Parents Attitudes towards Children with Special Needs in Selected Primary Schools in Trans Mara District Kenya.

ABSTRACT 

The study was conducted to determine the parents’ attitudes towards their children with special needs. Further sought in the study were the demographic characteristics of the respondents in terms of gender, age, educational level, occupation, number of children in the family and the combined monthly income of mother and father. The other objective was to determine extent of parents’ attitudes towards their children with special needs and to establish if there is a significant relationship in the extent of parent attitudes being influenced by educational level. The study was based on the stage theory approach. The beneficiaries of this study are children with special needs, teachers, parents, the ministry of education and the future researchers. The target population included a total of 120 respondents selected from 12 schools in Trans Mara District (Kenya). The study employed descriptive survey design specifically descriptive comparative. Self administered questionnaires were used as means of collecting data which was tabulated frequency tables and percentages to determine demographic characteristics. The mean was used to determine the extent of parents attitudes towards children with special needs. Correlation coefficient was used to determine if there is a significant relationship in the extent of parents attitudes being influenced by educational level. Regression analysis was used to determine the significant relationship between the dependent valuable and independent valuable. The research findings indicated that there was a relationship between the dependent and independent variable. On this basis the researcher therefore was able to conclude that the parents attitudes towards their children for special needs are influenced by their educational level. The researcher made recommendations on change of attitudes towards children with special needs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration A ii

Declaration B iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Abstract vi

Table of contents vii

List of tables x

Chapter page

One THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

Background of the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 2

Purpose of the Study 3

Research Objectives 3

Research Questions 4

Hypothesis 4

Scope of the study 4

Geographical scope 4

Content scope 4

Theoretical scope 4

Significance of the Study 5

Operational Definitions of Key Terms 5

Two REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 6

Concepts, Ideas, Opinions From Authors/Experts 6

Theoretical Perspectives 11

Related Studies 11

Three METHODOLOGY 13

Research Design 13

Research Population 13

Sample Size 13

Sampling Procedures 14

Research Instruments 14

Validity of the Instrument 15

Reliability of the Instrument 15

Data Gathering Procedures 15

Data Analysis 16

Ethical Considerations 17

Limitations of the Study 17

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 18

Demographic characteristics of the respondents 18

Extent of parents’ attitudes towards children with Special needs 20

Parents’ educational level and their attitudes towards Children with special needs 22

The relationship between the extent of parents attitudes towards their children with special needs 23

Regression analysis 24

Five FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS 26

Findings 26

Conclusions 27

Recommendations 28

Areas of further research 28

References 29

Appendices 32

Appendix I A - Transmittal Letter 32

Appendix I B — Transmittal letter for respondents 33

Appendix II - Clearance from Ethics Committee 34

Appendix III - Informed Consent 35

Appendix IV A - Demographic profile of the respondent 36

Appendix IV B — Questionnaires 38

Appendix V- Validity of the Instrument 40

Appendix VI- Mean Range 41

Researcher’s Curriculum Vitae 42