Student’s characteristics and academic performance in Economics

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Students’ effective learning outcome in secondary and other institutions of learning in recent times has been the concern of stake-holders in Nigerian education system (parents, guardians, teachers, counselors and government). This is because success in education is highly instrumental to the development of a nation; this includes scientific and technological development, socio-economic and political advancement and general life’s successes. Various subjects are taught to students in secondary schools, Abioyeand (2011) are of the opinion that, every subject taught in secondary school has its unique value and importance to the whole education process.

There has been a worrying trend over the years that students in Nigeria especially in Essien Udim Local Government Area continued to perform poorly in the national examination NECO/WAEC. This downward trend is manifested particularly in the in subject like Economics. Learning outcomes are influenced by many factors and therefore, many interacting factors such as social and economic factors may cause the poor performance of students in Economics in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

Student’s characteristics such as: student age, career choice, gender, study times and class attendance, student’s attitude being among the factors that formed the basis of this study. Studies by Entwisle (2006) found that most social science students begin their career with a desire to learn and with an intrinsic approach to achievement, which later switches to a more extrinsic orientation as students increase in age. This scenario was reported by Highardson (2004) who concluded that mature students were rather more likely perform well than younger students to adopt a deep approach or a meaning orientation towards their academic work, and was conversely less likely than younger students to adopt a surface approach or a reproducing orientation. According to Herr (2006), the level of career aspiration usually affects curriculum choice hence career choice. At the same time, career aspirations are influenced by numerous factors including gender, race, parental support, academic achievement, socioeconomic status, and self-esteem.

Student’s characteristics and academic performance in Economics

1.2 Statement of the Problem

It has been observed that students’ academic performance in social science generally, and Economics in particular over the years in the results of Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by West African Examination (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) revealed that a very few number of students perform better in Economics examination compared with other subjects. Parents and government are in total agreement that their huge investment on education is not yielding the desired dividend and that despite their hug investment on education, students’ performances still remain poor.

Against this backdrop, this study is out to investigate students’ characteristics (parental socio-economics of students, student gender, class attendance, students’ attitude towards academic and student study habit) and their academic performance in Economics in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study was to examined student’s characteristics and their academic performance in Economics in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

Specifically, the study aimed at determining:

1. To find the extent to which students’ age influence academic performance in social studies.
2. Whether there is significance different in academic performance of student between boys and girls who attended classes regularly and those who abstained from some classes

1.4 Significance of the Study

The study would provide empirical information on the student-related variables that could predict students’ academic performance in Economics. The study would also contribute to research efforts geared towards finding a permanent solution to the problem of poor performance of students in Economics. It will also serve as an eye opener to students, teachers and government other stakeholders on which of the students’ related variables could mostly predict students’ learning outcomes in Economics.

1.5 Research Hypotheses

For the purpose of this study, the following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study:

1. There is no significance influence of students’ age on their academic performance in social studies.
2. . There is no significance difference in academic performance of student between boys and girls who attended classes regularly and those who abstained from some classes.

Student’s characteristics and academic performance in Economics

1.6 Limitation of the Study

Research study like this always encounter limitations which include among others:  the time given for the completion of this study was in adequate to make the research have a wider scope.

        Financial constraint also exerted pressure on the study as the researcher scarcely had enough financial resources to enable her to expand the scope of the study.

1.7 Delimitation of the Study

The study was delimited to only public secondary schools in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State which are only ten in numbers. Also, only students of senior secondary two (SS2) class compulsory offering Economics were used.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Academic Performance: Refers to the performance of students in school poor, high and average.

Economics: Economics is the social science that deals with human behavior between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses.

Characteristics: Refers to all those qualities a person possesses that can be used to describe him or her.

Socio-economic status: This is a person Position in any given group, society or culture as determined by wealth, occupation, education and social class.

Student: this refers to a learner under the control of a teacher

Academic performance: this refers to score obtained by a student in a test or examination. 

Class Attendance: this refers to the total number of students that are present or absent in the class throughout the term.

Originally posted on August 18, 2021 @ 4:43 pm