TABLE OF CONTENTS
Declaration ................................................................................. . ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' i
Dedication .................................................................................................................................... ii
Approval. .................................................................................................................................... iii
Acknowledgement. ....................................................................................................................... iv
List of abbrevia lions ....................................................................................................................... v
Abstract. ..................................................................................................................................... vi
CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1
1. 1 Background of the study ................................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Statement of the problem .............................................................................................................................. 4
1.2Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................................................... 4
1.3.1 Specific Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 4
1 .4 Research questions ...................................................................................................................... , ............... 5
1.5 Scope of the Study ........................................................................................................................................ 5
1.6 Significance of the study ............................................................................................................................... 5
CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................................................. 6
LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Attitudes of girls in secondary school towards the performance of science subjects .................................... 6
2.3 Reasons as to why students have different attitudes towards the performance of science subjects in
secondary school ................................................................................................................................................ 8
CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................................................ 10
STUDY METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................ 10
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 O
3.2 Research design ......................................................................................................................................... 1 O
3.3 Area of the study ......................................................................................................................................... 1 O
3.4 Population of the study ............................................................................................................................... 1 O
3.5 Sample strategies ....................................................................................................................................... 11
3.5.1 Sample size ............................................................................................................................................. 11
3.6 Data collection methods .............................................................................................................................. 11
3.6.1 Interviews ................................................................................................................................................. 11
3.6.2 Questionnaires ......................................................................................................................................... 12
3.7 Procedure for data collection ...................................................................................................................... 12
3.8 Data processing .......................................................................................................................................... 13
3.8.1 Editing and spot checking ........................................................................................................................ 13
3.8.2 Coding ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
3.9 Data analysis .............................................................................................................................................. 13
3.10 Limitations and solutions encountered during the study ........................................................................... 14
CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................................................. 15
PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS ........................................................................................... 15
4.1 lntroduction ................................................................................................................................................. 15
4.2 Procedures ................................................................................................................................................. 15
4.2 Background information .............................................................................................................................. 15
CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................................................ 23
DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................ 23
5.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 23
5.1 Summary of the findings ............................................................................................................................. 23
5.2 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 23
5.3 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................................... 24
5.4 Suggestion for further research ................................................................................................................... 24
REFERENCES: ................................................................................................................................................ 25
ABSTRACT This study was carried out to analysis the attitudes of girls towards the performance of science subjects in Kenya, North Eastern girls' secondary school in North eastern province was used as a case study. Data was collected through the use of interviews accompanied by observation and questionnaires. The study involved a sample of 60 respondents that is 20 teachers and 40students from school; these were all involved in the school's curriculum activities at different levels. The study found that some schools do not have resource and this has affected their performance in science. For example North Eastern girls' secondary school, did not have well equipped laboratory and this have led to poor performance in science. The result of the study revealed that only 25% of the schools had adequate student teacher ratio 75% of the school had inadequate student teacher ratio. It was concluded that the predominant factors influencing poor performance of students in sciences are lack of adequate resources, (laboratory and laboratory apparatus, library Books and teachers. Also teachers do not use effective methods when teaching science; teachers also do not encourage students to put more efforts in science. Also some students are overburdened by household chores leaving little time to study science. Finally, a number of recommendations were made as presented in chapter five.
