Relationship between the Academic Performance and Birth Order of Grade 10 Students from Nuestra Señora De Aranzazu Parochial School, Academic Year 2017-2018

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out whether birth order is a factor in academic performance. Adler’s (1930) assertions on the personality differences based on different birth order were used as this study’s theoretical basis. The respondents of the study were taken from the Grade 10 high school students of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu Parochial School located in San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines. Using purposive sampling 77 “first born,” 55 “middle child,” 71 “last born” and 30 “only child” respondents were obtained. The respondents’ academic performances through their general weighted average in 2017 were also taken. The chi-square formula yielded a value of 8.696 which is higher than the critical value of 7.81. Therefore, it could be inferred that there is a significant relationship between birth order and academic performance. Welch T tests were computed between the academic performances of the different birth orders. This statistical tool yielded a t value of 1.8145 between first born and only child, a t value of 1.6988 between middle child and only child, a t value of 1.6054 between last born and only child, a t value of -1.8145 between only child and first born, a t value of -1.6988 between only child and middle child and a t value of -1.6504 between only child and last born. The preceding Welch t values all indicate a significant difference in the academic performance of the respective respondents.