Age and Gender in Children Identification, Experience and Perception of Physical Punishment

Abstract

This study investigated the role of age and gender in the identification, perception and experience of physical punishment among primary school pupils. Six hypotheses were postulated and tested. A total number of 150 children ages 7-9 and 10-11 comprising of 81 female and 69 males was used for the study. They were drawn through stratified random sampling from the primary 3 and Primary 5 pupils of NAOWA Primary school, Ikeja, Lagos State. The children were aged between 7-8, 11months and 10-11,11months with a mean age of 108.98 and a standard deviation of 16.25. The data was analyzed using 2x2 independent chi-square statistics. The result of the study showed no gender differences in children’s identification of punishment [χ² (1) = 3.72, p > .05]. Gender differences were however found in the perception [χ² (1) = 10.93, p < .005] and experience [χ² (1) = 6.13, p < .05] of punishment. No age differences were found in the identification [χ² (1) = 1.24, p > .05] and perception [χ² (1) = 1.12, p > .05] of punishment but there was a significant age difference in the experience of punishment. Recommendations and suggestions for further studies were made based on the findings of the study.