Summary
Geography has laudable goals that could make students become responsible citizens. However, students’ achievement in geography is generally low, and this is caused by map reading. Previous studies on map reading concentrated largely on teaching strategies with little attention to factors that could hinder effective learning of geography. This study, therefore, investigated self-efficacy and locus of control as predictors of students’ achievement in map reading among secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria. A descriptive research design of survey type was adopted for the study. Simple random sampling techniques were adopted to select ten senior secondary schools from Ibadan North and Akinyele Local Government Areas of Oyo state, while a total number of three hundred students participated in the study. The instruments used were validated and reliable.
Results showed that there was a positive relationship between self-efficacy and academic achievement, while locus of control was found to have a negative relationship with academic achievement. It was also found out that achievement in map reading was jointly predicted by self-efficacy and locus of control. Self-efficacy and locus of control influenced secondary school students’ achievement in map reading. Teachers should work on the self-efficacy and locus of control of students.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Curriculum and Instruction | Geography, map reading, psychological variables
Conference Room
Winnebago
Meet the Presenter
Peter A. Amosun, Ph.D is a Professor of Social Studies Education and Geography Education at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Prof. Amosun’s research interests cut across Social Studies and Civic Education, Environmental Education, Climate Change Education, Geography Education, Internet Crime Prevention, and Curriculum and Instruction. He has made tremendous impact in promoting geography education within and outside the University community through scholarly work with local and international benefits. To his credits are several local and international journal articles, chapters in books and books. Professor Amosun is currently the Director, Centre for General Studies in the University of Ibadan. He was the immediate past Head, Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, University of Ibadan. He has supervised tens of undergraduate and Postgraduate students. He has acted as external examiners within and outside Nigeria. He has mentored many students who are now occupying strategic places and position in academia both within and outside Nigeria.
