Relationship between Locus of Control and Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students in Abia State

Abstract

The study intended to determine the relationship between locus of control and academic achievement of secondary school students. Some students have been observed to achieve higher while some achieve lower even after being exposed to the same subject matter by the same instructor. The objective of the study was to determine if locus of control correlated with academic achievement of students as moderated by gender and school-type. The study was anchored on attribution theory. The study adopted a correlational research design. A total of 388 SS3 students in Aba Education zone were selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Instruments for data collection were an adopted LOC scale and students’ exam scores in Mathematics, English and CRS. To determine the reliability of the instrument, Kuder-Richardson reliability test (KR-20) was employed and an overall coefficient of 0.76 was obtained for LOC scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. Results showed significant relationship between locus of control and academic achievement of male students. Results also showed significant relationship between locus of control and academic achievement of public school students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that school authority should encourage good performance by rewarding students with excellent performance, because when good behaviour is rewarded, the individual is motivated to do better. Also, government should also provide the schools with necessary infrastructures that would make teaching and learning very interesting.