Abstract:
The study examined academic motivation and academic performance of Junior
High School (JHS) students in Ghana. Differences between the academic motivation of male and
female students as well as between students from urban and rural schools were examined.
Participants were 756 male and 714 female JHS 2 students randomly selected from 24 Junior High
Schools through stratified random sampling using gender and location as criteria for
stratification. Two research instruments, the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) with a Cronbach
Alpha Reliability Coefficient of 0.75 and Achievement Tests in Mathematics, English Language,
Social Studies and Integrated Science were used to collect data. Pearson Product Moment
Correlation Coefficient and t-tests were used in analyzing the data. The results showed a positive
relationship between academic motivation and academic performance of JHS students. While the
results showed a statistically significant difference between the academic motivation of students
in schools in urban and rural areas, there was difference between the academic motivation of male
and female students. It was recommended that teachers, parents and all those concerned with the
education of children should put in place psychological processes that are intended to boost the
ego of students thereby making them have an inner feeling of satisfaction when they accomplish
academic tasks.
