SELF-EFFICACY AND SELF-CONCEPT AS CORRELATES OF MATHEMATICS PHOBIA AMONG VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN RIVERS STATE

UCHECHI MARTINS; B ONYEKURU

SELF-EFFICACY AND SELF-CONCEPT AS CORRELATES OF MATHEMATICS PHOBIA AMONG VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN RIVERS STATE

UCHECHI MARTINS, B ONYEKURU

Abstract

The study investigated self-efficacy and self-concepts as correlates of mathematics phobia among visually impaired students of special schools in Rivers State. Two research questions were answered while two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population of the study comprised all the visually impaired students from the 4 special schools in Rivers State, Nigeria. The sample size of 60 visually impaired students in the 4 special schools were drawn through purposive sampling technique. Three self designed instruments were used for data collection. Face, content and construct validities were ensured. The reliability coefficients of of Self-efficacy Scale, Self-concept Scale and Mathematics Phobia Scale are 0.77, 0.71 and 0.74 respectively. Linear regression was used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. It was found that psychological variable of self-concept, self-efficacy jointly are significant predictors of Mathematics phobia among visually impaired. Self-efficacy independently is a significant predictor of mathematics phobia of visually impaired while self-concept is not. It was recommended that guidance counsellors should be proactive and also bring it to the understanding of the visually impaired that they are not totally handicapped and as such posses the efficacy to excel in school especially in mathematics. The school administrator through critical perspective talk should be able to encourage the students to totally eradicate the negative perception of their look and develop a strong confidence in their ability to achieve the goals and objectives of the school.

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