STUDY HABITS AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN ECONOMICS IN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AFAHA NSIT
ABSTRACT
This
research work was carried out to examine the influence of study habits on
students’ academic performance in Economics in college of education Afaha Nsit.
Three purposes, research questions and hypotheses were raised to guide the
study. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of 339
college students was used to withdraw a sample of 100 students through a simple
random. An instrument titled Study Habit Questionnaire (SHQ) and Economics
Achievement Test (EAT) were used for data collection. The instrument was
validated by two experts. The reliability of 0.73 was obtained for the study.
Data analysis was done using mean and standard deviation in answering the
research questions while hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significant
using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis. The result of the finding
proved that there is a significant influence of private study time, note-taking
and use of library on students’ academic performance in Economics in college of
education Afaha Nsit. It was recommended
that HODS should make regular seminar for students on the effect of social
media addiction on student academic performance.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Economics is a discipline that assists
individuals (households) to make wise choice between competing wants using the
scarce resources available at their disposal, guides firms to make rational
decisions about production and technical process, and directs governments in
the preparation of budgets through efficient allocation of scarce resources to
certain sectors of the economy that requires immediate attention, such as,
medical, construction, education and manufacturing.
Therefore, Studying economics as a
discipline in school requires deliberate and conscious efforts, carried out by
students to understand the basic concepts and terminologies, mathematical
equations and applications, theories and models, graphical representation of
variables and their interpretations as applicable to the field of economics. It
requires open-minded attitude among students and constant practice to enhance
good academic performance.
Although economics as a subject is
being considered very difficult by many students, acquiring and practicing
effective study habits always help the students to achieve good academic
performance in economics.Mark and Howard (2009) are of the opinion that the
most common challenge to the success of students in all ramifications is a lack
of effective or positive (good) study habits. They explained that if students
can develop a good study habit and with good discipline, they are bound to
perform remarkably well in their academic pursuit.
Again, Sorenson (1991) while listing
the good basic study habits stated that one must study with the primary aim of
understanding. This requires one not being in a hurry of getting through,
rather sustained concentration is needed. Crow and crow (2002) emphasized that
effective study habits include plan/place a definite time table and taking
brief of well-organized notes.
The above statements have informed
the researcher’s decision to believe that positive (good) study habits include:
devoting special time for private learning through readingsand re-reading the
lecture materials and relevant books, discussing your understanding of the
subject matter with colleagues, especially those whom you considered better
than you academically, attending lectures and effective notes taking, asking
questions, in the classroom when you need clarification and devoting time again
for private reading, revising past questions if any,because, lectures in the
classroom alone may not enhance good academic performance in economics. All the
private learning time requires a conducive environment to avoid distractions.
According to Hills (2000), a very
good and conducive learning environment encourages students’ study habits and
might have positive impacts on their academic performances, but students
reading in an unconducive environment might find it difficult to study, which
may affect their academic achievement. Also, Husain (2002) emphasized that lack
of good study habits is a critical study problems among students at all levels.
This is why the researcher is of the opinion that students who do not attend
classes, do not take down notes, do not do assignment and submit,do not use
library either private or public, and do not devote special time for private
reading may not perform well in economics.
In view of these, this research work
was carried out to investigate the influence of study habits on students’
academic performance in economics in college of education, AfahaNsit.
Statement of the Problem
There has been a general public
concern in the country about the falling standard of education and poor
academic performance of students in the country. This situation they said, cut
across all levels of education in the country and is evidenced in the low
academic performance of students in external examinations like common entrance,
WASCE, NECO, JAMB, etc. the system keep turning out “unemployed graduates.
That is why some group blame this
situation on government, to them, education is not properly funded in the
country that is why learning environment is still unconducive (libraries and
laboratories are not properly furnished in very many schools in AkwaIbom State)
and there are no good textbooks for students to read.
Many too blame the situation on the
teachers, to them, teachers are not using the right method to teach the
students that is why they failed, while some others blame the curriculum for
the falling standard of education, they advocated for a change in curriculum,”
there is no link between the world of work and the world of learning in the
curriculum”, as such, the school keep producing unemployed graduates.
The last group blames the students, again
they said, “poor study habits of students is the cause of poor academic
performance in the country”, meaning, it is the poor study habits among
students that leads to examination malpractice, failure in examination, school
dropout, etc.
Based on the aforementioned
backdrop, the researcher seeks to determine the influence of study habits on
students’ academic performance in economics among students in College of
Education AfahaNsit.
Objectives of the study
The
objective of this study is to investigate the influence of study habits on
student’s academic performance in Economics.
To
guide the study the following specific objectives will be raised:
1.
To
determine the influence of private study time on student’s academic performance
in economics.
2.
To
determine the influence of notes taking on student’s academic performance in
economic.
3.
To
determine the influence of use of library on student’s academic performance in
economics.
Research questions
To
execute this research work successfully, answers shall be provided to the
following questions:
1.
To
what extent does private study time influencestudents’ academic performance in
economics?
2.
To
what extent doesnote-taking influence student’s academic performance in
economics?
3.
To
what extent doesthe use of library influence student’s academic performance in
economics?
Research Hypotheses
1.
There
is no significant influence of private study time on students’ academic
performance in Economics.
2.
There
is no significant influence of note-taking on students’ academic performance in
Economics.
3.
There
is no significant influence of use of library on students’ academic performance
in Economics.
Significance of the study
The findings of this study would
be of great benefits to students, teachers, parents, ministry of education and
the general public.
It would help the students to
identify which study habits they posses (good or bad habits), abandon the bad habits
if any and develop good habits which could lead to good academic performance in
economics. It would expose the students to strategic allocation of time for
private study, proper ways of taking notes in classes and effective use of
library to enhance good academic performance in economics.
The findings would enlighten parents
on how to encourage their children to develop effective study habits through
concise information that would be provided in this study.
Teachers would see the result of these
findings as useful in discharging their duties because of the concise
information embedded in it.
The result of these findings would
enable ministry of education to know why they should create a conducive
environment for learning by furnishing libraries and other school facilities
that can enhance effective study habits of students in economics.
Finally, the result of the findings
would motivate members of the public to encourage their wards to imbibe good
study habits for improve academic performance and add to the store house of
knowledge with regards to study habits and students’ academic performance in economics.
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