Challenges of Social Environment on the Behavior of Students
SOCW 6210 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
Name
Walden University
2022
Challenges of Social Environment on the Behavior of Students
In the increasingly competitive markets for high quality students entering colleges or
universities, this article examines and evaluates factors affecting student behavior and
performance at a historically black college or university such as South Carolina State University.
Specifically, the study seeks to determine the impact of academic climate, background and social
environment on student performance and satisfaction. A five-point scale was used to address
student preferences and satisfaction with academic programs and various services. satisfaction
with academic environment and services as well as the precedent high school achievements are
significantly correlated with college performance. The probability distribution of college majors,
the adequacy of library services, and the out-of-class experiences are also significantly
associated with positive college outcomes. The education profession has experienced significant
changes and revisions of curriculum and program requirements in the past decade. The changes
brought new educational challenges and opportunities. Although some colleges experienced
enrollment declines from time to time, most post secondary enrollments have notably increased
in all parts of the country and every community (Associated Press, 1998).
Educational standards are continuously revised and often raised while competition for high-
achieving students has intensified (Hu & Hossler, 2000; McPherson & Shapiro, 1998). The
initiatives are intended to meet challenges stemming from increased demand for educational
reforms and new programs. Indeed, the key to enhanced learning is the creation of an
environment that encourages students to pursue educational activities in-and-outside classrooms
(Graham and Gisi, 2000). Thus, at South Carolina State University (SCSU) School of Business,
professional development programs, internship programs, and an office of student services have
been created, integrated, and structured to attract, retain, and help students in their professional
and academic development. Graham and Gisi (2000) argue that academic climate and student
services interact to yield greatest satisfaction and performance.
Environmental ethics deals with issues that are related to how we utilize and distribute re-
sources. Can individuals justifiably use resources so differently that one individual uses
resources many times more lavishly than other individuals who have barely enough to survive?
In a just world, there has to be a more equitable sharing of resources than we encounter at
present. The just distribution of resources has global, national and local concerns that we need to
address. There are rich and poor nations. There are rich and poor communities in every country.
And there are rich and poor families. In this era of modern economic development, the disparity
between the haves and have-nots is widening. Our human environments in the urban, rural and
wilderness sectors, use natural resources that shift from the wilderness (forests, grasslands,
wetlands, etc.) to the rural sector, and from there o the urban sector. Wealth also shifts in the
same direction. This unequal distribution of wealth and access to land and its resources is a
serious environmental concern. An equitable sharing of resources forms the basis of sustain-able
development for urban, rural and wilderness dwelling communities. As the political power base
is in the urban centers, this itself leads to inequalities and a subsequent loss of sustainability in
resource management in the rural and even more so for forest dwelling people Powers, J. D.,
Bowen, G. L., & Rose, R. A. (2005).
There are many social problems that are occurring in America today. One social problem that
resonates with me is global warming and our environment. There are many reasons why our
environment is the way it is today, and there are also many ways in which we can fix it. You also
have to remember that while some environmental problems are beyond human control, such as
volcanoes and earthquakes, most are social in origin. There are many social forces that are
disturbing our environment. One is the tremendous increase in population increases the demand
for food, energy, minerals, and other products. One of the largest growing problems that are now
affecting our planet is population. In 2006, the world’s population was 6.55 billion, and it’s
increasing by 76 million people a year. The growing population impacts many things. One of the
problems is our habitat. The population of the world is increasing, and as this happens. Powers,
J. D., Bowen, G. L., & Rose, R. A. (2005).
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
This chapter describes the research design and methodology that will be employed in carrying
out this study on the influence of the social environment on the behavior of students within
higher institutions in Moi University Main Campus. The chapter focuses on, then the study
design, target population, sampling for the study and data collection instruments and procedures.
And finally describes how the data collected will be analyzed in an attempt to answer the
research questions.
3.1 Study area
The researcher will conduct her study in Moi University Main Campus. This is the main campus
of Moi University. It is 14 km from Cheptiret. Cheptiret is a junction that is 22 km from Eldoret
town. The Moi University main campus is located 38 km south of Eldoret town in a serene, rural
setting conducive for study. The campus has a total of 3,000 acres of land which is useful for
research activities and income generation. The campus has modern teaching facilities that
support academic programs which include the Margaret Thatcher Library. The rural setting and
scenery provides an excellent quiet atmosphere for intellectual activity and recreation in the
growing Western Kenya Tourist Circuit.
This atmosphere enhances interaction between researchers and the rural community and
promotes cost-effective implementation of outreach programs for sustainable development. The
core activities of the University are backed by highly qualified and dedicated academic and
administrative professional staff. The main campus is home to about four thousand students
enrolled in various undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
3.2 Research Design
The study will employ a case study design. This approach will seek to collect data without
manipulating the research variables or the respondents in an attempt to get the perception of the
respondents on teacher’s perception toward social environment on behavior of students.
Inferences about relations among variables will be made, without direct intervention from
concomitant variation of independent and dependent variables (Paton, 2002).
3.3 Target Population
The study will target student within the university. The study specifically targeted the 2500
students of the institution and will be able to surface vital information concerning the influence
of social environment on the behavior of students. In addition, the study will also target the head
of the students.
