Abstract:
The study was designed to investigate the relationship between peer group attitudes. towards
school, peer group activities (including sports and games); and academic achievement of
secondary school students in Nairobi urban area. Eight public and eight private' secondary
schools were selected for the study. A sample of 240 randomly selected form four students from
these schools completed the peer effect questionnaire (PEQ). Students' mock examinations marks
were used as a measure of their academic achievement. Pearson Product Moment Correlation at
P<0.05 was used to test the hypotheses related to peer group attitudes towards school, selected
peer group activities, and students' academic achievement. Hypotheses on gender and students'
residential status at school (as factors ill peer influence) were tested using the Kruskal - Wallis
NOll Parametric test at P<0.05. Among other findings, the results of analyses revealed a
significant relationship between peer influence on attitudes towards school, peer group activities
and academic achievement. Further research was recommended with respect to factors such as
age, socio - economic class, race, introversion and extroversion; that may bring variations in
peer group influence in students.
