The Relationship between Students Attitude towards Biology and Performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Biology in Selected Secondary Schools in Nyakach, Kenya.

Abstract

This paper focuses on student’s attitude towards Biology and how it influences their performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in selected secondary schools in Nyakach. The study was significant as performance in Biology in KCSE examination has been poor over the years; hence need to find out the causes. The study was guided by the systems theory advocated by Gagne and Briggs. The research was conducted through descriptive survey design by quantitative and qualitative approach. The target population was seven hundred and thirty Form four students, eighteen Biology teachers, and fourteen Principals. Stratified random sampling was used to select schools, purposive sampling for selecting teachers and Principals, form four students were first stratified then selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires for students, teachers and interview schedule for principals. Descriptive Statistics such as frequencies, percentages, correlation analysis, regression coefficient and coefficient of determination were used to analyze data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Programme (SPSS). The finding showed that there is positive relationship between student’s attitude towards Biology and their performance in KCSE Biology. The study recommended that Biology teachers should use teaching methodologies that will promote positive attitude towards Biology among students.