BIRTH ORDER, GENDER AND FAMILY SIZE ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN AKOKO SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT ONDO STATE

BIRTH ORDER, GENDER AND FAMILY SIZE ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN AKOKO SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT ONDO STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Academic attainment is an important parameter in measuring success in students. Observations and reports have shown that success or high academic achievement has become a herculean task to accomplish by students in recent times. Poor academic performance were recorded both at the secondary and tertiary levels of education in Nigeria. The performance of students at all levels in educational institutions in Nigeria has attracted much criticisms from all and sundry from time immemorial. The decline in the academic performance of students in Nigerian Universities had been observed by Soyinka (1999), when he observed that University system in Nigeria needed restructuring. He went further to say that academic standard had fallen drastically and the quality of graduates being produced by the nation’s universities is questionable and subject to re-examination (Tenibiaje, 2009).

Poor academic performance of students has been of great concern to educationists, guidance and counsellors in particular. Despite, all guidance programmes and counseling strategies molted in schools to improve the students’ academic performances yet poor performances were recorded yearly. It becomes necessary to find out the causes of such poor performance in Nigeria higher institutions. Though, these poor performances have been attributed to a lot of indicators such as students factors, like students attitudes to school, approach to learning and academic self-concept. Apart from students factors, school factors and parents’ factors there are other indicators that affect poor performance. On the part of the parents, there are certain factors which, influence children’s success, such as: parents’ social class, parents’ educational as well as parental inputs and other exogenous variables. Apart from aforementioned factors, birth order may contribute positively or negatively to student’s academic achievement (tenibiaje, 2009).

Many people believe that their position as the eldest, middle, youngest, or only child in their family affected their personality in some way. Parents often muse whether their children's birth categories have affected their development. Since everyone has a birth category, it is not surprising that many people have developed their own implicit theories regarding birth order and personality. Many have probably been exposed to birth order theory, of either scientifically grounded or mythological origins (Denise & Stephen, 2002).

People are intrigued by the fact that children of a family behave differently although they were raised in the same environment, such as neighborhood, and share the same genetic pools from both of their parents. On top of behaviors, siblings do differ in terms of personality characteristics, intelligence, familial sentiment and others. Firstborns are always described as being responsible, high achievers and perfectionists whereas lastborns and only child are always described as the baby of the house and are mostly spoiled kids. As a result, these differences among siblings have attracted the attention of researchers over the past decades.

Generally, parents are excited and anticipated about their first child and hence, tend to be overly protective and pay more attention, investment, as well as expectation on this child. However, parents’ attention, investment, and expectation vary across children. As the second child arrives in the family, the firstborn may experience dethronement and the same happens to the second born once a third child arrives and so forth. Besides, it was suggested that parental resources that a child received decrease as the sib ship size grows bigger. Therefore, every child experiences different level of parental resources and investment as a result of their distinct birth order while these unique experiences will in turn shape their developmental course. To date, most of the birth order effect studies were conducted in the West and there are very little published studies that report on the birth order effect within the Nigeria context (Denise & Stephen, 2002).

Information from literature depicted that children from larger families are found to do worse than children from smaller families. Similarly, children lower down the birth order do worse than those higher up the birth order (Iacovou, 2001). According to Adler cited in Uba (1989), first birth or the oldest child is usually advantaged by a good deal of attention and warmth during the early stage on age of life, which he entertains all alone. Observations and studies have shown that more attention and time are usually accorded the first borns (Becker, 1981). Parental attention by parents declines as the number of sibling’s increases and later born children perform less well than their earlier born siblings. The parental attention on children born earlier affects the later born children to perform less well than their earlier born siblings. Studies carried out in the past on the relationship academic achievement and birth order have shown that there were positive relationships. For example, Leoma (1982) discovered that on relationship of birth order and creativity, first borns and configurations of oldest and only children are significantly more creative on verbal test of creativity than later borns. Nwafor and Ango (1988) observed that there was more significantly outstanding academic performance amongst first birth children. Tenibiaje (2002) observed that there was a significant difference in intelligence capacity between the first borns and later borns. Spears (1982) in his study, investigated that birth order effect on intelligence with later borns children, revealed that later children were less capable than earlier siblings, when birth order effects were controlled, family size was found to be negatively related to intelligence.

