Factors Affecting Study Habit and Academic Performance of National Open University Study Center
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
- To examine the factors affecting study habit and academic performance of undergraduate students
- To examine the factors affecting academic performance of undergraduate students.
- To determine the relationship between study habit and academic performance of undergraduate students
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The chapter presents a review of related literature under the following sub-headings.
Conceptual Framework
Certainly, academic performance is a very important tool with which the success, ability and capability of a student to contribute to the development of a society are measured. The implication of this is that students that perform beyond average of the standard set by the society is not only seen as brilliant but as well probable to contribute meaningfully to the sustenance, growth and development of such society, especially, in the future. As a result of this, every society constantly observe the academic performance of its students at all levels of educational institutions. How a student takes his or her studies, greatly determines his/her level of academic achievements. The level of preparation and learning strategies developed and employed consciously by students, go a long way to influence their level of academic achievement.
Concept of Study Habits
Studying habits are well-planned and deliberate pattern of study which has attained a form of consistency on the part of students toward understanding academic subjects and passing at examinations. Studying habits determine the academic achievements of students to a great extent. Both studying and academic achievements are interrelated and dependent on each other. Students often come from different environments and localities with different levels of academic achievement. Therefore, they differ in the pattern of studying habits. While some students have good studying habits, others tend to exhibit poor studying habits. Academic achievement means how much knowledge the individual has acquired from the school (Bashir & Mattoo, 2012). A creative and pragmatic education involves the habit of personal investigation. The act of personal investigation requires self-study to be followed by self-thinking and analysis. Self-study, otherwise referred to as reading at one‟s own accord, requires a habit, which is known as reading habit. Studying makes way for a better understanding of one‟s own experiences and it can be an exciting voyage to self-discovery. Studying and academic achievement are essential for research workers and educationists to know that every child whether he or she is gifted, average, normal or backward etc, should be educated in his or her own way but if he or she possesses good study habits, he or she can perform well in academics and in every situation. It is the reading habits which help the learner in obtaining meaningful and desirable knowledge. Good reading habits act as a strong weapon for the students to excel in life.
It is rightly said that character is the bundle of habits. This reveals the importance of habits in character. Education helps the learner in development of self-concepts and the attainment of knowledge by ways of good study habits. Every student have different kinds of study habits,
some study regularly, some study when examinations approaches nearly. Some study while listening music while some study in complete silence and calm. No matter how dull or bright a student is he can, make most of his ability only if his study habits are superior and effective and he devote plenty of his time towards his studies.
Study habit as a research variable in Indian researches, has been investigated in two ways. One group of studies treated it as the dependent variable –measured it and also studied several other variables as its correlates. Hardly ever, any researcher predicted study habits by another set of variables. The second and the major group of researchers studied study habits as a correlate or predictor of certain other criterion variables, academic achievement is the most common among them.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Research design
It is a term used to describe a number of decisions which need to be taken regarding the collection of data before they are collected. (Nwana, 1981). It provides guidelines which direct the researcher towards solving the research problem and may vary depending on the nature of the problem being studied. According to Okaja ( 2003, p. 2),” research design means the structuring of investigation aimed at identifying variables and their relationship, it is used for the purpose of obtaining data to enable the investigator test hypothesis or answer research question by providing procedural outline for conducting research”. It is therefore, an outline or scheme that serves as a useful guide to the researcher in his efforts to generate data for his study. The study employed a descriptive research of survey design.
Population of the study
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 constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description (Prince Udoyen: 2019). The population consisted of all university undergraduates in Nigeria. Samples of 60 students were selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques from the 9 cognate faculties of the National Open University, Ado- Ekiti.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
Question: What are the factors affecting of students study habit?
Table 1: Mean and standard deviation showing the determinants of students’ study habit
This table revealed that respondents strongly believe in the variables as determinants of undergraduate study habit. It was found out that self concept was a very important determinant, it having a mean of 3.29 and course of study was considered as a determinant too but its mean was the lowest of all variables having 2.66
What is the influence of family size on students‟ study habit as it affects academic achievement?
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of the Findings
Based on the data analyzed, the findings of the study are presented and summarized in the same order in which the research questions and hypotheses are arranged.
Influence of parental level of education on students‟ study habit as it affects academic performance The findings of the study showed that:
- Parents who are educated want their children to be educated.
- Educated parents provide most of the recommended text books and other learning aids for their children.
- Educated parents provide conducive atmosphere for their children‟s studies at home.
- Influence of family size on students‟ study habit as it affects academic performance The findings of the study include:
- Students from small size families are not always better achievers in academics.
- The size of the family does not determine the ability of the parents to provide books and learning materials for their children‟s education.
- Influence of parental level of motivation on students‟ academic performance.
The findings revealed that:
Parents motivate their children by supervising their home- work and assignments.
Parents use positive reinforcement to encourage their children to study hard.
Students agreed that they were motivated by prompt payment of school fees and other school levies
Influence of study Habit on students‟ academic performance.
The findings revealed that:
- Students that read early in the morning perform better.
- Students with good study habit perform better.
- Students that adhere to their studying time table have better academic performance.
CONCLUSION
From the study various factors such as (method of study, family background, socio-economic status and environment, peer group and class, course of study and self concept) have been identified to act as determinants of undergraduate study habits. More importantly it was found out that faculty is a major determinant of undergraduate study habit.
RECOMMENDATION
This research study recommends that all stakeholders; lecturers, parents, counselors and the government involved in educating university undergraduates should all rally round them to provide conditions that facilitate studying and study skills should be taught student so that their academic performance can be greatly improved.
- Parents should be made to realize the importance of motivation in determining their children academic achievement in schools, especially the realization that most of the male students are abandoning school for business. Parents should be actively involved in encouraging students to learn and also in supervising students‟ academic work at home Students‟ should give serious attention to studies at home, in addition to other various works done, since the amount of effort they put in their studies influence their academic achievement.
- Teachers should understand that teaching is a job of conscience. Teachers should handle the students as their own children; try by all means to meet the students „academic social and psychological needs. They should be motivational in their teaching and use different teaching methods so as to go along with all categories of students. This will help bridge deficiencies from negative family background.
- The state and Federal Governments should legislate against examination malpractices. Such situation will force students to sit up and take their studies serious. Again, the various governments should create employment opportunities for the graduate of various institutions of higher learning. Lack of job opportunities contributes to the loss of interest and zeal for education by students. The current situation in Nigeria where graduates are left with little or no hope of employment gives no encouragement to the secondary school students for further education.
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