Individualistic Goal Structure and Academic Performance in a Depressed Economy: A Study of Colleges of Education in South-East Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined individualistic goal structure as an appropriate technique for improved academic performance of students in Social Studies in a depressed economy. The study used one hundred and twenty (120) students (sixty males and sixty females), drawn from two Colleges of Education in South-East Nigeria. The instrument used for the study was the Social Studies Achievement Test (SSAT).  Section A of the SSAT contained the bio-data of the respondents while section B consisted of 20 multiple-choice items. The research questions were answered using mean rating and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The null hypotheses tested were rejected implying that there was a significant difference between individualistic goal structure and the academic performance of students in Social Studies, also that there was a significant relationship between gender and the academic achievement of students in Social Studies. The paper, therefore, recommends the retraining of teachers towards using of individualistic goal structure to improve students’ performance in Social Studies. Also, that both male and females should be assisted and encouraged by parents, teachers and the society to develop their untapped intellectual resources, so as to improve academically.