Ikpa A U G U S T I N E Ikechukwu | RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (original) (raw)

Papers by Ikpa A U G U S T I N E Ikechukwu

International Journal of Management Sciences, 2020

The study assessed the impact of examination malpractice on academic achievement of students in h... more The study assessed the impact of examination malpractice on academic achievement of students in higher institutions in Rivers State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population of the study was 745 respondents which comprised 491 lecturers and students in the Faculty of Education of Rivers State University and 254 lecturers and students in the Faculty of Education of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. Simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 260 fixed using the Tsaro Yamen Formula. Data was collected through a questionnaire developed by the researchers titled Examination Malpractice and Academic Achievement (EMAA) with a reliability coefficient of 0.79 computed with the Pearson's Product Moment Correlation test statistic. The research questions were answered using means and standard deviations. The null hypotheses formulated were tested at 0.05 level of significance using the z-test. Results indicated that there is no significant difference in the mean perceptions of lecturers and students on the types, causes, consequences of examination malpractice that hinder academic achievement of students, and measures adopted to minimize the rate of examination malpractices to improve academic achievement of students in higher institutions in Rivers State. It was concluded that that the act of examination malpractice is dishonest, illegal and immoral. Given the above, the study recommended that the enacted government legislations on examination malpractice should be enforced to the letter to serve as deterrent to others, adequate teaching and learning materials should be provided to make teaching and learning more effective, and parents and guardians should avoid putting undue pressure on children.

International Journal of Applied Research , 2020

The techniques and processes the teacher teach and the learner also learn are conducted, like man... more The techniques and processes the teacher teach and the learner also learn are conducted, like many other human endeavours, are taking a new approach since the introduction of educational technologies in schools. The old traditional less-flexible ways of teaching and learning have largely replacing with Web-based learning (WBL). Web-based or e-learning is a learning technique that uses a variety of technologies such as the Internet to teach the learner. This technique of learning has gained popular acceptance in many educational enterprises in many developed and developing countries, including Nigeria. Web-based learning provides the learner with opportunity to enjoy some levels of independence from the teacher. Such online learning as it is known among teachers allows learning to be practiced anywhere and any place, with the learner in control of his/her learning schedule. The introduction of WBL brings to educational institutions a significant change in teaching/learning, and thus in the achievement of learning outcomes. This promise has compelled many educational and training enterprises, especially universities to leverage on and integrate the WBL in their system to provide wider access to their curriculum beyond their confined host communities. How far the State owned universities have adopted this new technique has become a question that requires answer? This study attempted to provide an empirical assessment of the extent the two public funded universities in Rivers State have explored and integrated WBL technique in attaining their instructional objectives.

International Journal of Economics, Finance and Enterpreneurship, 2020

The study evaluated continuous assessment and accounting students' academic achievement in senior... more The study evaluated continuous assessment and accounting students' academic achievement in senior secondary schools in Rivers State. A survey, causal-comparative research design was adopted. A population of 120 Accounting students was selected from three senior secondary schools in Rivers State. The entire population was used as sample because of its small size and no sampling technique was required from the population. Instruments titled 'Continuous Assessment Questionnaire' (CAQ) and 'Accounting Students' Academic Achievement Questionnaire' (ASAAQ) was developed. The instrument was validated by experts in the field of Measurement and Evaluation, while the reliability of the instruments were established by the calculation of Pearson's Product Moment Correlation to obtain an index of 0.72. Means and standard deviations were used in answering the research questions, while the Pearson's Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. It was found that there is a significant relationship between assignment, teacher made tests, field projects and accounting students' academic achievement in senior secondary schools in Rivers State. The study thus concluded that continuous assessment or schools-based assessment should test the total growth of students in the non-scholastic areas and therefore should be built into the teaching-learning process. Therefore it was recommended that higher institutions of learning should train teachers on how to effectively supervise their students during field project writing, develop and construct teacher made tests, and that seminars, conferences and workshops should be organized by the government to really sensitize the importance of classroom assessment to the students using assignment.

International Journal of Innovative Education Research , 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of depression on academic performance of stu... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of depression on academic performance of students in selected senior secondary schools in Rivers State. The exploratory research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 400 senior secondary school students and 30% of the population (120) was selected as the sample size for the study. The judgmental sampling technique was adopted for the study. The stated research questions were answered using the descriptive statistic of mean, while inferential statistic of Spearman Ranking was used in testing the formulated hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. It was found that bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder and psychotic depression affects academic performance of students that. In the light of the statistical analysis and study's findings, the following major conclusion was drawn: there is a negative effect of depression (bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and psychotic depression) on student's academic performance Given the above, it was therefore recommended that awareness programs on depression should be conducted because of its importance to teachers in order to improve their interactions with students and to understand students' problems, and that teachers should be watchful for the overtly depressed students in the school because of the need to judge students behaviour in the classroom and recognize that their academic performance is suffering by depression.

