CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Educational activities are aimed at ensuring that students attain the basic goals of educational objectives, which include students’ strong academic performance for a better future for themselves, society, and the country as a whole.
Academic performance refers to how well a student meets his or her educational objectives. Academic performance, according to Scott (2012), refers to how well a student completes his or her tasks and studies. There are no exact markers for gauging academic performance, although most of the time, a student’s academic performance is determined by his marks in class assignments, tests, and exams. The problem of poor academic performance in Nigeria is getting worrying, as indicated by the high failure rate of pupils in external examinations such as SSCE and NECO. West African statistical data.
The degree to which educational objectives are met is governed, among other things, by the level of peer pressure that exists among students. Peers have an important role in students’ social and emotional development, particularly at the adolescent era. Peer influence begins at a young age and grows stronger during the teenage and adolescent stages. As a result, having and relying on friends as adolescents grow and develop is normal, natural, and vital.
A peer is someone that one looks up to in terms of behavior. It is also someone who believes that one’s age, class, and talent are all equal (Hardcastle, 2002). Pressure, on the other hand, refers to the ability to persuade individuals to do things that they may not want to do.
Although the word “peer pressure” is commonly associated with teenagers or adolescents, it is not limited to them (Areif, 2011). Peer pressure is widespread in a variety of risky behaviors among adolescents, including delinquency, drug misuse, sexual behavior, and so on. When youngsters are persuaded by their peers to engage in constructive and good behavior, such as volunteering for charity or challenging or motivating peers to improve their academic performance, peer pressure can have a positive effect.
Peer pressure’s negative effects are typically thought to be more frequent in society than peer pressure’s positive effects (Arief, 2011). Peers can encourage one another to skip courses, steal, cheat, use drugs, drink, and smoke. Adolescents who engage in risky behaviors make up the majority of the population.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study’s major goal is to look at the impacts of social pressure on secondary school students’ academic performance in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.
The study’s particular objectives are as follows:
The purpose of this study was to look at the impacts of positive social pressure on secondary school students’ academic performance in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.
The purpose of this study was to look at the impacts of negative social pressure on secondary school students’ academic performance in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.
Determine the impact of peer pressure on students’ academic achievement based on age and gender.
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Three hypotheses are proposed to guide the research and lead to a valid conclusion. The following are the hypotheses:
H01: Negative peer pressure has little effect on secondary school pupils’ academic performance in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.
Ha1:Students’ academic performance is unaffected by peer pressure regardless of their age or gender.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. How much peer pressure do Ikenne Local Government pupils face?
2. How are ikenne local government school kids performing academically?
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will assist parents and guardians in determining how well to train and bring their children so that they are not exposed to peer pressure’s negative effects. The results of the study will assist counselors in determining the best approach for dealing with negative peer pressure. It will also assist them in instilling discipline in pupils’ lives.
Teachers will benefit from this study as well, as it will help them understand what is expected of them in terms of morality, sanity, and good ethical behavior, as students look up to them as role models. Because disciplined students succeed academically and better than their undisciplined peers, the study will assist schools in producing disciplined students who will be valuable to the nation.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Because they are assumed to have experienced both the positive and negative aspects of peer pressure, this is limited to senior secondary school students.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Academic performance refers to how well a student meets the goals of his or her education. It also refers to a student’s performance in class, as well as internal and external exams.
Peer Pressure is defined as a force exerted by others who are influenced by one’s attitudes and behaviors, either positively or negatively, and is always linked with adolescents.
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