Experience as a Factor Influencing Upper Basic School Teachers’ Perception of Social Studies Orientations in South-West, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the Upper Basic School Teachers’ perception of three social studies orientations in South –West of Nigeria. Survey type of research design using questionnaire was adopted for the study. The population consisted of all social studies teachers in South-West, Nigeria. The sample comprised of 646 Upper Basic School Social Studies teachers selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. The two main research questions were analyzed using percentage, while one-way ANOVA was used to test all the hypothesis generated. The study revealed among others that social studies teachers have a diverse perception of all the orientations, but they were more favourably predisposed to citizenship transmission orientation. Less experienced, moderately experienced and highly experienced teachers are significantly different in their perception of all the orientations. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that social studies teachers should be inclusive in the teaching of all these orientations as entrenched in the social studies curriculum without giving much priority to one orientation over the others.