CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Social studies is one of the subject taught in primary and secondary schools today because of its usefulness to everyday life. According to Adeyoyin (1982) social studies is the study of man and his totality (the study covers) where he lives, his activities in the past and present his culture, frame of mind and how he relates to others in the society.

According to Wronki (1981) social studies are those common learning of man’s interaction with his social and physical environment, a way of life of how man influences his environment and in turn how environment influences man.   

IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL STUDIES 

          Social studies teach culture, so it enables students to know their norms, culture, believe and rules in the society.

It enables people to understand the relationship between human beings and social and physical environment in the past and present.

Social studies help individuals to develop the capacity to learn and acquire certain basic skills such as listening, speaking, reading, writing, calculating, observing, analyzing, and inference which are essential in the formation of sound social, economic and political judgement.

Social studies enable students to understand the environment with its man made, natural, cultural and spiritual resources and the conservation of these resources for development.

Social studies is taught in primary and secondary schools in order for them to know what they ought to do as members of the society. in some secondary schools some students are not ready to learn due to some circumstances, some believes that social studies is difficult as a result there is lack of interest in the subject which results to a negative attitudes towards the learning of social studies. As a subject that studies man and his totality, social studies should be encouraged at all levels of learning.

1.2            STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Social studies is one of the subject that teaches man his environment, it enables him to know his norms, cultures, beliefs, and rules in the society. therefore the importance of social studies to man cannot be overemphasized. It is therefore very necessary that man learns about this subject. A lot of difficulties is been faced by man in learning this subject. This study therefore seeks to investigate into the factors affecting the learning of social studies.  

1.3            OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The study seeks to investigate the following:

1.                 The factors affecting the learning of social studies

2.                 The difficulties encountered in the learning of social studies

3.                 To seek ways that will motivate students to have interest in the subjects.

1.4            SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will present the factors affecting the learning of social studies among students. The study would also be significant to parents, educationist, social studies association who would be able to motivate the right attitudes to the learning of social studies. It may also serve as a basis for other researchers. 

1.5            SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will cover some selected secondary school in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. It will also determine the factors affecting the learning of social studies. 

1.6            RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions have been formulated to guide the research.

1.                 What are the factors affecting the learning of social studies?

2.                 What are the effect of the difficulty in learning social studies?

3.                 My parents do not encourage me to read at home.

4.                 I don’t like my social studies teacher.

5.                 Social studies is an interesting subject.

1.7            DEFINITION OF TERMS

Attitude: Is a way of feeling, thinking and behaving

Interest: An activity or a subject that you enjoy and that you spend your free time doing or studying.

Instructional materials: Are those teaching aids that make teaching and learning to be effective.

Learning: Is defines as a relative permanent change in behaviour resulting from practice or experience.

Social Studies: Is the study of man and his physical environment.

Teacher: is an experience person who impact knowledge to an inexperienced person.

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