Factors Affecting Study Habits And Academic Performance Of Students In Distant Learning Programmes In Akwa Ibom State
Chapter One
1.0 Introduction
Background to the Study
Habit is a second nature; it is a routine that shows what a person does in every condition. It cannot be changed; it may be good or bad. It does not get affected by the changes of place or schedules. A habit is something that is done on a scheduled, regular, planned, basis and that is not relegated to a second place or optional place in one’s life. It is simply done with no reservations, no excuses, and no expectations. Study habits are termed as the methods of study of students or student’s way of studying whether systematic, efficient or inefficient (Ayodele and Adebiyi, 2013) implying that efficient study habits produces positive academic performance while inefficient study habits leads to academic failure. A study habit is buying out a dedicated scheduled and un-interrupted time to apply one’s self to the task of learning. Without it, one does not grow and becomes self-limiting in life (Isaac, 2011).
Study habits tell a person that how much he will learn and how far he wants to go, and how much he wants to earn. These all could be decided with the help of one’s study habits, throughout the life. The importance of study habits in student’s life is that, it plays a major role in their academic achievement, because without studies no one can be successful. For studying, students should use different techniques because with these techniques they can ensure good outcomes. As everybody knows that every student has different study habits. Some students can study in a crowded place but some want silent environment for studies (Baquiran, 2011). Although it is good to study in a peaceful environment but sometimes students cannot get that environment. In this manner student should have to adjust themselves in that environment like, in noisy classroom or hostels some students study in silence but some do not. If they have good study habits, they can adjust easily. Some students do not have the ability to cope up with the non-suitable environment. Due to this reason, some students lose their positions.
Effective study habits help students to achieve good results (Acheaw and Larson, 2014). However, the study seeks to identify the factors affecting study habit and academic performance of student in distant learning programme in Akwa Ibom State.
According to Nolan (2015), the study habits of the students could play pivotal role in the learning process reflected in the academic performance of the students in distant learning programme. Rezaie et al., (2017) stated that the quality of a nation depends upon the quality of its citizen while quality of the citizens depends on the quality of its education which in turn depends on the study habits of the students.
According to Kamoru and Ramon (2017), the study habits of students play a vital role in reflecting the standard of education and the students’ academic performance. The students cannot be expected to learn everything needed from the teachers alone but it is the combination of both the classroom learning and out of classroom learning that make up the students’ study habits. The need of effective counseling services among students cannot be over emphasized in order to achieve good academic performances.
Ebele and Olofu (2017) observed that students with structural and organized study habits performed well during examinations. Ebele and Olofu (2017) went on to recommend that parents, government and teachers should provide reading materials and a conducive environment for effective learning.
Kyauta, Shariff and Garba (2017) states that effective study habits include plan/place, a definite time table and taking brief of well-organized notes. Many studies have been carried out by researchers like Rabia et al., (2017) and Nwosu, Okoyoe and Onah, (2018) on effective study habits. They argue that study habits have strong relationship with academic performance of students. A student who cultivates certain study habit will perform differently from a student who has another set of study habit. It is believed that student who lacks effective and efficient means of studying would be building on shaking foundation and consequently have weak foundation.
According to Nolan (2015), a very good and conducive learning environment encourages students study habit and might have positive impact on their academic performance but student reading in an unfavourable environment might find it difficult to study which may affect their academic achievements. Students with financial constraints might also find it difficult to perform excellently well in their academic performance. Students do not attend classes, take down notes, read their books or make use of the library. These attitudes may negatively affect their academic performance especially in distant learning programme.
Academic performance of students is a major concern of all educational stakeholder’s world over. This interest and the concerns are not unconnected with the fact that only a qualitative education and good performance can guarantee effective national development, socialization of individuals to become an integral part of the society and achievement of personal goals and individual aspirations (Hashermian and Hasherman, 2014; Siahi and Maiye, 2015 and Kamoru and Raman, 2017). Over the years, the research into the academic performance of students have attracted the attention of education researchers, teachers, counselors school administrators in Nigeria due to the public outcry over the low standard of education (Salami and Aremu, 2012).
As important as high academic performance is to all, students’ performance has not been encouraging. Despite pertinent research activities during the last three or more decades, there is still as a great deal to research about students’ academic performance. This is because many factors are capable of influencing students’ academic performance. For example, study habits which is our major concern in this study, students’ motivation level, attitudes of students, self-efficacy, school environment to mention but a few.
