Academic Efficacy and Self Esteem as Predictors of Academic Achievement among School Going Adolescents in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate academic efficacy and self esteem as predictors of academic achievement among school going adolescents in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria.

Descriptive research design was used in the study. Three hundred (300) respondents were selected from Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The respondents were measured with relevant standardized scale (instruments) which include academic efficacy scale, self esteem scale and student achievement scale with strong reliability coefficient of .89 and the data obtained was analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistical analysis of the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). Two research hypotheses were raised and answered in the study.

The result showed that there was significant relationship between academic efficacy and students’ academic Achievement (r= .781; P<0.05) and there was significant relationship between self esteem and students’ academic Achievement (r= .781; P<0.05).

On the strength of these findings, it was stressed and advocated the need for the parents to teach, monitor the students on to improve on their of self esteem and academic efficacy in the society and that the school going Adolescents need to be trained on how to improve significantly their state of self esteem and academic efficacy and to boost their academic achievement. This will help in reducing the level of poor academic performance of students in the society.

Key words: Self Esteem, Academic Efficacy, School Going Adolescents and Student Achievement