PEER INFLUENCE AS CORRELATES OF STUDENT'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the study

Students are expected to demonstrate that they have achieved mastery of the educational goals by their participation in academic activities. The amount to which these goals have been realized in schools is largely decided by the interaction of peer groups, which may or may not reflect in the academic success of students. Students' social, emotional, and intellectual growth is greatly influenced by their relationships with their peers. According to Steinberg (2022), the effect of one's peers starts to manifest at a young age and continues to grow throughout the adolescent years. Therefore, having a grasp of the opportunities and obstacles presented by one's peer group is essential for the efficiency of educational procedures and the organizational design of school systems in order to boost the academic performance of students. According to the argument presented by Lavy and Schlosser (2019), "for many students, friendships are crucial interpersonal vehicles that drive them towards psychological growth and maturity, permitting social compassion which promotes the development of self-evaluation." The above statement provides significant evidence for the extraordinary impact that one's peer group has on almost every aspect of an adolescent's development. This effect could be seen in the social and emotional lives of young people, which does not end at the above mentioned, but could also manifest in their attitude towards educational activities, and careful consideration of these elements has shown that they reflect in the academic performance of students. This effect could be seen in the social and emotional lives of young people. Peer group, on the other hand, was characterized by Castrogiovanni (2022) as a small group of people of a similar age who are reasonably close friends and share the same hobbies. In its most admirable manifestation, the peer group serves as a positive transitional stage between childhood and adulthood, during which young people acquire the ability to negotiate, become resilient in the face of adversity, and become adept at finding solutions to issues that arise in a social setting. A positive role model can also be provided by one's peer group. For instance, if an individual is a part of a group of people who are driven to achieve high academic goals and are putting in a lot of effort to do so, that individual may feel pressured to do the same in order to prevent being left out of the group. The fact that most students have a low academic performance may be attributed, at least in part, to the negative effect of their peers; the explanation for this is not hard to fathom since these students spend a significant amount of time participating in extracurricular activities. Academic priorities are ignored the majority of the time, which inevitably has a negative impact on overall academic performance. The term "academic performance" refers to excelling in each and every academic subject. According to Steinberg (2022), academic performance includes both the abilities and performances of students; it is multi-dimensional; and it is closely related with human growth and cognitive, emotional, and social physical development. The term "academic performance" may also refer to how well a student completes the assignments and studies assigned to him. There ought to be a correlation between one's circle of friends and their level of scholastic achievement. It was a common misconception that a student's academic success was directly proportional to the social group to which the student belonged. The influence of one's peers may be either beneficial or detrimental. It is possible for a student's academic performance to suffer as a result of being adversely impacted by a peer. However, more capable students do have an influence on their classmates, and this influence may really assist their classmates improve their overall academic performance. On the other hand, a person's self-identity, self-esteem, and level of self-reliance are directly related to the beneficial effect that peers have on academic success. Students may be inspired academically and motivated to attain their goals via the impact of their peers as well (Lashbrook, 2020). Therefore, this study will examine peer influence as correlates of students academics performance in mathematics.

1. 1. Statement of the problem

The level of accomplishment a student has is a good indicator of the level of learning and mastery they have achieved. The development of student engagement from the affective, behavioral, and cognitive aspects needs to be emphasized in order to achieve effective learning. [Clarification needed] The remedy to decreased levels of learning motivation and academic accomplishment among students was increased student involvement (Fredrick et al., 2022). Peer pressure and a lack of proficiency may have a negative impact on students' performance in other subjects that need on mathematical knowledge. Based on this the stuy seeks to examine peer influence as correlates of students academics performance in mathematics.

1. 1. Objective of the study

The primary objective of the study is to examine peer influence as correlates of students academics performance in mathematics. The specific objectives is as follows:

1. Determine the extent peer group influences students’ attitude toward the learning of Mathematics.

2. Determine the extent peer group influences students’ commitment and concentration toward the learning of Mathematics.

3. Determine the extent peer group influences students’ study habit toward the learning of Mathematics.

4. Determine the extent peer group influences students’ learning outcome in Mathematics classes.

5. Determine the extent peer group influences students’ academic attainment in Mathematics.

1. 1. Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study

1. What is the extent peer group influences students’ attitude toward the learning of Mathematics?

2. What is the extent peer group influences students’ commitment and concentration toward the learning of Mathematics?

3. What is the extent peer group influences students’ study habit toward the learning of Mathematics?

4. What is the extent peer group influences students’ learning outcome in Mathematics classes?

5. What is the extent peer group influences students’ academic attainment in Mathematics?

1. 1. Significance of the study

The study will be significant to the parents, school management as it will expose both parents and teachers on the influence peer pressure have on students and how it shows on their academic performance

The study will be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

1. 1. Scope of the study

The scope of this study borders on peer influence as correlates of students academics performance in mathematics. The study will be delimited to some selected secondary schools in Aba, Abia State.

1.7 Limitation of the study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend 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), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.8 Definition of terms

Peer influence: when you choose to do something you wouldn't otherwise do, because you want to feel accepted and valued by your friends

Academic performance: the extent to which a student, teacher, or institution has attained their short or long-term educational goals and is measured either by continuous assessment or cumulative grade point average