THE EFFECTS OF STUDY HABIT ON THE ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF SOME
SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OGUN STATE.
BY
OMOTERE TOPE
N.C.E., B.Ed
MAY, 2011
Published Online By:
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© 2011 Omotere Tope
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Omotere Tope attended Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, OttoIjanikin, Lagos from 2002 to 2006 (N.C.E. in Christian Religious Studies/ History)
and holds a B.A. (Ed) in History and Diplomatic Studies from Tai Solarin
University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. He has undergone
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THE EFFECTS OF STUDY HABIT ON THE ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF SOME
SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OGUN STATE.
ABSTRACT
The study investigated the effects of study habit on the academic
performance of students’ using some selected senior secondary
schools in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State as a case
study. Two hundred (200) students were randomly selected from five
senior secondary schools in the area. The instrument utilized for the
study was a questionnaire named “Study Habit and Study Attitude
Scale”(SHSAS). Four hypotheses were tested and the result showed
that family background, peer group pressure, personality type of the
student and the school environment all affect the reading habit of
students in secondary schools. Data was analyzed using percentage.
Based on the findings, 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. Hence, it is suggested that
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
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Title page-------------------------------------------------------------------------------i
Abstract --------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii
Certification--------------------------------------------------------------------------iii
Dedication-----------------------------------------------------------------------------iv
Acknowledgement--------------------------------------------------------------------v
Table of content---------------------------------------------------------------------vii
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1
Background to the Study-----------------------------------------------------1
1.2
Statement of the Study--------------------------------------------------------4
1.3
Purpose of the Study----------------------------------------------------------5
1.4
Research Question-------------------------------------------------------------5
1.5
Research Hypotheses----------------------------------------------------------6
1.6
Significance of the Study-----------------------------------------------------6
1.7
Scope of the Study-------------------------------------------------------------7
1.8
Operational Definition of Terms--------------------------------------------7
CHAPTER TWO
2.1
Theoretical Framework and Empirical Review---------------------------9
2.1.1 Concept of Study habit--------------------------------------------------------9
2.1.2 Concept of Academic Performance----------------------------------------18
2.1.3 Factors Affecting Study Habit Among Secondary
School Students----------------------------------------------------------------19
2.1.4 Effects of Study Habit on Academic Performance
Of Students---------------------------------------------------------------------23
2.2 Empirical Review--------------------------------------------------------------27
2.3
Appraisal of Literature-------------------------------------------------------30
CHAPTER THREE
3.1
Research Design--------------------------------------------------------------32
3.2
Population of the Study-----------------------------------------------------32
3.3
Sample and Sampling Procedure------------------------------------------32
3.4
Instrument of Data Collection---------------------------------------------33
3.5
Procedure of Administration-----------------------------------------------34
5
3.6
Method of Data Analysis----------------------------------------------------34
CHAPTER FOUR
Results and Summary of Findings
4.1
Answers to Research Questions-------------------------------------------35
4.2
Summary of Findings-------------------------------------------------------42
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1
Discussion of Findings-------------------------------------------------------45
5.2
Conclusion---------------------------------------------------------------------47
5.3
Implication for Counseling Practice--------------------------------------47
5.4
Recommendation-------------------------------------------------------------48
5.5
Suggestions for Further Study---------------------------------------------49
REFERENCES-------------------------------------------------------------------------50
APPENDICES-------------------------------------------------------------------------54
6
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
Research on the correlation between study habit and students
academic achievement has for long received attention from scholars
and educational agencies. For instance, the national Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) in 1994 conducted a study to find out
the relationship between study habits and academic performance of
the students. Findings of the study revealed a positive correlation
between
study
habit
and
academic
achievement.
Similarly,
Onwuegbuzie (2001) conducted a series of studied to find out the
relationship between academic success and study habit and reported
positive relationship between the two variables.
However, studies of school achievement indicate that most
students are under achievers. (Dizney, 2003, Okegbile, 20070 and
Adetunji and Oladeji, 2007). A major reason for students’ under7
developed potentialities may be in their lack of learning strategies.
Emily and Betty (2004) posit that it is not an infrequent occurrence
that students, who spend inordinate amounts of time memorizing
study materials, are still barely getting by. To them, the student’s
personal, emotional, and social development may suffer from the
pressures created by the use of relatively inefficient learning
strategies.
