Influence Of Location And Gender On Performance Of Selected Motor Skills Among Secondary School Student
[AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE]

CHAPTER THREE
METHODS
This chapter contains the methods used in the study. It describes the design of the study, area of the study, population, sample and sampling techniques, instrument for data collection, method of data collection and method of data analysis.
Research Design
Experimental research design was used in the study. It implies a research whereby two groups of subjects that were identical in all respects were subjected to different conditions and the effects of these different conditions determined and compared. Experimental research is comparable to a laboratory in which subjects were studied in a closed setting, so that the researcher could maintain as much control as possible. It was used to determine the influence of location and gender on motor skill performance of secondary school students in urban and rural areas of Awka South Local Government Area. The control group is not used in this study because the researcher just wanted to test students’ performances on three selected motor skills they are familiar with. They are not learning new skills.
Area of the Study
The area of the study was urban and rural secondary schools in Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State. The urban secondary schools are ten, while rural secondary schools are eight. The list of urban and rural secondary schools was shown in appendix 2.
Population of the Study
The population of the study involved all male and female secondary school students in urban and rural areas of Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The Awka South Local Government board inventory of school statistics of the 2006, showed that there were 8,260 junior and senior secondary school students enrolled in eighteen secondary schools in Awka South Local Government Education Zone. They include three boys’ secondary schools, six girls’ secondary schools and nine co-education secondary schools.
Sample and Sampling Technique
The population comprises eight thousand two hundred and sixty students of rural and urban secondary schools in Awka South Local Government Area. Then, out of eight thousand two hundred and sixty, two hundred students were used for the study. For the purpose of this study, the researcher adopted the multi-phase sampling technique based on the geographical location of schools, which are urban and rural areas. The students in these areas were sampled based on their possession of speed based on their possession of speed, power and agility for motor skill performance. The sampling was randomly drawn by balloting. This was to ensure equal representation of the students. The researcher wrote 50 yes on pieces of paper for boys and 50 yes for girls while no was written on pieces of paper to cover the total number of students in the class used for the study. From each school, 50 students were randomly chosen by this method. Research methods in Education (2000).
Instrument for Data Collection
The instrument for this study was the battery of tests developed by Barrow (1987). The battery of tests was already standardized tests and their validity and reliability have been established world-wide. The tests used for study include: 50 metres dash, standing broad jump and 10 metres shuttle run.
Pilot Test
A pilot test was carried out with twenty (20) male and female students each from four schools in Anaocha Local Government Area. These schools include Girls’ High School, Agulu, Agulu Grammar School, Bubend-off Secondary School, Adazi-Nnukwu and Girls’ Secondary School, Akwaeze. respectively. These pilot schools possessed the same characteristics with the schools used for the study. The purpose was to determine the level of difficulty the researcher would encounter especially in the use of the instrument for the actual study. Tests for the study include:-
1.    50 metres Dash
Facility and Equipment: Marked running track and stopwatch.
Test Administration: Two lines were marked on the ground parallel to each other at 50 metres apart. The runner took position behind the starting line which would be used as the standing start. To start the race, the test would be used as the standing start. To start the race, the test assistance used the command – set! go! accompanied by a down-ward sweep of the arm to give a visual signal to the timer with stopwatch at the finishing line to start the watch. The subjects ran at their fastest speed and were tested on the length of time spent in running the distance. One trial was allowed and recorded.
Scoring: Scoring was the time used for completing the race
2.    Standing Board Jump (SBJ)
Facility and Equipment: Jumping pit and measuring tape.
The Administration: The line was marked 1 metre apart from the jumping pit and it was the take-off line. The performer was expected to stand with the feet slightly apart and toes behind the take-off line. The performer was to push forward vigorously with both feet and jump as far forward as possible. The performer landed on both feet. Three trials were allowed.
Scoring: The score was the distance from the take-off line to the first mark that was made on landing. Best of the three