PEER INFLUENCE AS A PREDICTOR OF STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD CIVIC CONCEPTS IN SOCIAL STUDIES IN ISEYIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE
Keywords:
Junior Secondary School Students; Civic Concepts; Social Studies; Students’ Attitudes; Peer Influence.Abstract
Students’ attitudes toward civic concepts are shaped not only by formal instruction but also by social interactions within peer groups. Despite this, limited empirical attention has been given to the role of peer influence in shaping civic attitudes among junior secondary school students in Nigeria. This study examined peer influence as a predictor of students’ attitudes toward civic concepts in Social Studies in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total of 775 Junior Secondary School II students were selected from a population of 4,453 using simple random sampling, of whom 737 valid responses were available for analysis. Data were collected using a self-developed questionnaire, the Students’ Attitude toward Civic Concepts in Social Studies Questionnaire (SACCSSQ), with an overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.896. The results showed that the reported overall mean for students’ attitudes toward civic concepts was 2.68, indicating a moderate level based on the study’s decision rule, while the degree of peer influence was low (M = 2.45). Regression analysis showed that peer influence significantly and positively predicted students’ attitudes toward civic concepts (β = .348, t = 11.503, p < .001). The study concluded that peer influence was a significant predictor of students’ attitudes toward civic concepts, although the overall level of peer influence was low. It was recommended that schools strengthen positive peer interactions through collaborative learning, civic clubs, peer mentoring, and civic-oriented group activities.References
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