Study habits are learning tendencies that enable students to
work privately. Azikiwe (1998) describes the study habit as “the
adopted way and manner a student plans his private readings, after
classroom learning so as to attain mastery of the subject”. According
to her, “good study habits are good assets to learners because they
(habits) assist students to attain mastery in areas of specialization and
consequent
excellent
performance,
while
opposite
constitute
constraints to learning and achievement leading to failure”.
Good (1998) define the term study habits as: The student’s way
of study whether systematic, efficient or inefficient etc”. Going by
8
this definition it literally means that good study habit produces
positive academic performance while inefficient study habit leads to
academic failure.
In Nigeria, there are so many factors influencing the ability of
students to cultivate effective and efficient study habit. Ozmert (2005)
emphasized the importance of environmental influence as a major
factor in the development of students studying habit. In the same
vein, Adetunji and Oladeji (2007) submit that the environment of
most children is not conducive for studying; it is in the light of this
that made some parents to prefer their children to go to boarding
school for proper discipline and to inculcate better reading habit.
According to Hussain (2006) secondary school students in
public schools often come from economically poor and average
income families. These families face various problems causing
emotional disturbance among their children. They have poor
academic performance. This singular factor has caused serious
damage to the achievement status to secondary school students.
9
Achievement is generally a pedagogical terminology used
while determining learners’ success in formal education and which is
measured through reports examinations, researches, and ratings with
numerous factors of variables exerting influence. Essentially, the
National Policy on education (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004) has
identified school achievement contents according to school subjects
which are classified as core or elective subjects.
Although studies abound on the causative and predictive
nature of factors of study habit on students academic achievement,
all factors of the variables tend to focus on poor study habit while the
effect is yet to be fully accessed on the nations educational
development.
1.2
Statement of the problem
Due to the increasing nature of poor academic performance of
secondary school students especially in external examinations like
WAEC or JAMB, many educationists tend to shift the blame on the
10
teaching methodology adopted by the teachers and lack of fund from
the government to provide quality textbooks. However, these might
not be the main reasons why students perform poorly in
examinations. It is clear from all indications that most secondary
school students have poor study habit which might lead to poor
academic performance.
As true as this might sound, it is yet to gather adequate
research evidence to prove that it is a key factor on why students fail.
1.3
Purpose of the Study
The primary aim of this study was 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 study habit;
3. Examine factors influencing students study habit;
11
4. Investigate the effect of study habit on student’s academic
performance.
1.4
Research Question
The following questions were raised to guide the study:
1. Is there any relationship between students study habit and academic
performance?
2. What is the nature of relationship between students study habit and
their family background?
3. How important is method of study on academic performance of
students?
4. Does the school environment, student personality and peer group
affect the study habit of students?
12
1.5
Research Hypotheses
Four hypotheses were formulated based on the research questions:
H01: There is no significant relationship between students study habit
and academic performance.
H02: There is no significant relationship between students study habit
and their family background.
H03: There is no significant relationship between method of study
and academic performance of students.
H04: There is no significant relationship between the school
environment, student personality and peer group and the study habit
of students.
1.6
Significance of the Study
This study will be used to many people who may want to know
the factors that could make or mar student’s academic performance.
Therefore, the study is significant in this regard.
13
- It attempts to combine study skills with study habit and how they
both affect academic performance of students.
- It will provide valuable information about the effects of poor study
habit on the academic performance of students.
- It will serve as resource materials for others who want to carry out
research in related field.
1.7
Scope/Delimitation of the Study
This study centers on effects of study habit on academic performance
of students in ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State. It is
aimed at all secondary school students in Ijebu-Ode but due to time,
money and other factors it will be limited to only five schools in
Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
1.8
Research Methodology
This study adopts the descriptive survey design. Two hundred (200)
students were randomly selected from five senior secondary schools
14
in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The instrument
utilized for the study was a questionnaire named “Study Habit and
Study Attitude Scale”(SHSAS) Data was analyzed using percentage.
1.9
Operational Definition of terms
STUDY HABIT: This is a behaviour style that is systematically
formed by students towards learning and achievement.
STUDY SKILLS: These are peculiar strategies developed by the
students in studying.
ACADEMIC: This has been variously defined but for the purpose of
this study, Hornby (1991) define academic has that which has to do
with school college studies or learning in other words designate the
intellectual; aspect of education particularly the final subject deals
with organized knowledge.
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: This refers to the performance that
falls within specified standard. The specified standard is usually
called pass mark and the pass mark is score above average which
15
students are considered having passed and below which students are
considered having failed.
STUDENT: A person who is learning or studying at a place of higher
or further education.
16
17