Brunel University School of Sport and Education PhD Theses
Abstract
This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The general aim in conducting this research is to investigate the teaching and
learning of Social Studies in Nigeria and to understand how it is taught and its role in
fostering tolerance and appreciation for cultural differences. However, teachers of
Social Studies often adopt different methods. Hence, it is important to understand
how their teaching impacts upon the day to day lives of Nigerians. This study is
made up three discrete studies, each building upon the one before, but all three
studies tell a story. Several types of data collection methods were used to obtain the
findings. These included interviews, questionnaires and a class-based study. The first
study explored qualitatively how ex-students have used the knowledge they gained
in Social Studies in their daily lives. The second study was conducted to examine the
challenges that teachers’ faced in the delivery of the Social Studies curriculum while
the third study focused on the effectiveness of a scaffolded approach in the teaching
and learning of Social Studies.
The findings revealed that there is a tension in the curriculum between how
participants perceived Social Studies and the purpose of Social Studies as defined by
the Government in Nigeria. The aims and objectives of the current Social Studies
curriculum jar with the issues that some participants identified as being relevant to
their daily lives. It also revealed that not all the teachers are Social Studies
specialists, there are some non-specialist teachers teaching Social Studies. This may
have accounted for diversity of teaching methods and opportunities. It was also
reported that the curriculum content in Social Studies is not adequate for addressing
the social issues and problems that face Nigeria today. The findings also show that
using a scaffolded approach seems to have promoted students’ learning around
issues relevant to their lives in Nigeria.
The findings from this study revealed that there is a tension in the curriculum;
it is my contention that it can be improved by using a scaffolded approach and by
ensuring that Social Studies specialists deliver the content