RELATIONSHIP AMONG SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND, PEER GROUP AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OGUN STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship among socio-economic background, peer-group and students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Ogun State, Nigeria. Academic performance of secondary schools’ students has been traced to so many factors such as government policy, teachers’ factor and so on. But this study aimed at finding relationship socio-economic background, peer-group and students’ academic performance. The study adopted the descriptive survey research of the ex-post facto type research design. Six hundred and seventeen (617) respondents were used to carry out the study. A self designed questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on Relationship among Socio-Economic Background, Peer-Group and Student Academic Performance in Secondary Schools”, (QISEBPGSAPSS) was used to get data while an achievement test was used to measure the academic performance. The reliability of the instrument was given as r = 0.79. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that the following were not significant family income (r = -0.032; P > 0.05); parental educational background (r = -0.012; P > 0.05) and family background (r = 0.242; P < 0.05). Also, following revealed positive and significant relationship: parenting supportive System (r = 0.144; P < 0.009); home environment (r = 0.029; P > 0.05) and peer group (r = 0.137; P < 0.05). Based on the findings, it was recommended that parents should be actively involved in the concern and welfare of their children.