This study investigates those factors which
influence the development and formation of
religious attitudes in students. While there is an
increasing body of knowledge and indepth research
evolving regarding this field of study there is
little done in the Third World and it is the first
done on students at Betikama, Kukudu and Aore
Adventist High Schools.
It is an "ex post facto" study and examines the
effects of a number of variables-- school, age,
gender, level of schooling, religion, parent's
religion, religious practices, parent's schooling,
country of citizenship, student future plans,
number of years at school, the type of school,
school life and school climate-- on the religious
attitudes of students attending selected high
schools.
The significance of the study lies in attempting
to identify those factors which assist in the
development of propitious religious attitudes in
students. The modus operandi of the schools in
the study is to encourage students to adopt a
world view and lifestyle that is consistent with
the tenets and practises of Christianity as
espoused by Seventh-day Adventistism. It is the
purpose of this study to contribute to the
identification of factors which would assist in
the achieving of this objective.
Those variables which were most significant in the
formation of attitudes toward religion were
related to the School Climate and School Life as
perceived by the students. Other findings related
to variables investigating Student Background,
Personal Characteristics, Student Religious
Practices, and Family Background. These results
apparently found some variables to be significant
while others appeared not to be as significant.
The research seems to suggest that educators and
administrators must be aware of the influence of
various school experiences on the development of
religious attitudes in students. If they want to
succeed in their objectives, then school
programmes, school curriculum, extra-curricula
activities, teaching methods and teacher example
should promote student worth, through such aspects
as fair treatment, consistency, seeing students
as individuals and nuturing caring environments.
Further research may include identification of
factors which seem to override the importance of
gender and age on the religious attitudes of the
students in the study. It may also be worthwhile
to identify those facets of school life and
climate which are most conducive to the
development of positive attitudes toward religion.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218996 |
| Date | January 1991 |
| Creators | Hay, Anthony L., n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Anthony L. Hay |
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