Economists have recognized that family inputs matter for children’s outcomes for a very long time. Among others, birth order has been discussed as one of the factors that may affect educational attainment of a child. Existing literature, however, has found the evidence controversial. While Lindert (1977), Behrman and Taubman (1986), Iacovou (2001) and Black, Devereux, and Salvanes (2005) …and that …first-born children obtained more schooling than children in higher birth orders, Ejrnaes and Portner (2004) …and that later-born children from a developing country acquired more schooling or spent more time in school. On the other hand, Hauser and Sewell (1985) do notand any significant effect on schooling (Black, Devereux, & Salvanes, 2005). This study found that birth order affects childrens educational attainment focusing on its effect through intra household allocation of resources. Understanding how resources are distributed within a family is an important issue provided that the level of family resources matter for a child development. In the presence of credit constraints, parents may invest strategically differently in Childs schooling by birth order. For example, as a possible source of birth order effects that favor …first-borns, some studies including Horton (1988) and Kessler (1991) suggest that it is because parents have concerns about the security of their income in old age. Parents have an incentive to invest more for …first-borns who are more likely to enter the labor market …first and contribute to the family. This may be the case when parents have concerns about uncertainty in their own earnings. Then, the birth order effect may arise not only from parental preferences for specie birth orders of children but also from their economic incentives.

Family sizes and its tendency for a probable world population explosion could plunge

poor developing countries into further abject poverty and helpless wretchedness. The

traditional perception of women's role in society makes it difficult for them to contribute to population control. The notion among most African women especially the illiterates is that the most important role of a woman is to procreate as many children as possible. In a developed economy, large family sizes and the resultant high birth rates are accompanied by rapid population growth during economic improvement and are mainly because of improved public health. As countries become more prosperous, death and birth rates decrease, resulting to population growth rates. Today, most developing countries are characterized by encouraging birth rates for much the same reasons as in the industrialized countries. In the same manner, death rates are reducing drastically mainly because of improvements in health care, education and sanitation. Though birth rates have declined substantially in many developing countries recently, they still remain high in some mainly for the following reasons.

i. Agriculture is an essential activity for poor households, they possess the incentive to invest in children to serve as farm labour and therefore help household taskssuch as fuel wood, water collection and childcare.

ii. Large families provide social security through extended family, investing in children becomes a way of ensuring care in old age

iii. And lack of knowledge about family planning.

However, researcher Dee Burton (1968) noted that studies involving birth order and intelligence have produced contradictory findings, with some studies indicating higher intelligence in firstborns, and others showing more intelligent later borns. A large body of research has examined linkages between birth order and later psychological outcomes including mental health, intelligence, academic achievement, and personality (for reviews see Elliott, 1992; Heer, 1985; Steelman, Powell & Werum, 2002; Stewart & Stewart, 1995; Zajonc, 2001; Zajonc & Mullally, 1997). This research has been an examination of the influence of birth order, gender and family size on students’ academic achievement among secondary school students in Akoko South West Local Government Ondo State 

Statement of the Problem

The consequences of not addressing the problem students’ academic achievement are many. Students by their nature do get involved in very many activities outside their studies. When students lose interest in their studies, failure rate will be higher. They may engage in very many unlawful activities like cultism, robbery, prostitution and tyranny, among other vices. Furthermore, students low achievement may result in failure. When failure become persistence, students may easily withdraw from the school because of neglect parents due to family size and birth order. 

Generally, parents are excited and anticipated about their first child and hence, tend to be overly protective and pay more attention, investment, as well as expectation on this child. However, parents’ attention, investment, and expectation vary across children (Michalski, & Shackelfold, 2002). As the second child arrives in the family, the firstborn may experience dethronement and the same happens to the second born once a third child arrives and so forth. Besides, it was suggested that parental resources that a child received decrease as the sibship size grows bigger. Therefore, every child experiences different level of parental resources and investment as a result of their distinct birth order while these unique experiences will in turn shape their developmental course. To date, most of the birth order effect studies were conducted in the West and there are very little published studies that report on the birth order effect within Nigeria context Downey, 2001).

