GENDER PERCEPTION OF ABILITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICS AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLITAN, BORNO STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine gender difference in perception of ability and academic performance, relationship between gender perception of ability and academic performance in Physics. A random sample of two (2) male single, two (2) female single and two (2) mixed schools were used. A further random of twenty-five (25) students from each of the single school and fifty (50) from each of the mixed school form the sample of this study. A total of two hundred students out of a target population of 80 were used for the study. The instrument used for collecting data on self-perception of ability was a self-developed questionnaire. Three null hypotheses were tested at 5% significant level, all were accepted. the statistical analysis used was one-way ANOVA to determine differences in perception of abilities and academic performance, while person product moment correlation co-efficient was also use to determine the relationship between gender perception of ability and academic performance. The study revealed that, there was no significant difference between male and female students’ perception of ability and academic performance in the single school and in the mixed school; there was no significant relationship between gender perception of ability and academic performance. The study will be significant to provide empirical data that would help curriculum planners and administrator in planning, guidance counselors will use the finding to guide the students and policy makers of Borno state ministry of education will find the result of this study very useful as reference material. Recommendations were made among others that; students should not base their performance on their perception of abilities in Physics.