EFFECT OF MOTIVATION ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEREST IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY

EFFECT OF MOTIVATION ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEREST IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY

Background of study

Education is an instrument that affects national development in Nigeria. It helps in the development of self and the society in the social, economic and religious aspects in the country. In other words, education plays a major role as it delivers individual from diseases, ignorance and illiteracy, poverty etc. It also empowers one to contribute their quota to national development.

The importance of Biology cannot be over emphasized because it occupies a special position in the senior secondary school curriculum. Aristotle was a great scientist and is regarded as the founder of Biology. He classified plants and animals into divisions and phyla respectively. The classification he called “Ladder of nature” but in recent times called “Hierarchy”. Biology is an aspect of science that deals with the study plants and animals.

In National Policy on Education (2004) each secondary school is expected to study at least a science subject (one of Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Biology is mostly registered for in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO) by students offering art, science and social science. Evidence however abound students is not performing well enough in failure rates of secondary schools students in Biology over the years. They also noted that when students find the learning of concepts difficult in a subject (Biology).As a result of this, student’s performance in Biology at the secondary level has failed to improve. In pour match towards scientific, technological and economic advancement, we need nothing short of good performance in Biology at all levels of schooling .some students seem naturally enthusiastic but many need or expect their instructor to inspire challenge and stimulate them .unfortunately there is no single magic formula for motivating students in order to improve student’s achievement in biology. One of the key factors in learning science is student’s motivation and the development of positive attitudes toward science can motivate student in science education and science –related subjects (George,2006).

Motivation is force used within the educational setting to encourage student learning and understanding .Franken(2006)defines motivation as the arousal, direction, and persistence of behavior, Motivation is a desire to do something, Kim and Lee(2008),Motivation is an inner drive Locke and Baum(2006),Motivation is dependent on 3 psychological processes: arousal, direction and intensity, Curral L., and Marques-Quintero (2009). Motivation seems to be more of a considerable interest, Shuaibu and Iroegby(2003), Adedeji(2013).In a classroom, students are spurred or extrinsic (external) force. Research has also shown that instructors\teachers serve as a veritable source of motivational effect on learning process and corresponding achievement of students.

Motivation and achievement have long been recognized to have a close cause effect relationship on ability and achievement. The anticipated relationship is that, the higher the motivation ability the higher the expected level that is why the issue of motivation of students and the impact of academic performance are considered as important aspects of effective learning. Based on this background this research investigated the effect of motivation on the academic achievement and interest of students in secondary school biology.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The importance of Biology cannot be overemphasized due to it being compulsory for senior secondary science students though it has not really provided the necessary motivation needed to ensure good performance in the subject (Biology).The absence of the necessary level of motivation needed to ensure good performance is a huge problem. This problem may have been caused by factors such as social, environmental and individual factors. In our Nigerian situation where poverty is a common place and there is a wide gap between the rich and the poor, some students background is poor which often demoralize them and mar their achievement and motivation, the children from a rich background perform better than those from a poor, illiterate and antisocial background .The above situation should be properly addressed by teachers to save this situation.

Secondly, the use of effective motivational strategies which don not stimulate and spur learners interest in the classroom is a common place situation of learning environment .Punishment ,blame suspension from class work and remark in the classroom encounter do not adequately stimulate learners interest, but reward, praise and on time feedback motivate learners in biology classes.

When the influence of motivation strategies on the academic achievement of students is carefully examined and analyzed, it becomes easy to see that teacher’s motivational support for their students comprise part of the essential condition for effective learning and achievements of the students.

1.3 Purpose of Study

The main purpose of this study is to ascertain the effect of motivation on student’s interest and achievement in Biology. Specifically the study would:

1. Determine the extent to which the socio-economic background of students affects their motivation to achieve.
2. Investigate the extent to which the effective use of teaching aids or motivational strategies motivate students to achieve in biology.
3. Determine the extent to which motivation affects student’s interest in biology.
4. Determine the extent to which the use of rewards aids students’ achievement in biology.

1.4 Research Hypotheses

The following were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance.

There is no significant difference between students who are motivated and students who are not motivated in biology.

There is no significant difference between the mean achievement scores of male and female students in biology.

There is no significant difference between mean interest rating of male and female students in biology.

1.5 Significance of the Study

The result of the study may be useful to stakeholders in biology education such as teachers, students, school administrators, curriculum planners, if its findings are properly communicated to teachers in the study through workshops and seminars. It will help in making biology teachers see the need of encouraging their students to relate school biology with real life activities. If the findings of this study are communicated to biology teachers through workshops, seminars and conferences, it may also encourage them to see the need to improve their productivity/performance in teaching and learning process. When teachers are motivated, the society/government will benefit immensely in the sense that the teachers put in their best, the students will contribute properly to the growth and development of the nation and the welfare of its citizens.

Government could from this day see the need to wake up to her responsibilities for teachers of biology and other workers to boost their in teaching the subject and provide them with related instructional materials. It is also hoped that the outcome of this study may be useful in biology curriculum planners in planning their scheme of work systematically at senior secondary school levels.

The findings of this study may also serve as a base line data obtained for library and other conferences in institutions of learning and those who probably would wish to carry out related research in the field. Parents shall also from this study discover and appreciate their roles in students achievement in school. This is because some parents overburden their children with Hawking, money sourcing and domestic chores that in every sense deter high motivational achievement. It is hoped that the findings of this study would serve as a basic foundation for future studies in area of the teaching and learning of biology in secondary schools.

1.7 Scope of Study

This study was carried out in Makurdi Local Government area of Benue state. It will specifically be conducted at schools within the metropolis.

1.8 Definition of Terms

(a) Academic Achievement:

This is the outcome or result obtained from students’ performance in the achievement test in biology.

(b) Motivation:

This simply refers to the force that spurs, arouses and sustains learner’s interest in a controlled biology classroom encounter.

(c) Interest:

A feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to an object or class of objects .It can also be defined as something that arouses attention.

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