Impact of Socio-Economic Factors on Peer Pedagogical Support for Learning among Senior Secondary School Children in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study investigates the role of peer pedagogical support for learning among senior secondary school children in Sri Lanka, considering socio-economic factors such as parental income and educational level. The specific objectives of the investigation were to (i) assess the level of peer pedagogical support for learning, (ii) examine differences in peer pedagogical support based on parental income, and (iii) investigate differences in peer pedagogical support based on parental educational level. The study's population consisted of senior secondary school children in Sri Lanka, with 1350 participants selected from the country's North, South, East, West, and Central regions using a stratified sampling technique. A survey research design was employed, employing a quantitative research approach. Data collection involved a self-administered questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale to gather responses from the students. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23 was utilized for data analysis, employing descriptive and inference analyses such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and MANOVA.To ensure the reliability of the instrument, a pilot study was conducted, and Cronbach's Alpha was used to assess the internal consistency of all variables. The pilot study demonstrated high reliability, with values ranging from 0.917 to 0.934. The results obtained from the survey, analysed using SPSS, revealed that a majority of students strongly agreed (mean = 4.325, SD = 0.695) that their peers supported their learning activities. Furthermore, the study found no significant differences in peer pedagogical support based on parental income and parental educational level. In summary, this study explored the role of peer pedagogical support for learning among senior secondary school children in Sri Lanka, considering socio-economic factors such as parental income and educational level. The findings highlighted the positive impact of peer pedagogical support on students' learning activities and emphasized the no significant differences in peer pedagogical support based on parental income and educational level. These results contribute to our understanding of the importance of peer support in achieving educational success, particularly in the context of Sri Lanka's secondary school education system.