19Dec 2019

ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS TOWARD PHYSICS: ITS INFLUENCE TO THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN WEST POKOT COUNTY, KENYA

  • Med (Policy Planning And Management) Northwestern Christian University
Crossref Cited-by Linking logo
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • References
  • Cite This Article as
  • Corresponding Author

Students success in mathematics depends upon attitude toward physics. It also influences the participation rate of learners. In the last few years, that is 2011 to 2013 there was continuous fall in the performance of the subject of physics in secondary schools in West Pokot in the County. However this caused a lot of tension among the various stakeholders. The studys objectives were to; analyze the performance of students in physics in West Pokot County secondary schools in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, identify the factors which determine students attitude toward physics in secondary schools and examine the relationship between students attitude toward physics and their academic performance. Respondents were selected through simple random technique. Since the purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of secondary school students attitude toward physics on their academic performance in secondary schools, stakeholders constituted the sample. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guide before being presented using graphs. The data was analyzed using Pearson Chi-Square analysis. Primary source and secondary source were also used to enrich the study. It was found that the number of students in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 who had failed the physics subject were as follows: 205, 286 and 299 respectively. The majority were between ages of 15-17 years. Research revealed that parents role, gender of students, teachers remarks were the major factors determining the students performance in physics. Further still, it was found that there was a significant relationship between students attitude toward physics and their academic performance (x2=70.002, df =20, p=0.000) of students in secondary schools in west Pokot in Kenya. It therefore implied that students attitude determines their academic performance in Physics. In the light of the above findings the study recommends that stakeholders at all levels should ensure that schools are well equipped with required resources and personnel to boost physics performance. Permission was obtained from the ministry of education West Pokot County, Kenya.

