International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue X, October 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186
ATTAMAH, Chisom Precious1*, Prof. OKOLI, Josephine Nwanneka2
1Department of Science Education, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2Department of Science Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Abstract: This study examined the relationship among locus of control, self-efficacy and senior secondary school students’ academic achievement in Biology in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The study adopted the correlation survey research design. The sample for the study was 420 senior secondary schools students drawn using the multi-stage sampling technique. Rotters’ Locus of control scale and new general Self-efficacy scale by Chen, Gully and Eden were used in data collection. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used in answering the research questions while t-test for correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in testing the null hypothesis at level of significance. Results showed that there is a very low relationship between students’ self-efficacy scores and their academic achievement scores in Biology. There is no significant relationship between secondary school students’ self-efficacy scores and their academic achievement scores in Biology. Further more there is a very low relationship between students’ locus of control scores and their academic achievement scores in Biology. There is a significant relationship between secondary school students’ locus of control scores and their academic achievement scores in Biology. There is a moderate positive relationship among self-efficacy, locus of control and secondary school students’ academic achievement in biology. Hence, it could be concluded that the academic achievement of the students could not be ascribed to their self-efficacy or locus of control alone as other factors contribute to the achievement of students in Biology
Keywords: Locus of control; Self-efficacy; Academic achievement.
I. BACKGROUND
Biology, described as the science of life, plays vital roles in the life of every human being. Biology is a natural science subject consisting of contents from microscopic organisms to the biosphere general, encompassing the earth’s surface and all living things (Okwo and Tartiyus, 2004). It is very vast with many disciplines including zoology, botany, ecology, genetics, morphology, anatomy, physiology histology, microbiology, biochemistry, evolution and the more advanced cell biology, molecular biology etc. Apart from the interrelatedness that exists among these branches, biology is closely related with other science subjects like agricultural science, chemistry, Geography, mathematics