ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to compare the academic performance of married and single students in Delta state University, Abraka. This research was undertaken to ascertain their academic performance. Related literatures were reviewed; four (4) research question and three (3) hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A sample of one hundred and fifty (150) undergraduate students was selected randomly from five (5) departments; data from the questionnaires distributed to the respondents was analyzed with the use of chi-square statistics. The findings of the study revealed that married students have more responsibilities that hinder their academic performance than that of the single students.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background to the Study
Academic performance focuses and concentrates on you having the right mind set for raising your academic performance so you can learn more-effectively. Another very important enhancer of academic performance is the presence of physical activity that can increase neural activity in the brain. Exercise specifically increase executive brain functions such as attention span and working memory. Academic achievement is commonly measured by examinations or continuous assessment but there is no general agreement on how it is best tested or which aspect are most important procedural knowledge such as skills or declarative knowledge such as fact.
Existing research on student marital status focuses on the impact on persistence and degree attainment. This study however, pays special attention to how marital status affects student college experience. Blending qualitative methods, the study examine the difference between married and single students in their academic performance and social experience on status and the impact of being married or being single, and the impact of family on their college life. The result indicate no significant difference between married and single students in their academic and social experience through married students Grade point average (G.P.A) are lower than that of the single students.
Most married students perceived family as experiential and economically opportunistic considered in the context of out of class activities, family activities has inserted structured into student daily life and enhanced their self-confidence in a number of areas.
Also, the married student could be from a very high socio-economic status with a wealthy background, they could be of great help to the student financially. Married student are more settled academically in the campus than single student who engage themselves in excessive traveling, extra curricula activities and socialization.
Like other relationship, marriage has its ups and downs tension or quarrel in the home can hinder academic performance of students by reducing them to a state of imbalance and making them loose full concentration on their academic work. In the case of married female students pregnancy could put much pressure on her academic attainment. It also disturbs students from carrying out informal socialization such as visitation of friends without pre-planning because they have to think of their family first before other thing.
In this study, it’s necessary to look into the results of the students to know their level of performance and their background. The students who are married are more likely to have G.P.A of 3.5 or higher than those who are singles. A longitudinal comparative analysis on the effect of married-study program on cognitive development of college students and that student engaged in the married-study program scored lower than the single student on the college student experience. The time he/she will spend attending to his/her family activities will disrupt or hasten the student’s performance at school.
This study seeks in describe and explain the performance of married and single student in economic department of Delta State University, Abraka.
1.2. Statement of the Problem.
The present study aims at finding out the comparative academic performance of married and single student in tertiary institutions and hence seeks to find solution to the following problems.
1. How does the family activity affect the academic performance?
2. How does the marital status of the students affect his academic performance in the college?
3. Is there any difference between the academic performance of married study and that of the single students?
1.3. Objectives of the study
The objective of this study is to determine the comparative study of academic performance of married and single students in Delta State University, Abraka. The specific objectives of the study are;
1. To determine the concept of Academic performance
2. To determine the marital status of students
3. To determine the academic performance of married and single student in tertiary institution.
4. To determine the factors that affects the academic performance of married and single students in tertiary institutions.
5. To provide solution to the factors that affects the academic performance of married and single students in tertiary institution.
1.4. Research Questions
1. Do single students perform better than the married students in terms of academic performance in tertiary institution?
2. Can the size of the family contribute to the poor performance of the married students?
3. Do the married students spend more time for lecture than the single students?
4. Does the married student have more responsibilities to that of the single students that hinder their academic performance?
1.5. Hypotheses of the Study
The following hypotheses were formulated and tested to find answer to the questions above
1. There is no significant difference between the academic performance of married students and single student in tertiary institution.
2. There is no significant difference between the size of the family and poor performance of the married students.
3. There is no significant difference between the time spent on lecture of married and single students and their academic performance.
1.6. Significance of the Study
This research work when completed, the report will be a source of reference to other researchers intending to study the comparative study of the academic performance of married and single students in economics department of Delta State University, Abraka. A lot of research has been gotten thus; the report obtained from this research work will be of immense benefit to policy makers, educational planners and administrators as well as the student themselves.
1. To policy maker: Recommendations will be made to them on what policy and strategies can be employed to bring about a positive change.
2. To educational planners: the report obtained will provide them the avenue to encourage the establishment of day care centre, nurse and primary schools in places where tertiary institutions are cited, so as to reduce the work load of the married female student, even the male because some are single parent.
3. To educational Administrators: These findings will enable the administrative boards of various tertiary institutions to review its method of admitting in order to have a better knowledge of the nature of students admitted to improve educational excellence.
1.7. Delimitation/Scope of the Study
This study has focused on the comparative study of academic performance of married and single student in tertiary institution using sample students from economic department in Delta State University, Abraka. Though the married student’s problem are multifaceted in this study. Attempts were made to examine various factors that influence the academic performance of married and single students.
1.8. Definitions of Terms
1. Academic Performance: this is the ability to acquire learning and demonstrating it through passing tests and examination with academic content. It is used interchangeable with educational attainment and educational achievement. In this study, the university grade point average (G.P.A) is the respond used as a measure of academic performance.
2. Student: A student is a learner or someone who is attending educational institution. In some nations, the English term (or us cognate in another language) is reserved for those who attend university, while a school child under the age of eighteen (18) is called pupil in English (or an equivalent in other language). Thus, in its widest use, student is used for an individual engaged in study or one who devoted in learning.
3. Marriage: It is a social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitment religious ceremony and so on it involves not only conceiving and child rearing. In order to establish a family. But also a host of other obligations and privilege affecting a good number of people.
4. Single: In legal definition for interpersonal status a single person is someone who is not in a relationship or is “unmarried”
5. Achievement: It is a success one has in accomplishing with skills and effort. What one sets out and the feeling that the accomplishing is worthwhile.
6. Comparative: The word comparative deals naturally with comparisons, looking at characteristics of two or more things.
7. Education: Is the sum total of knowledge one requires throughout life both in school, at home and the society at a whole. The National Policy on Education (2000) describes education as a dynamic instrument of change.
