PATTERN OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND ITS EFFECT ON THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE  (A STUDY OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AWARRA OHAJI/EGBEMA L.G.A IMO STATE)
ABSTRACT
Most adolescents end up as a school dropout and the youths are seriously engaging in crimes and deviant acts. It is against this background that this research will investigate on the patterns of deviant behaviour among adolescents in senior secondary schools and its effect on the academic performance of students. For the sake of precision and distinctiveness in the findings, Secondary Schools in Awarra L.G.A Imo State are chosen as a case study. In the bid to realize the major objective of this research, questionnaires were constructed, distributed, retrieved and analyzed using simple percentage and tabulation. Chi-square statistical tool was invoked in the testing of the hypothesis. It is hypothesized that Deviant behaviours among adolescents in Awarra has led many crimes. The research recommends that since most of the causes of deviant behaviour are traced to the schools, the family, peer influence etc, parents, teachers and school administrators should work together to keep such behaviours under control rather than pointing blaming fingers at one another or even confrontations.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    Background of the study                           
1.2    Statement of the problems                        
1.3    Aims and objectives of the study                   
1.4    Research questions                               
1.5    Research hypothesis                           
1.5    Significance of the study                       
1.6    Area of study                                  
1.7    Scope of the study                     
1.8    Limitation of the study                    
1.9    Definition  of terms                           
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1     Introduction                               
2.2    Conceptual review                           
2.2.1    Patterns of deviant behaviour                        
2.2.2    Gender and deviant behaviour                          
2.2.3    Socio-economic background and deviant benefit behaviour:         
2.2.4    Location and deviant behaviour:                     
2.2.5    Cause of deviant behaviour:                        
2.2.6    Effect of the deviant behaviour                          
2.3    Theoretical framework                            
2.3    Empirical review                               
2.4     Summary of literature review:                 
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1     Introduction                                  
3.2     Research design                                
3.3    Population of the study                        
3.4    Sampling technique                              
3.5     Samples for the study                       
3.6     Instrument for collection                      
3.7     Validation of instrument                    
3.8     Administration of the instrument                        
3.9     Method of the data analysis                              
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Introductions                            
4.2 Data analysis and presentation of result search question.             
4.3 Discussions of findings                           
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION, IMPLICATIONS, RECOMMENDATION AND SUMMARY
5.1    Discussion                            
5.2     Conclusion                          
2.3    Implication of the study                   
2.4    Recommendations                           
5.5     Summary                        
References                               
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Deviant behaviour is common practice among some Nigeria adolescents including those who live in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema local Government Area of Imo State. The concept of deviance refer in a basic sense to behaviour which goes against the dominant norms, rules and values of a particular society or group within which behaviour occur (McGoey, et al.,2016).
In general, “deviance” can be defined as a concept that encompasses a variety of forms of human behaviour that have been defined in the society as wrong, bad, immoral or illegal (Jensen, 2003). According to or (Ayse, & Musa,2013),  most of the disagreement over the concept of deviance appears to boil disagreement over the down to a choice between two alternative definitions, a normative versus a relativistic definition of deviance. From a normative perspective, it is possible to define deviance or deviant behaviour broadly as the violation of norms ((Mbuthia, 2013). It is relatively not easy task when it comes to define those norms for serious crimes, such as suicide or murder. The relativistic definition of deviance or deviant, refers to behaviour or person that are defined as deviant by social audiences. This definition is termed relativistic because it views persons or their behaviour as deviant only relative to the way other people react to them(Adegun, 2013).
Deviant behaviour may take on various social dimensions that serve to distinguish them from one another. Most form of deviant involves behaviours that are carried out in patterned and predictable ways. Deviant behaviours for the most part, from patterns of social interactions.
Deviant behaviour can be viewed from psychological, biological, sociological, issues such as class can play a role in deviant behaviour. Theft, a common instance of deviant behaviour, could be said to be driven by sociological pressures such as poverty. Biologist may be interested in variations in the brain which lead to expressions of deviance, while psychologist is interested in the through processes behind normal and deviant behaviour, ranging from depression, which may cause people or adolescence to act out.
Adolescence is an important period in a transitional phase of biological and psychological changes. During adolescence teens seek out other teens in a social network and often choose friends who are like them (Adelman,. & Taylor, 2005). Adolescent teens can internalize past experiences with parents/Friends and later, problematic behaviours can develop to form a lifestyle of antisocial beahviour (Adegun, 2013). Adolescents transit from childhood to adulthood with little power and control over their lives. Teens feel they have marginal status and therefore may be driven to seek respect they lack without clear roles and spend their time pursuing irresponsible or deviant behaviour.
1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS
Deviant behaviour is quite in the increase in our secondary schools and this increment in deviant behaviour among our adolescent has contributed to lots of problems among these problems are:
1.    The Problems of dropping out of school as a result of unchecked deviant behaviour.
2.    The problem of joining cultism which might destroy the students
3.    The problems of poor performance and lack of seriousness in area of academics due to unchecked deviants’ behaviours.
