International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue IX, September 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Students’ Psychological Predictors of Academic Achievement in Physics

Celina S. Gana Ph.D¹, Christian S. Ugwuanyi Ph.D^2*, Terpase Abraham Ageda M.Ed^2
1Department of Science Education School of Science and Technology Education, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
²Department of Science Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author

Abstract
Background: Research indicate that psychosocial factors such as students’ attitude, interest, motivation, self-efficacy, locus of control, anxiety and peer group pressure may be potent predictors of academic achievement in any school subject. Thus, the study determined the extent to which motivation, self-efficacy and locus of control predict students’ academic achievement in Physics.
Aims: The study sought to determine the predictive powers of motivation, self-efficacy and locus of control on students’ academic achievement in physics.
Sample: A sample of three hundred and seventy five (375) SSII students drawn using multistage sampling procedure was used for the study.
Methods: Correlational survey research design was adopted for the study. The study employed two researcher-developed instruments: Students’ Psychosocial Factors Questionnaire (SPFQ) and Students’ Physics Academic Achievement Proforma (SPAAP) for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using regression analysis.
Results: The result showed that 31%, 37% and 52% of the students’ academic achievement in physics is predicted by their motivation, self-efficacy and locus of control respectively.
Conclusion: Psychological factors such as motivation, self-efficacy and locus of control are prime determinants of students’ achievement in the Physics.

Keywords: Motivation; Self-efficacy; Locus of Control; Achievement; Physics

I. INTRODUCTION

Science has become such an indispensable tool that no nation, developed, undeveloped or developing, wishing to progress in the socio-economic sphere will afford to relegate its learning in schools. The role of science in this modern era of technology cannot be over emphasized.