Behaviour Modification as An Effective Technique in Classroom Teaching

This study investigated of teachers’ perception of the use of behaviour modification techniques in reducing truancy among primary school pupils in the Onitsha Education zone, Anambra State, Nigeria. Secondly, the study also examined the effectiveness of the various behaviour modification strategies employed by teachers in checking truancy in Onitsha Education Zone. The study used qualitative research methodology such as focus group discussion, key informant interview and questionnaire to elicit information from the respondents. The study population of the study was primary school teachers in the zone. A sample size of 250 respondents was selected. The teachers were randomly selected from 10 public primary schools. In each of the ten selected schools, (15 female and 10 male respondents were selected as samples making it 100. The stratified random sampling technique was used to select the respondents from different strata. The study used descriptive statistics for hypotheses testing. The results from our findings reveal that there is no significant difference in mean score of male and female teachers’ perception in use of behaviour modification techniques in the classroom. This connotes that the respondents have positive reactions to behaviour modification techniques in the study area. In addition, empirical analysis from our findings reveals further that commending a truant who starts attending lessons will make him/her to improve, promising a truant a pen any day he comes to school will encourage him/her to come often. That is, by implication, the study found significant negative relationship between material and non-material motivations and behaviour modification among primary school pupils in the study area. This indicates the effectiveness of the behaviour modification techniques in the study areas. Based on the results of our findings, this study recommends that the government through the ministry of education both at the federal, state and local levels should liaise with school authorities, Non-governmental organizations and relevant stakeholders to organize seminars and workshops to educate teachers on the appropriate use of behaviour modification techniques in order to revamp the system and structure of education in Nigeria. Keywords: Behaviour modification techniques, truancy, material and non-material motivations, perception, effectiveness. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-12-04 Publication date:June 30th 202