TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION~.
APPROVAL
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv
ABSTRACT
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
CHAPTERONE 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1.0 Background of the Study 1
.1 Statement of the Problem 2
1 .2 Purpose of the Study 3
1 .3 Objectives of the Study 3
1 .4 Research Questions 3
1.5 scope of the study 4
1 .6 Significance of the Study 4
1.7 Limitation of the Study 4
1.8 Delimitation of the Study 4
1.10 Definition of Significant Terms as Used in the Study 5
1.11 Organization of the Study 5
CHAPTER TWO 7
LITERATURE REVIEW 7
2.0 Introduction 7
2.1 Peer group prior achievements and girl student academic performance 7
2.2 Peer group composition and girl student academic performance 8
2.3 Peer group learning environment and girl student academic performance 10
2.4 Theoretical Framework 12
2.5 Conceptual Framework 13
2.6 Conclusion 14
CHAPTER THREE 16
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 16
VII
3.0 Introduction .16
3.1 Research Design 16
3.2 Target Population 16
3.3 sample size and selection Techniques 16
3.3.1 Sample size 16
3.3.2. Sampling Procedure 17
3.4 Data Collection methods and instruments 17
3.4.lQuality control 18
3.4.2 Validity of the Instruments 19
3.4.3 Reliability of the research instruments 19
3.5 Data Collection Procedures 19
3.6 Data Analysis procedure 20
3.7 Ethical Considerations 20
CHAPTER FOUR 21
DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION 21
4.Olntroduction 21
4.1 Response 21
4.2 Demographic information of the respondents 21
4.2.1 Distribution of the respondents by age 21
4.2.2 Gender of the respondents 22
4.3 Influence of peer group prior achievement on academic performance of form one students in girl
boarding secondary school in Wattubba County 22
4.3.1 Influence of Peer group members prior grades on academic performance 23
4.3.2 Influence of peer group learning resources on girl student academic performance in boarding
secondary schools 24
4.4 Influence of peer group composition on girl student academic performance in secondary schools. 25
4.4.1. Influences of peer group pocket money spent per month on girl student academic performance
in secondary schools 25
4.4.2 Influence of peer group family background on girl student academic performance in secondary
schools 26
4.5 Influence of peer group teacher/ student learning environment on girl student academic
performance in secondary schools 27
4.5.1 Influence of career counselors on girl student academic performance in secondary schools 27
4.5.2 Influence of the number of exams taken by peer group on student academic performance in girl
secondary schools 28
VIII
CHAPTER FIVE .30
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 30
5.0 Introduction 30
5.1 Summary of findings and discussions 30
5.2 Conclusions 30
5.3 Recommendations of the Study 31
5.4 Areas for further research 31
REFERENCES 32
ABSTRACT It is a common belief that children will thrive if educated amongst better schoolmates, and this belief guides many parents in their choice of school. Many studies have tried to measure this peer-group effect, and this project was to extend this literature by looking at the influence of peer group on form one girl student’s performance in end of year examinations in Kiboga District, Wattuba County. The study was guided by the following objectives, To establish how peer group prior achievements influence form one girl students academic performance in girls boarding secondary schools, To investigate how peer group composition influence form one girl students academic performance in girls boarding secondary schools and to examine the how peer group teaching environment influence form one girl students academic performance in girls boarding secondary schools. The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a sample size of 69 respondents comprising of 60 students and 5 teachers from the guiding and counseling department. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Validity of data collection tools was achieved through consultation with research experts and reliability of data collection instruments of this study was determined using the coefficient alpha (also known as Cronbach’s alpha) before the actual collection of data. The data collected was analyzed using the chi-square test items and presented using APA table format. Peer group members who scored good marks in UCSE had positive influence to girl student academic performance in girl secondary schools. It was deduced that student’s prior entry marks had more influence on girl student content mastery; therefore teaching could proceed faster in higher entry ri~arks groups, or could start from a higher base-line when the group’s prior attainments are higher. The findings showed that majority of respondents indicated that little pocket money spend per month had a positive influence to girl student performance. It was also deduced that a rich family background positively influenced girl student academic performance, it was deduced that students learning environment had a positive influence on girl student academic performance. The study recommends that Students and school stakeholders should be made aware of the benefits of peer group prior achievements as it greatly influences academic performance of students in secondary schools; Schools administration and other stakeholders should advise the parents on the amount of money to give to their daughters as pocket money as it has influence on the academic performance of the students in secondary schools and lastly the School administration and stakeholders should provide good teaching and learning environment in order to achieve good academic performance.