3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Procedure
SamplingDis that part ofDstatisticalDpractice concerned with the selection of individual or
observations intended to yield some knowledge about a populationDof concern, especially for the
purposes ofDstatistical inference, Mugenda, (1999). The study will employ stratified random
sampling technique. Sampling technique will be used to select 750 respondents from the
institutions. Stratified random sampling technique will be used to select the most informed
respondents from the school, while simple random sampling will be used to select sample from
the school. The head of the student will also all include in the sample for the study. The sample
size represents 30 % of the Target population and Mugenda and Mugenda recognizes 30% as an
adequate sample in an explanatory case study design. That is, for any population below 1000,
over 30% will form the sample size, at least 10% for any population above 1000, and 1% for
any population of 10,000 and above according to Neuman, (2000).
3.5 Sampling Procedures
Neuman (2000) argues that, “The main factor considered in determining the sample size is the
need to keep it manageable enough. This enabled the researcher to derive from it detailed data at
an affordable costs in terms of time, finances and human resource (Mugenda & Mugenda (1999).
The researcher ensured a high degree of correspondence between a sampling frame and the
sample population as the accuracy of the sample depended, first and foremost, on the sampling
frame. Further, Patton (2002) argues that the sample size depends on what one wants to know,
the purpose of the inquiry, what is at stake, what was useful, what will have credibility and what
can be done with available time and resource.
The study employed purposive and simple random sampling technique. Simple random and
purposive sampling techniques will be used to select 750 respondents in schools. In addition,
questionnaires will be issued to the respondents in the selected school.
3.6 Data Collection Procedures
Data collection Procedures will includeDthe activity of gathering facts or information about a
subject under theD researchDstudy. After formulating research instruments and sampling the
respondents, the researcher will inform the administration of small scale hotels about the
research and its advantages. On the day of data collection the researcher will attach an
introductory letter to the questionnaire. The Questionnaires will be given to the respondents then
collected after they have been filled, of which data analysis will be compiled from. The data
collection and analysis will be done in the month of November 2010. Interview schedules will
also be issued to solicit for more information that may not have been captured in the
questionnaire.
3.7 Research Instruments
This section presents the research instruments, the validation and reliability assurance of the
research instruments and the data collection procedure that will be adopted in this study. The
main research instrument that will be used in this study will be questionnaires and interview
schedules. In developing the questionnaire items, the fixed choice and open-ended formats of the
item will be used. This format will be used in all categories of the questionnaires.
However, in the fixed choice item, it involves ‘putting words’ in the respondents’ mouth,
especially when providing acceptable answers, there is temptation to avoid serious thinking on
the part of the respondent. The respondent ends up choosing the easiest alternative and provides
fewer opportunities for self-expression. It is because of these reasons that it was necessary to
combine this format of items with a few open – ended response items. Most of the items adopted
a Lickert scale (such as 1-strongly disagree, 2-disagree, 3-undecided, 4-agree, 5-strongly agree).
An interview schedule will be used to collect data from selected employee.
The oral interviews covered the respondents perception on the social environment on the
behavior of students and also for soliciting for more information that may not have been captured
by the questionnaire.
3.8 Validity and Reliability of the Research Instruments
3.8.1 Validity of the Research Instrument
According to Paton (2000) validity is quality attributed to proposition or measures of the degree
to which they conform to establish knowledge or truth. An attitude scale is considered valid, for
example, to the degree to which its results conform to other measures of possession of the
attitude. Validity therefore refers to the extent to which an instrument can measure what it ought
to measure. It therefore refers to the extent to which an instrument asks the right questions in
terms of accuracy. Mugenda et al. (1999) define validity as the accuracy and meaningfulness of
inferences, which are based on research results.
The content validity of the instrument will be determined in two ways. First the researcher will
discuss the items in the instrument with the supervisors, lecturers from the department and
colleagues. Advice given by these people will help the researcher determine the validity of the
research instruments. The advice included suggestions, clarifications and other inputs. This
suggestion will be used in making necessary changes. Secondly, content validity of the
instrument will be determined through piloting, where the responses of the subjects will be
checked against the research objectives. This also gives a reason as to why content will be used.
For a research instrument to be considered valid, the content will select and included in the
questionnaire must be relevant to the variable being investigated Mutai (2000).
3.8.2 Reliability of the Research Instrument
According to Mugenda & Mugenda (1999), the reliability of an instrument is the measure of the
degree to which a research instrument yields consistent results or data after repeated trials. In
order to test the reliability of the instrument to be used in the study, the test- retest method will
be used. The questionnaires will be administered twice within an interval of two weeks.
Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha will be computed for each instrument in Likert scale. A reliability
coefficient of 0.7 or over will be assumed to reflect the internal reliability of the instruments
(Fraenkel & Wallen, 2000).
3.9 Administration of Research Instrument
The administration of the research will be administered through the research assistants who will
be thoroughly trained both in interpretations of responses from respondents and also in the
procedure of administration. They will then be accompanied the researcher in piloting and
modifying the research instruments so that they can comprehend fully the purposes and methods
of data collection. The research assistant will administer the questionnaires personally to the
respondents while the researcher will conducted the oral interviews among the head of the
students.
3.10 Data Analysis and Presentation
The data collected will be both qualitative and quantitative. Descriptive methods will be
employed in analyzing qualitative data and frequencies and proportions will be used in
interpreting the respondent’s perception of issues raised in the questionnaires so as to answer the
research questions. Graphs and tables will be used in data presentation. This will be done with
the aid of a computer programme - Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.5
for windows.
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