Nnadiebube Journal of Social Sciences

EFFECT OF SCAFFOLDING INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS ON UPPER BASIC YEAR 3 STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SOCIAL STUDIES

Adedayo Oyewole SOFADEKAN, Zabur Olayiwola SOLUADE — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

This study explore the effect of scaffolding in the teaching and learning of Social Studies. Social Studies, like any other subject, are expected to equip learners with basic knowledge and also with higher cognitive skills which will enable them to solve problems and develop critical and analytical thinking to promote self-development and continuous learning. This study was conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of scaffolded approach in the teaching and learning of Social Studies. To achieve the stated expectation, the study adopted the quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test, control group and comparison group design. Eighty participants from Upper Basic year 3 students were involved in the study. Achievement test was conducted on the two groups. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that scaffolding improves academic achievement; it also provides students with the necessary support to grasp complex Social Studies concepts. It is however recommended that there is need for regular in service training for Social studies teachers which must be designed to address new developments in current social issues and ways of integrating those issues into the curriculum.

INTERNET INFIDELITY AND COMMUNICATION AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL DISSATISFACTION AMONG MARRIED PEOPLE

Cynthia N.C. Udeze, Chioma Ogbuu, Chinenyenwa Ifedigbo , Anulika O. Nnadozie — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

This study examined Internet infidelity and communication as predictors of marital dissatisfaction among married people at Nnewi, Anambra State. A total of one hundred and forty nine (149) participants, conveniently selected from Nnewi market in Okpunoegbu Nnewi North Local Government Area, participated in the study. They comprised of fifty one (51) males and ninety eight (98) females, whose age ranged between 20 and 60 with the mean age of 35.60 and standard deviation of 9.72. Three self-report scales were used for data collection: Marital Dissatisfaction Index Scale (MDIS) by Azize (2013), Internet Infidelity Scale (IIS) by Docan-Morgan (2007) and Primary Communication Inventory by Navran (1967). It adopted predictive design and Multiple Regression Analysis as the design and statistics respectively. The findings showed: i) a positive and not statistically significant prediction of internet infidelity in marital dissatisfaction among married people at Nnewi, Anambra State (β = .11, p < .05), ii) a negative and statistically significant prediction of communication in marital dissatisfaction among married people at Nnewi, Anambra State (β = .19, p < .05). Based on the findings, it was recommended that there should be development and implementation of targeted interventions that address the specific challenges related to internet infidelity, communication and marital dissatisfaction among married people. That is, Counsellors should organize seminars and conferences where married people will be sensitized on the role of internet infidelity and communication on marital dissatisfaction. Religious bodies and government should make premarital counselling compulsory for intending couples to equip them with the communication skills for handling marital dissatisfaction. These interventions should be tailored to also consider awareness creation on the significance and pertinence of love based marriage to be made in Nigeria at large.

JOB DESIGN AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN COMMERCIAL BANKS IN CROSS RIVER STATE

Idorenyin Udo Etuk, Edward Utubaku Alah — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

This study investigated the relationship between job design and employee performance in commercial banks in Cross River State, Nigeria, with particular focus on five core dimensions of the job characteristics model: skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback. Recognising the critical role of employee performance in the banking sector, especially in light of increasing competition, digital transformation, and regulatory demands, the study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. Data were collected from 220 employees across three major commercial banks in Calabar, using a structured questionnaire validated through the Cronbach alpha reliability method. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to test the study’s hypotheses. The findings revealed that each of the five job design dimensions exerts a significant positive effect on employee performance. Specifically, the results demonstrate that employees perform more effectively when their roles are designed to include diverse skills, complete and meaningful tasks, decision-making autonomy, and regular feedback mechanisms. These findings substantiate the theoretical propositions of the job characteristics model and highlight the relevance of enriched job design in promoting motivation, engagement, and performance in service-intensive environments. The study concludes that optimising job design through strategic integration of its core dimensions can significantly enhance employee performance in Nigeria’s commercial banking sector. Consequently, the study recommends that commercial banks should intensify skills variety in job design by incorporating rotational assignments, cross-functional training, and project-based tasks that expose employees to diverse roles and competencies. It was also recommended that commercial banks should improve task identity by assigning employees to complete entire processes or projects, such as end-to-end customer service or full loan processing, rather than fragmented tasks, to foster greater ownership and job satisfaction, among other recommendations.

COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BENEFICIARY TARGETING MECHANISM AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Augustina Uche Nwaizugbo, Onyeukwu E. Onyeukwu — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

The study focused on Beneficiary Targeting Mechanism and Improved Access to social and natural resource Infrastructure Services in Anambra State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to determine the extent beneficiary targeting mechanism contributed to improved access to social and natural resource infrastructure services in Anambra State. The study was anchored mainly on Service Quality Theory - Gap Analysis. A mixed method of quantitative and qualitative survey methods were used to collect data. For quantitative data collection, structured questionnaire were administered on 396 out of 400 simple randomly sampled respondents while for qualitative data collection, 10 purposively sampled key technical facilitators of CSDP were reached with structured in-depth interview guide and 3 focused group discussions sessions with beneficiary communities/vulnerable group was held. Independent variable was Beneficiary Targeting Mechanism, the intervening variable was CSDP delivery and the dependent variable was Improved Access to Social and Natural Resources Infrastructure Services. Data was analysed using frequency and percentages and ordinal logistic regression. The null hypothesis was tested at 5% level of significance. The findings revealed that for H0: p < 0.001, which shows that there was a positive and significant contribution of beneficiary targeting mechanism to CSDP delivery effect on improved access to social and natural resource infrastructure services in Anambra State. The implication is that the intended beneficiaries were effectively targeted. Key recommendation is that the beneficiary targeting tool (State poverty Map) should be consolidated and periodically revised to reflect the current demographic dynamics of the Communities and Local Government Areas in the state.