Milton Margai Technical University

(MMTU)

Dissertation Proposal
To investigate the impact of single parenting on child
education

CASE STUDY: Murray Town Community

DEPARTMENT
Social Work

In partial fulfilment of the Degree of BSc.

Social Work

2025
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.1 Background to the study --------------------------------------------- 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem -------------------------------------------- 3
1.3 Research Questions ---------------------------------------------------- 4
1.4 Objectives of the study------------------------------------------------ 5
1.5 Significance of the Study --------------------------------------------- 5
1.6 Scope and Delimitations of the Study ---------------------------- 6
1.7 Definition of Key Terms ---------------------------------------------- 7
1.8 Research Methodology ----------------------------------------------- 8
1.9 Research Design -------------------------------------------------------- 8
1.10 Target Population ---------------------------------------------------- 8
1.11 Sampling Technique ------------------------------------------------- 8
1.12 Sample Size ------------------------------------------------------------- 9
1.13 Sources of Data-------------------------------------------------------- 9
1.14 Data Collection Instrument --------------------------------------- 9
1.15 Data Analysis and Presentation ---------------------------------- 9
1.16 Organization of the Study---------------------------------------- 10
References ------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
1.1 Background to the study

Parents are the first point of contact of children. When both parents are present it implies

that the children would derive most care (Ortese, 1998). However, when one of the

parents is absent in a child’s life, a gap is created as the child would lose the support

that would have emanated from that parent. There are increasing changes in the family

structure in contemporary societies; one of which is the single-parent families.

According to the Better Care Network (2013), in Sierra Leone, 50% of children aged

0-­-17 and 52% of children aged 0-­-14 are living with both biological parents. Of

children aged 0-­-17, another 17% are living with their biological mother and 8% are

living with their father. Nearly one in every four children in Sierra Leone (24%) does

not live with either biological parent.

o Large variations in living arrangement are seen according to a child’s gender,

age group, wealth quintile, rural-­-urban residence, and regional background

characteristics.

o Boys have a higher likelihood of living with both biological parents (52% vs.

49%). Girls are more likely to live with neither biological parent compared to

boys (26% vs. 22%).

o At an early age over half of all children still live with both biological parents;

this declines with age for children 0-­-17 (from 67% to 35%). Living with a

single biological parent becomes more common as children get older. While

only 3% of infants age 0-­-1 year live with neither biological parent, before

reaching 5 years of age this proportion jumps to 18% among children 2-­-4 years

25% for children 5-­-9 years, 32% for children 10-­-14 years and 38% for the

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 oldest cohort of children, 15-­-17 years.

Globally, single parent families are increasing rapidly. For instance, Grall (2009),

reported that there are approximately 13.7 million single parents in the USA with more

than 12 million single parents in custody of over 20 million children in 2000. This

increased to 21.8 million children raised by single parents in 2009 (about 26% of

children 21 years and below). In South Africa, about 28% of women are single parents.

Again, according to Steck (2009) the number of divorce cases leading to single

parenting has risen considerably in Europe since 1960s and that the most affected

countries include the United Kingdom, Portugal, Denmark and Belgium.

According to the Center for marriage and families (2005), over the past 35years in the

United States of America children being raised in two-parent homes have dropped

significantly from about 85% in 1968 to 70% in 2003. However, the population of

children living in single-parent homes has nearly doubled. In similar vein, Anderson

(2002) found that almost half of all children by age 15 will have lived in a single parent

family. In Nigeria, Adelani and Ogunbanwo (2008) found that there is an upsurge of

single parents. These are been linked to relationship breakdown or increasing rates of

divorce and birth of child out of wedlock.

Raising a child or children by one parent, either the mother or father alone, for most of

the time is reported to be quite challenging, placing extraordinary demands on both the

parent and the children (Bronnimann, 2007). In some societies, as reported by a single

mother, it is more of a stigma AAPH (2011). Salami and Alawode (2000) asserted that

single parenting results from divorce, separation of various kinds, having children from

wedlock or death of one spouse which leaves the roles in the hand of a single parent.

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According to the Ghana Statistical Service [GSS] (2012), the population of Ghana 12

years and older constitute 16,886,305. Out of the total [7,237,730] 42.9 percent of them

are married, 1.9 percent are separated, 3.4 percent are divorced while 4.9 percent of

them are widowed. This shows that in Ghana about [1,713,743] that is 10.2 percent of

the people are single parents that is those separated, divorced, and widowed.

Single parents may have profound negative impact on student’s academic performance

as parents play an important role in most children’s academic development. Previous

research indicates that children from both parents perform better than children from

single parents. This was attributed to the limited time a single parent must spend on

their child’s academic work.

