This study examined the political interests of 150 postgraduate students (75 male, 75 female) studying political science. The researchers aimed to determine and compare the political interest levels of male and female students. They administered a political interest scale and found no significant difference in mean scores between males (M=12.5, SD=16.625) and females (M=15, SD=13.6). The t-value did not exceed the critical value, so the researchers concluded that male and female students had similar levels of political interest. The study suggests educational administrators should create an environment to enhance all students' political interests.

1. International Indexed & Refereed Research Journal, January, 2013 ISSN 0975-3486, RNI- RAJBIL- 2009-30097, VOL- IV * ISSUE- 40
Research Paper—Education
A Study of Attitude Towards Political Interests
Among Postgraduate Students
* Dr. Poonam Nangru **Jyoti Sharma
January,2013 *** Poonam Devi
*Asstt. Professor ,R.L.S.College of Education, Sidhrawali (Gurgaon)
**-*** M.Ed. Research Scholar students
A B S T R A C T
The present study was conducted on political interests of postgraduate students of political science stream. The sample
of the study was 150 male and female students. The tool developed by Suresh Kumar Singh and B.B. Pandey (1988) and
was used to measure students’ attitude towards political interests
Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part Political interest is one of the most powerful and
in affairs which properly concern them. Politics takes persistent predictors of political participation and is
place in all types of communities and is at hand as an widely considered a vital component for a democratic
essential means to steer clear of conflict because of citizenship. Political Interest is “a citizen’s willingness
multiplicity of belief and opinion and therefore required to pay attention to political phenomena at the possible
to uphold as peaceful as subsistence as possible. expense of other topic”. It is directly connected with
Political science is a social science discipline concerned the political interest as in Today’s time youngsters are
with the study of the state, government, and politics. showing their full interest in politics and tries to bring
Political science is the study of how students obtain or the revaluation in the country’s politics.
compete for power and system of governence. Political Objective:-
science includes the study of political philosophy, The study tries to fulfil the objectives which
ethics, international relations and foreign policy, public were: - (i) to determine the political interest of male
administration, and the dynamic relations between students of political science stream (ii) to determine the
different parts of governments. Political science political interest of female students of political interest
intersects with other fields; including anthropology, stream (iii) to compare the political interests of male and
public policy, national politics, economics, international female students of political science streams.
relations, comparative politics, psychology, sociology, Hypothesis:-
history,law, and political theory. Political Science implies There is no significant difference between
its area of study or subject matter. It is a very political interest of male and female students of political
comprehensive and expanding social science. In clinical science stream towards their political interests.
psychology, the attitude is often described as having Method:-
three parts, as a model for thinking about the issue. The In the present study descriptive survey
parts are: affect, which is the response to the item or method was used by the investigator.
situation; behaviour, which is the outward indication Population:-
of the attitude; and cognitive, which is the resulting The population of the study comprise all male
belief from having the experience. As applied to man and female students of political science stream of
the social animal, attitude is crucial to understanding Gurgaon District of Haryana State.
the work world and the play world. A certain way of Sample:-
feeling translates into the viewpoint taken to work or The sample for the study Comprise of 75 male
other interaction. Political Interests means engaging in and 75 female students of postgraduate level of political
a range of activities concerned with politics. Students science stream of Three Government College of Gurgaon
having political interests must have a good knowledge District of Haryana State. (Regular and Corresponding
of the Constitution of the own country, the executive students). See table -1
and judicial functions of the government.
Table-1
150 students of political science of P.G. level Male students Female students
Girls Govt. College, Sector- 14 (Gurgaon) - 25
D.S.D College (Gurgaon) 35 25
P.G. Govt. College, Sector-9 (Gurgaon) 40 25
RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 5

2. International Indexed & Refereed Research Journal, January, 2013 ISSN 0975-3486, RNI- RAJBIL- 2009-30097, VOL- IV * ISSUE- 40
Table-2
Respondent N Mean S.D S.Ed. t-value Level of significance
Male Students 75 12.5 16.625 2.47 -1.1 Not significance at 0.05
Female Students 75 15 13.6
Tool Description:- significance difference of political interest level in male
Tool was used to measure the students political and female students, which given below in the table:-
interests was University of Gorakhpur, Gorakhpur. The So here “t” value was -1.1 and -1.1 level does not carry
preliminary form of political interests scale was out weight, which was less than the table value at 0.05
administered to 400 students belonging to art and level of significance. It means that the null hypothesis
science both at undergraduate level. Thought here was that i.e. “ there is no significance difference between
no time limit but it took about 20 to 30 minutes to political interest of male and female students of political
respond to all the thirty eight items. The item analysis science stream towards their political interests” was
was done on the basis of responses of 25% high scoring accepted. Hence the attitude towards political interest
and low scoring 25 individuals of the sample. It was of male and female students of political science stream
decided that items showing significant t-ratio be has almost same attitude.
retained and in all 38 items were retained in final form Conclusions:-
of the scale. This tool was developed by Suresh Kumar The major findings of the research conducted on the
Singh and B.B. Pandey (1988). Political Science stream students at postgraduate level
Statistical Technique Used:- from three Government college of Gurgaon District of
1. Mean Haryana state. Male s and females students of Political
2. S.D. Science at Postgraduate Level has almost same attitude
3. “t” test towards Political Interest. Political interests were found
Analysis:- students of all three Government Colleges. Thus
In order to compare attitude towards political educational administrators, managers, principals, Head
interest of students, firstly we computed the Mean and of departments and policy makers should try to create
S.D. of male and female students but there was no such atmosphere which may be very helpful to enhance
the students’ attitude towards their political interests.
R E F E R E N C E
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6 RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION