Ability Streaming, Ranking and Extrinsic Rewarding as Predictors of Academic Inferiority Feelings among Secondary School Students in Kisii County, Kenya
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Date
2021-12
Authors
Sakina, Mogaka Moraa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
There is substantial literature on inferiority complex but scanty research has been done on
academic inferiority in relation toability grouping, ranking and the use of rewards on
secondary school students.The main aim of this study wastherefore to investigate the
predictors of academic inferiority feelings. More specifically, the study was designed to
find out the relationship between ability streaming, ranking, extrinsic rewarding and
academic inferiority feelings among students who do not perform well. Alfred Adler’s
theory of individual psychology forms the theoretical framework of the study. The study
adopted a mixed methods sequential explanatory research design. It was carried out in
Kisii County, Kenya. The target population was all the Form Three students in public
secondary schools in Kisii County (29309 students). Proportionate stratified sampling
was used to select the top, average and low ranking schools in the county. It was further
used to stratify schools into boys’ boarding, girls’ boarding, mixed boarding, mixed day
and boarding and mixed day schools. Simple random sampling was used in the selection
of the 400 respondents. The sample consisted of 400 students selected from 20 schools.
The research instruments were questionnaires and an interview schedule for the students
administered by the researcher. Personal and academic self-concept inventory (PASCI)
was used to collect data on academic inferiority feelings and Stephanie Soto Gordon’s
questionnaire was used to collect data on ability streaming from students. Researcher
developed questionnaires were used to collect data from students on ranking and extrinsic
rewarding. A pilot study was carried out to validate and ensure reliability of the research
instruments.Both descriptive and inferential statistical procedures were used to analyze
data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The results were
presented using frequency tables. The results showed that there was a significant positive
relationship between ability streaming, ranking, extrinsic rewarding and academic
inferiority feelings.Most of the respondents experiencing moderate feelings of academic
inferiority, that is, r (399) = .31, p=0.1 in ability streaming, r (399) = .28, p=0.01 in
ranking and r (399) = .32, p=0.01 in extrinsic rewarding. Sex differences were found in
ability streaming, ranking and extrinsic rewarding in regard to academic inferiority
feelings. Boys experienceda higher level of academic inferiority feelings with a mean of
67.11as compared to girls who had a mean 65.08. A major recommendation of the study
was that the ministry of education should try to do away with ranking totally more so
within school ranking which leads to ability streaming in schools and extrinsic rewarding
thatmake the students feel academically inferior.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Psychology) in the School of Education of Kenyatta University, December, 2021
Keywords
Ability Streaming, Ranking and Extrinsic Rewarding, Predictors, Academic Inferiority Feelings, Secondary School Students, Kisii County, Kenya