“THE EFFECT OF STUDY HABITS ON THE ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS”
Name:
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E1A
March
18 ,2015
The Introduction
The extent of student’s learning in academics
may be determined by the grades a student earns for a period of learning has
been done. It is believed that a grade is a primary indicator of such
learning. If a learner earns high grades
it is concluded that they may also have learned a lot while low grades indicate
lesser learning. However, many experiences and studies found out that there are
also several factors that would account for the grades. No single factor can be
definitely pointed out as predicting grades. It has been an interplay of so
many factors – gender, IQ, study habits, age, year level, parent’s educational
attainment, social status, number of siblings, birth order, etc. In fact,
almost all of existing environmental and personal factors are a variable of
academic performance. The investigation of on this area thus becomes a real and
compelling motivation for the researchers to conduct this study.
The Body
According to
Palm Beach Community College (PBBC, 2008), they recommend that
student’s study should have at least three hours out of class
for every hour spent in class. They also said that a student must have a
special place to study with plenty of room to work. And students should
not be cramped. They presupposes
that study time will go better if a
learner take a few minutes at the start to straighten things up. A desk and
straight-backed chair is usually best. “ Don't get too comfortable--a bed is a
place to sleep, not to study” as what they said. A student must have everything
close at hand (book, pencils, paper, coffee, dictionary, computer, calculator,
tape recorder, etc.) before starting to study. Students are not suggested
to spend on time jumping up and down to get things. The
PBCC suggests also that distracting
noise should be minimized however they
said that there are some people need sound
and some like silence. In this case, a learner must finds what works for him or
her. Culprits are family and friends. consider a "do not disturb"
sign and turning on your answering machine is the way also to have better study
habits according to the PBBC..
Frank Pogue(2000)
did a research project to determine why students fail. What he founds to be
true in that study habits survey was that more than 30 years ago still rings
true today--students fail because they do not know how to study .The best
advice he can give is to develop sound study skills.
He said
that a student should make sure that he/she has a good study environment, a
good desk, a sturdy chair, good light, comfortable room temperature and a quiet
atmosphere. That means he/she should eliminate all external and internal
distractions. Second, get a good overview of the assignment before starting the
work. Know what skills, facts and ideas that are expected to master and the
ground that are expected to cover. Start with most difficult subject first,
while the mind is freshest and most receptive.
Professors in the
developing countries said that the undergraduate students should be fully
equip with high level of analytical
skills, the capacity for critical reasoning, self-reflection and conceptual
grasp and ability to learn autonomously and exercise flexibility of mind
(Simmons 2003). Study habits are said to be improving because of the advent and
wide use of the Internet, hypertext, and multimedia resources which greatly
affects the Study Habits (Liu, 2005). Karim and Hassan (2006) also note the
exponential growth digital information, which changes the way students perceive
studying and with printed materials that are to be use in facilitating study. Liu
(2005) and Ramirez (2003) report that students print material from the Internet
in order to study and read later on. Igun (2005) also found that Nigerians
study from materials downloaded from the Internet.
Fielden
(2004) states that good study habits help the student in critical reflection in
skills outcomes such as selecting, analyzing, critiquing, and synthesizing. Nneji
(2002) states that study habits are learning tendencies that enable students
work private.
The study conducted by Hope L.
Graven (2008) on the relationship
between an individual's amount of caffeine consumption during his/her study session
and the individual's study habits showed that the main
effect of drinking caffeine on exam preparation was not significant There were participants, 20 male and 58 female
college students (N=78), answered self-ratings on their personal consumption of
caffeine as well as their study habits when preparing for a test/exam. It was
hypothesized that the more caffeine a student consumes while studying, the more
accurately his or her study habits would be labeled as 'unhealthy', as
determined by the researchers. Unhealthy study habits were operationally
defined as low scores on amount of time per study session, time(in days) when
preparation began, and amount of information the participants believed they had
retained. High scores on anxiety level were included in 'unhealthy' study
habits. A Pearson correlation indicated no relationship between amount of
caffeine consumed while studying and the individual's effectiveness of studying
and preparation.
Marcus Credé and Nathan
R. Kuncel (2008) in their
research at the University
of Albany
According to the how-to-study.com (2009), students who are very
successful in their desired career have good study habits. It
is stated in the website that students apply these habits to all of their
classes. The website also recommends some tips in improving study habits.
The website also suggests that the student should try not to study all the
subjects in just a period. The website also added that if you try to do too
much studying at one time, you will tire and your studying will not be very
effective. Space the work you have to do over shorter periods of
time. Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy.
A study conducted by University of Kentucky Britain Kentucky
According
to Mark Crilly (2000), Successful
students are able to balance social activities with good study habits. A
diversion from studies will alleviate stress and help prevent from becoming fatigued. He said that a
student should make sure that he must take a break for an hour after studies to
meet with friends, to play some cards, work out at the gym, or to gab with a
new acquaintance. For this way, that student will find concentration when he do
study, if he plans a social activity afterwards. He said, “To develop a healthy
social life, develop routine study habits. After supper, lug your books and
homework to the library, find a comfortable and quiet niche, and study for two
or three hours, taking intermittent 10 minute breaks every 45 minutes or so.”
Making friends with whom you share similar study habits, and share a table or a
study space with them would be a best way in developing study habits as what
Mark said.
The
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.
