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Elements of Social Capital and Academic Performance of Undergraduate Students

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Abstract

Previous studies suggest that elements of social capital within families, schools, peer groups, and the community influence educational outcomes, in the form of disciplinary academic climate at school, and the cultural norms and values that motivate students to achieve higher goals. Few studies have examined the association between social capital and students’ actual academic performance among university undergraduate students in developing countries like Nigeria. This study examined the relationships between elements of social capital such as perceived safety, trust, social cohesion, family social capital and undergraduate students’ academic outcomes. Cross sectional data were collected from undergraduate students in a national university, using a structured questionnaire. The population of full-time undergraduate students was estimated at 15,000 in the 2011/2012 academic session. A sample of 348 students responded to the questionnaire and was included in the analysis. Multiple regression statistics were used to test the model for predictors of academic performance. The regression result shows that age, number of times student was late in submitting assignments, reciprocity and trust in the community accounted for 22.7 % of the variation in academic performance. Also, academic performance had a weak association with support from friends (r = 0.13, p = 0.015), trust in public institutions (r = 0.13, p = 0.015) and trust for university (r = 0.13, p = 0.019), but had a stronger association with non-social capital factors such as lateness in submitting assignments (r = 0.16, p = 0.01) and the number of times student failed an assignment (r = 0.15, p = 0.01).

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Acknowledgments

We thank the University of Manitoba Canada for providing us with the funding for this study. We also thank Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria for granting us the access and approval to conduct this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Manitoba, 106-771 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Nelson Ositadimma Oranye

  2. Department of Sociology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

    Peter Ezeah

  3. Department of Nursing, Brandon University, Brandon, MB, Canada

    Nora Ahmad

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  1. Nelson Ositadimma Oranye
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  2. Peter Ezeah
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  3. Nora Ahmad
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Correspondence to Nelson Ositadimma Oranye.

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Oranye, N.O., Ezeah, P. & Ahmad, N. Elements of Social Capital and Academic Performance of Undergraduate Students. Soc Indic Res 131, 305–319 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-016-1249-x

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