Social Factors and Students Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Serere County, Serere District, Uganda

ABSTRACT 

This study investigated the influence of social factors on students’ discipline in selected secondary schools in Serere County, Serere District. To achieve the purpose of the study, three research objectives were set and these included: to ascertain the influence of social factors in secondary schools; to assess students discipline in secondary schools; to establish the relationship between the influence of social factors on students discipline in secondary schools. The design used in this study was descriptive and correlation research design involving bOth qualitative and quantitative approaches. The sample size used was 825 deriyed from the population of 2334. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select respondents. Self-administered questionnaires and interview guides were used as research instruments. Validity and reliability of the instruments were determined through Content Validity Index and test and re-test respectively. Data analysis was done by the using frequencies and percentage, mean, correlation and multiple regres~ion matrix. The research findings indicated that the level of influence of social factors in secondary schools in Serere County was generally high (mean of 2.51); the level of students’ discipline in the selected secondary schools was generally low (mean of 2.37); The correlation results indicate that social factors have positive and significant influence on students behavior and this was justified by the r=O.989 and the R2 Value of 0.986 at the significance level of 0.000, Individually, this study found out that mass media, family environment and drug abuse have a significant and positive influence on students’ discipline and this was justified by the 13-values of 0.507 for drug abuse; 0.247 for mass media; and 0.466 for family environment and all at the level of significance at 0.000. However, peer pressure had a negative correlation on students’ discipline as it beta value was -0.220 at the significance of 0.000. The study concluded that the influence of social factors in secondary schools is generally high; the level of students’ discipline was generally low in the selected secondary schools; and there is significant and positive relationship between social factors and students’ discipline. The study recommended that school administrators should employ some mentors and counselors in their schools to help students who have been affected by the forces of social factors; that parents should provide students with care and love. They should also demonstrate exemplary behavior before them so that they can learn some basic principles of life that can enable them behave well at school. Parents should also guide their children on how to behave and show respect to others.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV

ABREVIATION AND ACRONYMS v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ix

ABSTRACT X

CHAPTERE ONE 1

INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.1.1 Historical perspective 1

1.1.2 Theoretical perspective 3

1.1.3 Conceptual perspective 4

1.14 Contextual Perspective 5

1.2 Statement of the Problem s

1.3 Purpose of the Study 6

1,4 Specific Objectives 6

1.5 Hypotheses 6

16 Research Scope 6

1.7 Significance of the Study 8

1.8 Operational Definition of Key Terms 9

CHAPTER TWO 10

LITERATURE REVIEW 10

2.0 Introduction 10

2.1 Theoretical Review 10

2.1 Conceptual Framework 11

2.1.1 Social Factors 12

2.1.2 Students’ Discipline .16

2.2 Relationship between Social Factors and Students’ discipline in Schools 19

2.3 Research Gaps 21

CHAPTER THREE 23

METHODOLOGY 23

3.0 Introduction 23

3.1 Research Design 23

3.2 Research Population 24

3.3 Sample Size 24

3.4 Sampling Procedure 25

3.5 Research Instruments 26

3.5.1 Structured Questionnaires 26

3.5.2 Interview guide 26

3.5.3 Validity and Reliability of the Research Instrument 26

3.6 Data Gathering Procedures 28

3.7 Data analysis 29

3.8 Ethical Consideration 30

3.9 Limitations of the Study 30

CHAPTER FOUR 31

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 31

4.0 Introduction 31

4.1 Profile of Respondents 31

4.2 Influence of Social Factors in Secondary Schools 36

4.3 Students’ Discipline in Secondary Schools in Serere County 42

4.4 The Influence of Social factors on Students’ Discipline in Selected Secondary Schools in Serere County

CHAPTER FIVE 51

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 51

5.0 Introduction 51

5.1 Discussion of Key Research Findings 51

5.1.1 Influence of social factors in secondary Schools 51

5.1.2 Students’ Discipline in Secondary Schools 53

5.1.3 Relationship between social factors and students’ discipline in secondary schools 55

5.2 Conclusions

5.3 Recommendations 57

5.4 Areas for further research 58

REFERENCES

APPENDIX: 1A: TRANSMITTAL LETTER 63

APPENDIX: IB: TRANSMITTAL LETTER FROM THE FIELD 64

APPENDIX 1C: TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR RESPONDENTS 65

APPENDIX: II: CLEARANCE FROM ETHICS COMMITTEE 66

APPENDIX III: INFORMED CONSENT 67

APPENDIX IV A: QUESTIONNAIRE TO ASSESS THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL FACTORS ON

STUDENT’S DISCIPLINE 68

APPENDIX IV B: INTERVIEW GUIDE 74

APPENDIX V: SAMPLE SIZE COMPUTATION 75

APPENDIX VI: DISTRIBUTIONS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SERERE COUNTY 76