in the field of chemistry.   

1.4SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is very important especially at this time of our national development. In the first place, it is the first of its kind beings done with schools in Benin City as the main focus of attention. From the result obtained, the girls would be advised to either maintain or change their attitudes towards the study of chemistry depending on how positive or negative those attitudes are. The result would also help to encourage the training of professionally qualified chemistry teacher who would be able to motivate girls so that they can develop positive attitude toward chemistry.

1.5RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

The following hypotheses are made based on the basic attitude towards the study of chemistry.

H1        Is there any significant relationship between the attitude of girls towards chemistry and their desired future profession?  

H2      Is there any significant relationship between the availability of a well equipped laboratory and library towards the attitude of girls towards the study of chemistry?

H3      Is there any significant relationship between the external influence and the attitude of girls towards the study of chemistry? 

1.6SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is limited to some selected schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. Since it is not possible to cover all the schools in the area, some representative sample will be selected. The researcher is restricted to students in Senior Secondary School that is SSS I, II and III as they are the people studying chemistry as a separate subject. The schools selected are those schools that have obtained school certificate status. They are:    

i.                    Idia College, Benin City

ii.                  St. Maria Goretti, Benin City

iii.                Adesuwa Grammar School, Benin City

iv.               New Era College, Benin City

v.                 Baptist High School, Benin City

vi.               Emotan College, Benin City

vii.             Asoro Grammar School , Benin City.