EXTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN OGBA/EGBEMA NDONI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study investigated external locus of control and students’ academic performance in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State. Correlational research design was adopted. The population of the study was 5,227 students in 21 senior secondary schools in Ogba/Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The sample size of 372 SSS2 students (186 males and 186 females) was selected for the study. Taro Yamena’s formula was used to determine the sample size. Simple random sampling technique was used for the selection of the sample size. The face and content validity of the instruments were determined by the supervisor and two other experts. The Cronbach Alpha method was used to establish the reliability coefficients of 0.74 for cluster A, 0.78 for cluster B, 0.73 for cluster C, 0.76 for cluster D and 0.75 for the entire Locus of Control Questionnaire. Test-retest method was used to obtain 0.80 reliability coefficient.  Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to answer the research questions and also test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed that locus of control have positive relationship with students’ academic performance, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State. It was recommended that: Students should be encouraged to develop an internal locus of control in order enhance their learning efforts for high academic performance.