DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Deviant behavior is described as failing to follow the standards or norms of society or the school. According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary six editions, deviant behavior is defined as acting in a way that is different from what is expected of others, and according to Chambers Dictionary in the twentieth century. Deviant behavior is defined as acting in a way that is contrary to the norms of a group of individuals in a society or community. Crime, alcoholism, indiscipline bad school, house prostitution, cultism, gambling, and other behaviors are examples of turning away or ignoring specified laws of a governmental system or a social ideal. It has been found that a large percentage of students at higher education institutions engage in deviant behavior. They become deviant when they engage in activities that are not controlled by the school system or society. Nigerian society is currently changing, necessitating an educational system that would enable young to comprehend society and cultural legacy. This will aid in the preservation of society and culture, as well as people' preparation for changing attitudes, knowledge, skills, manpower, and experience in society. Youth education is critical for ensuring residents' trust in the country's social and economic progress as well as raising the standard of life in general.

The Nigerian educational system must instill in our pupils a sense of patriotism as well as the foundations of national and international understanding and collaboration. Through education services, deviant behavior in schools can be eradicated, including smoking, drinking, stealing, abortion, murder, gambling, and prostitution, among other things. This can be accomplished by attempting to restructure the in term and organization of the school, peer group, religious institutions, and all other primary organizations in society. The family's role as a socialization agent might have a big influence on the child. This is clear from the fact that it is the first place where the child learns about leadership and what it takes; here, the parents teach the child the basic skills and behavior patterns that must be followed at home. The school, as a socialization and training institution for our future learners and manpower needs, is also confronted with a serious dilemma that affects the whole society. This is an issue of deviant behavior, which is a type of indiscipline. The problem of deviant society manifests itself in Nigerian society and most of our school products, such as a lack of total commitment and dedication to their work, lateness to work, absenteeism, neglect of duty, and parents who are less concerned about their children by arriving late when the children are already asleep, among other things. All of these things slow down work progress and limit our effectiveness and efficiency. The school as a front organization should be able to provide actual services that benefit the government and society, such as the capacity to teach values, punctuality, regularity, honesty, job devotion, and loyalty. This means that schools should be able to produce disciplined students who will later grow up to be good citizens who are free of any deviant act or behavior, such as drug addiction, gambling, truancy in school, abortion, smoking, sexual immorality, failure to serve punishment, murder, prostitution, bribery, and corruption, among other things.

Deviant behavior is an act of indiscipline or a behavior problem that has been identified as a major source of social vices in Nigerian culture, causing worry among parents, government officials, and educators. Increased school dropout rates, drug misuse among youngsters, gambling, thieving, and pickpocketing are all sources of these social vices, which are also a societal annoyance.

There's an old proverb that states the devil's factory is an idle mind. This means that deviant behavior has caused students to engage in bad habits such as stealing, drunkenness, abortion, and absenteeism from school. They are likely to meet with bad friends who are corrupt and learn all types of bad acts from there, and they are likely to be tempted to engage in deviant behavior' such as stealing, drunkenness, abortion, and absenteeism from school.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study of the source of deviant behavior among certain chosen secondary students and how it impacts the child's academic performance in some selected schools in Enugu East Local Government Area in Enugu State is the focus of the research.

The impact of a student's history on deviant behavior in schools, as well as the role of the school environment, instructors, parents, society, and peer groups in fostering deviant behavior among students. To stop or lessen the heinous situation, answers to the following questions would be requested.

i Could the effect of deviant behaviour contribute to the performance of the child.

ii. To what extent has deviant behaviour contribute to the academic performance of the child?

iii. Could deviant behaviour attribute to parent inability to meet the student school need?

iv. Could deviant behaviour cause students dropout from school

1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY 

This study is concern to sets out and achieves the following.

i) To investigate whether parents in some ways, either knowing or unknowingly contribute to the deviant behaviour of students in secondary school.

ii) To determine whether the nature of the school administration has influence whether the socio-economic factors in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State have any influence on deviant behaviour among secondary school students.

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY  

The findings of this study show that aberrant behavior is prevalent among certain chosen kids in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. The recommendations presented in this report will go a long way toward reducing the problem. In general, this research is vital and crucial for the development of children, especially in our current complicated world. To get a better understanding of children's needs and how they might be satisfied.

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

The following hypotheses will be tested

H0: There is no significant relationship between autocratic parenting style and delinquent behaviour among secondary school students

H1: There is a significant relationship between autocratic parenting style and delinquent behaviour among secondary school students

H0: There is no significant relationship between democratic parenting styles and delinquent behaviour among secondary school students.

H2: There is a significant relationship between democratic parenting styles and delinquent behaviour among secondary school students.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers a study of deviant behavior among secondary school students.The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

a) Availability of Research Material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study      

b) Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities. 

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Peer Group: People who are similar in development level such as age, education and other qualifications.

School Administration: It is a formalized system which, plan, coordinate, organize, staff, reporting and evaluating of all matters of the entire school affairs.

Heritage: A valued thing or culture that is been passed down from previous generations.

Nuisance: An annoying person            

Organization: An organized group with a particular purpose e.g. school

1.8       ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

The project will be organized around following chapters;

Chapter one gives an introduction to the research work. It gives the basic information about the company and the research being undertaken. This chapter therefore consists of the background of the study and organizational profile, statement of the problem, objectives, research questions, significance of the study, scope of the study, and limitations encountered by the researcher.

Chapter Two consists of the literature review and the theoretical framework

Chapter three gives details of the research methodology. The research methodology represents the various ways and methods which the researcher used in order to gain his information.

Chapter Four gives the analysis and interpretation of the information gathered by the researcher.

Chapter five gives the findings and conclusion of the researcher. Here, conclusions will be drawn based on the findings and their implications will also be given.

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