ASSESSMENT OF STRATEGIES AND ACHIEVEMENT GOALS OF SANDWICH STUDENTS

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1       Background to the Study

Sandwich study programme is a form of Adult education which United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2006) described as “the entire body of organized educational processes, whatever the content, level, method whether they prolong or replace initial education in schools, colleges and universities as well as in apprenticeship”. Thus, persons regarded as adults by society to which they belong develop their technical or professional skills and bring about changes in their attitudes or behaviours in two-fold perspective of full personal development and participation in balanced and independent social, economic and cultural development.

The sandwich and part-time degree programmes represent one of the last available opportunities or chances for becoming university graduates in Nigeria. This is because there are so many people who are also capable of learning but inadequately or deliberately were not opportuned to do so because of certain reasons. Psychologically, it can be accepted that people who are mature and socially responsible and economically viable, technically qualified and mentally sound, may be considered as the beneficiaries of Sandwich Degree Programme or Course (Akinade, 2007).

Study Strategies plays an important role in the academic achievement of sandwich students. Good study strategies lead to good academic achievement goals and bad study lead to poor academic record as there is direct relationship between study habits and academic achievement (Verma, 2006; Verma and Kumar 2009, Satapathy and Singhal, 2000; Vyas 2002). Ramamurti (2003) rightly emphasized that despite possessing good intelligence and personality, the absence of good study strategy hampers academic achievement. Hence study strategy of students play important role in learning and fundamental to school success. Good study habit skills like note taking, having regular time to study, and organizing for a test, while removing the distraction that comes from television or phone call at home can lead to good academic performance (Tschumper, 2006). Effective study habits help students to achieve good results (Sadia, 2005). A proper study habit enables an individual to reap a good harvest in future.

Achievement goal, According to Okegbile (2007) achievement goal is a pedagogical terminology used while determining learner’s success in formal education, which is measured through factors exerting influence essentially. The National Policy on Education (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2013) has identified school achievement content according to school subjects which are classified as core or elective subjects. In every school setting, students are perpetually in search of academic success, the success of academic achievement is their ultimate goal. Academic achievement in agricultural science can be expressed in the form of good scores and prizes as a result of hard work and exceptional performance in classroom test, assignment and examination (Robinson, 2001). Verma (2006) stressed that good study habits promotes academic performance of the students and high and low achievers as well as over and under achievers differ significantly with regard to quality and strength of their study habit. Learning is defined as a knowledge or skill acquired through study or by being taught.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

            Students learn best under conducive atmosphere in school. One of the challenges that tertiary students face is to be able to adjust properly to their new environment and to cope with demands of the school for effective learning. The sandwich students, many of whom never dreamt to continue schooling have found their way into school because of the demand of the current educational reform in the country. The implication is that these students would have to persevere to cope with the demands of tertiary life. The students combine classroom teaching with a course of study. Taking into consideration their entry behavior (academic background) of such students, the schedule for their programme that is during their vacation holiday (face to face in education), meager salaries as untrained teachers and more so their status as bread winners to their families, it is pertinent to identity the factors that can cause achievement goal among the sandwich students. This is because failure to cope with achievement goal can lead to negative consequences including poor academic performance and drop out.

            Therefore, this study main research investigated the “Assessment of study strategies and achievement goals of sandwich students in University of Ilorin”.

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to assess the study strategies and achievement goals of sandwich students in University of Ilorin. Specifically, the study seeks to:

1.                  Determine the level of study strategies of sandwich students in University of Ilorin;

2.                  Examine the level of achievement goal of sandwich students in University of Ilorin;

3.                  Determine the relationship between study strategies and achievement goal of sandwich students in University of Ilorin; and

4.                  Find out if study strategies of sandwich students in University of Ilorin depends on gender.

5.                  Find out if achievement goal of sandwich students in University of Ilorin depends on gender.

1.4       Research Questions

The following questions were raised to guide the conduct of the study:

1.                  What is the level of study strategies of sandwich students in University of Ilorin?

2.                  What is the level of achievement goal of sandwich students in University of Ilorin?

1.5         Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses were formulated to guide the conduct of the study:

1.                  There is no significant relationship between study strategies and achievement goal of sandwich students in University of Ilorin

2.                  There is no significant difference in the study strategies of sandwich students in University of Ilorin based on gender.

3.                  There is no significant difference in the achievement goal of sandwich students in University of Ilorin based on gender.

1.6       Significance of the Study

The outcome of this study will be of immense benefit to lecturers, school administrators, school counselors, students and other members of the public who may come across the result of the study. The research findings might be of great help to the government and other stakeholders by revealing the study strategies and achievement goals adopted by sandwich students. This may probably guide the school administrators in curbing the issue of poor performance amongst sandwich students as a result of poor study strategies. The findings of this study might also be useful to stakeholders in education in orientating sandwich students on the need to adopt effective study strategies and hold positive achievement goals since the result of this study will reveal the achievement goal held by sandwich students and the study strategies adopted towards achieving their goals.

This study will also show the relationship between achievement goals and study strategies. As such, it is hoped that the result of the study might be of great help to lecturers and school counselors and students by making them aware of how study strategies can predict achievement goals.

Finally, the findings of this study might be of great importance to those that will want to further research in areas relating to self-efficacy for learning and for employment between regular and sandwich students. The result might be a reliable source of information for intending. The study might provide empirical data for future researchers interested in the area of study.

1.7       Scope of the Study

The study is centered on study strategies and achievement goals as it applies to sandwich students in University of Ilorin. The study will cover all sandwich students in University of Ilorin. Specifically, the study would involve only primary education sandwich students of University of Ilorin. Thus, 20 students will be randomly selected across the five academic levels of sandwich programme.

The variables to be considered in this study are study strategies and achievement goals. Study strategies will be treated as independent variable while achievement goal will be treated as dependent variable. Research instrument titled ‘study strategies and achievement goals questionnaire, to be developed by the researcher will used to obtain information on the various variables of the study. Data to be collected will be analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and t-test statistics.

1.8       Operational Definition of Terms

The definitions of some of the major terms used in this study are operationally given below. This is to avoid ambiguities that might hinder the understanding of issues discussed in the study.

Achievement goals: refers to steps which an individual intend to take in order to get to a particular location in life

Sandwich Undergraduates: refer to student in tertiary institution which combine both working and studying together and large percentage where married.

Study strategies: refers to a in which these set of adults plan to make their reading convenient for their study

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