Abstract: This research aimed at determining the relationship between anxiety and classroom performance among pupils in Rachuonyo North District, Kenya. The study had the following objective: to find out the relationship between anxiety and classroom performance of pupils. The research used both descriptive survey design. The researcher used district list of schools to sample pupils. Using stratified sampling techniques, the district was divided into divisions and zones. From each zone, schools were listed in alphabetical order and numbered from one to last. Pieces of papers numbered one to the last were folded, put in a box, shuffled and then picked. Picked numbers represented schools that were then sampled. A random selection of 507 pupils both males and females in class four in selected eighteen schools of Rachuonyo North District were used. The district has a child population of 6,646 in class four. This class has middle childhood years which the research focused on. Questionnaires were used to identify factors leading to social anxiety in children, they included; Revised Children Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) specifically adapted for Kenya conditions, was administered to measure the level of anxiety as brought by social situations. To identify the level of test anxiety of pupils in science and art subjects, Test Anxiety Scale for Children (TASC) was modified to fit Kenyan conditions and administered to the subjects. Both science and art tests were administered to all the subjects. Research instruments were pretested at Pier Got and Otok primary schools to establish their reliability and validity. The two pilot schools did not take part in the actual research. Ambiguities detected in the instruments were corrected according to the advice of research peers before field administration. The results of the study are presented in tables, percentages, and bar graphs. The data were analyzed using SPSS. The results showed that high anxiety facilitated performance in the classroom.(r=0.76) in sciences and(r=0.41) in art. The study concluded by suggesting that a similar study be replicated in urban primary schools to give more accurate generalizations of the findings. The research recommends that school managers should establish the department of guidance and counseling in primary schools to identify children anxiety levels and put early interventions to elevate test anxiety(their ego) which leads to better performance and counteract high social anxiety that hinder classroom performance. It was also recommended that a similar research be carried out with a class seven or in private schools.
Keywords: Relationship between Anxiety and Classroom Performance, descriptive survey design.
Title: Relationship between Anxiety and Classroom Performance among Pupils in Selected Public Primary Schools in Rachuonyo North, Homa-Bay County, Kenya
Author: Dr. Samson Barongo, Levis Otieno Owiyo
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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