Relationship between self concept, gender, class of study and socio-economic background on values orientation of secondary school students in obio akpor local government area

This study investigated the relationship between self-concept, gender, class of study and socio-economic background on values orientation of secondary school students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. The research design for the study was survey and correlational designs. The population of the study consisted of all the secondary school students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting a sample size of two hundred and fifty (250) students. “Students’ Self-concept Scale (SSCS)” and “Students’ values Orientation Questionnaire (SVOQ)” were used for data collection. SSCS contained 30 items, while SVOQ consisted of 22 items that measured students’ values orientation. SSCS and SVOQ was used. The reliability coefficient of SSCS and SVOQ were established through the test-retest method. The correlation coefficient index of the instruments were; SSCS (r = 0.77) and SVOQ (r = 0.81) respectively. Pearson Product Moment Correlation, independent t-test and ANOVA were used for data analysis to answer research questions and test hypotheses. The data were tested for statistical significance at 0.05 level of significance. The summary of the findings showed that self-concept was positively related to students’ values orientation, gender had significant influence on students’ values orientation, while class of study and socio-economic background had no significant influence on students’ values orientation. Based on these findings, some recommendations were made.