SELF CONCEPT AND MOTIVATION AS A CORRELATE OF STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (JSS) BASIC SCIENCE

1.1 Introduction

Self-concept is generally defined as an individual’s perception based on self-knowledge or experience and formed through interaction with environment and attributes of his or her behavior (Eccles, 2005). Academic self-concept is conceived as a student’s self-perception regarding specific academic domains or abilities (Trautwein et al., 2006). Similarly, self concept is an individual’s perception of himself; it is a psychological entity and includes one’s feeling, evaluation and attitudes, as well as descriptive categories. Self concept is an important construct in education because of its relationship to academic achievement of students (Klobal and Musek, 2008). In spite of the importance attached to science education in the society, there has been a low level of students’ achievement at all levels of education in schools as revealed in public examinations results. This low level of achievement has been an issue of concern to stakeholders in education and the basis of this could not been ascertained, whether it is student or teacher related factor.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Education is largely a matter of a learning process that involves interactions between teacher and learner. When this process works well, real learning takes place. In the past, academic performance was often measured more by ear than today. Teachers' observations made up the bulk of the assessment and today's summation, or numerical, method of determining how well a student is performing is a fairly recent invention. Grading systems came into existence in the United States in the late Victorian period and were initially criticized due to high subjectivity. Different teachers valued different aspects of learning more highly than others, and although some standardization was attempted in order to make the system fairer, the problem continued.

Today, changes have been made to incorporate differentiation for individual students' abilities, and exploration of alternate methods of measuring performance is ongoing. The tracking of academic performance fulfills a number of purposes. Areas of achievement and failure in a student's academic career need to be evaluated in order to foster improvement and make full use of the learning process. Results provide a framework for talking about how students fare in school and a constant standard to which all students are held. Performance results also allow students to be ranked and sorted on a scale that is numerically obvious, minimizing complaints by holding teachers and schools accountable for the components of every grade.

Performance in school is evaluated in a number of ways. For regular grading, students demonstrate their knowledge by taking written and oral tests, performing presentations, turning in homework and participating in class activities and discussions. Teachers evaluate in the form of letter or number grades and side notes, to describe how well a student has done. At the state level, students are evaluated by their performance on standardized tests geared toward specific ages. Many people emphasize the importance of good teachers, and some policies are designed to promote teacher quality.

Research using student scores on standardized tests confirms the common perception that some teachers are more effective than others and also reveals that being taught by an effective teacher has important consequences for student achievement and based on a set of achievements students in each age group are expected to meet. Many factors contribute to a student's academic performance, including individual characteristics and family and neighborhood experiences.

But research suggests that, among school-related factors, teachers matter most. When it comes to student performance on tests, a teacher is estimated to have two to three times the impact of any other school factor, including services, facilities, and even leadership. Teachers at all levels of the education system should be adequately trained, respected, remunerated, and able to participate in decisions affecting their professional lives and teaching environments. When teachers are enabled to do their job effectively, their students are enabled to learn effectively. A well-motivated teacher always completes the tasks set for him, even when such tasks or assignments are difficult or seem uninteresting

Motivation involves a number of psychological factors that start and maintain activities towards the achievements of personal goals and refers to reasons that underlie behaviour that is characterized by willingness and volition. Motivation in education can have several effects on how students learn and their behavior towards subjects matter, Ormord (2003).

Motivation of teachers and students in the teaching and learning process can direct behavior towards particular goals, leads to increase effort and energy, enhances cognitive processing, increases imitation of and persistence in activities, determines what consequences are reinforcing and it can also lead to improved performance.

Orphlims (2002) is of the view that motivated teachers always look for better ways to do their teaching job and, as a result, they are more productive. Therefore, it means that motivated teachers are determined to give their best to achieve the maximum output (qualitative education).

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Self Concept and Motivation as a Correlate of Students Academic Achievement in Junior Secondary School Basic Science.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that individuals with task orientation rely mainly on their own knowledge and capabilities when it comes to learning and problem solving. Consequently they are less dependent on social feedback and more autonomous. The problem will investigate into the salary of teachers and how often their salaries are paid in companies with other workers in the public sectors whether there are adequate facilities, including laboratory equipment, textbooks, adequate finance and conducive environment for teacher to carry out their job. Whether the nature and structure of job can act as a motivating factor and also what are the attitudes of teachers as regard remaining in the profession.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Self Concept and Motivation as a Correlate of Students Academic Achievement in Junior Secondary School Basic Science. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the relationship between academic self-concept and academic achievement of secondary school students;
2. To determine the relationship between students’ attitude and achievement in Basic Science;
3. To find out the relationship between students’ self-concept and achievement in Basic Science;
4. To compare the academic self-concept of male and female secondary school students; and
5. To evaluate the Students’ attitude and self-concept that jointly contributes to their achievement in Basic Science.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is the relationship between academic self-concept and academic achievement of secondary school students?
• What is the relationship between students’ attitude and achievement in Basic Science?
• What is the relationship between students’ self-concept and achievement in Basic Science?
• What is the academic self-concept of male and female secondary school students?
• What is the Students’ attitude and self-concept that jointly contribute to their achievement in Basic Science?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant relationship between students’ attitude and achievement in Basic Science.
• H1: There is a significant relationship between students’ attitude and achievement in Basic Science.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: Students’ attitude and self-concept will not jointly contribute to their achievement in Basic Science.
• H1: Students’ attitude and self-concept will jointly contribute to their achievement in Basic Science.

Hypothesis Three

• H0: There is no significant relationship between students’ self-concept and achievement in Basic Science
• H1: There is a significant relationship between students’ self-concept and achievement in Basic Science

Hypothesis Four

• H0: There are no significant differences in motivation and performance across individual demographics.
• H1: There are significant differences in motivation and performance across individual demographics.

1.7 Significance of Study

The relevance of the study will help in finding possible ways in which motivation can influence productivity or performance in teaching and learning process and also improve learning on the part of students. It is important for the researcher to put into consideration, the significance of teachers' motivation and academic performance of students. However, this research will be significant in the following ways:

1. When teachers are being motivated, the society/ government will benefit immensely in the sense that the teachers put in their best, the students will contribute properly to the economic growth and development of the nation and the welfare of its citizens.

• Parents will also benefit when teachers are being motivated in the sense that the students will be responsible to their parents and also the money spent on them will not be in vein because they will help in carrying out family responsibilities.

1. Students will benefit equally when teachers are motivated because the research will enable them to enhance and improve their performance.
2. The teachers also benefit a lot when positive motivation is given to them in terms of promotion, fringe benefit, salaries are paid at and when due, they will give in their best in the teaching process. And also their standard of living will improve.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Self Concept and Motivation as a Correlate of Students Academic Achievement in Junior Secondary School Basic Science. The study will cover some selected secondary schools in Surulere Local Government Area in Lagos State.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Definition of Terms

Teacher: A person whose job is teaching, impact knowledge in an individual.

Student: A Person who is studying in school.

Performance: How well or badly you do something.

Motivate: A reason why somebody does something or behaves in a particular way.