| dc.description.abstract | The research project consists of five chapters : chapter one which starts with the general description of the original meaning of the word science and its roots and the importance of science in life. This is followed by the background information, showing some data on past examination records in the district for the last five years, 2001-2005 . Statement of the problem comes in as a comment based on the poor performance in the district, which gives some facts about the poor performance in examinations derived from background information given earlier on . The purpose of the study is also mentioned , in this case to identify the causes of poor performance in biology in Kwale District Secondary schools. Then comes in the general and specific objectives of the study. The general objective is to identify the factors resulting to poor performance of science related subjects in Kwale District secondary schools , while the specific objectives are the individual factors studied, such as teachers attitudes to sciences, peer group influence. socio-economic factora and others mentioned in the study. Then the researcher formulated research questions based on the specific objectives, for example: do peer groups affect performance on sciences . The questions are followed by hypothesis of the study such as : peer groups affect performance in sciences. The significance of the study is also mentioned, looking for solutions to the problems in poor performance in school examinations at large. Chapter one also gives th scope of the study . In this case there were ten secondary schools selected at random in Kwale District . It was also necessary to give assumptions and limitations that the researcher would experience during the project. Chapter one ends with the conceptual framework , definitions of terms used in the project and the organisation of the study . The conceptual framework shows the link between the independent variables as the factors affecting performance and the dependent variable as the poor performance in biology.
Chapter two is the Literature Review , an account of work done by other researchers on the same field of study , that is performance in school examinations as related to various factors. The literature review is also subdivided into the following subtopics : Literature based on head teachers opinion, literature on school factors, literature on effects of students factors , effects of peer group on performance , home socio-economic factors and effects of entry behavior of students on performance. At the end of chapter two there is the summary of the literature review.
Chapter three consist of the research methodology . There is the introduction part, data types, the target population and sample size, research design, sampling techniques, data collection instruments , data presentation and analysis techniques.
Both primary and secondary data types were used in this project . the target populations were both teachers and students in forms three and four in governments schools in Kwale District , also selected at random. The sample sizes used were ten teachers and twenty students who teach and take biology respectively from each of the sample group. The students and teachers were also selected at random as mentioned above. The researcher used questionnaires, one for teachers and the other for students for his research design in data collection. The sampling technique used was the stratified and random sampling technique. Questionnaires were the main data collection instruments used, supplemented by observations from the school mark books, interviews to headteachers and analysis of KCSE and CATS results .Also the researcher used both open and closed ended questions in the study. Data presentation and analysis was done using qualitave description, tables , percentages , school 5 scores and standard deviations .
Chapter four deals with data presentation, analysis and interpretation the analysed data . The researcher used qualitative description , bles, mean scores , standard deviations and percentages to analyse e data as mentioned earlier. | en_US |
