Social Studies is the field of study which deals with man and his relations with other men and his environment. Its content is drawn from several Social Sciences and bears a direct relationship with the purposes for which it is taught. Broadly speaking, these purposes include an understanding of human relations, knowledge of the environment, dedication to the basic principles and values of the society, and a commitment to participation in the processes through which that society is maintained and improved. One of the primary concerns of Social Studies, therefore, is to promote an understanding of man?s way of living, his basic needs, the activities in which he engages to meet his needs - social, economic, culture and political - and the institutions he has developed with his knowledge and initiation.
Understanding the importance of Social Studies at secondary school level, a study has been undertaken to study the attitude of secondary school students? towards Social Studies and achievement of secondary school students in Social Studies. The secondary school students are holding high attitude towards Social Studies and the gender, locality of the school, management of the school and medium of instruction have no influence on the attitude towards Social Studies possessed by the students. The secondary school students are possessing high achievement in Social Studies and gender and locality of the school are not having influence on the achievement in Social Studies, but management of the school and medium if instruction have their influence on the achievement in Social Studies. There is no significant association between attitude towards Social Studies and achievement in Social Studies of secondary school students and there is no influence of gender and management and there is influence of locality of the school and medium of instruction on the attitude towards Social Studies and achievement in Social Studies. The parents, teachers and students should collectively work for the retainment of the high attitude towards Social Studies and high achievement in Social Studies in order to excel in every walk of life in future and to become useful citizen of India.