Student’s Household Characteristics Hierarchical Regression Model Predicting Public Day Secondary Schools Variation in Examination Scores, Kenya
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Date
2020
Authors
Gatwiri, Winniejoy Nkonge
Mukirae, Njihia
Ndiritu, John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Emerging Issues
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to use hierarchical regression to model the
relationship between student’s household characteristics and variations in examination scores in
public day secondary schools Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya.
Problem statement: Tharaka Nithi County is one of the 29 counties classified as the arid and
semi-arid lands. In addition to the government of Kenya providing free tuition in the public day
secondary schools, it also facilitates lunch costs in arid and semi-arid lands together with
mobilizing community to support education through national council for nomadic education. The
government efforts aim to ascertain equality of opportunity in attainment of quality secondary
education in public day secondary schools. Nevertheless, compared to other public day secondary
schools in other Kenyan Counties, Tharaka Nithi County public day secondary schools have had
the highest variations in the examinations successively for five years, 2014 – 2018. Thus, raised
the question on the relationship between student’s household characteristics and the variations in
examination scores in public day secondary schools of Tharaka Nithi County while controlling for
the other predictor variables of variations in examination scores.Research methodology: Convergent parallel design, a mixed method research approach was
employed. The study was conducted in the public day secondary schools in Tharaka Nithi County,
Kenya. Study target population comprised of all the principals and year 2020 form 3 students and
their parents or guardians. Stratified random sampling technique was used to identify 738 (368
male and 370 female) students in form 3 and their parents or guardians while purposive sampling
was used to identify 15 public day secondary school principals and 63 student group interview
participants (31 male and 32 female). Questionnaires, interview schedules and document analysis
sheets were used to collect data. Hierarchical regression was used on the quantitative data analysis
to model the relationship between student’s household characteristics and variations in
examination scores in public day secondary schools. Further, a case study approach thematic
analysis was used on qualitative data to obtain an in-depth knowledge on the model of relationship
between student’s household characteristics and variations in examination scores in public day
secondary schools. Research findings were presented in tables.
Results of the study: A statistically significant positive relationship, r = 0.662 at p < .01 between
student’s household characteristics and variations in student’s examination scores was found. The
study findings revealed that variations in students’ examinations scores enlarged by 0.438 of each
standard deviation of student’s household characteristics. Subsequently, the study null hypothesis;
no statistically significant equation for predicting variations in examination scores from students’
household characteristics was rejected.
Conclusion and policy recommendation: The study concluded that in public day secondary
schools in Tharaka Nithi County, there is a relationship between student’s household
characteristics and variations in examination scores. Thus, equality of opportunity in attainment of
quality secondary education in public day secondary schools in Tharaka Nithi County is not
ascertained. The study thus recommends that the financing of the public day secondary schools to
take cognizance of the differences in students’ household characteristics.
Description
A research article published in African Journal of Emerging Issues
Keywords
Student’s household characteristics, variations in examination scores, public day secondary schools, equality of opportunity, hierarchical regression model
Citation
Nkonge, G. W., Njihia, M., & Ndiritu, J. (2020). Student’s Household Characteristics Hierarchical Regression Model Predicting Public Day Secondary Schools Variation in Examination Scores, Kenya. African Journal of Emerging Issues, 2(12), 40-53.