1.1 Introduction
Adolescence is a developmental period in which an individual changes (over a varying length of time) from childhood into adulthood (Steinberg, 2008). Adolescents are categories of children that usually form groups in the schools. Truly speaking, adolescence is the most chaotic and stressful of all stages in human life (Brown, 2000). 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.
The most important influence on student 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 learning, although there are other factors that can influence the learning but the role played by the peer group learning is more that other factors because the attitude of students to learning are not always encouraging. The most common types of peer group to be investigated are the secondary school children who fall into the same group that could have negative influence on their learning.
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 adolescents Allen (2005). Their influence begins at an early age and increases through the teenage years, it is natural, healthy and important for adolescent 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).
Mature adults, teens, young adults and children can be seen doing things in order to be accepted by their peers. Peer pressure is commonly associated with episodes of adolescent risk taking (such as delinquency, drug abuse, sexual behaviours), because these behaviour commonly occur in the company of peers. It can also have positive effects when youth are pressured by the peer toward positive behaviour. Such as volunteering for charity or excelling in academics (Kellie, 2013).
However, peers can also have a negative influence. They can encourage each other to skip classes, steal, cheat, use of drugs or alcohol, or become involve in other risky behaviours. Majority of adolescents with substance abuse problems began using drug or alcohol as a result of peer pressure. Negative peer pressure may influence in various ways like joining group who drink alcohol, smoke cigarette and Indian hemp among others. It may also lead to the decision to have a boy friend/girl friend, Peer pressure indulges youth into loitering about in the streets, watching films and attending parties during school hours, taping as alternative to stealing which may eventually graduate into armed robbery (Arief, 2011).
Academic performance refers to how well a student is accomplishing his or her tasks and studies (Scortt’s, 2012). Grades are certainly the most well-known indicator of academic performance. Grades are the student’s “score” for their classes and overall tenure. Grades are most often a tallying or average of assignment and test scores and may often be affected by factors such as attendance an instructor opinion of the student as well. Grading systems vary greatly by county and school; common scales include a percentage form 1-100, lettering systems from A-F, and grade point averages (GPA) from 0-4.0 or above. In the context of this study, academic achievement refers to the extent to which students have achieve mastery of the objectives of the subjects they are exposed to in school. According to (Aremu and Sokan 2003) academic achievement has been observed in school subject especially mathematic and English language among secondary school students.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Peer Group Influence on the Adolescents and their Performance in Schools.
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 adolescents 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.
These factors are suspected for the luring of adolescents into engagement in negative habits such as excessive drinking of alcohol, smoking, of Indian hemp, engagement in unhealthy sexual behaviour, cultist activities and other mal-adjustive behaviours that distract them from academic pursuit.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Peer Group Influence on the Adolescents and their Performance in Schools. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the relationship between peer group and academic performance of adolescents in the area under study;
- To examine the influence of economic status of peers on the academic performance of adolescents in secondary schools;
- To examine the factors instigating the peer pressure academic performance influence among adolescent in the area under study;
- To find out the effect of peer group among adolescents' academic performance in the area under study; and
- To proffer solutions to the above stated problems affecting adolescents 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 adolescent in the area under study?
- What are the solutions to the problems affecting adolescents’ academic performance?
- What is the effect of peer group among adolescents' academic performance in the area under study?
- What is the relationship between peer group and academic performance of adolescents in the area under study?
- What is the influence of economic status of peers on the academic performance of adolescents 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 adolescents in the area under study
- H1: There is a significant relationship between peer group and academic performance of adolescents in the area under study
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There are no significant factors instigating the peer pressure academic performance influence among adolescent in the area under study
- H1: There are significant factors instigating the peer pressure academic performance influence among adolescent in the area under study
1.7 Significance of Study
The findings of this study will be helpful in determining some of the factors associated to the peer groups in relation to their academic performance. The factors when identified will form a base for proffering appropriate solutions to parents and teachers to beware of the ways they can direct peer group 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 Peer Group Influence on the Adolescents and their Performance in Schools. It will cover only Dom-Domingos College and Delta Career College in Warri-South Local Government Area, Delta 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.
Peer Group Relationship: This is the form, way and why close friends of the same sex (peers) communicate among themselves whether in public or exclusively.
