Abstract—The study adopted an Ex-post facto research design. The population consisted of 637 PGDDE students that were selected with the use of randomization sampling technique. 248 students were sampled for the study and the samples were grouped into two (High and Low) Decision-making skills students. The grouping was done based on the analysis of the samples responses on a standardised Students Academic Decision-making Skills Scale (SADMSS). The instruments for data collection were: Students’ Academic Decision-making Skills Scale (SADMSS) and Semester Examination course result grades in four courses (Psychology of learning, Measurement and Evaluation, Sociology of Education and the Good Study Guides). The Psychometric properties of the research instruments, SADMSS were established with face and content validity and a test re-test administered after three weeks. The obtained alpha value was 0.84 while, semester examination course result grades of the four courses were moderated by External examiners appointed by the Senate of the University in the four subject areas. The study employed Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient statistical method to analyse the data at 0.05 level of significance. The findings indicated no statistically significant relationship between the academic performance in Psychology of learning (r = 0.013 < 0.901), Measurement and Evaluation (r =0.086 < 0.391) and the Good Study Guide (r = -0.029 < 0.77) except Sociology of Education (r = 0.27 > 0.007) between High and Low decision-making skills students. Implications for Student’s Counsellors particularly, those serving in open and distance learning institutions were recommended.
Index Terms—Academic performance, decision-making
skills, NOUN, student counsellors.
The authors are with National Open University of Nigeria 14/16 Victoria
Island Lagos, Nigeria (e-mail: ntanglang@noun.edu.ng,
aibrahim@noun.edu.ng).
Cite: Nebath Tanglang and Aminu Kazeem Ibrahim, "Decision-Making Skills and Academic Performance of Distance Education Learners: Implications for Students Counsellors," International Journal of Information and Education Technology vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 44-49, 2016.