Peer Group Influence on Academic Performance of Undergraduate Students in Faculty of Education, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

• Main Authors: Huraira Muhammad Furo, Bulama Kagu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ishik University 2020-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies
• Subjects: academic; group; influence; learners; maiduguri; nigeria; peers; performance
• Online Access: https://ijsses.tiu.edu.iq/index.php/volume-7-issue-3-article-1/

The study investigated the influence of peer groups on academic performance of undergraduate students of Faculty of Education, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. A total of 125 students were selected through a systematic random sampling method for the study. Data were collected by administration of structured questionnaire to respondents complemented by interview and group discussion and analysed by the use of descriptive statistics such as frequency count, frequency distribution and percentage. Results showed that majority (64.0%) of the students were males who were mostly (80.0%) slightly above the age of 22years and affiliated to campus social peer groups (48.0%). Almost all (97.0%) of the learners utilised information provided by peers and adopted peer group behaviours (55.0%). Disengaged peer members experienced abandonment (52.0%), mockery (80.0%)) and negative academic performance (80.0%). Pooled from the findings, most of the learners (90.0%) performed academically above average. In conclusion, it could be stated that most of the peers studied were males that were slightly in their adolescence stage who affiliated to campus social peer groups, and utilised information which modified their behaviours. The peer groups’ interactions influenced learners’ academic performance positively. Based on the results, it is strongly recommended that parents, teachers and counsellors should properly advise students on their choices of peer groups to associate with in order to be successful career-wise.