A Dummy Variable Regression on Students' Academic Performance

Abstract

A good formal education system is judged by the performance of the students involved. However, there are several factors also influencing this performance. Studies that have been carried out on this has identified Economic, environmental and social factors. Most of these researches focused on the public schools. This paper is a report on a survey carried out in a Nigerian private University (Redeemer’s University) having the undergraduates as the target Population. A dummy variable regression was carried out on the cumulative grade point average of the respondent. The factors considered were; the study hours, reading habit, mother’s level of education, monthly allowance and involvement in extra-curricular activities. Of all these factors, reading habit and mother’s level of education were significant at the 5% level. Specifically, reading on a daily basis was the significant category of the reading habit factor in the dummy variable regression while educated mother is the significant category in the mother’s education factor.