Research Article | Open Access
Students’ Mental ability and Attitude towards Biology as correlates of students’ academic performance in Biology in Senior Secondary Schools, Ondo State, Nigeria
I.O. AKINWUMI (PhD), F. A. FALEMU & F.E. OLU-AJAYI (PhD)
Pages: 539-545
Abstract
This study examines the students’ mental ability and Attitude towards biology as correlates of students’ academic performance in biology in Senior Secondary Schools, Ondo State, Nigeria. The research design used for the study was survey design of the descriptive type. The population of the study comprised of all biology students from the public senior secondary schools in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. The sample of the study was two hundred (200) students selected from eight (8) public secondary schools. Simple random sampling technique was used to select twenty-five (25) respondents from each of the selected secondary schools. The instrument for data collection for the study was a questionnaire. The instrument was subjected to validity and reliability mechanism. A coefficient of reliability of 0.86 was obtained. The formulated hypotheses were tested using inferential statistics of Pearson Correlation statistical analysis. The analysis was done through computerized package of SPSS software version 20.The findings of this study reveals that there was a significant positive correlation between students’ mental ability and academic performance of senior secondary school Biology students. The study also reveals that there was a significant positive correlation between students’ Attitude towards Biology and academic performance of senior secondary school Biology students. Based on the results, appropriate conclusion and recommendations were made.
Keywords
mental ability, attitude, correlates, Senior Secondary School student.