Assessment of Senior High School students’ earthquake risk perception on their metacognition in Weija-Gbawe Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

Metacognition studies have focused on the self-awareness, learning process, and outcomes of students, but how earthquake risk perception affects Senior High School students' metacognition is understudied. This study assessed Senior High School (SHS) students' earthquake risk perception and its effects on their metacognition in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality, Ghana. The study used a questionnaire to collect data from 219 students proportionally from three (3) SHS (Ansong Senior High School, Pentecost Vocational Training Institute, and Royals Senior High Schools). Data processing and analysis techniques employed were exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and path analysis respectively. Results showed a high earthquake risk perception among Senior High School students in Weija-Gbawe Municipality. Also, students' risk perception dimensions like anxiety, uncontrollability and exposure statistically significantly affected metacognition. Therefore, the study concludes that, exposure affects senior high school students' earthquake risk perception. In view of this, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and Ghana Education Service are advised by the study to provide counseling sessions for students as well as earthquake disaster risk awareness programmes for students. The study contributes to literature by providing link between earthquake risk perception and metacognitive functioning among Senior High School students.