INFLUENCE OF PEER PRESSURE ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PLATEAU SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICTS OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the influence of peer pressure on academic achievements of senior secondary school students in Plateau South Senatorial Districts, Plateau state, Nigeria. The study was guided by two objectives, two research questions and corresponding null hypotheses. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study with a population of 15,802 SSII students from 98 public senior secondary schools and a sample size of 370 SS II students from 12 public senior secondary schools. Peer Pressure Questionnaire (PPQ) and Students’ Achievement Test (SAT) in English Language and Mathematics were used as instruments for data collection. The instruments obtained logical validity indexes of 0.91for PPQ and 0.87 for SAT. The instruments also obtained a reliability coefficient of 0.94 for (PPQ) and 0.84 for (SAT). Mean and standard deviations were used to answer the research questions while the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was employed in testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that both positive and negative peer pressures significantly influence the academic achievements of senior secondary school students in Plateau South Senatorial Districts, Plateau State. It concluded that peer pressure influences senior secondary school students’ academic achievements in Plateau South Senatorial Districts, Plateau state, Nigeria. It recommended among others that Schools should actively promote peer mentoring programs and academic clubs that encourage positive peer influence, cooperation and knowledge sharing among students to boost their academic achievements.