SELF-CONCEPT, ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION OF USEFULNESS OF PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY ACCORDING TO TYPE AND LOCATION OF SCHOOLS

Abstract

This study was an attempt to test if students differed in their self-concept, attitude and their perception of the usefulness of Physics and Chemistry in terms of their type of school and location. To test this hypothesis, t-test was used to compare differences in the mean scores in terms of type of school and location. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationships between independent and dependent variable. Four hundred and forty six (446) students constituted the sample. The attitude towards Physics and Chemistry and the perception of the type of school showed there was no significant difference between single-sex and co- educational school. There was no significant difference between single- sex and co- educational school (mixed) students in their self- concept in Physics and Chemistry. There was no significant difference between single- sex and co- educational school (mixed) students in their perception of the usefulness of Physics and Chemistry. Results also show that urban students have better perception of the usefulness of Physics and Chemistry than the rural students. The difference in perception of the usefulness of Chemistry is statistically significant but the difference in perception of the usefulnessofPhysicsisnotstatisticallysignificant. Bothruralandurbanstudentshad positive attitude and self-concept for Physics and Chemistry.