EVALUATION OF SENIOR SECONDARY ONE STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STUDY OF LOCAL GEOGARPHY IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study evaluated attitudes cultivated by senior secondary one students as a result of their exposure to the study of local geography. This was motivated by the consideration of the prime importance of local geography as a provider of impetus for the development geoscientific knowledge, skills and attitude which can be applied in further geographic studies at all levels of learning. The study was further motivated by concrete research finding in different fields of learning, affirming strong linear relationship between attitude and academic achievement, thus underscoring attitude as a significant construct not to be taken for granted in the business of educating. The survey research design was employed to conduct the study, using the stratified sampling method to choose the sample of 5040 students who responded on the instrument of the study. Students’ local geography attitude scale (SLGAS) was used to collect data for the study. SLGAS was validated by three experts in science education, test and measurement and psychology of education from the University of Jos. While its reliability was determined through the application of exploratory factor analysis which yielded .824 coefficient for the pilot study, the data collected for the study was analysed using frequency count and percentage for the research questions, and t-test of independent samples for the hypotheses. Results of the study showed that students cultivated positive attitude as a result of their exposure to the objectives, content, methods of teaching and time and season used by geography teachers to teach local geography. The study further revealed that though all students cultivated positive attitudes in relation to these variables, their attitudes varied on the basis of school type and gender. It was therefore recommended that geography teachers should continue to motivate students towards the study of local geography to bridge the gap between school types and gender groups. It was also recommended that further research be conducted on factors of gender and school type difference in students’ attitude towards the study of local geography.