Peer Led Team Learning and Secondary School Students Academic Performance in Arithmetic Progression in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Published)
This study sought to determine the influence of peer led team learning of secondary school students’ academic performance in arithmetic progression in mathematics. Two each of purpose of study, research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the investigation. Quasi-experimental research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was all SS2 students in pubic secondary schools in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria numbering 5768. The sample was made up of 400 SS2 students selected from two secondary schools in the Local Government Area. Data for the study were gathered using a researcher made “Mathematics Achievement Test in Arithmetic Progression” (MATAP). The reliability of the instrument was determined using split half method, which yielded a coefficient of 0.78. The findings of the study revealed that students taught arithmetic progression using peer led team learning method performed better than students taught using lecture method. The result also indicated that male and female students taught arithmetic progression using peer led team learning do not differ significantly in their academic performance. It was recommended among others that teachers should use peer led team learning in the teaching of Arithmetic Progression.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Arithmetic Progression, Learning, Students
Subjective Well-Being, Work and Academic Success: Evidence from Post-Graduate International Students in New Zealand (Published)
This study investigates relationship between academic performance, subjective well-being (happiness) and part-time work of 299 international students studying at postgraduate level in a tertiary institute in New Zealand. A quantitative approach is used and a robust set of demographic factors and explanatory variables is controlled for to identify the relationship between academic performance, happiness and part-time work of international students. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) is used for measuring the happiness of the research participants. The findings of this study suggest that 91 percent of the students participated in the research are happy; however, happiness has no statistically significant effects on academic performance of the students. A significant relationship exists between happiness and academic performance if different cut-off levels of happiness are used to divide the full sample of observation. Happiness affects the academic performance negatively when the students’ happiness level is above the median level. A large number of international students are engaged in part-time work. This study also finds that engaging in part-time work of full-time students have adverse effects on the academic performance
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Happiness, Part-Time Work
Perception of the Use of Webquest for Academic Purposes among Undergraduate Students in Rivers State, Nigeria (Published)
This study was carried out to ascertain the undergraduate students’ perception on the use of WebQuest for academic purposes. It was conducted in three tertiary institutions in Rivers State. The sample comprised 300 respondents randomly selected from three tertiary institutions in Rivers State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were used for the study. Mean scores, Standard deviation, ANOVA, and Regression Analysis were the statistical tools used in the study. It was found that WebQuest is used in fostering discussion outside classroom; bringing about collaborative research in the classroom, and facilitating social interactions among learners. In terms of attitude, respondents generally have favourable attitude towards use of WebQuest. The study revealed that significant differences exist in WebQuest usage across the three universities involved in the study and significant differences exist in the use of WebQuest between male and female respondents; and in attitude of students towards WebQuest. Based on these findings, the study recommend that the use of WebQuest should be incorporated into the university curriculum for enhanced university education system.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Social media, WebQuest
Influence of Self and Social Awareness on Business Education Students’ Academic Performance in Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria (Published)
This study investigated the influence of self and social awareness on Business Education students’ academic performance in Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria. Two specific objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The ex-post facto research design was used for the study. The population of the study consisted of all the 513 students who were at their second and third year of studies, in Business Education programme in the three Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria that offer Business Education programme. A sample of 356 Business Education students from two intact years was selected for the study using stratified sampling technique. The validated instrument, Emotional Competency Inventory was used for data collection; an internal consistency reliability coefficient of 0.76 was obtained using Cronbach Alpha reliability technique. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while multiple regression analysis was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The result revealed that there was a significant influence of self awareness and social awareness on Business Education students’ academic performance in Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria. It is recommended, among others, that a balanced combination of emotional and cognitive strategies should be employed in training students. This will facilitate the identification, recognition and development of their emotional skills which will in turn contribute to their personal, academic and career success.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Business Education, Federal University, Student
Students’ Academic Achievements in Social Studies: Any Peer Group Influence? (Published)
This work used the causal-comparative research design to explore the relationship between peer group influence and students’ academic achievements in Social Studies. The sample comprised 160 Junior Secondary School (JSS) IIIA students randomly selected from ten out of nineteen secondary schools in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Two instruments were used: The Peer Group Influence Assessment Questionnaire (PGIAQ) on a 4-point Likert and a 50-item multiple choice questions in Social Studies. The instruments were trial-tested and a reliability coefficient of 0.87 obtained. Data generated were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis (r) at 0.05 level of significance. The result permitted the conclusion that there was a significant positive relationship between peer group influence and students’ academic achievements in Social Studies. This underscores the need to study group dynamics from the point of view of the development of students whose needs are, in the main, related to group living. This finding instructs parents, guardians and caregivers to keep a close watch on the companies their children and wards keep as such surely impact significantly on the academic performances of the affected children.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Group, Influence, Peer-Group, Social Studies
COMPARISON OF STANDARD FOUR PUPILS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AFTER THREE YEARS OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION (F.P.E.) IMPLEMENTATION (Published)
In Kenya, basic education is provided through public and private institutions. . This paper focused on class 4 pupils admitted in class 1 the year 2003 when Free Primary Education (F.P.E.) programme was implemented. The purpose of this study was to compare the academic performance of these pupils in Private and Public Primary Schools. The research made use of ex post facto research design. Simple random sampling was used to select eight public and eight private primary schools in Kitale Municipality. A test was given to class four pupils of the year 2006 in both private and public primary schools and used to assess academic performance. The study used descriptive statistics to compute data for academic performance. The tests of significance showed disparity in academic performance of both boys and girls in private school from those of the public. There is need for education and policy assurance officers to step up inspection to enhance effectiveness among public primary school teachers.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Comparison, Free Primary Education, Implementation, Private Primary Schools, Public Primary Schools
INFLUENCE OF SINGLE PARENTING ON PUPILS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN BASIC SCHOOLS IN THE WA MUNICIPALITY (Published)
This study examined influence of single parenting on pupils’ academic performance with a focus on whether academic performance differed between child from single parents home and those from two parent homes. The cross-sectional study design was used. A questionnaire aided the collecting of primary data while secondary data on test scores was obtained from pupils’ report cards. The sample size was 170. Data analysis involved using cross tabulation and t – test. The results show that there is a significant difference between the academic performance of pupils from single parent homes and those from two parent homes. The main conclusion drawn from this study is that single parenting has negative impact on a child’s academic performance. The study recommends that teachers should give pupils from single parent homes attention to enable them cope and that they should equally be counseled to make them adjust to the academic environment.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Pupil, Single Parent Home, Two Parent Home