International Journal of Innovative Education Research , 2017

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive test anxiety and academic performance of stud... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive test anxiety and academic performance of student in public secondary schools in Rivers State. The experimental research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 650 respondents, while the Tsaro Yamen formula was used to obtain a sample size of 295respondents. The stratified random sampling technique was adopted for the study. The mean was used to answer the research questions, while the inferential statistic of T-test analysis was used as the statistical tool to test the formulated hypotheses. A reliability coefficient of 0.85 was advanced using the Kudar Richardson approach. The result of the statistical analyses shows that a significant difference exist between failure anticipation as a variable of cognitive test anxiety and academic performance of male and female students in public secondary schools. Also, a significant difference was found between off-task behaviour, intrusive thought and academic performance of male and female students in public secondary schools. The study concluded that the phenomenon of cognitive test anxiety is common in students as they approach examination period, and this is regardless of their age, sex differences, and their schools‟ residential status. In addition, cognitive test anxiety has a significant positive effect on students‟ academic performance. It was therefore recommended among others that, there is a need for the curriculum and efforts towards guidance and counseling in schools to include strategies of coping with cognitive test anxiety, and also the development of guidebooks to help students deal with psychological stresses during preparation and undertaking of major examinations.

International Journal of Innovative Human Ecology & Nature Studies , 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate influence of domestic violence on the psychological ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate influence of domestic violence on the psychological wellbeing of adolescents in Imo State: Implications for Counseling. Domestic violence is generally understood as any assault committed by a person who either shares a living arrangement with or is involved in an intimate relationship with the victim of the assault. Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive tactics that can include physical, psychological, sexual, economic, and emotional abuse, perpetrated by one person against an intimate partner, with the goal of establishing and maintaining power and control. Drug abuse, alcoholism, poverty, age and gender are the various causes of domestic violence. The forms of domestics violence includes; physical, emotional, sexual, social, financial and economic abuse. Conclusively, domestic violence exists in the community, and adolescents report that they do experience domestic violence in their homes; and adults report that sometimes adults mistreat adolescents in several ways. The study amongst others recommended that there should be clear procedures in the society for safeguarding adolescents based on a clear assessment of the adolescents' needs, their parents' capacity to provide for their needs and any wider environmental or family factors that may impact on their psychological wellbeing, there should be agreed inter-agency procedures for working with the adolescents, the victim and the perpetrator of the abuse, and there should be provision of therapeutic support services to adolescents who are domestically violated.

International Journal of Innovative Social & Science Education Research , 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate influence of parental involvement on adolescents' ju... more The purpose of this study was to investigate influence of parental involvement on adolescents' juvenile delinquency in Ahiazu Local Government Area of Imo State: Implications for Counseling. Parental involvement is the level of participation that a parent has on adolescents' upbringing. It also implies a wide range of behaviours but conventionally refers to parents and family members who invest most of their resources on their adolescents' education as to deviate them from the miles of delinquents. These investments are intended to improve the adolescents' learning as such can take place in or outside the home or school. Delinquent behaviour encompasses two broad dimensions: internalizing and externalizing. Internalizing disorders are directed inward and involve behavioural deficits, such as withdrawal, isolation, and depression. On the other hand, externalizing disorders are directed outward and involve behavioural excesses, such as disturbing others verbal and physical aggression, and acts of violence. One of the major findings of this study was the poor family environment that prevailed among the families of delinquent behaviour adolescents when compared with the positive family atmosphere among the non-delinquent behaviour adolescent families. This poor family environment was marked by family fights, less communication with the father, alcoholism, and incompetency in dealing with adolescent delinquent behaviour. The study recommends that ideally, schools should employ professionals, social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses to engage in prevention and intervention efforts. This interdisciplinary team, including teachers, could work together in developing plans for educating students and parents about the importance of family relationship in the development of these adolescents. Further, the professional team could design a strategic plan (incorporating such things as awareness programs, counseling, leadership development, and group activities) to reduce problematic behaviours and contribute to the adolescents' holistic development.

