PERCEPTIONS OF GEOGRAPHY AMONG GHANAIAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Yıl 2019, Sayı: 39, 1 - 9, 30.01.2019

Foster Opoku

https://doi.org/10.32003/iggei.467488

Cited By: 5

Öz

This
qualitative phenomenological study aimed at exploring the perceptions of
geography among Ghanaian senior high school students. A total of 48 students
comprising 24 males and 24 females were selected from two different public
senior high schools in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana to participate in the
study. Data were obtained using in-depth interview and results were processed
and analyzed through examination of main themes, differences, and similarities
in the responses. Results from the study revealed that more than half of the
students interviewed had positive perception of geography in terms of its
relevance to man. Regarding the definition and scope of geography, the overwhelming
majority of the student respondents perceived geography as a description of the
physical environment such as rivers, rocks, the universe, weather and climates,
formation of landforms, among others. Others also perceived geography as the
drawing of maps to show earth’s features. Interestingly, more than half of the
students expressed keener interest in physical geography with reasons being
that physical geography lessons are more interesting and practical. Significantly
too, most of the students ranked geography as either second or third choice in
considering programmes for higher education. The study recommends a further
research into how students’ perception of employment prospects in geography
influence their attitudes towards geography.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Geography, senior high school students, perception, phenomenological study

PERCEPTIONS OF GEOGRAPHY AMONG GHANAIAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Öz

This
qualitative phenomenological study aimed at exploring the perceptions of
geography among Ghanaian senior high school students. A total of 48 students
comprising 24 males and 24 females were selected from two different public
senior high schools in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana to participate in the
study. Data were obtained using in-depth interview and results were processed and
presented using the thematic analysis approach with reference to
the research objectives. Results from the study revealed that more than half of the students
interviewed had positive perception of geography in terms of its relevance to
people in the society. Regarding the definition and scope of geography, the
overwhelming majority of the student respondents perceived geography as a
description of the physical environment such as rivers, rocks, the universe,
weather and climates, formation of landforms, among others. Others also
perceived geography as the drawing of maps to show earth’s features.
Interestingly, more than half of the students expressed keener interest in
physical geography with reasons being that physical geography lessons are more
interesting and practical. More so, the
majority of the students viewed geography lessons to be very interesting but
difficult as compared to other social science disciplines. Significantly
too, most of the students ranked geography as either second or third choice in
considering programmes for higher education. The study recommends a further
research into how students’ perception of employment prospects in geography
influence their attitudes towards geography. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

Geography, senior high school students, perception, phenomenological study, Ghana

Kaynakça

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