Locus of Control and Self Esteem as Correlates of Secondary School Students Academic Achievement in English Language in Anambra State

Abstract

Aims: The failure rate in English language subjects as consistently been recorded in major examinations in the country makes it a worrisome situation. This is such that the schools are gradually losing its reputation which could likely result in loss of confidence in the students. Hence, this study aims at determining the relationship among locus of control, self-esteem and secondary school students’ academic achievement in English language. Study Design: The study adopted the correlation design. Place and Duration of Study: 920 senior secondary school II students from Anambra State of Nigeria, between August 2019 and January 2021. Methodology: This study on locus of control and self-esteem as correlates of secondary school students academic achievement adopted the correlational research design, a correlational research design seeks to establish relationship between two or more variables as well as indicates the direction and magnitude of the relationship between the variables The sample for the study was 920 senior secondary schools students drawn using the multi-stage sampling technique. Locus of control scale developed by Asthon Trice, revalidated by Osuji and Self-Esteem scale developed by Dr Morris Rosenberg were used in data collection. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used in answering the research questions while t-test for correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in testing the null hypothesis. Results: There is a moderate positive correlation between locus of control and academic achievement of secondary school students in English language (r = .469, n = 920), there is a high positive correlation between self-esteem and academic achievement of secondary school students in English language (r = .602, n = 920). The hypotheses tested show that that the t-calculated value is greater than the t-critical value at 0.05 level of significance. Hence, the null hypothesis is rejected. This shows that the relationship between locus of control and academic achievement of secondary school students in English language is statistically significant (t-cal. = 24.03, t-crit. = 1.960), that the t-calculated value is greater than the t-critical value at 0.05 level of significance hence the null hypothesis is rejected. This shows that the relationship between self-esteem and academic achievement of secondary school students in English language is statistically significant (t-cal. = 34.11, t-crit. = 1.960). At 0.05 level of significance, locus of control and self-esteem added statistically to the prediction of secondary school students’ academic achievement in English language. Conclusion: There is a high positive correlation between self-esteem and academic achievement of secondary school students in English language. There is a significant relationship between self-esteem and academic achievement of secondary school students in English language. Furthermore, there is a high positive correlation between self-esteem and academic achievement of secondary school students in English language. The relationship between self-esteem and academic achievement of secondary school students in English language is statistically significant. Locus of control, and self-esteem added statistically to the prediction of secondary school students’ academic achievement in English language. This implies that there is need for schools to initiate and implement procedures in order to help improve the quality and consistency in the outcome of academic achievement of students in English language which is a core subject at the secondary education level.