Relationship between peer attitudes towards school, selected peer group activities and academic achievement of secondary school students in Nairobi

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.