The Influence of Single Parent Families on Academic Performance Among Secondary School Students of Bijkwo District

ABSTRACT A single parent is one either a man or woman who was living independently with his children without the other partner they had had children or a child with. Single-parent-families are now very common to many societies today particularly Bukwo district and this was caused by separation of the parents, divorce and death. This study seeks therefore to investigate the influence of single-parent-families on academic performance of secondary school students in Bukwo town council. In this study, the comparative research design was used coupled with qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The design was good in dealing with cause and effect relationships of variables involved in such studies. This study therefore gathered qualitative and quantitative data for students’ academic performances scored, and learner’s attitudes towards schooling through the use of questionnaires, interview schedules and documentary review. Or related literature. This approach allowed greater interaction between the researcher and informants/respondents. The findings revealed that the mean mark of students from single parenthood was higher than that of students from two parent families. Also, students from mother-headed families had a much lower mean mark while those from two parent families had a higher mean mark they differ by approximately 2.7%. Furthermore, the mean mark of students from father-headed households was approximately higher than those from mother headed families and that of students from two parent families who scored 31.9% by an average score of 7.8%. It was thus generalized that students from single parent families had mean academic performances that were lower than that of students from two parent families. Thus the government, school administrators, counselors and teachers, as well as parents and school communities, should altogether provide for necessities that students from single parent families need alongside love, care and emotional support for better performance in school and also to make them better citizens in this country.

Table of contents

DECLARATION

Supervisors’ approval sheet

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

ABBREVIATIONS

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 .O lntroduction 1

1.2.0 Background to the Problem 1

1.3.0 Statement of the Problem 2

1 .4.O Purpose of the Study 2

1.5.0 Objectives of the Study 2

1.6.0 Research Questions 2

1.7.0 Significance of the Study 3

I .8.O Definitions of Key Terms and Concepts 3

1.9.0 Conceptual Framework 5

1.10.O Delimitation of the Study 7

1.11.O Limitations of the Study 8

1. 12.O Organization of the Study 8

1.13.O Summary 8

CHAPTER TWO 10

LITERATURE REVIEW 10

2.1 .O lntroduction 10

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2.2.O Performance of Students from Single Parent and Two Parents Families Chiu 10

2.3 .O Performance of Students from Single Father and Two Parents Families 11

2.4.O Performance of Students from Single Mother and Two Parents Families 11

2.5.O Measures Taken to Help Students from Single Parenthood 12

2.6.O Summary 13

CHAPTER THREE 14

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 14

3.1 .O lntroduction 14

3.2.O Research Design 14

3.3.O Area of Study 15

3 .4.O Target Population 16

3.5.O Sample and Sampling Procedures 16

3.5.l Sample 16

3.5.2 Sampling Procedures 17

3.6.0 Data Collection 19

3.7.0Validity and Reliability of Data Collection Instruments 22

3.8.O Data Analysis Procedure 23

3 .9.O Ethical Consideration in Conducting Research 23

3.1O.O Summary 24

CHAPTER FOUR 25

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 25

4.1 .O lntroduction 25

4.2.O Performance of Students from Single and Two Parents Families 25

4.2.1 Students’ Family Structures 25

4.2.2 Students’ Family Structures Support on Performance 27

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4.2.3 Types of Support given to Students by Single Parent Families 29

4.2.4 Effects of Single Parenthood on Paying for School Expenses 33

4.2.5 Perforrnance between Students from Single Parent and Two Parents Families An 35

4.3 .O Performance of Students from Single Father and Two Parents Families 38

4.3.1 Students’ Support from Households Headed by Fathers 38

4.3.2Effects of Father-Headed Families on Academic Performance 40

4.3.3 Performance of Students from Single Father and Two Parents Families 41

4.4.O Performance of Students from Single Mother and Two Parents Families 42

4.4.1 Students’ Support from Households Headed by Mothers 43

4.4.1 Effects of Mother-Headed Families on Academic Performance 44

4.4.2Performance of Students from Single Mother and Two Parents Families 45

4.5.O Measures to be taken to Help Students from Single Parenthood 47

4.6.O Summary 49

CHAPTER FIVE 50

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 50

5.1 .O lntroduction 50

5.2.O Summary of Study 50

5.3.O Summary of Main Study Findings 51

5.3.l Students’ Family Structures 51

5.3 .2Effect of Support from Single Parenthoods 51

5.3.3Types of Help on Single Parent Students’ Academic Life 52

5.3.4Effect of Single Parenthood on Paying for School Expenses 52

5.3.5Effect of Support from Single Father Households 52

5.3 .6Types of Help of Single Fatherhood on Students’ Academic Life 52

5.3 .7Effects of Support from Single Mother Households 53