African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, Vol. 10 (2), 95-106, 2023
Authors: Lucy Njoki Gitau, Lydia N. Kinuthia and Patriciah W. Wambugu
Egerton University, P.O Box 13357 – 20100, Nakuru-KE.
Author Email: lucywaiganjp@gmail.com
Abstract: Home science plays a key role in equipping learners with knowledge, self-reliance skills, ability to practice principles of good health and preserve the environment. Despite its important role, the number of secondary school students who enroll for the subject in Nakuru county has generally been low. The low enrolment has been attributed to negative perceptions among other factors. Literature shows that the fathers’ occupation is among factors that influence students’ perceptions towards home science. This study investigated the influence of fathers’ occupationon secondary school students’ perceptions towards home science in Nakuru county, Kenya. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The accessible population was 2043 forms two and three students in 39 public secondary schools that offer the subject. A sample of 204 students selected using stratified, proportionate and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the students and schools which participated in the study. Data was gathered using a students’ questionnaire. Its face validity was checked by three experts from the department of Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Management, Egerton University. After pilot testing, the reliability of the questionnaire was estimated using the Cronbach alpha method. It yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.856, and was deemed reliable. Data was analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Science version 25. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe and summarize qualitative data. Hypothesis was tested at the .05 alpha level using logistic binary regression. The findings showed that occupation of majority of fathers were business/manual jobs (68.3%), which was a good percentage to determine any influence to the students towards perception. The findings also showed that majority (89.9%) of students had positive perception towards learning home science. The findings further showed that fathers’ occupation was not a significant predictor of perceptions. It is envisaged that the findings of the study may provide school administrators, teachers, parents, with an insight to look further on other areas that may be the cause of negative perceptions towards the subject and put in place mechanisms to stop them. Further, these findings could be used as baseline data by future researchers on perceptions towards home science.
Keywords: Father’s Occupation, Secondary School Students, Students’ Perceptions, Home Science students’ perception
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Suggested Citation
Njoki, L. G., Kinuthia, L. N. and Wambugu, P.W. (2023). Influence of Fathers’ Occupation on Secondary School Students’ Perceptions towards Home Science in Nakuru County, Kenya. African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 10(2), 95-106. Available online at http://arjess.org/education-research/influence-of-fathers-occupation-on-secondary-school-students-perceptions-towards-home-science-in-nakuru-county-kenya.pdf
