A PATH ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATION OF SOME PSYCHO-SOCIAL VARIABLES AFFECTING CLASSROOM BEHAVIOUR OF TWICE EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Children experiencing twice exceptionality exhibit negative classroom behaviours which could be corrected as shown by literature with little consideration to psychological variables of such behaviours in Schools in Oyo State. The study adopted a survey research design of the ex-post facto type. One thousand one hundred and thirteen twice exceptional pupils were purposively selected from 33 public primary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. Instruments used were: Slosson Intelligence Scale (r=0.82); Pupil Rating Scale (r=0.78); Anxiety Scale (r=0.72); Depression Scale (r=0.76); Loneliness Scale (r=0.72); Self-esteem Scale (r=0.72) and Negative Classroom Behaviour Questionnaire (r=0.89). Three research questions were raised and answered. Data were analysed using path analysis and multiple regressions. Self-esteem specifically had the greatest explanatory power (?=.146, t=4.438, p<0.05), followed by loneliness (?=.129, t=4.647, p<0.05), anxiety (?=.119, t=3.492, p<0.05), depression (?=.102, t=2.953, p<0.05). Consequently, the model is considered fit and tenable. Therefore, academic and behavioural intervention strategies should be promoted for the children to benefit maximally from.