INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AMONG STUDENTS AND ITS EFFECT ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
People cannot interact with each other without communication. In the absence of communication, everything would grind to a halt.
Communication between people is the sending and receiving of message, it can involve two or more people. According to Hunt and Marshal (2002), communication is the exchange of ideas or information that involves the decoding of intended message by the sender and receiver. Through communication, needs, feelings, desires and ideas are expressed. Information is given and received through communication and in this way one establishes one’s own identity.
Determining effect of ineffective communication among students on academic performance of was central to this study, as rightly noted by Marschark (2003) classroom communication is one of the most important aspects to consider when discussing the successful teaching and learning.
According to James et’al (2009), communication is a means by which a thought is transferred from one person to another. It is also the process by which the person (group) share and impact information to another or group clearly understand by one person and another.
Velenguela (2002), opines communication as any act by which one person gives to or receives from another person’s information about that person’s needs, desire, perceptions, knowledge or effective states. Communication may be intentional or unintentional, may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take linguistic or non-linguistic forms and may occur through spoken or other modes.
Wikipedia (2009) defines communication as a process of transferring information from one entity to another. Communication processes are sign mediated interactions between at least two agents which share a repertoire of signs and semiotic rules “Communication is commonly defined as the imparting or interchange of thoughts”, opinions, or information by speech, writing or signs”. Communication can be perceived as a two-way process in which there is an exchange and progression of thoughts, feelings or ideas towards a mutually accepted goal or direction.
He further explains communication as a process by which information is enclosed in a package and is distracted and imported by the sender to a receiver via a channel/medium. The receiver then decodes the message and gives the sender a feedback. Communication requires that all parties have an area of communication community.
According to Webster (2009), defines communication as an act or instance of transmitting information assign and convey meaning in an attempt to create and share understanding. This process requires a vast repertoire of skills in interpersonal processing, listening, observing, speaking, questioning, analyzing and cooperation occur.
Communication can take various forms, but all forms involve the transfer of information from one party to the other. In order for the transfer of information to be qualify as a communication, the recipient must understand the meaning of the information transferred. If the recipient does not understand the meaning of the information conveyed, communication has not taken place.
Students would not know the school objectives, so they would not strive to achieve the school objectives and also would not know what their roles and responsibility are; so they will not be able to carryout their duties as students which could affect them academically.
It is not possible to have human relation without communication. However, good and effective communication is required not only for good and successful business, but also for students.
Ineffective communication can be caused by incomplete messages, individual difference. As human beings, each student is uniquely different from any other student. Therefore, people may interpret want differently, perceive realities differently, have variable opinions, attitudes and emotions towards people, things and events differently they may have different developmental experiences, intelligence, cultural and political beliefs, all of which may tend to affect the way they conceive or perceive a message.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In many schools, there is lack of proper communication between students and teachers. Students amongst themselves do not have effective communication either. All these lead to poor academic performance among students.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The general purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of ineffective communication on academic performance of students. Specifically, the purpose of the study are:
- To find out the causes of communication breakdown between teachers and students
- To find out why students fail to understand messages communicated to them by their teachers and classmates
- To find out why teachers use ambiguous languages or words to communicate with their students
- To find out the best way to communicate easily in the school environments
- To establish cordial relationship between teachers and students.
1.4 Research Questions
1) What are the causes of communication breakdown between teachers and students?
2) Why do students fail to understand messages communicated by teachers?
3) What are the effects of poor communication in the school environment?
4) What are the best ways to communicate easily within the school environment?
5) How can cordial relationship be established between teachers and students?
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