Title: Factors influencing student performance in final year capstone projects: a structural equation modelling approach

Authors: Armaya'u Zango Umar; Hayat Tuge Suleiman; Barira Hamisu

Addresses: Department of Software Engineering and Cybersecurity, Al-Qalam University Katsina, Katsina State, 820102, Nigeria ' Department of Software Engineering, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, 900108, Nigeria ' Department of Software Engineering and Cybersecurity, Al-Qalam University Katsina, Katsina State, 820102, Nigeria

Abstract: The undergraduate final year capstone project plays a crucial role in academic programs, representing a culmination of students' learning experiences. However, the factors influencing student performance in the capstone projects remain underexplored, leaving a gap in understanding how personal, social, and academic dynamics impact outcomes. This research addresses this gap by investigating how student perceptions of the usefulness of the capstone project for personal and career development, supervision quality, and self-efficacy contribute to final year project performance. Furthermore, it examines the combined effects of social factors such as peer interactions, anxiety, and peer influence on project success. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), the study reveals that self-efficacy positively impacts capstone project performance, while anxiety significantly hinders success. Surprisingly, the perceived usefulness of the capstone project, peer influence, and supervision quality did not have a direct effect on project outcomes. However, a correlation was found between perceived usefulness and peer influence, while it was negatively associated with anxiety. As anticipated, good academic standing strongly predicted success in final year capstone projects.

Keywords: final year project; computer science capstone project; performance prediction; SEM; structural equation modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIIE.2025.148433

International Journal of Innovation in Education, 2025 Vol.9 No.2, pp.108 - 120

Received: 26 Apr 2024
Accepted: 21 Nov 2024
Published online: 04 Sep 2025 *

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