CHAPTER ONE ; INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
One of the objectives of secondary education in Nigeria is to equip the student with a desire for achievement of self-realization at both schools and in the future (Nation Policy on Education 2014). Evans (2005) state that interest relates to memory which is the feeling that one has when he or she wants to learn more about something. It is a sure way of determining success in academic performance in most schools. If the person does not have the interest and readiness to acquire proficiency in a field he or she is not likely to achieve any great success. This is because the person will not have the necessary drive required to train himself or herself.
According to Shufele (2001), interest is a content-specific motivation of characteristics composed of intrinsic feeling-related and value-related initiatives with an organized force. Shuffle has distinguished two conceptions of interest: individual and situations interest.
Individual interest is understood as a long-term direction of an individual towards a type of object activity or area of knowledge while situational interest is an external locus and it is defined as “an emotional state brought about by situational stimuli” (Akinsanya, 207). Performance is known to relate with interest and attitude of the student toward examination and test scores in the school. This form the basis for this research undertaking, to investigate whether there is a relationship between students’ interest and academic performance of students in Biology in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
At present, the poor performance of students in biology in a secondary school in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, during the last SSCE 2014 examination was not encouraging. The data shows that out of 14 public secondary schools in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, five secondary schools were performed below average in biology. As a result of the research carried out by other researchers found out that, the poor result in biology can be contributed many factors including to the lack of interest in the subject on the parts of the student, poor laboratory facilities, the phobia of Biology as one of the science subject, wrongly approach to biology teachers.
Students’ Interest And Academic Performance Of Students In Biology
Based on this the researcher sought to find out the relationship between student interest and academic performance in biology in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
1.3 Purpose of the Study:
The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between students’ interest and academic performance of the student in Biology. Specifically, the study sought to find out.
1. The relationship between students’ interest and academic performance of the student on biology.
2. To examine the relationship between female students’ interest and academic performance in Biology.
3. To examine the relationship between male students’ interest and academic performance in Biology.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This study will help the students in the following ways:
1. On completion of this study, it will contribute to the general knowledge about students attitude towards science subjects especially Biology.
2. The findings will be useful and valuable to planners in counseling their students and directing their energies to an area where they have demonstrated interest.
3. It is believed that the findings of this study could be pertinent for the wider-range of educational circumstance especially science educational programs and researchers on the performance in the science of its practical importance.
1.5 Research Hypotheses
(i) There is no significant relationship between students’ interest and academic performance in Biology in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.
(ii) There is no significant relationship between female students’ and male students’ interest and academic performance in Biology in Biology in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.
1.6 Limitation of the Study
Due to the size of Local Government in relation to the epileptic system, possess time constraint on the timely submission of this research work. Regardless, however, the research, taking into consideration financial restriction, vast geographical as well as other pressures both economically, socially and politically has been able to present a well-represented study.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Interest: This refers to the desire to learn or know more about Biology.
Academic performance: This refers to students’ examination and test scores in schools.
Biology: This refers to the study of life