THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION ON VOTERS’ AWARENESS AND THE REDUCTION OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Civic responsibility, democratic development, electoral ethics, electoral malpractices, Social Studies education, voters’ awarenessAbstract
This study investigated the impact of Social Studies education on voters’ awareness and the reduction of electoral malpractices in Taraba State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and focused on a population of 1,935 public secondary school teachers and administrators. A sample size of 350 respondents, comprising 300 teachers and 50 administrators, was selected using a multistage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire served as the primary instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts and subjected to a reliability test, yielding a coefficient of 0.85. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviations, while chi-square was used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that Social Studies education significantly enhances voters’ awareness and plays a crucial role in reducing electoral malpractices. The results showed strong agreement among respondents on the role of Social Studies in promoting civic knowledge, ethical voting behavior, and rejection of electoral misconduct. Based on the findings, it was recommended that Social Studies be strengthened in school curricula and that civic and electoral values be emphasized in classroom teaching. The study concluded that Social Studies education is a vital tool for nurturing informed and responsible citizens, thereby contributing to credible electoral processes and democratic development in Nigeria.
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