Internal versus External control of reinforcement; where do Nigeria Science students belong?

Abstract

This study investigates science students’ locus of control orientation in view of the need to redress the present status-quo of abysmal performance in science in the light of substantive claims that students’ locus of control orientation is a germane factor contributing to underachievement in science. The study is a descriptive survey type of research. Two research questions were posed. The sample was made of two hundred (200) Junior Secondary School III students (100 Boys and 100 girls, with mean age of 14.2years) in Akwa South Local Government area of Anambra state, Nigeria. Data was collected by means of a Locus Of Control Scale (LOCS, ? = 0.84) containing 14 items to which respondents were to indicate their degree of Agreement or otherwise on a 4 – point scale of Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD). Findings revealed that of the 200 respondents, 126 (63%) have internal locus of control while the remaining 74 (37%) are external. Also, of the 126 Internal Locus of control respondents, 42.9% are boys while the remaining 57.1% are girls. This shows that girls are more internally oriented than boys. It was recommended among others that Science teachers and parents should endeavour to re-orientate students especially boys to believe that they can control the events that affect them, more so since such events  result primarily from their own behavior and actions.

Keywords: Internal, External, Control, Reinforcement, Science, Students