Relationship between Peer Group Influence and Students’ Academic Achievement in Chemistry at Secondary School Level

Abstract

The research was designed to examine the relationship between peer group influence and academic achievement of secondary school chemistry students in some selected secondary schools in Jalingo metropolis of Taraba State. The study employed a survey- Causal-comparative research design in line with its appropriateness to the research problem. A sample of 120 students comprising of equal number of male and female students were selected randomly from three secondary schools. A 15-item questionnaire Peer Group Influence Assessment Questionnaire and Chemistry Achievement Test containing 50-items was administered to the students. The data were analyzed using means, standard deviation in answering the research questions and t-test and Person Product Moment Correlation were used in testing the hypotheses. The result from the study showed that; there is significant difference between students that belong to peer group and those that do not belong to peer group on the academic achievement of chemistry; there was no significant difference between the academic achievement of male and female chemistry students that are involved in peer group; and there is a positive and significant relationship between peer group influence and academic achievement of students in chemistry. It was therefore recommended that; school authorities/teachers should pay attention towards encouraging peer group activities in schools especially in the area of group discussion.