SELF-EFFICACY AND SELF-ESTEEM AS PREDICTORS OF STUDENTS ATTITUDE TOWARDS EXAMINATION MISCONDUCTS IN ANAMBRA STATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

The study investigated self-efficacy and self-esteem as predictors of students’ attitude towards examination misconduct in Anambra State secondary schools. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted correlational research design. The population for the study consisted of 20,214 SSI students from 262 public secondary schools in Anambra State. The sample size for the study was 378 SS1 students selected using Australian sample size calculator. Three instruments were used for date collection: General Perceived Self efficacy Scales (GPSES), Self Esteem Scales (SES) and Questionnaire on Examination Misconduct (QEM). The instruments were subjected to face validation. The reliability of the instruments were established using Cronbach Alpha and with coefficient values of 0.85, 0.78 and 0.69 for GPSES, SES and QEM respectively. The data were collected by the researcher with the help of three research assistance who were briefed on how to administer and retrieve copies of the instrument. The completed copies of the questionnaire were collected on the spot. Data collected were analyzed using Simple Regression. The study found that self efficacy and self esteem are moderate negative predictor of examination misconduct among secondary school students such that a unit increase in self efficacy and self esteem will lead to decrease in examination misconduct. Also that self-efficacy and self-esteem predict examination misconduct among the secondary school male and female students in Anambra State.  Based on the findings, some recommendations are made.