The average school teacher today has on his hands a crisis resulting from parents’ abdication of their responsibilities which have adverse effect on the character and outputs of students. In schools, students who are affected by anxiety, depression, and passive or withdrawal behaviour students engage in aggressive, destructive and inappropriate acts or delinquent behaviour. One sees neglected children stealing or begging for food, students to coming to schools regularly and students sleeping during lessons almost all the time. Some of these children complain about having no time to study at home because of the responsibilities they shoulder at home.  Some of them also seek inappropriate affection from others. All these types of negative behaviours are wide spread in the country and affect students’ academic performance.  Thus, this study attempted to determine the influence of birth order, gender and family size on students’ academic achievement among secondary school students in Akoko South West Local Government Ondo State.

Purpose of the study 

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of birth order, gender and family size on students’ academic achievement among secondary school students in Akoko South West Local Government Ondo State. Birth order appears to be an important factor in individual achievement. Studies indicate, however, that it is not birth order alone which affects personality, but that birth order functions in a complex interaction with several other variables within the individual's family constellation. These variables include, but are not limited to, sibling sex, age space, family size, parental-sibling interaction, and acculturation.

The study is meant to assess the influence of birth order, gender on students’ academic achievement among secondary school students, this study sought to;

1. Examine the influence of birth order on secondary school students academic achievement 

2. Examine the influence of family size on secondary school students academic achievement

3. Examine the difference between male and female on secondary school students academic achievement

Research questions

Based on the background to the study and the problems discussed above the following research questions were generated:

1. What is the influence of birth order on secondary school students academic achievement?

2. What is the influence of family size on secondary school students academic achievement?

3. What is the difference between male and female secondary school students academic achievement?

Research hypotheses

As a result of the research questions stated above, the following research hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance.

1. There is no significant influence of birth order on secondary school students academic achievement

2. There is no significant influence of family size on secondary school students academic achievement

3. There is no significant difference between male and female on secondary school students academic achievement

Scope of the Study

The scope of the study is geared towards ascertaining the influence of birth order, gender and family size on academic achievement of students in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Delimitation of the Study

The study will be delimited by a convenience sample of approximately 20 students from ten selected secondary schools from Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. Apart from that the shortage of fund and time frame, the following limits were encounter in the study;

i. It is recognized that many students may not give factual information as regards their family birth order.

ii. The accuracy of the data was limited by the skills of the researcher and validity of the tests administered.

Significance of the Study

Findings from this study could have a strong impact on education; from a young age,  the  child’s  place  in  the  family  may  influence  their  need  for  achievement  and  academic  performance. The findings may also have an effect on  the  family setting;  results could help parents understand their child’s behaviour, and realize that even though their children were all raised in the same environment by the same people, that each child will be distinct from their siblings because of their birth order. This could also be a benefit for the family when dealing with the rebellious stages that most adolescents tend to pass through.  

This study will contribute to the current research within the area of birth order in families in Ondo State and Nigeria at Large. It will develop a deeper understanding of the influence of birth order, gender and family size on academic achievement, and to finally provide new insights into a neglected part of psychological research.  

The importance or concern of this study is that, the findings of this research would be of top most important to students, parent, teachers and the government. The findings may likely be applicable to other part of the state and also the country at large. The investigation will be an effective tool in the hands of guidance and counseling personnel's and also psychologist. It would also be relevant to teachers and parents in order to help their students despite their problem. The study will also attempt to some extent suggested some hopeful advice and counseling to people who may like to apply them to their challenges to life situation.

Operational Definition of Terms

Adolescents: Adolescence is a period of physical development, as a socio-cultural phenomenon, and as a way of life or a state of mind

Birth multiples: Children born in multiple births; e.g. twins, triplets, quads, etc.

Gender: the social fact of being male or female. It depicts identities of masculinity and femininity in relation to patterns of human life.

Sibling rivalry: Competition among brothers and sisters in a nuclear family. It is considered to be an important influence in shaping the personalities of children who grow up in middle-class Western societies but less relevant in traditional African and Asian cultures.

Birth Order: Birth order refers to the place or position in the family to which a person is born into (i.e. Firstborn, middleborn, lastborn and only child).

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