INFLUENCE OF PEER GROUP ON ACHIEVEMEVT OF JS2 STUDENTS IN BASIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOL0GY IN JOS NORTH PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the ettect of peer group influence on achievement of JS2 students in Basic Seience and Technology in Jos North Plateau State Niperia. Three research questions and three bypotheses guided the study, The deseriplive research design that is ex-post lacto desigh was adopted for the study. The population consisted of all the 2,950 (1,211 males and l,739 temales) JSS two students in Basie Science and Technology in Jos North LGA, Plateau State out of which a sample of comprised of 150 JSS two students from the public secondary schools in the stucdy area. A total of five (5) schools were drawn using purposive and random Samping teclhmique. The iIstrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire valıdated by three experts, The reliability of the instruments was established using Cronbach Alpha cocfficient method which yielded a reliability cocfticient value of 0.78 lor the instrument. The data obtaned were analyzed using ean, standard deviation and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that there was no signiticant relationship helween male and femalc gender peer group and academic perlormance of JSS2 students in Basic Science and Technology in North Platcau State. This by implication means thal peer group is not gcnder biased. Ilence, the ncgative effects of peer group are acknowledged more than the positives to warn students of the harm they could cause themselves or others. It was recommnended that Paretts should invest quality timne in knowing the types of Iriends in the lives of their children; School authorities/teachers should pay attention to encouraging good peer group activities in schools, Cspecially in the area of group discussions: Teachers should use teaching methds thal will encourage cooperation among the students to inculcate in them better group behaviours; Basic Science and Technology teachers should devise proper melhods oft grouping students ror Tearning to encourage students' developient ol good learning behaviours.