International Journal of Innovative Education Research , 2020

This paper examined perceived influence of instructional strategies on academic performance of bu... more This paper examined perceived influence of instructional strategies on academic performance of business education students in Rivers State. Three research questions were posed, and three hypotheses guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 2,439 which consisted of all the students in the Department of Business Education in, Rivers State University, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, and those in University of Port Harcourt all in Rivers State. A sample size of 420 respondents was drawn from the population using the Judgmental sampling technique, while the simple random sampling technique was adopted for the administration of the instrument. Face and content validation of the research instrument was carried out by the researcher, while a reliability coefficient of 0.69 was obtained from the pilot study using the Pearson's Product Moment Correlation. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and inferential statistic of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to answer the research questions and to test the formulated hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance respectively. It was found that there is a significant difference in the opinion of business education students in the three selected tertiary institutions on the extent to which teacher-centred strategy, learner-centred strategy, and interactive strategy influence their academic performance in Rivers State. Given the above, the study concluded that instructional strategies are the techniques or methods that a teacher can adopt to meet the various learning objectives. Thus, the various strategies help students to walk on the path of independent learning and become strategic learners, and equip teachers to make learning fun and help students to awaken their desire to learn. Therefore, that instructional strategies adopted by teachers to enhance student academic performance includes; the teacher-centred methods, the learner-centred methods, content-focused methods and interactive/participative methods etcetera. It was therefore, recommended the adoption of instructional methods based on the topic and course content to be treated by business educators, and that at the beginning of a lesson or when giving out instructions, teacher-centred instructional strategies should be used rather than using it throughout the lesson, finally, that classes should be made to be interactive, and problem solving by business education teachers.

International Journal of Innovative Social Sciences & Humanities Research , 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate social intelligence and academic achievement of seni... more The purpose of this study was to investigate social intelligence and academic achievement of senior secondary school students. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 800 respondents, while 30% of the population was used to obtain a sample size of 240 senior secondary school students. The simple random sampling technique was adopted for the study. A structured questionnaire titled "Social Intelligence and Academic Achievement" (SIAAA) with a four point rating scale was designed, and a reliability coefficient of 0.81 was obtained using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation. Mean was used to answer the research questions while the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation analysis. It was found that significant relationship exist between self-awareness and academic achievement of students; self-motivation and academic achievement of students; and empathy and academic achievement of students. The study concluded that self-awareness, self-motivation, and empathy enhance the academic achievement of students. It was recommended among others that teachers/instructors need to take into account their students' diverse self-awareness, self-motivation, and empathy in designing instructional methods that take care of these diversities. It was further recommended that teachers should help their students to understand their various intelligence preferences and make use of such to develop lifelong learning.

International Academy Journal of Administration, Education and Society, 2020

The research was designed to evaluate teachers’ pedagogical competencies and academic performance... more The research was designed to evaluate teachers’ pedagogical competencies and academic performance of senior secondary school students in Rivers State. On this basis a survey, causal-comparative research design was used in the study. The population of the study was 66,164 students, while the fluid survey sample calculator was used to draw a sample size of 382 respondents. The simple random sampling technique was adopted for the study. In generating data for the study, a structured questionnaires titled ‘Teachers’ Pedagogical Competencies Questionnaire’ (TPCQ) was used. Content and face validation of the research instrument was carried out by expert judgment in the field of Measurement and Evaluation, while the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to obtain the reliability index of 0.71. The descriptive statistics of means and standard deviations were used in answering the research questions, while the inferential statistic of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to test the formulated null hypotheses in this study at 0.05 alpha level. It was found that there is no significant relationship between teachers’ competencies to use instructional resources, teaching methods, teaching skills and academic performance. It was concluded that teacher-centred methods, learners-centred methods, content-focused methods and interactive /participatory methods were the main methods of teaching. Also that basic instructional resources were available and adequate in majority of the schools, and that teachers’ teaching skills enhances a teacher’s ability to create an environment that is fair, understanding. Therefore, the study among others recommended that teachers’ utilization and improvisation of instructional resources should be improved

International Academy Journal of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurial Studie, 2020

This study evaluated Business Education Programme in Rivers State University. Congruence Evaluati... more This study evaluated Business Education Programme in Rivers State University. Congruence Evaluation Research Design and Discrepancy Evaluation Model were adopted. The population of this study was 1674 respondents which comprised 1611 undergraduate students, 44 post graduate students, and 19 staff of the Department of Business Education of Rivers State University 2018/2019 academic session. The multistage sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 313 fixed using the online Fluid Survey Sample Calculator. The researchers developed a questionnaire titled Evaluation of Business Education Programme (EBEP) to elicit data for the study The Cronbach’s Alpha method was used to obtain a reliability coefficient of 0.76. The research questions were answered using means and standard deviations. The null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using the One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Independent Samples t-test. Results indicated that though the Business Education Programme has been partially implemented as defined with aspects of the objectives achieved; great disparity exists between the expected and actual outcomes; and that Business Education Programme is significantly inadequate as it lacked properly equipped business studios for practical experiences of the learners. It was recommended among others that the programme should be funded properly and that more lecture halls as well as studios be built to improve Business Education Programme in Rivers State University

