ABSTRACT
This study is designed to examiner and determine the effect of the
activities of peer groups on the academic performance of students in some
selected secondary schools in Esan North East Local Government Area, Edo State.
The research questions used were:
i. How anti-academic activities could hinder
academic performance among peer groups in secondary school.
ii. How inadequate school materials could encourage
children to be indolent at work.
iii. How bad school tone can hamper academic pursuit
in the school.
The research instrument used included questionnaire participant
observation. The sample percentage and tabulation was used for the data
analysis. The recommendations were proffered to alleviate the identified
problems.
TABLE
OF CONTENT
Chapter One
Introduction
Statement of problems
Purpose of study
Significance of the study
Limitation
Scope of the study
Definition of terms
Chapter Two
Literature review
Chapter Three
Research design
Population
Description of sample selection
Research instrument
Pilot study
Validation of instrument
Administration of instrument
Method of data analysis
Interview with students
Chapter Four
Data Presentation and Analysis
Chapter Five
Summary
Recommendations
Conclusion
References
Appendix
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Peer group
can simply be said to be people of the same age and ability that is people who
are knitted together by a feeling derived by a common concern as seekers of
what was desirable for the group. The peer group is the child own friends, and
equal member of the group often have common characteristics or interest. The
peer group interests are short rage and temporary (Ezewu 2002).
Moreso, the
children changes their peer group membership as they for through different
stages of development and can belong to a number of peer group at the same time
(Ezewu, 2002). In some cases, members roles are less defined they change frequently
in some, it may not be clear who is a member and who is not. In-group, the
child holds a certain position and each he is expected to think and behave in a
certain way. The peer group sets out certain standard for the group and they
also have norms and values, which they follow.
The peer
group influences are more pronounced and noted in secondary school than in
primary schools, partly because some of the children go away from home and stay
in boarding schools where parental supervision and contact is very limited. The
influence of peer group on the child is great both in and out of the school,
because there is the tendency for members to be comfortable with the group
norms and values. Sometimes peer group influence may lead to aggressive behaviour
such as (rioting in school).
Peer group
influence also prompt students to form clique with nicknames such as, Terror,
Shark, Snake, Tempo, Blue Queen, Black angel etc. students are always anxious
to initiate their peers whether good or bad, they would want to go to the
church or mosque due to their peer influences. They may also join different
clubs like Girls Guides, Boys Scout, Brigade, Red Cross, Savan, etc (Owuamanam,
2001). The peer group has their own “acceptance” which they have to consider
before a child could be accepted or rejected from a group. Some of these
characteristics that are likely to make a child to be accepted to a group are
friendship, sociability and introversion. Much may also depend on what a
particular group values as qualities in its members (Piaget, 1998).
Formation
of peer group may occur when frustration sets in as a result of conflict with
family members, adult and societal norms. Effects are usually made to
compensate for rejection and uses leisure profitably. Through the formation of
peer group, the child will want to gain freedom from home in order to be loyal
to the group.
In another
way, Adeola et al (2002) says, “formation of peer group may occur from each
extensive interaction with others initiate relationship develop and by these
contacts important attitudes and values are formed. The attitudes may influence
the child’s academic performance either positively or negatively. The negative
aspect which could be detrimental to students academic work are the cases of
group behaviour such as truancy, persistent lateness to school, juvenile
delinquency, stealing, absenteeism from school, disobedience, laziness,
disregarding school rules and regulations etc.
On the
other hand, the influence could be geared towards positive aspect of students
academic performance for instance, the students could be influenced socially,
psychologically, intellectually etc and all these boost academic performance
e.g. forming reading group, going to the library, anxious to join others in
answering questions in the classroom, and making friends with brilliant
students especially in the area of mathematics, English language, social
studies etc.
Also there
are some important functions that the peer group plays which greatly influences
the academic performance of students. They are as follows:
1. They provide the peer group with a considerable
degree of emotional security, which help in the intellectual development of the
child.
2. The peer group provides the students with a wide
variety of experiences which can boost their academic performance
3. They also provide the opportunity for the
development of loyalties that goes beyond the immediate family e.g. political
and social loyalties, which are important for future adjustment.
4. They provide a wide number of males that will be
helpful in the development of identity diffusion.
5. The peer group facilitates pre-adolescent
transition from the family to peer orientation.
6. They provide opportunities for interpersonal
relationship.
The peer group provides the standard of taught and behaviour to be
pursued by its members and they established the attitudes, opinions and ideas
which they are to adopt. It is through these peer groups that cultures are
established which will provide variations in standards of education and so on.
While in their respective groups the individual number are prepared for
performance of specific task such as leadership role, spirit of active
participation, submissiveness etc in this way the child barns to lead and
follow. These are vital requirements for effective citizenship.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The concern
of the peer group on the academic performance of student in selected secondary
schools. Efforts would be concentrated on the following:
i. Children interaction with their peers
ii. Stages of the formation of peer group
iii. Peer group influence on academic performance of the
students
iv. The implication of a peer group on individual
teachers, educational administration, policy makers etc.
PURPOSE OF STUDY
The purpose
of the study is to investigate the extent to which peer group contribute to the
academic performance of the child. The research will also find out whether peer
group influence contributes to the academic growth of its members. Furthermore,
the investigation would as well find out the positive and negative behavioral
aspect of the peer group on academic performance of students.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study
will help in knowing more about the peer group and their stages. It will help
in findings out the peer group influence on pre-adolescent and the implication
on them.
The work
will help in finding out the influence of the peer group on the academic
performance of students. The research will help in findings solutions to the
problems caused by poser group influence. It will also help in relating the
peer group of male and females together in terms of the relationship.
The project
will also help to find out the bad and good aspect of peer group.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study
was limited to five selected secondary schools namely:
i. Okpuje Secondary School,
ii. Uwalor Secondary School
iii. Obedu Secondary School,
iv. Our lady of Lord’s Grammar School and
v. Evboyi Secondary School in Esan North East Local
Government Area of Edo State.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
In the
study the following terms were used.
Peer:
Rank with equal, of the same age group, within the same age bracket
Group: A
number of peple or things that are together in the same place, or that are
connected in some ways.
Influence: The
power that something or somebody has to make something or somebody behave in a
particular way.
Academic:
Something based on subjects that are taught to develop the mind rather than to
provide practical skills.
Performance: how
well or badly one does something.
Department | Education |
Project ID Code | EDU0274 |
Chapters | 5 Chapters |
No of Pages | 46 pages |
Methodology | Descriptive |
Reference | YES |
Format | Microsoft Word |
Price | ₦4000, $15 |
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Contact Us On | +2347043069458 |