Fear of adolescent deviant behaviour is a constant concern for millions of people all over the world. Kids seem to take up crimes that are usually committed by adults over the age of 18. "Statistics confirm that more horrendous crimes are being committed by increasingly younger children" (Adelman,. & Taylor, 2005). Youth violence is a phenomenon in all countries, and increases in youth deviant behaviour have been of considerable concern over the past twenty years all over the world. Some of the increases in youth crime have resulted from changes in the way violent youth behaviours have been responded to (Agboola, & Salawu, 2011).
Recently, there has been significant increase in violent Adolescent crime in Awarra, Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A Imo State. Most communities in Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A has been no exception to rising Adolescent  violence perhaps because of the increasing economic hardship and recession experienced in many parts of the region. Levels of youth deviant behaviour appear to continue to increase everywhere in the world (Ayse, & Musa,2013).
Thus, these and more are the problematic issue facing this research work.
1.3    AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Basically the purpose of the study was to find out the pattern of deviant beahviour among adolescents in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State. Specifically the study will investigate.
1)    The patterns of deviant behaviour among adolescents in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema.
2)    To determine whether gender does make for significant difference in pattern of deviant behaviour among adolescents in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local government area of Imo State
3)    To determine parental socio-economic status does not make for significant difference in deviant behaviour among adolescent in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local government area of Imo State
4)     To identify the most common form of deviant behaviour among the youth in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local government area of Imo State.
5)     To establish the socio-economic factors associated with deviant behaviour among the youth in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local government area of Imo State
6)    To establish the socio-psychological factors associated with deviant behaviour among the youth in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local government area of Imo State.
1.4    RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study was guided by the following research questions:
i.    What are the personal characteristics of the respondents?
ii.    What are the most common forms of deviant behaviour among the youth in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local government area of Imo State community?
iii.     What are the socio-economic factors that contribute to deviant behaviour among the youth in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local government area of Imo State?
iv.     What socio - psychological factors are associated to deviant behaviour among the youth in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local government area of Imo State.
1.5    RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The following null hypothesis are formulated to guide the study:
1.    There is no significant difference in the patterns of deviant behahviour among male and female adolescents in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local Government area of Imo State
2.    Parental Socio-Economic Status does not make for significant Difference in the pattern of deviant behaviour among adolescents in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local Government area of Imo State
3.    There is no significant difference in the pattern of deviant beahviour of adolescents in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local Government area of Imo State based on Location.
1.5    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
As a result of the evil done and caused by deviant behaviour  among adolescents, this research work is very important because, it is geared towards finding out the pattern of deviant behaviour among adolescents and proper steps to be taken to arrest the situation.
The study is important because the information generated from the study would shed light on the mistakes of the adolescents of the years. It will also be useful to parents who have adolescents in schools in the sense that it will help them to behave in more appropriate manner. This research work will be of benefit to adolescents who manifest deviant behaviour as it will help them to shun it and make them to change and put up better lives in order to achieve their economic goals.
1.6    AREA OF STUDY
Awarra is an autonomous community in Ohaj/Egbema L.G. A Imo State.  Ohaji/Egbema is an oil-rich Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is Mmahu-Egbema. It has an area of 890 km² and a population of 182,538 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 464. Awarra people are main farmers. Recently, there are being series of deviant behaviour in the community which have led to the destruction of properties, dissertation of the people, killings etc. Awarra youths sees deviant behaviour as a way of life which have definitely affected the community negatively.
1.7    SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study covers all the communities in Awarra Ohaji/Egbema Local Government of Imo state and it involves the male and female adolescents in the area both in school and those not in school such as churches, places of work, etc.
1.8    LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
TIME: The research work is only limited to a semester, hence the problem of time is even more amplified when considered that the researcher had to attend to other aspects of his study order than the research work since both academic studies and research work run concurrently.
LITERACY LEVEL:
Low literacy level of some of the respondents was very low. As a result, problems were encountered in the completion of the questionnaire as some were properly or wrongly filled.
COST: The cost of traveling to Awarra in Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A Imo State was a bit difficult to realize.
1.9    DEFINITION  OF TERMS
The key terms used in the study are define conceptually below:
    Deviant: A deviant is someone whose behavior falls far outside of society's norms; as an adjective, deviant can describe the behavior itself. (Ekpeyong 1996:121)
    Behaviour: This is the process to act or reacts in specified way. Behaviour also means an overt bodily movement or responses by living organism towards either internal external stimulus.
    Adolescents: This refers to the transitional period individual passess through in his growth from childhood to adulthood or maturity.
    School Administration: it is a formalized system which plan, coordinate, organize, staff reporting and evaluating of all matters of the entire school affairs.
    Peer Group: People who are similar in development level such as age, education and other qualifications.