STUDENTS' ATTITUDE TO LEARNING OF ECONOMICS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EDUCATION DISTRICT IV, LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper investigated students' attitude towards learning of Economics and their academic performance in Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) in Education District IV, Lagos, Nigeria. Thre research questions and two hypotheses were raised and answered in the paper. This paper adopted a descriptive survey research design Questionnaire and Students' Achievement Test were used for data
collection. The population of the study was 4305; while the sample size for the study was 366 SS2 Economics Students. The data obtained were analysed using frequency counts, percentage, mean, standard deviation, T-test and Chi Square statistical tools at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that: the factors affecting students' attitudes to learning of Economics in SSS in
Education District IV, Lagos, included teaching methods, cognitive styles of students. student's gender, and proposed careers of students; there is no significant difference between the attitude of male and female students' towards learning of Economics; and students' attitude towards learning of Economics has significant influence on their academic performance. It was concluded based on the findings of the study that students' attitude towards learning of Economics has significant effect on their academic performance in Education District IV, Lagos. The study recommended among others that teachers should motivate and encourage all the Economics students to cultivate positive attitude towards the learning of economics in SSS; and principals should monitor the teaching and learning of Economics to promote effective teaching of the subject and to make students (both male and female) cultivate more positive attitude towards learning of Economics in SSS.