Factors affecting the academic performance of undergraduate students of Makerere University: a case study of School of Statistics and Planning, year 2020/2021.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the factors affecting academic performance of undergraduate students of Makerere University. Emphasis was put on establishing the relationship between peer pressure, parent’s education status, and age of the student, gender of the student, engagement in romantic relationships, parent’s income status and academic performance of undergraduate students at Makerere University. The study employed the use of chi-square to establish the significance of the relationship. The validity and reliability of research instruments was established and data collected from 100 respondents selected from third year students of SSP (2020/2021) at Makerere University using convenient sampling method. To analyze the data, SPSS was used with the aim of ascertaining the relationship between peer pressure, parent’s education status, and age of the student, gender of the student, engagement in romantic relationships, parent’s income status and academic performance of undergraduate students at Makerere University. This formed the basis of the analysis, conclusions and recommendations. Basing on the findings, it can be concluded that all the above mentioned factors influence academic performance of students of Makerere University. This study found that parents’ income status, peer pressure and the education status of the parent influence academic performance of the student while there was no significance between gender and academic performance of students of Makerere University. Furthermore, the research recommends that the government should provide some incentives to students who come from humble families where they cannot afford all necessities. Providing support to these students by the government will improve their academic performance.