Social Factors and Students Educational Aspirations in Selected Secondary Schools East-Karachuonyo Division Kenya

ABSTRACT 

The study was about social factors and students educational aspirations in selected secondary schools in East Karachuonyo Division, Kenya. The purpose of the study intended to validate social pathology theory/ goal setting theory/needs theory and expectancy theory upon which it was based, filled the gaps identified during literature review, tested the hypothesis of no significant relationships between social factors and educational aspirations. The study was guided by the following objectives: To determine the profile of the respondents as to age, gender and class, to determine the level of social factors among students in selected secondary schools, to determine the level of students educational aspiration in selected secondary schools and to determine if there is a significant relationship between the level of social factors and students educational aspirations in East Karachuonyo Division, Kenya. The research was carried taking a sample of 213 students from 5 secondary schools. A descriptive survey design and descriptive correlation design was adopted. The objective on profile of the respondents was analyzed using frequency and percentage distribution while the objectives to determine level of social factors and students educational aspiration were analyzed using means. The objective to determine if there is a significant relationship between social factors and students educational aspiration was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, The findings on the level of social factors turned out low with an average index of 2.32, while the findings on the level of educational aspirations turned out high with a mean of 3.01. On correlation there, was no significant relationship since the sig. or P values of social factors was greater than the level of significant of 0.05. This led to the acceptance of null hypothesis. The study recommended that the ministry of education should provide appropriate educational resources, train and retrain enough teaching staff, enhance co curricular activities, enhance career guidance programmes in schools. It recommended the parents, should regularly visit schools to check on performance and discipline. The students should be adequately tested to ascertain their achievement levels before setting higher educational aspirations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration A ii

Declaration B iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Abstracts vi

Table of contents viii

List of tables xi

Chapter

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 5

Significance of the study 5

Operational definitions of key terms 5

VIII

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 6

Concept, Ideas, Opinions from Authors/Experts 6

Theoretical perspectives 21

Related studies 23

ree METHODOLOGY 25

Research design 25

Research population 25

Sample size 26

Sampling procedure 26

Research instruments 26

Validity and reliability of the instrument 27

Data gathering procedures 28

Data analysis 28

Ethical considerations 29

Limitations of the study 29

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF

DATA

Introduction 30

Profile of the respondents; 30

Level of social factors 31

Level of students’ educational aspirations 34

Relationship between level of social factors and students’ educational

Aspirations / Pearson’s correlation 36

Regression analysis between social factors and educational aspirations 38

Five FINDINGS,CONCLUSIONS,RECOMMENDATIONS 40

Findings 40

Conclusions 42

Recommendations 43

REFERENCES 44

APENDICES 48

Appendix I A-Transmittal letter 48

Appendix I B-Transmittal letter for the respondents 49

Appendix II Clearance from ethics committee 50

Appendix Ill-Informed consent

Appendix IV - Questionnaire for students 52

A- Profile of respondents 52

B- Level of social factors 53

C- Level of educational aspirations 55

Appendix v-Regression analysis of social factors and students educational

aspirations 56

Dendix vi-Slovene’s formula 57

Appendix vu-Validity and Reliability of instrument 58

Researcher’s curriculum vitae 60