Self-Concept as Determinant of Biology Performance among Senior Secondary School Students in Minna, Niger State

Abstract

This paper aimed at investigating the relationship between self-concept and performance in Biology among secondary school students in Minna, Niger State with an objectives to determining the academic self-concept’ perception of secondary school students, examine the influence of academic self-concept on biology performance among secondary school students and examine the influence of gender difference on biology performance among secondary school students. The study adopted a correlational research design. The total population for the study comprises 2,425 Male Students and 2,227 Female Students making a total sum of 4,698 students. Sample sizes of 234 students were selected randomly from 10 Selected Schools making 20% of the population. Validity of the instruments was carried out by science education and psychology expert at Federal University of Technology, three biology experts from secondary schools in Minna. Data obtained were analyzed using Cronbach Alpha. A reliability computation on Academic self-concept showed 0.719 alpha level.The data collected from the sampled students were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics of mean and standard deviation with a significance level of 0.05. The result show that there is a positive perception with mean value of 3.03 – 3.60; that academic self-concept is a determinant of students’ academic performance and gender does not influence students academic self-concept. The study recommends that school teachers should encourage students to develop high positive self-concept of themselves, Parents and teachers to also encourage awarding of students’ performance and get the students to be more expose to strong love and counseling that will build their self-esteem