Determinants of academic achievement among grade ten students at Menkorer secondary school, Ethiopia: the role of individual, familial and school characteristics

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the role of individual, familial and school factors in predicting students’ academic achievement. The study employed correlational design to undertake the analysis. The participants of the study were 461 grade ten students which were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Self-reported questionnaire was used to gather data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized so as to analyze the data. Among the inferential statistics hierarchical multivariate regression analysis was utilized to examine the relative importance of the predictor variables on the criterion variable at each level. The finding revealed that large variance in students’ academic achievement was accounted for by individual level variables followed by familial level variables. School level variables contributed considerable variance in students’ academic achievement. In order to enhance students’ academic performance, parents and school community shall contribute their share and discharge responsibilities unconditionally.

Keywords:

• Individual level
• familial level
• school level
• academic achievement

Reviewing Editor:

• Nicholas Sun-Keung Pang, East China Normal University, Hong Kong, China

Subjects:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Ecological Psychology
• Learning

Acknowledgements

I thanked the school directors for their permission to collect the data. I also thanked student participants for their willingness to participate in filling the questionnaire

Ethical approval

Ethical clearance was obtained from the Review Board of the Institute of Educational and Behavioral Sciences of Bahir Dar University. Informed consent was obtained from all participants after explaining the purpose of study

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available at present. The author did not receive consent from participants to share the data on the web, but, will be available from the author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Demeke Wolie Ambaye

Demeke Wolie Ambaye, PhD, has an interest in quantitative methodological approach to conduct research in various areas. Different research works had been published by utilizing quantitative methods in the past. Areas of the research activities focused on student achievement, child development and adolescent development with their corresponding associated factors. Thus, I would like to continue my research activities by using quantitative approach as my skill in statistical concepts allowed me to do so.