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EFFECT OF POOR STUDY HABITS ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Study habit has been defined and explained in different ways by many scholars. The ideas that feature in all the works could give a summary which will make one define study habit as a constant or consistent pattern of study which individual has adopted over a long period of time. Study habit can also mean consistent, systematic and conscious tasks aimed at acquiring specific knowledge items meant to achieve certain goals.

The type of study habits that an individual adopts will determine the study skills such would possess. Therefore it is necessary to say that study habits can be a desirable one (good) and undesirable (poor) one.

Desirable study habits include:

(a)      Giving prompt attention to assignment and homework,

(b)     Making up for lessons missed in school,

(c)      Giving adequate attention to class room -activities,

(d)     Spending extra time at home to go through class activities

(e)      Seeking teachers assistance when necessary

(f)       Having high concentration level when reading and

(g)      Making use of textbooks and other learning materials to Support classroom works while studying.

The opposite of all that have been discussed above as desirable stud habits will automatically mean undesirable Study habits.

I was motivated to go into this study because of the rate at which students tend towards undesirable study habits nowadays. The situation has degenerated to a point where most students don’t bother to study in a way that can bring any reasonable academic achievement in career. My experience as a teacher reveals that most students don’t want to study judiciously again.

The effects of poor study habits are glaring in the various f6rins of examination malpractice being witnessed in various facets of educational system in Nigeria. The standard of academic achievement by most students has dropped drastically. Those students who are still Studying hard these days are children from well-disciplined and Godly homes.

The effects of poor study habits are glaring in the attitude and various activities or students when writing externals examinations like WAEC, G.C.E., JAMB etc. These examinations are highly characterized by examinational practice.

There has been an increase in the level of poor study habits exhibited by students in the recent times. A large proportion of students indulge in poor study habits without due cognizance of the consequence of’ such habits on their future achievement and the society at large.

Garuba (1995) says education is a deliberate planned and systematic process of effecting a permanent change in the behavior of human beings, which are necessary-for full integration of such individual into the society. Anyone who is not well educated cannot be fully integrated into the society. It means such individual cannot contribute positively to his personal life and the society at large. Such individual will even become a threat and nuisance to self and the society.

Full integration that can make individual to function meaningfully in the society can only be a product of sound education.

An individual who will be well integrated into the society must have good study habits, which will make such individual achieve good and adequate education.

Anyanwu (1987) stated that it is through education that the level of consciousness of’ individual and the society is raised. He further says that education equip people with skills necessary for managing, sustaining and increasing the quality of lives of individual and the society at large.

Education is the development in itself and as such, focuses on how to manage or lessen dependency on others and improve the condition of living of such individuals says Lehart (1979).

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Poor study habits means sub-standard study habits. Good Study habits are the only ways, which through academic excellence could be attained. There is no short cut to academic success than to study hard and appropriately. Most Students in Nigeria today are found guilty of poor Study habits. They do not study enough to make them achieve remarkable academic success in life.

Various forms of examination malpractice, which are thriving in all facets of our educational system, are fast eroding the spirit of good study habits. Students do not bother to study hard a-gain as the alternative means to academic success, which is examination malpractice, is fast gaining ground in Nigeria.

Poor study habits are problems that portend great danger to the development of this nation. If poor study habits persist it simply means the future leaders of this great country will be half-baked and mediocre. It is an indisputable fact that a nation filled with mediocre cannot develop economically, socially, politically and in other areas of human endeavors properly.

1.3   PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The reasons that prompted the study of this phenomenon are:

(a)      To bring out those factors that are responsible for study habits

(b)     To bring out the effects of poor study habits on individual and the nation.

(c)      This study also examined various factors that have contributed to poor study habits and their effects on academic performance.

(d)     This study also looked at how socio-economic background family constellation, peer group influence, societal influence, political problems have contributed to this dangerous trend in our nation.

1.4   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant because good education is the bedrock of any success. An educated mind is the enlightened mind. We can not fold our hand and allow the educational standard in our nation to come to zero level, because there would not be any nation called Nigeria again.

Other significance of this study include:

·  It will expose to the authority, parents and students factors that are responsible for steady increase in poor study habits.

·  It will show the effects of Poor academic achievement on the overall development of individual and nation at large.

·  It was also meant to create platform upon which to make necessary corrections and adjustments in the educational policy and their implementation.

·  It will show the effects of poor study habits on academic performance.

1.5   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.      To what extent have poor study habits affect academic achievement.

2.      To what extent does parents socio-economic status has contributed to poor Study habits.

3.      To what extent does the status of school contribute to poor study habits in students.

4.      To what extent does government policy contribute to poor Study habits.

1.6   RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

1.      There will be no significant difference in the study habits of students from high and low socio-economic status.

2.      There will be no significant difference in the study habits of male and female.

3.      There will be no significant difference between the study habits of students in public and private schools.

1.7   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

It is possible that the report of this study may suffer some weakness in sampling. Also there may be other factors like culture, orientation and values in some areas that may affect the generalization of conclusion drawn from this study to the whole country.

The application of the questionnaire was aimed at obtaining some ideas about the current situation that can represent the generality of the students in Nigeria. It is a well-known fact that study habits of students may vary along so many factors like socio-economic educational and family constellation of students among others.

Due to time and financial constraints this research used only three schools in the local government area of study, therefore the results, conclusions, Suggestions and recornmendations that emanated from this study will be based on the data that was generated from the sample used for this study.

1.8   OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Study Habits: Charles (2000) explained study habits to mean constellation of skills involved in the process of learning materials. For the purpose of this study, study habits will be defined as consistent pattern of studying which individual has adopted over a period of time.

Academic Performance: Chase (1979) says that academic performance means assessing performance of individual or group with a set standard of performance which either makes the performance of individual assessed poor or good. Academic performance will also be defined as the performance of’ students in academic endeavor, which could be good or bad.

Academic Achievement: Meherens & Lehmann (1978) defined academic achievement as degree of learning achieved by students after exposure to planned instruction and training. Perino (2006) defined academic achievement as measure of what individual has learned that is the present level of academic performance. For the purpose of this study academic achievement will be defined as amount of academic knowledge attained by individual through exposure to formal and informal education.

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