International Journal of Business School Annals, 2020

This study investigated emotional intelligence and teachers’ job performance in selected senior s... more This study investigated emotional intelligence and teachers’ job performance in selected senior secondary schools in Rivers State. Three research questions posed, and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 650 senior secondary school teachers in Rivers State. A total of 50% of the population was used as the sample size which was 325 teachers. Face validation of the research instrument used for data collection was carried out, while a reliability coefficient of 0.61 was obtained from the pilot study using the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and inferential statistic of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to answer the research questions and to test the formulated hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance respectively. The following findings were made: There is no significant difference in the opinion of teachers in the three senatorial districts on the extent empathy, self-control and selfconsciousness influence teachers’ commitment, creativity and problem solving ability in selected senior secondary schools in Rivers State. It was therefore, recommended that emotional intelligence should be developed and promoted by making training programmes that will aid the teachers in exercising control over their emotions and act in suitable ways rather than to react in a negative one

This study investigated assessment of teachers' competencies in attaining educational objectives ... more This study investigated assessment of teachers' competencies in attaining educational objectives of senior secondary education in Rivers State. Three research questions were posed, and three hypotheses were tested in the study. This study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of this study was 800 selected senior secondary school teachers drawn from the three senatorial districts in Rivers State. A sample size of 260 was drawn using the Fluid Survey Sample Calculator. The Stratified sampling technique was adopted for this study. A structured questionnaire titled "Teachers' Competencies and Attainment of Educational Objectives'' (TCAEO) with a four point rating scale was designed for the study. The instrument was validated by an expert in the field of Educational Measurement and Evaluation, while a reliability coefficient value of 0.51 was obtained using the Pearson's Product Moment Correlation. Mean and Standard Deviation was used to answer the research questions, while the inferential statistics of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used in testing the null hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. It was found that the opinion of teachers in the three senatorial districts do not differ on the extent subject to which their skills, subject knowledge and attitude influence the attainment of educational objectives of senior secondary education in Rivers State. It was therefore recommended amongst others that government should organize and provide opportunities for training and re-training programmes through seminars, workshops and conference in order to increase teachers' skills, subject knowledge and improve teachers' attitude and effectiveness.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive test anxiety and examination malpractices amo... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive test anxiety and examination malpractices among senior secondary school students in Rivers State. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 66,164 respondents, while the fluid survey sample calculator was used to draw a sample size of 382 respondents from the population. The simple random sampling technique was adopted for the study. In this study, two instruments were used for data collection. They were structured questionnaires titled as follows: 'Cognitive Test Anxiety Questionnaire' (CTAQ) which is to measure students' cognitive test anxiety and 'Examination Malpractices Questionnaire' (EMQ) as to measure the level of examination malpractices among students. Content and face validation of the research instrument was carried out by an experts in the field of Measurement and Evaluation and a lecturer guidance and counselling in Rivers State University, while the Pearson's Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to obtain the reliability index 0.74. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation, and inferential statistic of Pearson's Product Moment Correlation analysis to answer the research questions and to test the formulated hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level respectively. It was found that there is a significant relationship between excessive trembling, feeling of hopelessness, low self-esteem, affective tension and examination malpractices among secondary school students in Rivers State. It was concluded that we live in a test taking society and that when students are anxious before and during tests, cognitive test anxiety has a significant and effective impact on their involvement in examination malpractice which invariably leads to poor academic performance. Among others, the study recommended that examinations and continuous assessment tests as well as assignments should be well planned to avoid excessive trembling on the students which most likely triggers cognitive test anxiety.

International Journal of Innovative Social Sciences & Humanities Research, 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate influence of work and family involvement of dual car... more The purpose of this study was to investigate influence of work and family involvement of dual career parents on the psycho-social development of adolescents in Rivers State: Implications for Counseling. The study adopted correlational research design. The population of the study was 820 respondents, while a sample size of 265 respondents was obtained. Purposive sampling technique was adopted for the study. The research questions were answered using Mean while Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis was used as the tool in testing the formulated hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. It was found that parent"s involvement and work improves family dual-career development. This is because for dual career parents, there is much challenge as to the availability of time for their children. Also, that dual-career-parent involvement in work is said to have a positive relationship with family and emotional development of adolescent, as well as with morality of adolescent. The study amongst others recommended that parents should ensure that they are adequately involved in the career development of their children, and that parents should assist their children when they find it difficult to manage their emotional development.