Gender and Self-Concept as Correlates of the Psychomotor Performance of Students in Basic Electricity in Technical Colleges in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

This was Ex-post Facto research design analyzed to determine effects of students’ gender and self-concept on their
psychomotor ability in technical colleges in the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State. Justification was based on recent
lamentations in the state about poor performance capability of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (formerly NEPA’s) technical
staff since inception of tourism activities. Two null hypotheses were formulated, while the purposive, cluster and random sampling
procedures were adopted in selecting 200 technical -II students as sample. Data generation was by use of a structured
questionnaire and a practical performance test/exercise, while data analysis was by independent t-test of difference in mean
performance among the subjects. It was revealed that both gender and self-concept significantly influence students’ psychomotor
performance in basic electricity; the males always out-performing their female counterparts in practicalities in the State.
Furthermore, students (both males and females), but with more males than females, who possess positive self-concept performed
significantly better than their counterparts who cultivate negative self-concept at the period of this study. Recommendation was
that guidance counseling staff be employed to the technical colleges to counsel students to cultivate positive self-concept as well
as other gender stereotype concepts as this will help to improve their performance in basic sciences and technical courses.