Determinants of poor academic performance among undergraduate students—A systematic literature review

Abstract

There are several reasons for student academic underperformance, such as academic, personal, and social factors students face when transitioning from high school to higher educational institutions. In this review paper, a systematic literature review is conducted based on the PRISMA strategy; the aim is to analyze the factors that lead to academic underperformance in students. Research from the past three decades, i.e., from 1990 to 2020, is analyzed. Data has been collected by searching two electronic databases, i.e., EBSCO and ScienceDirect. A total of 50 studies were identified after a careful filtration process for this review. The study reviews qualitative and quantitative papers conducted on different institutions, i.e., universities, colleges, and technical institutions. These studies revealed that many factors could impact students' performance; however, four main thematic categories were identified: academic, personal, social, and demographic. The findings of this study will facilitate the use of social strategies and management techniques for students to improve their academic performance and lead to better academic outcomes. The researchers discussed the findings and identified some highlighted management techniques in the reviewed literature. The implications and limitations are also discussed.

Keywords

• Underperformance
• Academic inefficiency
• Minority/ethnic groups
• Personal issues
• Social
• Demographics