ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION AND SELF-EFFICACY AS CORRELATES OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN PHYSICS IN ONITSHA EDUCATION ZONE

Abstract

Achievement motivation and self-efficacy as correlates of students' interest and academic achievement in Physics among secondary school students in Onitsha Education Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria was investigated. Three research questions guided the study and three null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a correlational survey research design. The population comprised 3,259 senior secondary two (SS2) Physics students drawn from 32 public secondary schools in the zone. Simple random sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 396 students, out of which 356 copies of the instruments were validly completed and returned. Two adapted instruments, namely the Physics Achievement Motivation Questionnaire (PAMQ) and Physics Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) were used for data collection, alongside students' first term examination scores in Physics for the 2025/2026 academic session. The instruments were validated by three experts and their reliability coefficients, established using Cronbach's Alpha, were 0.86 and 0.78 respectively. Data were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression. Findings revealed a moderate positive and significant relationship between achievement motivation and students' academic achievement (r = 0.559) in Physics. Self-efficacy showed a moderate positive and significant relationship with academic achievement (r = 0.526). The joint relationship of achievement motivation and self-efficacy with academic achievement (R = 0.665) were both moderate, positive and significant, jointly accounting for 35.8% and 44.3% of the variance respectively. Based on the findings, the study concluded that achievement motivation and self-efficacy play important roles in enhancing students' academic achievement in Physics. It was recommended amongst others that teachers should adopt learner-centred instructional strategies that build students' motivation and confidence in Physics.