INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL SUPPORT ON ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION AND INTEREST IN SCHOOL WORK OF STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to ascertain the influence of parental support on achievement motivation and interest in school work of students. Three (3) research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total number of 13,068 senior secondary school students in Oredo local government area, Edo state make up the population of the study and 150 students were randomly sampled. The research instrument for the study was a Questionnaire titled: “Parental support and achievement motivation scale (PSMAS), which was distributed to the respondents and collected immediately after completion from respondents. The simple percentage, mean score and was used in computing the responses of the questionnaire items. To account for the reliability of the study, the Cronbach Alpha statistics was used, which gave a value of 0.799. The influence of parental support on achievement motivation and interest in schoolwork of students is profoundly positive. Parents who provide emotional and academic support foster a strong sense of motivation and interest in their children, leading to greater academic achievement and happiness. By setting high expectations, encouraging autonomy, and engaging in school activities, parents can promote a love of learning and help their children develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed. From the study findings, it is recommended that; Parents should engage in open and regular communication with their children about their academic progress, interest, and challenges. By listening actively and providing guidance, parents can help their children develop a growth mindset and stay motivated. Parents should set clear and high expectations for their children’s academic achievement, while also providing emotional support and encouragement. This balance between push and pull can help students develop a sense of purpose and motivation