EFFECT OF SHAPING TECHNIQUE IN REDUCING LATENESS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GOMBE STATE

Abstract

The research of this work was motivated by the various behaviours exhibited by students who come late to school and the effects lateness behaviour have on them and the relentless quest for solutions to such problems. Consequently, this study investigated the effect of Shaping Technique on Lateness among secondary school in Gombe State. One research question was posed and one hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. The study was carried out using quasi-experimental research comprising of two main groups (Experimental I and group II) using one treatment group (Shaping technique).The experimental group were treated for four weeks and the control group was treated with conventional counselling for the same period of four weeks. The population of students with lateness behaviour was two hundred and sixty-five (265) latecomers. A sample of ninety (90) students with very high latecomers were selected from the two schools for the study, and purposive sampling technique were used in choosing the two schools in the area of the study. An observation guide designed adopted by the researcher was used for data collection. The instrument observation guide has validity but has no reliability. Pre-test and post-test were given to both groups. Observation guide were used in answering the one research questions and ANCOVA was used in testing the one null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that Shaping technique were effective in modifying lateness behaviour and reducing the magnitude of times of lateness among secondary school students. The findings equally indicated that shaping technique was more effective in modifying lateness behaviour and reducing the magnitude of times of lateness among secondary school students. Also, there is no significant difference in the effects of shaping technique in reducing secondary school students’ times of lateness to school. Based on the findings, recommendations were made. These include: shaping technique should be adopted by school counsellors and other allied professionals as an effective treatment technique in reducing secondary school students’ lateness behaviour and other anti-social behaviour in school setting.