Influence of Peer Group on Academic Performance of Secondary School Students in Ekiti State

This study investigated the influence of peer group on the academic performance of secondary school students in Ekiti State.

A total of 225 secondary school students were randomly selected from five mixed (boys and girls) secondary schools for participation in this study. The participants all responded to Peer Group and Adolescent’s Academic Performance (PGAAP) questionnaire.

Eight hypotheses were tested in all. Independent t-test was used to test hypotheses 1 and 2, while Spearman Rank correlation co-efficient was used to test hypotheses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively. Data collected were analyzed and findings showed that peers age (young and old) does not influence academic performance of secondary school students (t (198) = 7.747, P < .05). Gender (male or female) does not influence academic performance of secondary school students (t (198) = 0.681, P < 05). Peers relationship influence academic performance of secondary school students (R (4) = 0.15, p >. 05). Peers pattern of socialization influence academic performance of secondary school students (R (4) = 0.6, P > .05). Peers location influence their academic performance (R (4) = 0.25, P > .05). Motivation of peers influence their academic performance (R (4) = 0.8, P > .05). Use of drugs among peers influences their academic performance (R (4) = 0.4, P > .05). Finally, peers religion affiliation have no influence on the academic performance of secondary school students (R (4) = 1.00, P > .05).

Above results suggest that age, gender and religion difference does not matter in determining academic performance among secondary school students. The result further suggest that peers relationship, socialization, location, motivation and drug use have a great influence in determining academic performance of secondary school students. However, the comparative influence of peers’ parent, home-setting and extra-curricular activities contextual variables that may differently influence academic performance was not taken into account in this study. Thus, future research should address the influence of such factors.