Influence of Deviant Behaviours and the Learning Outcomes in Business Studies among Junior Secondary School Students

Influence of Deviant Behaviours and the Learning Outcomes in Business Studies among Junior Secondary School Students

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

The increasing rate of anti-social behaviours in the society, particularly among Nigerian youths is alarming. It has become a common phenomenon to read, hear or witness deviant behaviours among secondary school students such as lying, stealing, fighting, promiscuity, bullying, truancy, alcoholism, lack of respect for elders among others. Today, deviant behaviours among teenagers have become a thing of concern to parents, teachers and other people in the society as the problem gets more serious year by year.

In every society, there are sets of norms which members are expected to observe but not every member of the society abides by those norms. Members who live contrary to the set norms are referred to as deviants. In spite of the good objectives for the inclusion of social studies, civic education, religious studies etc in the school curriculum to ensure moral development of learners, the society still faces various challenges among which are deviant behaviours among the students.

Deviant behaviour according to Kendall (2009) is a behaviour that deviates from the norms of a particular people in the society or community. Crossman (2018) describes deviant behaviour as any behaviour that is contrary to the dominant norms of society. Deviance also means violation or drift from the accepted societal norms, especially when it comes to the social or sexual behaviours (Wikipedia, 2018).

From these definitions, deviance means behaviour that violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society. It implies violation of rules and norms. From observation, deviant behaviours can negatively influence students’ learning outcomes due to display of some that are directly related to learning in the classroom such as cheating during examinations, lateness, truancy, fighting, causing trouble or violence, stealing, wearing dirty uniform and disobedience.

Torrente and Vazsonyi (2012) were of the view that deviant behaviours negatively influence the learning and teaching process as they undermine the purpose of education. Apart from this, most of the observed deviant behaviours attract punishment can range from kneeling down, taking some strokes of the cane, suspension, manual labour among others. Such punishments waste students time and stop them from participating in learning or other classroom activities. In view of this, it was deemed necessary to find out if deviant behaviour would have any significant influence on the students’’ learning outcomes among business studies students in junior secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area.

1.2     Statement of the Problem                                                                     

Recently, the incidence of deviant behaviours among Nigerian youths has been on the increase. This has resulted into many social problems in Nigerian society. The resultant problems have been of great concern, not only to parents but also to governments at all levels. Deviant behaviours among secondary school students deserve careful study as they affect their learning outcomes.

Quite often, school boys break into school offices and staff common rooms, with the intention of stealing textbooks, examination scripts and exercise books. Most of the times, these boys or children get caught, when luck elude them. These behaviors of children significantly affect their learning outcomes. Therefore this research seeks to find out; the circumstances that normally get them involved in deviant behaviors for lessons to be deduced, whether they affect their learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan Local Government Area.

1.3     Purpose of Study  

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of deviant behaviours and the learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan Local Government Area. Specifically, the study sought to:

1. To investigate the influence of truancy on learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan local Government Area
2. To determine the influence of drugs use on learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan local Government Area
3. To determine the influence of absenteeism on learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan local Government Area

1.4     Research Questions

           The following research questions were posed to guide the study;

1. To what extent does truancy influence the learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan local Government Area?
2. To what extent does drugs abuse influence the learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan local Government Area?
3. How does stealing influence the learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan local Government Area?

1.5    Statement of Hypotheses

           The following hypotheses were postulated to guide the study;

Ho₁. There is no significant influence of  truancy on learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan local Government Area

Ho_2. There is no significant influence of  drugs abuse on learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan local Government Area

Ho_3. There is no significant influence of stealing on learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan local Government Area

1. 6 Significance of the study

This study will be of great benefits to the following people in the following ways:

1. The study will expose the students to the harmful effects of deviant on learning outcomes and thus serve as a cautionary measure for students.
2. Through this study students and teachers at secondary school level will know how to practically use the content of Business Studies curriculum to instill desirable behaviour in students, correct and remold the deviant students among them.
3. The study will serve as an important reference to researchers who wish to further study in this area.

1.7       Delimitation and Limitation a of the Study

This study is on deviant behaviour and the learning outcomes in business studies among junior secondary school students in Etinan Local Government Area. The study is limited to all public secondary schools in Etinan and particularly to junior secondary schools.

1.8      Limitation of the Study

The researcher encountered some limitations to the scope of the study

Availability of research materials: The research material available to the researcher was insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

Time: the time frame allocated for the study could not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities with examinations during the research period.

Finance: finance also posed a stress for the research work thereby limiting the study to some selected secondary schools in the study area.

 1.9     Operational Definition of Terms

Deviant behaviour: Is to deviate from the norms of a particular people in the society or community

Truancy: is any intentional, unjustified, unauthorized, or illegal absence from compulsory education.

Drug Abuse: refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain.

Learning: Learning is the process of acquiring new, or modifying existing, knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences’

Learning Outcome: it is an expected performance from a student after participated in a course or programme.