Relative Influence of High School Students’ Social Intelligence Quotient on their Academic Achievement in Biology in Anambra State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The continuous search for variables that could be influenced to enhance students’ academic achievement in biology necessitated the study on the relationship between secondary school students’ social intelligence quotient (SIQ) and their academic achievement in biology. The study which adopted a correlational survey research design, employed a stratified random sampling technique to draw a sample of 392 Secondary School Year 2 (SS2) students. An adapted social intelligence quotient scale, with reliability coefficient of 0.67 established using Cronbach alpha and a biology score proforma were employed for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using Pearson product moment coefficient and simple regression analysis. Findings revealed that a substantial positive and statistically significant relationship exists between students’ SIQ and their academic achievement in biology. On gender, it was found that while a substantial positive relationship exists for males and a slight to fair positive relationship exists for the females, although both proved statistically significant. Considering the findings, the researchers’ concluded that students’ SIQ positively and significantly correlates with their academic achievement in biology, and thus recommended that teachers should adopt strategies in the classroom that foster collaboration, driving students to interact and actively participate in group discussions to develop their SIQ.