Factors Contributing to Students’ Academic Performance; A Case of University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

Abstract

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This study exam ined the factors affecting academic performance based on a study conducted at the Faculty o f M anagement Studies and Commerce, U niversity o f Sri Jayewardenepura. The sample consisted o f 200 undergraduate students selected from the 2500 students o f the faculty. The 200 respondents were selected using random sam pling method from 3 rd year and 4th year students o f the faculty. The data were collected through structured questionnaires. A s the m ain technique o f data analysis a m ultiple regression m odel has been em ployed to quantify the impact o f different factors affecting the academ ic performance o f students measured by their Grade Point Average o f sem ester exam inations. The findings o f the study showed that m others’ education levels made a significant contribution to the students’ academ ic performance. H owever, English knowledge o f the students becom es the second important factor which influences students’ academ ic performance. Students w ith higher levels o f attendance for lectures have positive effect towards their academic performance. Further, higher socio-econom ic status exhibits a positive significant impact on students’ performance. Further, the study em ployed an independent sample T-test and correlation analysis to identify differences among various group o f students and the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Fourteen hypotheses were tested by em ploying an independent sam ple T- test in the study to explore whether the mean values o f GPA among different student groups were equal or not. The null hypothesis is that the mean value o f GPA o f the two groups is equal. N ine null hypotheses were rejected at 1% level o f significance.