Table 1. Operational definition of... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1.

Operational definition of construct

S/N	Construct	Items	Operational definition
1.	Teacher competence and professional development	TCPD	Student’s views on teachers’ subject knowledge, effectiveness of teaching and engagement in professional learning
2.	Curriculum examination misalignment	CEA	Difference between how students think the curriculum is presented in school and how it is tested in the Grade 12 national exam
3.	Psychological and emotional stress	PES	Students’ anxiety, fear of failure, emotional pressure and stress in planning and taking the national examination
4.	Language barriers	LB	Students’ problems with understanding, communication, and response to examination content as a result of the language of instruction or assessment
5.	School leadership capacity	SLC	Pupil’s perception of the effectiveness of school leaders in providing instructional support, monitoring teaching and learning and managing school resources
6.	Grade 12 examination outcomes	GEO	Students’ perception of the outcomes and consequences of performance in the national exam at grade 12 level

S/N	Construct	Items	Operational definition
1.	Teacher competence and professional development	TCPD	Student’s views on teachers’ subject knowledge, effectiveness of teaching and engagement in professional learning
2.	Curriculum examination misalignment	CEA	Difference between how students think the curriculum is presented in school and how it is tested in the Grade 12 national exam
3.	Psychological and emotional stress	PES	Students’ anxiety, fear of failure, emotional pressure and stress in planning and taking the national examination
4.	Language barriers	LB	Students’ problems with understanding, communication, and response to examination content as a result of the language of instruction or assessment
5.	School leadership capacity	SLC	Pupil’s perception of the effectiveness of school leaders in providing instructional support, monitoring teaching and learning and managing school resources
6.	Grade 12 examination outcomes	GEO	Students’ perception of the outcomes and consequences of performance in the national exam at grade 12 level

Source(s): Authors’ own creation