  1. Akogu, A. D. (2011). Teachers Attitude on Factors influencing the Teaching of? Abuja: Niger State College of Education. http://www.iiste.orgRetrieved 19th Dec 2013
  2. Al-Karaj. (2012). Islamic Physics. Walden: Walden University Press.http://dx.doi.org/10.5402/2012/368634.Retrieved 13thJanuary 2014
  3. Allen, D. (1997). Ageneral View of Physics before 30000 B.C, Where did Physics start? Newyork: Learning Unit, University of Leeds? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vannevar_Bush. Retrieved 4th jan 2014
  4. Arlene, H. (2001). Remembering the Child on Equity and Inclusion in Physics and Physics Classrooms. Applied Research Centre.
  5. Asale, B., and Adetunde, A. L. (2009). Comparative Performance of Day and Boarding Students in secondary school Physics. Navrong: Department of Physics, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa Ghana.https://www.academia.edu Retrived on 10th 2013
  6. Brains, Willnat, manheim, and Rich. (2011, March 10th ). Emperical Political Analysis. Validity , p. 2http://www.faculty.psci.vt.edu/brians. Retrieved on 12th April 2014,
  7. Brown, G. (2004). How Students Learn, A supplement to Rutledge Falmer Key Guides for Effective teachingin Higher Education Serries. Rutledge Falmer Key Guides for Effective teaching in Higher Education Serries.
  8. Carroll, C. (2011). Evaluation of the University of Limmerick Physics Learning Centre. Limerick: University of Limerick.
  9. Cheng-sun, R. (2009). Womens self-efficacy attitude in physics and science.
  10. University of Southern Carolna.
  11. Demand Media. (2012). Classroom Behavior Management, How to apply Behaviorism in Classroom. Demand Media.Inc.
  12. Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., and Christian, L. M. (2009). Internet, Mail and mixed-mode surveys. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/produc Retrieved on 7th February2014
  13. Fleming, G. (2012). Why Physics is Difficult. New York: New York Times Company.
  14. Francesca, A. (2010). Methods of Collecting Data; Interviews and Questionnaires in Practice. European Global Oral Health Indicators development Project.
  15. Gorard, S. (2013). Research Design. London: sage Publications.
  16. Hamlison, A. T., and Whipple, A. D. (2012). Individual Differences; Gender Equity And Schooling. US Universities http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Individual_Differences. Retrieved on 10th? November 2013
  17. J. ,(2008, April 13th). Quantitative data cleaning for large data bases. Data Analysis , pp. 3-6. www.webcrawler.com/ Investopedia. (2012). Systematic Sampling. InvestopediaULC. Retrieved on 8th October 2013
  18. Karen, B. J. , (2000). Block Scheduling with a Physics Perspective. Illinois: Universityof Illinoisctserc.org/library/bibfiles. Retrieved on 6th February 2014
  19. C., (2012). Social Learning Theory; An Overview of Banduras Social Learning Theory. New York: New York Times Company.Retrieved on 19th March 2014
  20. Kevius, B. (2012). History of Physics. Buffalo University Press.Retrieved on 13th April 2014
  21. (2014, May 07). Introduction to Research. Unit 3: primary and Secondary sources of data , pp. 3-5.
  22. Leoville, B., ferlinghetti, L., and Pekhonen, O. , (2002). Students Attitude of Physics in classroom.
  23. Lynn, G. (1999). Challenges of Education, National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education. No publication.
  24. Madelleine, A., Mirriam, D., and Weinner, G. , (1989). Educational Reforms and Gender Equality in schools. Manchester: Equal Opportunities Commision.
  25. Mason, J. (2013, December 12). Interview Guide. Interview Guide , p. 2. gdcreport.com/pdf/Interview_Memoranda.pdf Retrieved on 13th December 2013
  26. Mellenbergh, G. (2008). Tests and Questionnaires: Construction and administration.Washngton: Kessel publishers.
  27. Moore, D. S., and McCabe, P. G. (2014, April 12th ). Introduction to practice of statistics. Simple radom sampling , p. 6.
  28. Muhammad, S. F., and Shah, S. Z. (2008). Students Attitude toward Physics, Pakistan Economic and social Revew Volume 46 No. 1. Lahore: University of Punjab.
  29. Noble, R. , (2011). Physics self Efficacy and African American Students: An examination of two models of Success, Journal of African Males in Education.
  30. North Carolina Agricutural and Technical State University.
  31. Parjas, F., and Graham. (1999). Self-efficacy, motivation constructs, and Physics performance of entering middle school students. Contemporary Educational Psychology. No publication.
  32. Phelan, C. , and Wren, J. (2014, March 6th). Exploring reliability in Academic Assessment. Reliability and Validity of academic research , p. 2.
  33. Puscerak, R . , (2010). Self Theories, Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset. No city: No Publication.
  34. Resnik, D. (2011, Dec 8). What is Ethics in Research and why is it important? Ethical considerations , p. 9. researchethics.istss.org/ Retrieved on 2nd May 2014
  35. Robert, M. (2014, 04 7). Survey Methodology. Stratified sampling , pp. 1 -6. essex.ac.uk/courses/default.aspx Retrieved 2nd February2014
  36. Shaughnessy, J., Zechmeister, E., and Jeane, Z. (2011). Research methods in psychology. New york: McGrawHill.
  37. Templenton, J. , (2009). Physics in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities, Developing Countries Strategies Union. Yaounde: University of Yaounde, Cameroon.
  38. Von, S., Sophie, H., and Chamorro, B. (2011). the hungry mind: Intellectual Curiosity is the third pillar of Academic perfromance, Achievement after transition of first grade. Washington Dc: Journal of applied Developmental psychology.
  39. Wang, M., and Halcombe, R. (2012). Adolescent\'s Attitude of school Environment,Engagement and Academic Achievement in Middle school American Educational Research Jurnal. New York: American Educational Research Association.
  40. Ward, A., Howard, W., Stoker, W., and Murray-Ward, M. (1996). The Hungry mind: Intellectual Curiosity is the third pillar of Academic performance. London: Perspecitives on psychological science. essex.ac.uk/courses/default.aspx. Retrieved on 2nd Feb 2014.

[Juma Joseph Murunga, Simiyu Kepher, Salome Awinja, Ezine Enos, Rose Kisaka, Beatrice Watiti, Ben Malesi, Wamalwa Daniel, Nalondo Phanus, Leaonard Wekesa, Kellways Nyamanga, Maurice Mwalo and Murrey Magut (2019); ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS TOWARD PHYSICS: ITS INFLUENCE TO THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN WEST POKOT COUNTY, KENYA Int. J. of Adv. Res. 7 (Dec). 152-165] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

JUMA JOSEPH MURUNGA
MED (POLICY PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT)d NORTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/10139      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/10139

Download Full Paper

Download PDF No. of Downloads: 165 | No. of Views: 477