INFLUENCE OF PEER GROUP ON STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS IN DUTSIN-MA METROPOLIS. A RESEARCH PROJECT TOPIC ON SCIENCE EDUCATION
ABSTRACT
It is a common belief that children will thrive if educated amongst better schoolmates, and this belief guides many parents in their choice of school. Many studies have tried to measure this peer-group influence, and this project was to extend this literature by looking at the “Influence of peer group on students’ achievement in senior secondary school mathematics in Dutsin-ma Metropolis”. The study was guided by the following objectives, Investigate the influence of peer group on secondary school students’ mathematics achievement in Dutsin-ma metropolis, Determine if there exist significant difference between influence of peer group on male students’ achievement in mathematics and female students’ achievement in mathematics; and Identify if there exist significant difference between influence of peer group on senior secondary school students’ achievement in mathematics and junior secondary school students’ achievement in mathematics. The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a sample size of one hundred and twenty (120) students were used from six secondary schools selected in Dutsin-ma Metropolis. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Validity of data collection tools was achieved through consultation with research experts and reliability of data collection instruments of this study was determined using the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient before the actual collection of data. The data collected were presented in APA tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies. The three null hypothesis were tested using the t-test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The influence of peer group on students’ achievement in senior secondary school mathematics which capture the influence of a student classmates on his achievement in mathematics.
KEY WORDS: Peer group, Influence, Students’ achievement.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Mathematics being the foundation of scientific knowledge receive greater attention from the parents, teachers, communities, leaders and governments. The success and failure of students’ achievement in mathematics in our secondary schools are determined by student’s interest in mathematics. Peer groups are among the most influential social forces affecting adolescent behavior from mundane decisions concerning clothing, hairstyle, music, and entertainment, to more significant decisions concerning short and long-term education plans.
