TEST ANXIETY AS CORRELATE OF EXAMINATION MISCONDUCT TENDENCY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Examination misconduct is a menace that threatens the survival of secondary education system in Nigeria. This study tried to find out possible causative factor. Therefore, the study was on how test anxiety correlates with examination misconduct tendency among secondary school students in Anambra State. It was guided by three research questions and three null hypotheses. It adopted correlational research design. The population of the study consisted of 12, 978 Senior Secondary school two (SS II) students (2025/2026 session) in the 266 public secondary schools in the six education zones Anambra State. The sample for the study was made up of 1203 SS 2 students selected from the population through multi-stage sampling procedure. The researchers adopted two standardized questionnaires to obtain data from the respondents. They include: 20 item Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI)” from Spielberger (1980) and 20 item Examination Misconduct Tendency Questionnaire (EMTQ) by Ossai, Ethe, Okwuedei, and Edougha, (2014). The researchers personally paid scheduled visit to the public secondary schools and familiarise themselves with the 65 research assistants who are teachers of the 65 public secondary schools considered for sampling. The research assistants administered the TAI and EMTQ to the respondents during their free periods. A total of 1192 copies of the questionnaires were retrived and used for data analysis. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to answer the research questions and testing of hypotheses was done with t-test of correlation. In taking decisions regarding the hypotheses, a null hypothesis was rejected if the probability value (p-value) is less than or equal to significant value of 0.05; if otherwise (p>0.05), the null hypothesis was not rejected. The results revealed that there is high positive and significant relationship of 0.72 existing between secondary school students test anxiety and their examination misconduct tendencies in Anambra State. Also, there is high positive and significant relationship of 0.63 existing between secondary school arts students test anxiety and their examination misconduct tendency in Anambra State. Again, there is high positive and significant relationship of 0.702 existing between secondary school science students test anxiety and their examination misconduct tendency in Anambra State. Based on the findings of the study and their implications, recommendations were made which include: The guidance counsellors in various secondary schools should carry out test anxiety test on the students and apply counselling intervention using behaviour modification techniques on those found with high test anxiety. This will go a long way in reducing the increasing rate of examination misconduct tendency among the students. The school guidance counsellors should introduce counselling sessions and educational activities focused on building students' self-esteem and self-confidence among the students. Encourage participation in extracurricular activities, personal development workshops, and positive affirmation exercises to foster a positive self-image.