This study is therefore to investigate the impact of single parenting on child education

in Murray Town Community to either confirm or disapprove these previous findings.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

This study seeks to investigate the impact of single parenting on child education in

Murray Town Community. There are many students within our school system that come

from single-parent families. Due to the many issues that stem from single- parent

families, some students are unable to reach their full potential.

Again, an analysis of data by the National Association of Education Procurement

(1986), indicated that third graders living with one parent score considerably lower than

third grades living with both parents. It is widely believed that children from broken

homes have high incidence of academic, emotional, and behavioral problems than

children from two parent family.

Ideally, children are supposed to live with both parent for them to be assisted with both

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academic and social activities that will help them to achieve full potentials and become

more than happy children in the society. However, there are situations where children

live or stay with only one parent. When it happens like this, children do not get the

necessary parental guidance. These children sometimes become wayward by dropping

out of school. Again, Fischer (2007) indicated that children who grow up in household

with only one biological parent are worse of average than children who grow up in

household with both of their biological parents.

On the other hand, some studies identified many positive effects of single parenting on

the children, parents and even on the society such as the ability and ease with which to

take all financial decisions, being close to children, undivided love thus maintaining

closer ties, easier to make rules, and enforce such rules for children to follow. Children

in single-parent family are believed to contribute and participate more in family

activities and therefore children grow up with a sense of respect, responsible citizens,

as well as allowing parents spend quality time, thus increasing bonding. In addition,

children tend to experience community support and warmth from extended families and

contribute/participate more in family activities. It is also reported that some have more

empathetic, sensitive, caring adults because of their deprivation, thus getting more

support and assistance.

1.3 Research Questions

i. What are the causes of single parenting in Murray Town Community?

ii. What are the challenges single parents encounter in educating their children in

Murray Town Community?

iii. What are the effects of single parenting on the academic performance of students in

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 Murray Town Community?

1.4 Objectives of the study

The general objective of the study is to determine the impact of single parenting on child

education in Murray Town Community, followed by the following specific objectives of the

study:

i. To find out the causes of single parenting in Sierra Leone, at Murray Town

Community.

ii. To find out the challenges single parents in Sierra Leone, Murray Town Community

face in educating their children.

iii. To investigate the effects of single parenting on the academic performance of

students.

1.5 Significance of the Study

Research into the effects of single parenting on the academic achievement of students

will eventually be of massive relevance.

First, it would create awareness for policy makers to consider the necessary measures

to help support children from single parent’s homes towards their academic

achievements. The outcome of this study will be an additional reference material to

other academia’s to design strategies to deal with increasing falling standards of

education of students from single parent homes.

It would also make it necessary for parents to be responsible and committed to their

children’s socialization process towards their academic development.

Finally, undertaking of this research will equip the researcher with the necessary skills

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to undertake further research in the future.

1.6 Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study covers the period 2018 - 2022, which is a period of five years. It is

principally limited to estimating the patterns of investment decisions and how they

are affected by interest rates.

This research work is limited to Sierra Leone at Murray Town Community alone and

the year under study is from 2018 - 2022.

Although there is numerous information on the internet, getting valid information is

not cheap in Sierra Leone, which is aided by the ineffective educational and library

systems. Hence, the difficulty in accessing information poses a serious challenge for

the researcher when conducting the study.

In addition to this, the lack of a database for information and records that can be easily

accessed from anywhere poses a serious barrier for the researcher.

Also, the price to access journals, reports, and statistics to carry out research work is

quite high, thus demotivating the researcher from carrying out the work.

The lack of funds and time is perhaps the second on the list of challenges facing

researcher in Sierra Leone. To use research facilities that are well-equipped in Sierra

Leone, one must be prepared to spend a lot. From the purchase of research the

necessary instruments, transportation, books, etc., one would spend a lot. In addition

to this, the lack of time is another challenge in conducting the research. Many

researchers in Sierra Leone are either juggling between two or three jobs, so they only

have little time to spare for adequate research. For example, you might have seen a

lawyer, who is also a lecturer.

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 The political instability in Sierra Leone as the election is fast approaching also affects

the researcher. It can be argued that most of the problems facing researcher in Sierra

Leone are occasioned because of political uncertainty.

In addition to the above, most researcher who should be undertaking various studies

in Sierra Leone are busy trying to patch up the polity and thus give little time to

research.

1.7 Definition of Key Terms

The following terms used in the study are explained below.

Single parenting: This is a situation in which one of the two individuals involved in the

conception of the child is being responsible for the upbringing and welfare of the child

(White & Child, 1973).

In this study single parenting refers to only the mother or father of the child taking care

of him or her.

Effects of single parenting: These are both the positive negative aspects that single

parenting have on the lives and academic performance of children or students in this

study.

In this study, effects of single parenting refer to the negative impact of a single parent on

the

child’s performance in school.

Students: People who are in school to learn and acquire knowledge and skills.

To this study, student refers to pupils in basic school (upper and lower primary).

