Global Journal of Management and Business Research, A: Administration and Management, Volume 22 Issue 4

provision of guidance and counselling and their personal characteristics of gender, age, administrative and teaching experiences, a two tailed t-test and one- way, analysis of variance was used. ANOVA was used to test the five null hypotheses using the T-test formula given below: T = X, - X 2 √ (n1 – 1) 2 s1 + (n2 – 1) 2 S2/n1 + n 2 – 2 X1 = Mean of sample 1 X2 = Mean of sample 2 N1 = Sample 1 N2 = Sample 2 N1 + n2 – 2 + degree of freedom Analysis of variance is a statistical procedure used to examine whether the observed differences for variance between more than two samples can be attributed to chance or whether they indicate actual differences among the means of the populations sampled, that is, is the difference statistically significant? (Freud 2006:357). Analysis is also known as F-test (Schuttle, 1999:146). The hypotheses test was made at 0.005 level of significance and if the computed F-ratio was smaller than the critical value, the null hypothesis was accepted and rejected only if F-ratio was greater than the critical value. Alternatively, when P-value was less than the specified alpha of 0.05, the null hypothesis was rejected and accepted if P-Value was 0.05 or larger, (Sanders, 2007 P.397). Both approaches were used in rejecting or accepting the hypotheses. In testing null hypotheses Ho1:, Ho1:b, Ho1:c, Ho1:d, Ho2, Ho3, and Ho4 a T-test of significance of the difference between two sample means according to Best K, (1989:271), was used. A computer program, SPSS/PC + (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) was used in analyzing the data. For open-ended questions, the researcher looked at the responses given to each question in the three questionnaires and in the interview schedule and grouped them according to the number of times a given response was given by all the respondents. The researcher then analyzed them using frequencies and percentages. The one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test significant differences in principals’ attitude towards guidance and counselling in relation to their age, teaching and administrative experience. Analysis of variance was also used to test for significant difference between principals’ attitude in schools of different sexes. The 0.05 level of significance was used to accept or reject each of the hypotheses. A t-test of two independent samples was used to test significant difference between principals’ attitude towards guidance and counselling and principals’ gender; and their attitudes towards the programme. Results for the tested hypothesis catered for objective two which sought to establish whether principals’ personal qualities influenced their attitude towards provision of guidance and counselling services and on maintenance of discipline in schools. a) Hypothesis 1b HO: There is no significant difference between principals’ age and their attitude towards guidance and counselling and maintenance of discipline in their schools. H1: The age of the principals’ has a significant effect on their attitude towards guidance and counselling and maintenance of discipline in their schools. The results of analysing this hypothesis are presented on table 9 below. Table 9: Analysis of variance for principals’ attitude towards guidance and counselling by their age N=80 Principals Source of variables DF Sum of squares Mean of squares F-ratio FP 10 Between groups 14 .1258 0.0315 .5364 .7097 Within groups 66 2.6977 0.0586 Total 80 2.8235 Critical value = 2.59 The critical value obtained in the table was 2.59. The critical value of 2.59 exceeded the F-ration of .536. Therefore, the null hypothesis was accepted. This indicated that there was no significant difference between principals’ attitude towards guidance and counselling and their age. Principals in all age categories of 35-40, 41-45, 46-50, and over 50 depicted similar attitude towards guidance and counselling. The effect of age was not statistically significant. Therefore, the alternative hypothesis was rejected. Principals’ Attitudes on Guidance and Counselling Services and Maintenance of Discipline in Secondary Schools of Nyamira County, Kenya 25 Global Journal of Management and Business Research Volume XXII Issue IV Version I Year 2022 ( ) A © 2022 Global Journals