ABSTRACTThis study investigated the influence of developmental psychology on theacademic performance of students in selected secondary schools inGwagwalada Area Council, Abuja. Based on the purpose of the study, fourobjectives were raised and used to formulate three research questions to guidethe study. The correlational design was adopted in the study. The population ofthe study was made up of 4,563 SS II students in Gwagwalada Area Council,out of which 2001 students were drawn from four senior secondary schools inGwagwalada Area Council. A sample size of 100 students was randomlyselected from these school that serve as respondents for this study. The researchinstruments used to collect data was the “Students Psychological FactorQuestionnaire” (SPFQ). Data collected were analyzed using simple percentagefor background information of the respondents. Research questions wereanswered using frequency and mean scores. The findings of the study revealedthat students’ anxiety in the class, phobia for particular subject, students’hatred for subject teachers, interest in schooling were among psychologicalfactors that affect students’ academic performance in Gwagwalada AreaCouncil. However, the study showed that general mental ability of the studentsinfluences students’ academic performance but there is no clear indication thatstudents’ character influence students’ academic performance in GwagwaladaArea Council, Abuja. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommendedamong others that School guidance counsellors should encourage students todevelop a positive self-concept and attitude towards learning, parents andteachers can also serve as motivators encouraging students in their academicachievement and ministry of education should motivate students by givingscholarship to students who perform well in their academics
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS iii
LIST OF TABLES xi
LIST OF FIGURES xi
ABSTRACT xii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problems 5
1.3 Purpose of the Study 6
1.4 Research Questions 6
1.5 Basic Assumptions of the Study 7
1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study 7
1.7 Significance of the Study 8
1.8 Definition of Terms 8
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 Theoretical Framework 11
2.3 Environment Factors Affecting Students’ Academic Performance in
Secondary Schools 14
2.4 Factors that Influence Students’ Academic Performance 18
2.5 Personality Characteristics and Students Academic Performance 23
2.6 Previous Studies 25
2.7 Summary 27
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
3.1 Introduction 29
3.2 Research Design 29
3.3 Population, Sample and Sampling procedure 30
3.4 Instrumentation 31
3.5 Procedure for Collection of Data 32
3.6 Method of Data Analysis 32
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Introduction 33
4.2 Presentation of Data 33
4.3 Analysis of Data and Interpretation 35
4.4 Discussion of Findings 41
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Introduction 43
5.2 Summary 43
5.3 Conclusion 44
5.4 Recommendation 45
5.5 Suggestion for Further Studies 46
REFERENCES 47
APPENDIX 53
LIST OF TABLES
Table 3.1: Number of Schools and SS II Students 30 Table 4.1: Psychological Factors Influence Students’ Academic
Performance 35
Table 4.2: Personality Characteristics and Students’
Academic Performance 37
Table 4.3: Students’ Attitude to Learning and Students’
Academic Performance 39
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Frequency Distribution of Respondents by Gender 34
Figure 2: Distribution of Respondents by Age 34
