STUDENTS' ATTITUDE TOWARD PHYSICS AS PREDICTORS OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN POST-BASIC SCHOOL IN ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated Students’ Attitude toward Physics as Predictors of Academic Performance in Post-basic School in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study was guided by two research questions, two hypotheses. The study adopted a predictive correlation design. The population for the study comprises SSS III students offering physics at post-basic school (2023/2024 session) in Adamawa state totalling 16,220 within the 21 Local Government Areas and five education zones. The sample size of 390 SS III students were selected using Taro Yamane’s formula and respondents selected using multi-stage technique. The instrument for data collection was Physics Students’ Attitude Factors (PSAF) adapted from Attitudinal Scale for Senior Secondary Students’ Attitude to Physics which is made up of 16 items. Physics Academic Performance Proforma (PAPP) was also used for collection of student’s academic performance (2022/2023). The PSAFS was trial tested and subjected to reliability test using Cronbach Alpha statistical tool and yielded overall reliability index of 0.77. The data for the study were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics specifically mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions one to two. While linear regression was used to test hypotheses one to two at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that (i) peer influence significantly predicted students’ academic performance in physics in Post-Basic schools in Adamawa State. (ii) Physics teacher characteristics significantly predicted academic performance in Physics in Post-Basic schools in Adamawa state. The study recommended that Adamawa State Government should implement peer mentoring programs. Also, Adamawa state Government should invest in continuous professional development for physics teachers, focusing on enhancing their content knowledge.