Exploring Determinants that Influence and Predict Students’ Attitudes towards Social Issues: A Survey of Senior High Schools in Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana

Abstract

The study explored the attitudes of senior high school students in the Brong Ahafo region towards social issues. It hypothesised that gender, subjects studied, type of school, environment, age, ethnicity and religious affiliation of students have an effect and predict their attitudes. The study adopted the descriptive cross-sectional survey as a design. Participants for the study were 900 students from 20 senior high schools in the region. They were selected using the cluster and simple random sampling techniques. A questionnaire (Mensah’s attitude scale for measuring social, moral and religious issues) with a Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.893 was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed with SPSS version 20. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools like frequency counts, percentages, means and standard deviation, Factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression were used for data analysis. The results showed that students in senior high schools in the Brong Ahafo region had positive attitudes towards social issues and that, their demographic characteristics have significant influence and predict their attitudes. It was recommended that Brong Ahafo branch of the Ghana Education Service should endeavour to intensify education on social, moral and religious issues through subjects like citizenship education and religious and moral education