PSYCO-SOCIAL FACTORS INFLUENCING SPORTS PARITCPATION AMONG SPECIAL STUDENTS IN
SELECTED SECOUNDARY SCHOOLS
IN OSUN STATE
BY
IBRAHEEM, T.O
PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT,
FACULTY OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN,ILORIN, NIGERIA
&
JIMOH,G.K
HUMAN KINETICS AND HEALTH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT,
FACULTY OF EDUACTION,
UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, IBADAN,
IBADAN, NIGERIA.
ABSTRACT
The study investigated psycho-social factors influencing sports participation among
special students in selected secondary schools in Osun state. Sports participation is not meant for able
persons only, these atypical once equally have right to participate in sports considering the importance
and relevance of such positive contributions to human development. The population for this study
consisted of 200 special students selected from the schools used for the study. While a self- structured
questionnaire was adopted as a research instrument for data collection. A descriptive statistic of
frequency counts, mean scores and percentages (%) were adopted to analyze the demographic
characteristics and non-parametric of chi-square set revealed that facilities and equipment for sports
were not adequately supplied by the school authority in Osun state, mostly ones that will accommodate
the conditions of the special students, while parents attitudes towards sports was not encouraging.
Based on the findings, some recommendations were made.
INTRODUTION
Globally, sport is considered a creator of beauty and as an instrument of ethical values
that brings about peace, unity and understanding among people of all races (culture) during sports
participation which wholly the result of social intervention and or a social, heritage. Sango (2000),
asserted that relative peace in the world today is predicated on mutual understanding and respect
engendered by sport. He went further to say that sport is highly significant in national development
through leisure and recreation as it enhance a high degree of productivity and healthful living.
In order to make a whole man, all part of the body must function effectively in relation
to one another, and if otherwise, the victim is considered disabled. Disability therefore, means any
restriction or an impairment or deformation of any part of the body coupled with lack of ability to use
the part of the body effectively. Disabled person also reffed to as individuals that are incapacitated in
mental, physical, emotional or behavior extensions thereby deprived of effective use of some parts of
the body hence, they are considered as unique individuals different completely from normal people and
they are require special attention so as to enabled them realize their optimum potentials in life.
According to Okundare (2001), sports participation was not meant for able-bodied persons
only, the disabled individuals equally have to participate in sports considering the importance and
relevance of such positive contributions to human development, in particular achievement of optimum
status for both able and disabled individuals.
According to Okundare (2001), sports participation was not meant for baled-bodied persons
only, the disabled individuals equally have right to participate in sports conspiring the importance of and
relevance of such positive contributions to human development in particular achievement of optimum
health status for both able and disabled individuals.
From Awosika’s (1999) submission, there should be serious disagreement with the policy of
excusing the special people from participating in physical activities and sports, such that the policy is
based on the mistake or misconception that children are being protected. But in reality, the disabled
students are being deprived from the right to achieve the fullest possible development of which they are
capable of. Mohammed (1998), concluded that every individuals must be able to excel in both
recreational and competivitive sports. He further stated that it is not only the skilled and physical fit
people that could participate in sports bat could equally be advantageous and of immense benefits with
positive contributory efforts to the development and growth of the disabled people.
Okundare (2002), opined that disabled individuals must be encouraged to participate in
physical activities simply because they need to keep fit even more than the able persons. He also
suggested that physical education programmes for the handicapped which must be modified should
included a balanced Varity of activities that would make them realize their optimum potentials. These
activities will occupy their mind to think less about, their disability, afford them the opportunity to have
proper bodily development for sports participation and will make them to have utmost feeling of been
warranted in the society.
The study was therefore warranted to assist as a clinical corrective measure in changing the
disposition of attitude of able- bodied persons towards the special individuals, whereby parents and
teachers would be able to appreciate the special people as parents of society.
The study may also serve as a constructive measure of recommending sports programmes
for special students in Osun state in particular and Nigeria in general. It may also be of prominent
importance to the government of Osun state including corporate bodies and non-governmental
agencies to discover the advantages inherent in sports participation, thus effective participation among
able and disabled special individuals would be encouraged.
Research Hypotheses
The following research hypotheses were generated and tested.
1. Availability of adequate facilities will not significantly have psycho-social influence on sports
participation among special student in selected secondary schools in Osun state
2. Availability of adequate sports equipment will not significantly have psycho-social influence on
sports participation among special students in selected secondary schools in Osun state
3. Parental influence will not significantly have psycho-social influences on spots participation
among special students in selected secondary schools in Osun state.
METHODOLOGY
The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. This method is
most appropriate when one is studying large population that involved the use of questionnaire,
Ofo (1994), stressed that the design identified current condition and practices, made
comparison and evaluation, also collected factual information that describes existing
phenomenon in determining what others are dealing with.
The population for this study comprised one thousand one hundred and fifteen
(1,115) special students of junior and senior secondary schools in Osun state. Meanwhile, a
total number of 200 secondary school students were used for the study. The sample (200 special
students) for the study were selected through simple random sampling technique from the only
four special secondary schools in Osun state.
