CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
Social studies is one of the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities that promotes civic competence. Within the school program, social studies provides coordinated, systematic study drawing upon such disciplines as anthropology, archeology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology as well as appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics and natural sciences. The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.
In every educational system, the issue of students’ academic performance is very crucial in the sense that the quality of school, teacher and every other input determines the output which is students’ academic performance. Education has recently been included among the basic needs of individuals. This was why the government of Nigeria in 1999 declared education as basic, free and compulsory for it’s entire citizen. In addition, individuals and organizations have made concerted effort to ensure that the best is derived as output from the educational system. These efforts notwithstanding, a great disparity in students’ academic performance in the colleges of education has become a matter of concern to all stakeholders of education in Nigeria. A conducive learning environment, the physical setting of a school, quality of teachers and learning materials could boost academic performance of the student in social studies.
- Statement of problem
Social studies deals with human beings, since human behavior varies from person to person as a result of changes in their mode of life, social studies serve to mould and form man’s behavior. Although social studies is a subject in Nigeria and despite the fact that little is known about it’s content, it is a moral oriented subject whose concern is to help people appreciate and solve their problems. Social studies is one of the subjects being taught in our secondary schools, the teaching of social studies has not been properly done because most of the teachers handling the subject has little or no sound knowledge concerning the subject, this also posed as a problem for the studies in terms of learning the subject.
1.3 Objective of the study
The main objective of the study is to assess the relationship between students perception of social studies and their academic performance in colleges of education. However, for the successful completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following sub-objective:
(i) To ascertain the impact of students perception of the social studies curriculum and their academic performance in the subject.
(ii) To determine the impact of students perception of relevance of social studies education on the academic performance in the subject.
(iii) To verify the effects of students of public attitude towards social studies on their academic performance in the subject.
(iv) To determine the impact of students general perception of social studies on the academic performance in the subject.
- Research hypotheses
The following hypotheses are formulated for test:
(i)There is no significant relationship between students perception of the social studies curriculum and their academic performance in the subject in the colleges of education in Kaduna state.
(ii)There is no significant relationship between students perception of relevance of social studies and their academic performance in the subject.
(iii)There is no significant relationship between students perception of public attitude towards social studies and their academic performance.
(iv) There is no significant relationship between students geberal perception of social studies and their academic performance in the subject in the colleges of education in Kaduna state.
- Research question
For the successful completion of the study, the following research question were formulated:
(i)How can the impact of the students perception of the social studies curriculum and their academic performance in the subject be ascertained?
(ii) What are the impact of students perception of relevance of social studies education on the academic performance in the subject?
(iii) How can the effects of students of public attitude towards social studies on their academic performance in the subject be verified?
(iv) How can the impact of students general perception of social studies on the academic performance in the subject be determined?
- Significance of the study
It is perceived that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance by justifying the increasing need of the study of social studies in our colleges of education, in view of her importance of appropriation by addressing Nigeria’s problem both educationally and socially, the study will also be of great importance to the teachers that handles social studies as a core subject in the different colleges of education, the study will also be of great importance to researchers who intend to carry out a study on a similar topic and finally the study will be of great importance to academia’s as it will add to the pool of knowledge.
- Definition of terms
Assesment
Assesment is the process of gathering and discussing information from multiple and diverse sources in order to develop a deep understanding of what students know, understand and can do with their knowledge as a result of their educational experiences.
Relationship
The way in which two or more people or things are connected or the state of being connected.
Perception
The process by which people translate sensory impressions into a coherent and unified view of the world around them.
Social studies
Social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences, humanities and history.
Academic performance
It is the outcome of education to the extent in which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals.
Colleges of education
It is a school or an institution that provides specialized courses or teaching.