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Academic performance: Is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has

achieved their short or long –term educational goals.

In this study, academic performance refers to a student’s grades or marks obtained

from examinations conducted in the school.

1.8 Research Methodology

This chapter captures the research methods and procedures that were used to the

identify effects of single parenting on the academic performance of students. It among

others includes, research design, target population, sample size, sampling techniques,

techniques of data collection and data analysis and presentation.

1.9 Research Design

Research design according to Mouton (2003) is a plan or blueprint of how you intend

conducting the research. This study is a survey. Surveys are often part of research

designs (usually in the form of a questionnaire) and in this study, a survey is used to

probe the pupil’s knowledge with regards to the effects of single parenting on their

academic performance.

1.10 Target Population

The target population for the study is for basic schools pupils who are from single

parent homes as well as pupils who lived with both parents from the Murray town

community.

1.11 Sampling Technique

A sample is smaller groups obtained from the accessible population while ensuring that the

sample size is neither too large nor too small but rather optimum, that is; one that fulfills

the requirement of efficiency, representativeness, liability and flexibility (Kothari, 2004).

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 In this study, purposive sampling technique was used. This was to ensure that only children

who fall under the target population become part of the study. The simple random sampling

technique was then used to select the respondents for the study. This technique ensured that

each child who fell under the target population had an equal chance of been part of the

sample.

1.12 Sample Size

Considering the fact that it is practically impossible for the researcher to enumerate all

students who fell within the target population due to time and financial constraints, 50

pupils will be purposely selected to participate in the study.

1.13 Sources of Data

In this study, both primary and secondary data source of information will be used to collect

all the necessary information. Secondary data involved the use of research that focused on

published text books and unpublished books, articles, newspapers and internet searches.

The responses to the questionnaires administered on the field constituted the primary

sources of data.

1.14 Data Collection Instrument

This study will employed questionnaire and direct observation in collecting data from the

field. The questionnaires shall be close ended with alternatives provided for respondents to

choose from.

1.15 Data Analysis and Presentation

The data collected from the field will be analyzed using SPSS and the results presented in tables

for easy visualization and understanding, graphs and Microsoft Excel charts.

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 1.16 Organization of the Study
The study is divided into five different chapters, which are, 1) Introduction, 2) Review

of Literature, 3) Research Methodology, 4) Results, and 5) Summary and

Conclusions. Moreover, the study is accompanied by references and annexes in the

supplementary section of the report.

Chapter One provides a general idea about the research topic. Hence, it deals with the

subject matter of the research work. This chapter focuses on the background of the

study, the problem statement, and the research objective.

Chapter Two is primarily concerned with the review of concepts and past research

studies which helps in the formulation of a theoretical framework.

Chapter Three is concerned with research methodology which describes the research

design, sampling design, data collection procedure, pre-testing, and reliability

statistics and study results

Chapter Four presented data in an organized form to find out the major conclusions

of the research work. The different chapter in it generally covers interpretations and

findings. The required data are presented through textual, tabular, and graphic devices

and are critically analyzed and interpreted.

Chapter Five is the last part of the report which is primarily concerned with the

summary, conclusions, and implications. The summary relates the major findings.

Discussions are based on the interpretation of data to solve the research problem.

References

Adelani, T., & Ogunbanwo, A. (2008). [Title of the work if known]. [Publisher or source if
known].

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AAPH. (2011). [Title of the work if known]. [Publisher or source if known].

Anderson, E. (2002). [Title of the work if known]. [Publisher or source if known].

Better Care Network. (2013). Children’s living arrangements in Sierra Leone. Retrieved from
[source if available].

Bronnimann, D. (2007). [Title of the work if known]. [Publisher or source if known].

Center for Marriage and Families. (2005). [Title of the report or publication]. New York:
Institute for American Values.

Fischer, T. (2007). [Title of the work if known]. [Publisher or source if known].

Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). (2012). 2010 Population and Housing Census: Summary
Report of Final Results. Accra: Ghana Statistical Service.

Grall, T. (2009). Custodial mothers and fathers and their child support: 2007. U.S. Census
Bureau, Current Population Reports, P60-237.

Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques (2nd ed.). New Delhi:
New Age International Publishers.

Mouton, J. (2003). How to succeed in your master's and doctoral studies: A South African
guide and resource book. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.

National Association of Education Procurement. (1986). [Title of the report]. [Source if

available].

Ortese, P. T. (1998). Single-parenting, psychological well-being and academic achievement of

adolescents. The Nigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 6(1), 85–94.

Salami, S. O., & Alawode, E. A. (2000). Influence of single parenting on the academic
performance of adolescents in secondary schools: Implications for counseling. Department of
Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Steck, B. (2009). [Title of the work if known]. [Publisher or source if known].

White, J. M., & Child, D. (1973). [Title of the work if known]. [Publisher or source if known].

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