Factors Affecting Academic Performance of Undergraduate Students: Evidence from a Public University in Bangladesh

Abstract

Academic result measured by Grade Point Average is often considered as the most dominant performance indicator of a student in most of developing countries like Bangladesh. Several prior studies have been conducted to determine the factors which act as control measures to the academic performance in tertiary level education. But the obtained results varied largely depending on the socio-economic context and education policy of the nations. The study aims at finding out the factors that affect the academic performance of students of a public university situated in the south-western part of Bangladesh and to assess the relative predictability of various factors on academic performance. A sample of 314 graduate students from different disciples was chosen based on a random sampling method. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as a statistical tool has been used to extract factors affecting academic performance. Multiple Linear regression was run to predict the influence of these factors on the dependent variable. The academic factor that includes conventional exam system, teachers’ evaluation system, and academic study environment appeared as the most dominant determinant factors affecting academic performance. Other important factors such as the financial condition of students, family income, social media affiliation, part-time job, extra-curricular activities also dictate academic performance. Regression coefficient indicates that gender, higher secondary examination grades, sleeping duration, academic study hours have a significant influence on academic achievement. The study results will be useful to the students, academicians, guardians of the students, policymakers, and researchers to have a better understanding of determinants of academic achievement and taking appropriate measures accordingly.

Keywords: Academic performance, PCA, Academic factors, demographic and socio-economic factors, Public university students, Bangladesh.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-5-07

Publication date: February 28^th 2021