ABSTRACT
This study looks at the effects of
stress on the academic performance of students, source of stress and the strategies
by which the effect of stress can be reduced among students of the College of
Education, Ekiadolor-Benin. The objectives was to show the relationship between
stress and performance. Information for the study was obtained using the
structured questionnaires with about 20 items. Some of the items were overload
of course, poor classroom condition, lack of available laboratory and other
sources of school stress. The data collected were coded and analyzed through
the use of simple percentage. The analysis were carried out to facilitate
discussions of the research questions. Some of the findings includes; that
stress will always leads to poor academic performance in College of
Education, Ekiadolor-Benin. That the major source of stress in College of
Education, Ekiadolor includes; overload of courses, poor classroom condition,
and lack of available laboratories etc. that management has to put in place
programmes to combat the stress and if adopted may be useful towards learning
in College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE =
Introduction
Background of the study
Statement of problem
Purpose of the study
Significance of the study
Hypothesis
Research problems
Scope/delimitation
Definition of terms
CHAPTER
TWO =
Literature review
CHAPTER THREE=
Design and methodology
Population and sample
Instrumental and data collection
Analysis of data
CHAPTER FOUR=
Presentation and analysis of data
Introduction
Percentage analysis
Research problem analysis
CHAPTER
FIVE =
Summary, conclusion and
recommendation
Summary and conclusion
Recommendation
REFERENCES =
QUESTIONNAIRE=
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
This study focuses on the harm or good stress has done to students in relation
to their academic performance in school.
It is a common feature that students as individual or group interact with their
environment, these experiences one way or the other affect their academic
performance.
Stress has generated a great deal of interest in recent years. It has been of
great concern to members of the academic and other researchers.
To most people, stress is bad and must be avoided, but this position is not
always true. According to Yates (1979) stress in proper amounts is a necessary
ingredient in any person whose life is going to manifest vitality. Stress is to
be managed and not simply avoided. Thus, this study is designed to look into
the effect of stress on student’s academic performance using college of
education, Ekiadolor-Benin as a case study. Ivancevish Matterson (1980) pointed
out that say stress produces performance degradation is rather a
simplistic over started position. Thus, there must be an optimum level of stress
that is tolerated to bring about performance. This stand point makes stress a
complex concept that does not lead itself to a simple definition. Mc Garth
(1776) defined stress in term of conditions necessary for it as follows: it is
a potential for stress when environmental situation is perceived as presenting
a demand that threatens to exceed the persons capabilities. Signs of stress are
wide spread even among the teaching staff, that is lecturers who are the
academic staff, the senior non-teaching staff as well as the junior
non-teaching staff today in the college. And so are the adverse effects on
their well being, health and even the care of their students. Some negative
effects of stress are increased absenteeism heart disease, lateness to class and
ill-health.
Stress can have both positive and negative consequences on the individual.
Having optimum stress can lead to peak efficiency, create satisfaction a
sense of well being and accomplishment and other reward for success. On the
other hand, excessive stress in school can result to loss of appetitive for
reading, to perform well and declining mental and physical health. Stress is
caused by some factors (stressors) which exist both within and without the
school environment. These stressors can be identified as intra-individual,
inter-individual, institutional and extra institutional stressors. In this
regard, the present study seeks at finding out the causes, symptoms and effects
as well as the relationship that exist between academic stress and students
performance and finally to recommend stress coping strategies for management by
using the students of College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin as subjects.
1.2 STATEMENT OF
PROBLEMS
Gibson, Ivancevich and Donnelly (19955) defined stress as an adaptive response
mediated by individual differences and psychological process, that is a
consequence of any external (environmental) action, situation or physical
demand on person. It can be gathered from the above that due to individual
differences and different adaptive capabilities, factors that would cause
stress often differ among individuals. Some common factors have however
been identified as sources of academic related stress, some of these are;
i.
Lecture overload
ii.
Irregular lecture hours
iii.
Lightning condition
iv.
Classrooms and hostel conditions.
v.
Inadequate finance
vi.
Time management etc.
1.3 PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
The purpose of carrying out this study is as follows;
i.
To identify the possible source and symptoms of stress experience by College of
Education Ekiadolor Students.
ii.
To determine the effect of stress on students academic performance in College
of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin.
iii.
To show that stress as, as experience is not limited to particular category of
students.
iv.
To make appropriate recommendations on how stress can be managed based on the
findings of the study.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
The
following research questions would be tested in this study;
a.
Does stress lead to poor students, poor academic performance in College of
Education-Benin?
b.
Does institutional factor (such as poor infrastructure etc) lead to stress in
the College?
c.
Does inadequate finance of students lead to stress in College of Education,
Ekiadolor-Benin?
d.
Does lecture overload irregular lectures etc lead to stress in College of
Education, Ekiadolor-Benin?
1.5 RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
In carrying out this study, the researcher relied heavily on information
collected from primary and secondary sources of information. This includes
journals, magazines, newspapers, books and interview from the various
respondents.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This
study is of a great importance to the College as institution. it would afford the
College an opportunity to know the various factors predisposing students to
stress with a view to ameliorating some of them by putting in place some
measures such as; (a) Provision of good infrastructural facilities (b) The need
to adhere strictly to the time table, (c) Stress management counselling unit
etc. this study also intends to bring to the awareness of the College the
effects of stress on students academic achievement. These reactions to stress
vary from individual and afford the institution an insight into how much stress
an individual can effectively handle.
1.7 SCOPE OF
THE STUDY
This study will be limited to the College environment because, the study is
meant for the students of the College of Education, Ekiadolor selected students
from the college will be used as subject for the study. It is hoped that
findings from the students would also be a true reflection of some other
colleges in the country.
1.8 DEFINITIONS
OF TERMS
Stress: Stress as used in this study is
defined as an adaptive response, mediated by individual differences or
psychological proceeds that is a consequence of any external (environmental)
action, situation or event that places excessive psychological and physical
demand on a person.
Performance: This is the extent to which
an individual is able to accomplish successfully the task or goal assigned to
him subject to the normal constraint and the reasonable utilization of the
available resources.