Chapter I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

This study surveyed the influence of peer group on academic performance of undergraduate
students in selected departments in Kasarinlan Highschool peer group plays a large role in the social,
emotional and academic development of students; therefore, understanding the prospects and
challenges of peer group is crucial for the productivity of educational processes and the organizational
design of school systems in order to improve student’s academic performance. The study adopted
mixed method design incorporating descriptive survey and ex post facto design. Questionnaire was
administered to 10 students every section the number was derived from the totality of 30 level students
of each grade 10 of the School using stratified random sampling method. The result of this study
revealed that, peer group and academic performance of students. Sequel to these findings, the
researcher therefore recommended that, there is need for teacher to have greater supervision and
regulations on students while they are in school, this will enhance the type of group they belong to. In
all school and colleges so as to provide preventive counseling services and modify the behaviors of
students who perchance have been negatively influenced by peers. Also, peer group influence by
organizing lectures, seminars, career talk and symposiums that can create positive awareness on
influence of peer group on academic performance of undergraduate students. Keywords: Peer groups,
academic performance, undergraduate students in another way, Adeola et al (2002) says, “formation of
peer group may occur from each extensive relation`1ship develop and by these contacts important
attitudes and values are formed. The attitudes may influence the child’s academic performance either
positively or negatively. The negative aspect which could be detrimental to student’s academic work are
the cases of group behavior such as truancy, lateness stealing, to school, juvenile absenteeism from
school, disobedience, laziness, disregarding school rules and regulations etc. On the other hand, the
influence could be geared towards positive aspect of student’s academic performance for instance, the
students could be influenced socially, psychologically, intellectually etc. and all these boost academic
performance forming reading group, going to the library, anxious to join others in answering questions
in the classroom, and making friends with brilliant students especially in the area of mathematics,
English language, social studies etc. ‘’Communication’’ is the transmission of information. The term can
also refer to the message itself, or the field of inquiry studying these transmissions, also known as
communication studies. There are some disagreements about the precise definition of communication –
for example, whether unintentional or failed transmissions are also included and whether
communication does not just transmit meaning but also create it. Models of communication aim to
provide a simplified overview of its main components and their interaction. Many models include the
idea that a source uses a coding system to express information in the form of a message. The source
uses a channel to send the message to a receiver who has to decode it in order to understand its
meaning.