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Full Length
Research Paper
Teachers’
and students’ perceptions of psycho-physiological factors
contributing to violent behaviour among public secondary
school students in western province, Kenya
1Moses
Wesang’ula Poipoi, 1John O. Agak, 1Eric
K. Kabuka
1Maseno
University, Private Bag, Maseno, Kenya.
*Corresponding author Email:
wesangulamp@yahoo.com
Received 02 October, 2010; Accepted 29 October, 2010
Violence is not a new phenomenon in the modern educational
system. It is manifested in the form of rioting, sexual
violence, fighting and bullying. The purpose of the study
was to establish teachers’ and students’ perceptions of
psycho-physiological factors contributing to violent
behavior among public secondary school students in Western
Province, Kenya. The study was based on the Social learning
theory by Albert Bandura. A descriptive survey research
design was adopted. The study population was composed of 638
Principals, 6,354 teachers and 65,969 form two students.
Stratified random sampling technique was used to select
students from 213 secondary schools. Purposive sampling
technique was used to select teachers. Questionnaires and
in-depth interview guide was used to collect data from the
respondents. A pilot study was carried out to establish the
reliability and validity of the data collection instruments.
Qualitative data was transcribed and reported according to
emerging themes while quantitative data was analyzed using
descriptive statistics such as the frequency counts, means
and percentages. Inferential statistics such as a t-test
statistics was applied. The findings of the study indicated
that the perceived psychological factors contributing to
violent behavior were: anxiety problems, ethnic violence,
mental problems and fear of being punished. The perceived
physiological factors included: being physically strong;
being older in school; having an average appearance; being
the tallest in school; and having physical disabilities.
Generally, analysis of the problem revealed that students
regardless of their gender and/or type of school they
attended perceived causes of violence alike. Recommendations
of study were that: guidance and counseling be reinforced in
schools; students with mental and psychological disorders
should be referred to medical doctors and psychiatrists;
students should be encouraged to participate actively in
co-curricular activities; and diet in schools ought to be
improved in order to meet the students’ physiological needs.
Keywords:
Aggression, perception, perceived factors,
psycho-physiological factors, psychological factors,
physiological factors, violent behavior.
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