CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

          Punishment and reward are regarded as essential means through which a teacher can maintain class discipline in primary schools. Many educationist and psychologist have expressed different views over the effective use of punishment and rewards in primary schools. During the course of this study, the writer will bring together the contrasting views and feelings of others so that the reader can be given sufficient ground work o which to base his conclusion after reading the research work.

          Punishment and reward are most debated issues in the school administration today, especially when they are related to learning process. It is equally an area of interest, which closely involves many parents and teachers who feels the need for education authority to define its limitations so as not to over step their limits. A point and acceptable solution must be sought on this intriguing issue of punishment and reward because the outcome will give a practical advice and guidance to those who are just beginning the teaching profession or to parent who show such concern over their children success in life.

This work does not claim to solve all the problems concerned with punishment and reward in learning process in the school system rather to height some possible remedies, which will be of abundant educational values to both teachers and parents and the public in general.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 

          This work is on the study of the effects of reward and punishment on academic performance of pupils in some selected primary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. Many educationist and psychologist have written many books covering this topic. Farrant (2004) emphasized that if reward and punishment is used wrongly, it can cause the pupils to misbehave thereby creating a class of “undisciplined” children. Misbehaviour such as lateness, stealing, destruction of school or home property, disobedience, throwing of stones etc all acts that constitute rebellion and this can have negative effects on learning. The writers attempts the study therefore is to examine the views of some of these writers in addition to their research findings and personal experience so as to be able to know the following main problems.

-                     To determine if it is true that pupils in primary schools can learn effectively with the use of rewards.

-                     Whether it is possible to combine the use of reward and punishment so that much can be achieved in terms of educational objectives

-                     Whether punishment has effect on the learning process of the pupils in primary schools.

-                     To find out whether effective learning can always take place in absence of any form of punishment

-                     Whether there are other methods of learning reward and punishment will not be employed.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

          The writers aim and objectives of carryout this research work is simple given adequate information in primary schools, and the roles of reward and punishment in primary school learning in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

          This study will help to lay more emphasis on the effective use of reward and punishment by policy makers. Those who plan the curriculum in the primary schools will be well equipped with the effects of reward and punishment in our primary schools. it will also be of great benefit to the teachers, parents and to the Edo State ministry of education because it will provide them useful information about the roles of reward and punishment as a means of enhancing learning in our society at large.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

          This study was guided by the following questions.

i.             Does reward encourage or motivate learning?

ii.            Does punishment have negative effect on learning?

iii.           What effect would reward and punishment have on educational system in Nigeria?

iv.          Do parents and teacher support the use of reward and punishment in the school system?

v.            Is punishment a way of correcting pupils?

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

          This research is mainly concerned with reward and punishment in some selected primary schools in Oredo Local Government Area. It involves about four teachers from both junior and senior primary schools and pupils.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Reward: Is a satisfaction of needs for a whole series of responses/an act of appreciation a job well done.

Punishment: The withdrawal of a pleasant stimulus as a consequence of behaviour. An act of correcting a wrong “act” or character exhibited.

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