1. Ijesa Special school for the Handicapped -50 special students.
2. All Saints Special School (deaf unit) Osogbo-50 special students
3. Special Education Unit. St. Phillips Ang. School, Ilorin, Ile -50 special students
4. Special School Ikoyi-Ikire-50 special students.
A self- structured questionnaire backed up with researchers observation, were used to
collect the data for the study. The questionnaire were in two sections, section A obtained
information on demographic characteristics of the respondents, while section B death
with the variables tested such as adequacy of facilities, equipment and parental
influence.
The data collection was carried out by the researcher and with the help of four
research assistants including their class teachers who extended their hand of fellowship
in piloting in administration of the data collected were carried out using descriptive
statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and non-parametric statistics of chisquare (X2) as appropriate. The level of significant was set at 0.05.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
HYPOTHESIS I
Availability of adequate facilities will not significantly have psycho-social
influence on sports participation among special students in selected secondary schools in
Osun state.
TABLE 1; ADEQUATE FACILITITES
Response
SA
A
D
SD
Total
Frequency
4
4
94
98
200
percentage
2.08
2.08
45.80
50.04
X2 value
178.03
Table value
7.91
Df
Remark
3
significance
100.00%
Calculated X2=178.03 df=3, p<0.05.
Table 1 indicated that 4(2.08%) and 4(2.08%) of the respondents Strongly Agree and Agreed
respectively that facilities were adequate in the schools. While 94 (45.80%) and 98 (50.04%) of the
respondents gave contrary responses to the issue. The table further revealed that the calculated chisquare of 178.03, while critical table value was 7.91 set at 0.05 alpha level. This implied that calculated
chi-square value was greater than the table value. Therefore, the hypothesis which stated that
availability of adequate facilities will not have significance psycho-social influence on sports participation
special students in selected secondary schools in Osun state was rejected.
Ababakar (1991) and Bucher (1983), postulated that facilities are fundamental factors and
present a sensitive area in physical education programmes, while Omolawon (2000) opined that
availability of adequate facilities is of vital importance in the conduct of sports programme
Hypothesis 2
Availability of adequate sports equipment will not significantly have pscyco0social influence of
sports participation of special students in selected secondary schools in Osun state.
TABLE 2; AVAILABILITY OF ADEQATE EQUIPMENT
Response
Frequency
Percentage
SA
8
1.04
A
13
5.73
D
78
40.63
SD
101
52.60
Total
200
100.00%
X2value
Table
Df
Remark
150.87
7.81
3
Significant
Calculated X2= 150.87, DF = 3, P<0.05.
Table 2 indicated that 8(1.04%) and 13 (5.73%) of the total respondents Strongly Agree
and Agreed respectively with the above hypothesis. Table also revealed calculated chi-square of 150.87,
while the critical value was 7.81 set at 0,05 alpha level, This indicated that calculated chi-square value
was greater than the table value. Therefore, the null- hypothesis which stated that availabity of
adequate sports equipments have no significance psycho-social influence on sports participation of
special in selected secondary schools in Osun state was hereby rejected.
Oyeniyi (2002), observed that sports equipment were power house of sports participation,
hence they are sine-que non to competitive sports. Equipment serve as an engine of progress that
stimulate effective participation in sporting activities, While Olajide (2002), was of opinion that many
special schools in Nigeria, lack sports equipment and facilities that would motivate special students to
participate in sports in their various schools of learning.
Hypothesis 3
Parental influence will not significantly have psycho-social influence of sports participation
of special students in in selected secondary school in Osun state
TABLE 3: PARENTAL INFLUENCE
Response
frequency
Percentage
SA
73
38.02
A
54
26.04
D
34
15.63
SD
39
20.31
Total
200
100.00%
X2 value
Table value
Df
Remark
27.19
7.82
3
Significant
Calculated X2= 27.19, df =3, p< 0.05.
From the above table 73(83,02%) and 54 (26.04%) of the respondents Strongly Agreed and
Agreed respective fully, while 34(15.63%) and 39(20.31%) of the total respondents were contrary to the
above issue. The table further, submitted the calculated chi-square of 27.19, while the critical table
value was 7.82 set at 0.05 alpha level, implying that means X2 value was greater than the table value. As
a results of this, the stated hypothesis on parental influence on special students to participate in sports
in selected secondary schools in Osun state was rejected.
Sochi (1987), was with opinion that parents occupation sometimes affect sports performance,
because parents want their children at the end of the school day to accompany them to the farm.
Moreover, parents of the special students also entertained fear of possible sustained injury while
involve in sports, they sees as an injury prone activities.
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusion were established:1. That adequate equipment and facilities were in place. In the secondary schools.
2. It was equally found out that parents disposition towards sports was not really encouraging ,
many discouraging their wards from engaging in sports activities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
From the conclusion drawn from this research finding, the following recommendations
were proffered;
1. Equally, the school authority should provide sports facilities for the special students, this
would serve as a motivational factors for the special students at least to encourage them
towards participating in sports
2. The school authority should make it mandatory to provide sporting equipment for the
special students which will be in conformity with their conditions.
3. It is vary imperative to organize seminars, symposia and lecture series that will serve as a
forum of educating the parents on the importance of sports, what sports entails and reasons
why they should allowed their special once to engage in sporting activities.
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