Determinants of Examination Malpractices among Students in Public Secondary Schools in Garissa County, Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Daro, Abdullahi Woche
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Examination malpractice has become a viral disease that is spreading at an alarming rate in the education sector, it has not only dealt a major blow to reliability and validity of the certificates that are offered at the end of the courses but has also lead to value of the education system at large. This practice has escalated over the years especially in the Northeastern path of Kenya, precisely in Garissa County and needs to be checked properly before it brings profound damage to the education system. Maximum attention should be given to this cancerous disease by all the stakeholder to save a generation from a dark future .This research was carried out to find the influences self-control on examination malpractices, and the relationships that student’s attitude and perceived opportunity have with examination malpractice among students in selected public secondary schools in Garissa County, Kenya. The study had the following objectives: investigate how much perceived opportunity influences examination malpractice, examine the relationship between examination malpractice and self-control, find out how much examination malpractice is influenced by the students attitude .The study was guided by the general theory of crime by Gottfredson & Hirschi,1990 which suggested that little levels of self-control is the main cause of all deviant behaviors such as examination malpractice which is further facilitated by availability of perceived opportunity and the students attitude. The study took place in Garissa County in Kenya whereby eight public secondary schools were selected. The population that was targeted consisted of 301 respondents. The sample included 16 class teachers, and 285 students from form four. Correlation research design was used in the study since it was best suited. Different types of sampling techniques were made use of such as simple random, systematic, and purposive techniques were employed. Pilot study was done in Salama girls’ high school in order to improve the instruments of the study where necessary amendments were made. Information was retrieved through the use of questionnaires especially group administered one. Analysis of the data was done where the data was described inform of tables, pie charts, frequencies and graphs. For inferential data Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient was applied. The study revealed no notable association between self-control and examination malpractices, a coefficient of .198 was discovered significant level being at 0.001 found to be less than 0.05.(r=.198,p <0.05.Result indicated there was no notable associations between self-control and examination malpractice. Results correlated between student’s attitude and examination malpractice showed a correlation coefficient of 0.24 at significant level of 0.687 found to be greater than 0.05 (r=0.24, p >0.05).Hence there was no significant correlation between student’s attitude and examination malpractice. Results for correlation between examination malpractice and perceived opportunity showed a correlation coefficient of .165 at a significant level of 0.006 (r=.199, p >0.05).The results showed there was no notable associations between examination malpractice and perceived opportunity. The study recommends that educational psychology and guidance and counseling be introduced to the secondary education system to enable the students grow morally and holistically understanding themselves properly.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Education in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirement of Award of Degree of Master of Educational Psychology, Kenyatta University, July, 2021
Keywords
Determinants, Examination Malpractices, Students, Public Secondary Schools, Garissa County, Kenya