A Study of the Influence of Study Habits on the Academic Performances of Senior Secondary School Students
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The primary aim of this study is to examine the effect of study habit on students academic performance.
This general aim is expressed in the following specific objectives which are to;
1) Assess the study habit of students in secondary school.
2) Compare the academic performance of students who have developed a study habit and those who do not have a study habit.
3) Examine factors influencing students study habit.
4) investigate the effect of study habit on students academic performance.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literatures that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in two sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
Habit
Study literarily means to learn about something, taking educational courses. Hornby (1998) remarked that study is a special type of reading that requires devotion of time and especially, attention to acquiring knowledge from books. Habit could be said to be natural to human being as we are not the same through our observations, we relate differently with each other, so individual should be careful in adopting or forming a suitable habit that always yield good performance. Jato, Ogunniyi, and Olubiyo (2014) described habit as a settled or regular tendency of practice, especiallyone that is hard to give up and according to Iheanacho (2002); reinforcement increases the possibility that any given response will be repeated. In suggestion, it is important to form a good habit to bring a desired result for such habit to be repeated.
Study habit starts from childhood, root learning and memorization being the popular study habit children adopt to learn. Study habit is the pattern of behaviour adopted in the act of learning. O’Neale and Harrison (2013) viewed study habit as the continuous practice or repetition of study skills over time. Educational Research Information Centre (2009) views study habits as approaches applied to learning. Study habit according to Flippo and Caverly (2000) is a learned pattern of studying that may occur with or without conscious awareness or deliberate efforts. Crede and Kuneel (2008) define study habit as study routines including, but not restricted to frequency of studying material and studying in a favorable environment.
Study habit from this point of views can be said to be regular practice of one or two study skills in achieving a good academic performance. It is a combination of one or more individual tactics or techniques such as note taking (Wade, Trathen, and Schraw, 1990). According to Jones, Slate, Perez, and Marini (1996) “Study habit constitute the overall approach itself, representing the students’ concept of how to accomplish learning goals and the specific actions taken”. There are different dimensions patterns or skills that can be adopted as a study habit varying from one researcher to the other. Bolanle and Olufemi (2010) concluded in their study that homework and assignment and written works are significant study habits. In the view of Kenjika (1998), the fundamental components of study habit include: drawing up and abiding to daily study schedule, full involvement in teaching and learning process, reading, promptly doing and turning in class work and assignment, jotting down points while the teacher is teaching and during private studies.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Area of Study
Mushin is a Local Government Area in Lagos. It is located 10 km north of the city core, adjacent to the main road to Ikeja, and is largely a congested residential area with inadequate sanitation and low-quality housing. It had 633,009 inhabitants at the 2006 Census (wikipidia). Thus it is the area of the study.
Research Design
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the descriptive survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled.
Population of the study
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This research was carried out on the influence of study habits on the academic performances of senior secondary school students using selected schools in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State as case study.
Thus, the researcher selected six (6) secondary schools in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State which are;
Ilupeju Senior Grammar School; St Joseph Junior Secondary School, Mushin; Community Senior Secondary School, Mushin; Ilupeju Senior Secondary School; Euba Senior Secondary School Olu Aina and Atunrase Junior High School. Therefore, all the students of the selected secondary schools form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
DATA PRESENTATION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only one hundred (100) were returned. The analysis of this study is based on the number returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings into the influence of study habits on the academic performances of senior secondary school students using selected schools in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State as case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
Summary of the Study
In this study, our focus was to examine the effect of study habit on students academic performance. The study specifically was aimed at assessing the study habit of students in secondary school; Compare the academic performance of students who have developed a study habit and those who do not have a study habit; examine factors influencing students study habit; and investigate the effect of study habit on students academic performance.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 100 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are active students of the six selected schools in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Conclusions
Based on the finding of this study, the following conclusions were made:
- There is a significant relationship between students study habit and academic performance.
- There is a significant relationship between method of study and academic performance of students.
- There is a significant relationship between the school environment, student personality and peer group and the study habit of students.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Appropriate parental counseling programme needs to be organized for parents that will educate them on how to motivate their wards to cultivate good study habits in order to enhance their academic performance. Moreso, teachers should draft applicable measures towards motivating students on cultivating good reading habit.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES
Similar research with relevant research methodology should be used in carrying out research in other states of the federation to ascertain the degree of conformity which this research have on the study habit of all senior secondary school students in Nigeria.
REFERENCES
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- Advanced Psychology, 2 (1), 105-115. Retrieved from http://oaji.net/articles/
- Agu, A. O. and Hamad, A. K. (2000) The influence of home environment on the academic performance of secondary school girls in Zanzibar. Journal of Educational Management, 3, pp. 67-86.
- Akhani P, Rathi N, Jasore M (1999). Academic Achievement, Study Habits and Loneliness of Children of Employed and Unemployed Mothers. Journal of Psychometry and Education. Cited in Indian Educational Abstracts, 1(1), Jan. 2001, NCERT, New Delhi. 1999; 30(1):65-57.
- Akinsanya, O. O., Ajayi, K. O. and Salomi, M.O. (2014).Relative Effects of Parents` Occupation, Qualification and Academic Motivation of Wards on Students` Achievement in Senior Secondary School Mathematics in Ogun State. Journal of Education and Practice, 5(22), 99-105. Retrieved on 2th September, 2014, from www.iiste.org
