1.1 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). The most important influence on students’ behaviour to learning is not always the teacher but the fellow students. With this, there is need to identify the influence of peer group relationship on academic performance, although there are other factors that can influence the academic performance but the role played by the peer group in academic performance is more than other factors because the attitude of students to learning are not always encouraging.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Generally, it has been observed that a group which a child belongs to could influence his learning, studies from various cultures have shown that a child right from infancy to adolescence is faced with urge to belong and to be accepted by the group. A basic human need is to acquire an affiliation to a group in the society. Peer relationships are common in the schools and homes and this plays important roles in the socialization of children in Nigeria. Students in the midst of their group transformed into the true picture of their behaviour, they feel more comfortable among fellow students but feel morose at home or at the presence of teacher.
Educational activities are geared towards ensuring that students achieve mastery of educational objectives. In school, the extent to which these objectives have been achieved, is determined by their level of peer pressure, time management as students’ success are reflected in their academic performance. Peers play a large role in the social and emotional development of students (Allen, 2005). Their influence begins at an early age and increases through the teenage years, it is natural, healthy and important for students to have and rely on friends as they grow and mature. A peer could be any one you look up to in behaviour or someone who you would think is equal to your age or ability (Hardcastle, 2002).
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). 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.
Adeola et al., (2002) articulated that formation of peer group may occur from each extensive interaction with others initiate relationship development 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 and social studies.
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.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Influence of Peer Group on the Academic Performance of Students.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the low academic performance in schools is brought the need to investigate the factors influencing learning. The peer group influence is one of the factors causing low academic performance. There is need to look into peer group relationship and individual approach to learning, membership of the peer group they belong and find out how factors such as sex, age, social status or ethnicity determine their membership in a group. In addition what influence do parent and teachers have on the group. Reports have shown that there has been a downward trend in academic performance of in-school Students in Nigerian secondary school.
Parents, teachers, Curriculum experts have also expressed considerable concern about this poor performance in external examination. So also are teachers and school counselor. These groups of individuals tend to point accusing fingers on influence of negative peer pressure and poor time management as being responsible for poor academic performance.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Influence of Peer Group on the Academic Performance of Students. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the relationship between peer group and academic performance of students in the area under study;
- To examine the influence of economic status of peers on the academic performance of students in secondary schools;
- To examine the factors instigating the peer pressure academic performance influence among students in the area under study;
- To find out the effect of peer group among students' academic performance in the area under study; and
- To proffer solutions to the above stated problems affecting students academic performance.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there factors instigating the peer pressure academic performance influence among students in the area under study?
- What are the solutions to the problems affecting Students’ academic performance?
- What is the effect of peer group among students' academic performance in the area under study?
- What is the relationship between peer group and academic performance of students in the area under study?
- What is the influence of economic status of peers on the academic performance of students in secondary schools?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between peer group and academic performance of students in the area under study
- H1: There is a significant relationship between peer group and academic performance of students in the area under study
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There are no significant factors instigating the peer pressure academic performance influence among students in the area under study
- H1: There are significant factors instigating the peer pressure academic performance influence among students in the area under study
1.7 Significance of 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 students and the implication on them. It 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. Also, it will help in relating the peer group of male and females together in terms of the relationship.
The result will guide counsellors to find the best ways of handling peer groups relationship. The students will benefit from the study by acquiring knowledge on peers that can hinder their progress in academic.
The result will also, enable the teacher to know more about the peer group which in turn will continue to enhance teaching and learning process. It is also hoped that the present research study will at least provide some background information for future study on the topic.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Influence of Peer Group on the Academic Performance of Students. It will cover Some Selected Secondary Schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Peers: This refers to children of same sex and usually within the same age range.
Peer Group: This is the association of close friends of the same sex, which are bound together by common emotional attachment and have a complex social system of which they posses certain code of conduct such as dressing codes.
Academic Performance: This is the level of achievement attained through efforts or skills during the learning processes (theoretical and practical) and has effect on the standard of education.
