Browsing by Author "Webb, Graham M."

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    Factors affecting achievement in Advanced Level geography in Jamaica and England
    (1985) Webb, Graham M.;
    This study sought to identify the factors associated with achievement in A'Level geography in Jamaica, and to compare them with factors affecting achievement in England. Data were collected from a sample of 155 Jamaican students from 21 schools, and 470 English students from 29 schools. Further information was obtained from a survey of A'Level geography teachers in both countries. Results of the data analysis revealed that: 1) the most important factor associated with achievement in Jamaica was school influence, with the qualifications, experience, and teaching style of staff being important, together with the amount of fieldwork undertaken. Problems associated with poor facilities, entry standards, and the availability of books were identified; 2) study orientation was another major factor for Jamaica. Motivation was found to be particularly important, especially for the independent research paper; 3) cognitive measures, including verbal and spatial ability were not associated with achievement in Jamaica; 4) family background was also not associated with achievement in Jamaica, although the educational environment of the home was associated with study habits; 5) Jamaican students were disadvantaged in terms of school influence, and cognitive and family background. Conversely, they had higher mean scores on all the study orientation variables; and 6) for England, the main factor associated with A'Level attainment was study orientation. Cognitive ability was also involved, and empirical evidence was produced to support an hypothesized relationship between spatial ability and practical geography
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    Home background and achievement at GCE A-Level: New evidence for A-Level geography in Jamaica and England
    (Sep. 1988) Webb, Graham M.;
    This article considers the importance of home background for the achievement of students in A'Level geography in Jamaica and England. The measurement of home background is discussed, and details are given concerning the construction of a series of individual variables and a composite factor of home background. Evidence is then presented to suggest that home background, whether measured by a composite factor or by a series of individual variables, has no important association with achievement. This suggests that achievement at the A'Level stage may have more similarity (in terms of the importance of the home background of students) with achievement in higher education, than with the normal pattern of achievement in schooling up to the age of 15-16 years. Jamaican students were disadvantaged in terms of school influence, and cognitive and family background, but they had high mean scores on all the study orientation variables. The main factor associated with A'Level attainment in England was study orientation with cognitive ability also being involved. Empirical evidence was produced to support an hypothesized relationship between spatial ability and practical geography
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    Resources and practices in 'A' level geography education in Jamaica and England
    (Oct. 1986) Webb, Graham M.;
    This paper argues that the very low pass rates experienced by students taking the A'Level geography examination in Jamaica are due to poor school-level resources and practices. Differences between provision in Jamaica and England are highlighted. Suggestions are made concerning the possibility of concentrating resources and improving standards by the development of sixth-form colleges