PEER GROUP AND PUPILS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES

PEER GROUP AND PUPILS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Abstract

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the study

1.2     Statement of the Problem

1.3     Purpose of the Study

1.4     Research Questions

1.5     Research Hypotheses

1.6     Significance of the study

1.7     Delimitation of the Study

1.8     Limitation of the Study

1.9     Definition of Terms

CHAPTER TWO – REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH METHODS

3.1     Research Design

3.2     Area for the study

3.3    Population for the study

3.4     Sampling and Sampling Technique

3.5     Instrumentation

3.6     Instrument Validation

3.7     Administration of Instrument

3.8     Scoring of the Instrument

3.9     Method of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR – DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.1     Data Presentation and Analysis

4.2     Discussion of Results

CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1     Summary

5.2     Conclusion

5.3     Recommendations

5.4     Suggestions for further study

References

Appendix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Schools seem often to be judged on the kind of children they enrolled, rather than on the quality of their teaching or the other facilities they offer. Moreover, this observation has led many to argue that the background and abilities of a pupil’s school-mates must have an important influence on his or her own achievements at school.

The issue of peer group is a critical one in respect of current educational policy which favours expansion of school choice; because choice based on peer group quality, in theory at least, lead to a high degree of sorting across schools along lines of prior ability (Epple and Romano, 2020). Thus, this will exacerbate educational inequalities if peer-group quality has real impacts on personal achievement.

Furthermore, the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (2021) defined peer-group as the group of people of the same age or social status. The peer group is the first social group outside the home in which the child attempts to gain acceptance and recognition. Peer group is an important influence throughout one’s life but they are more critical during the developmental years of childhood and adolescence.

PEER GROUP AND PUPILS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES

Adolescents always emulate their mate in whatever form of behaviour, attitudes having their origin in interaction with other persons and those which occur through integration, a pupil learn more through integration with peers which influence their academic performance in schools (Zimmerman, 2023). In the school system, the pupil gets into the social group of “like minds” and interest. As a result of the various attitudes, skill, knowledge in required through role-play.

Peer group as an agent of socialization is the most important socializing agent for the developing of pupils during their primary education. Peer group is the pivot of social change and during interaction peers” the child’s life is transformed from the helpless child into a mature adult. The peer group and pupils academic performance in social studies.

In the Nigeria society today, the influence of peer group cannot be over emphasized in a pupil’s life most especially primary education. Peer group has in one way or the other influenced the life of children both academically, socially, morally, psychologically and otherwise (Hoxby, 2020).

Socialization agents such as family, religion, mass media and school among others help in modifying the behaviour of the child. The peer group forms the main basis through which the child learns lot of empirical facts about his physical and social environment, acquisition of skills and value as well as attitude for a better future.

Sequel to the aforementioned assertions: on the influence of peer groups on the educational process of pupils in primary schools. It was on this premise that this research was conducted in Ini Local Government Area to ascertain how peer group influence academic performance of primary school pupils in Social Studies.

1.2    Statement of the Problem

Pupils’ persistent poor academic performance in Social Studies in primary schools has been the main concern of this research. It is a known fact that pupils socialize with people when they associate.  Moreover, through interaction over many years, acceptable social customs are taught and fostered by pupils. Other pupils as well as adults can have a great impact on a broad range of issues in the pupil’s life including achievement in schools.

However, the research is geared towards having a proper understanding of the way social interaction affect academic performance. The immediate environment such as peer, family, school, religion and other factors can encourage or discourage pupils’ academic performance. This research is thus an inquiry into the influence of peer group on academic performance of primary school pupils in Social Studies.

1.3    Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study was to find out the influence of peer group on academic performance in Social Studies in Public Primary Schools. In specific terms, the objectives of the study were:

1. To compare the academic performance of pupils of the same sex peer and mixed sex peer group in Social Studies.
2. To examine the significant difference between aggressive behaviour (bullying) and academic performance of pupils in Social Studies.

1.4    Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated for the study:

1. What is the difference between academic performance of pupils of the same sex peer and mixed sex peer group in Social Studies?
2. What is the difference between aggressive behaviour (bullying) and academic performance of pupils in Social Studies?

1.5    Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses were formulated for the study:

1. There is no significant difference between academic performance of pupils of the same sex peer and mixed sex peer group in Social Studies.
2. There is no significant difference between aggressive behaviour (bullying) and academic performance of pupils in Social Studies.

1.6    Significance of the Study

• The study of peer group on pupils’ academic performance is significant because information gathered from this work will be useful and will go along way to unveil the influence of peer group on the academic performance of primary school pupils.
• Secondly, the findings from this research work will help to strike a balance in the educational system in line with the National Policy on Education.

• The study will also enable stakeholders in the educational sector to initiate policies and programmes that will channel peer group influence from other negative activities to effective reading and learning to achieve maximum academic excellence among learners and pupils studying in primary schools.
• The study will further provide an insight into impact of peer group on academic performance of adolescents be it in primary or primary school.

1.7    Limitation of the Study

In writing a research work of this kind, limitations are bound to occur, such as:

1. Financial Constraint: This exerted much influence on the study because the researcher found it tough to get some funds to finance the study. One of such is inability to reach out for enough print materials since it was carried out alongside with other academic works. The peer group and pupils academic performance in social studies.
2. Time Constraint: Secondly, the period given for the completion of this study was not enough for a wider and more in-depth study.

1.9    Definition of Terms

Peer Group: This is a group of people of the same age or social status. Peer group also entail people who shares common view, sentiment and interest.

Truancy: Is any intentional, unjustified, unauthorized, or illegal absence from compulsory education. It is absence caused by pupils of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate excused absences, such as ones related to medical conditions.

Aggressive Behavior: In brief, is reactionary and impulsive behavior that often results in breaking household rules or the law; aggressive behavior is violent and unpredictable.

Gender: This is the classification of the individual into either male or female.

Bullying:    Is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance or Bullying is the process of using aggressive behaviour manifested by the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when the behaviour is habitual and involves an imbalance of power.

Academic Performance: This is measured as the capacity of a learner in terms of the attainment in quantitative form of specified learning objectives in a given curriculum.

Pupils: In brief, pupils in this study refers to learners who are learning in primary school level of education.

Conclusion

It is evident from all that have been discussed in this study that peer group has great influence on pupils’ learning as well as their academic performance in schools irrespective of subject, learner’s age and institution of learning. The role play by peer groups in an institution of learning and perhaps other social organizations cannot be overemphasized in our today’s society. The peer group and pupils academic performance in social studies.

As such, based on the specific objectives of the study, the following conclusions were made:

1. There is a significant difference between truancy and academic performance of pupils in Social Studies.
2. There is a significant difference between aggressive behaviour (bullying) and academic performance of pupils in Social Studies.

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Ikemesit

Ikemesit Akpan is my name. I am a Nigerian author. I work with projectboss.com.ng. I’m a researcher and a writer of academic research.

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