Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Chemistry has been identified as one of the important subjects needed for the sustenance and
transformation of the national economy, and hence should be accorded adequate attention.
Advancement in science and technology has created a greater demand for more people to study
chemistry and this is particularly important in the realisation of Kenya‘s vision to become
industrialised. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate the effects of selected
social factors influencing the students‘ attitude towards Chemistry at the secondary school level
of education, and propose recommendations to remedy the situation. Guided by specific research
objectives, the study targeted the effects of the teacher‘s characteristics, parental influence,
student‘s career interest and peer influence on the students‘ attitude towards Chemistry in
Nyamaiya Division, Nyamira County, Kenya. The study adopted an ex-post facto research
design and the target population was all secondary school students in Nyamaiya Division. The
sample size was determined from Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table for determining sample size
from a given population, where the target population of 2890 students gave a sample size of 341
students. Simple random sampling was used to select 341 respondents from the secondary school
students in Nyamaiya Division. Student questionnaires were used to collect data from the
respondents. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.
Descriptive statistics involved the use of percentages and means. The main inferential technique
used was the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The hypotheses were tested at α
= 0.05 significance level. Quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The study revealed that the students‘ attitude towards Chemistry
was significantly influenced by the teacher‘s characteristics and parental influence. The Ministry
of Education should therefore develop in-service programmes and refresher courses for teachers
that emphasize the need to adopt creative and motivating methods of teaching and the
importance of being available to the students. There is also need for the Ministry of Education to
create forums for parental education on the importance of providing an enabling home
environment to the students so as to boost students‘ attitudes towards chemistry