An academic performance is something students achieve at school, college or university in class, in a laboratory, library or field work. An academic performance such as graduating in one’s class, sometimes a purely quantitative matter, while having the findings of lengthy, comprehensive research published by a recognized journal is also a notable academic performance (Ogbodo, 2010). When students get admission in a university, they have no idea about studies requirement. Most of them have old patterns of seeking knowledge at the beginning, they apply the same old techniques but after some time they realize that old techniques are no more effective. Gradually they begin to develop mature study style. Some students in the higher institution free themselves from all the worries of studies which affect their studies negatively. Even when they failed in their tests or exams the performance of the students is affected by their poor study habit. This includes a very common mistake which is made by students, and also most unavoidable from the side of students. . When students leave their classes without any plan to read up what has been taught, due to this, their study habits are also affected. They get used to it and lose their positions. If they want to succeed in improving their performance, they should be active in their studies, attend all lectures which the teacher delivers in the class.
Study habits are learning tendencies that enable students to work privately. Study habits are measured directly through reports, examination, assessment and rating. Students’ attitude and their study habit towards any subject has been described as a function of their belief about the subject and implicit evaluative responses with those beliefs, which has direct relationship with the student academic performance. Study habits are well planned and deliberate pattern of study which has attained a form of consistency on the part of the students towards understanding academic subjects and passing the examination (Bashir and Mattoo, 2012).
Good study habits and environment should prevail among students in distant learning programmes and students in distant learning are continuously faced with the problem of mass failure, poor school grade and incessant repetitions, and thus subsequent withdrawals from school. This poor performance may be due to poor study habits. Weak study habits of the student affect the academic performance drastically.
Improvement of the study habits of the student in distant learning programmes is necessary so that they perform well in their studies. Bhan and Gupta (2010) examined study habits and academic performance among the students belonging to Schedule Caste and non-Schedule Caste group. The result revealed that gender has no significant impact on the academic performance of students. Study habits are those techniques such as summarizing, note taking, outlining or locating materials which learners employ to assist themselves in the efficient learning of the materials which is at hand. The term “ study habits” implies a sort of more or a less permanent method of studying. According to Good’s Dictionary of Education, study habits are the tendency of students to study when the opportunities are given in the era of globalization and technological revolution, education is considered as a first step for every human activity. It plays a vital role in the development of human capital and it linked with an individual well-being and opportunities for better living. It ensures the acquisition of knowledge and skills that enables individuals to increase in their productivity and improve in their quality of life. Success as the name implies is wished for by everybody but it does not easily come by on a mere platter of gold, one must work for it through hard work and diligence. Schools, colleges, polytechnics and universities have no worth without student. The social and economic development of a country is directly linked with student academic performance, the desire of success is derived from individual’s concept of himself and in term of the meaning of various incentives as they spell success and failure in the eyes of others.
Learning is a very important personal matter and there isn’t one study habit that work for every situation. An individual student has to take more responsibility to acquire the desired knowledge to develop positive values, critical thinking, attitudes and skills. Effective study skills and strategies are opportunities to approach learning tasks systemically and independently. Practicing good study habits is the key to becoming smarter and achieving success in school.
Arends (2017) noted that study habits which are formed in school have greater significance and student must realize the need to acquire these effective study habits. Effective studying will help students to prepare school work in less time to achieve greater degree of mastery of the lesson. Students who study effectively and efficiently utilize methods of learning which aid the acquisition, retention, application of knowledge, facts and information from textbooks and class discussion, lectures and other resources.
According to Ashish (2013), study skills and habits are approaches applied to learning. They are generally critical to success in school which are considered essential for acquiring good grades and are useful for learning throughout one’s life. There are arrays of study skills which may tackle the process of organizing and taking in new information, retaining information or dealing with assessments. They include mnemonics, which aid the retention of lists of information, effective reading and concentration techniques, as well as efficient note taking. Effective study habits are often up for the students and their support. However, there is an evidence that they are increasingly taught at secondary schools and university levels. The researchers believe that the development of study habits helps a person become successful and productive.
Study habits are said to be improving because of the advents and wide use of the internet, hypertext, and multimedia resources which greatly affect the study habits (Minotti, 2015). Ayodele and Adebiyi, (2017) also noted that the exponential growth digital information which changes the way students perceive studying and with printed materials that are to be used help in facilitating study. Nuthana and Yenagi, (2019) reported that students print materials from the internet in order to study and read later on.
Husain (2010) also found that Nigerians study from materials downloaded from the internet. Reading is an attempt to absorb the thought of the author and know what the author is conveying. Studying is the interpretation of reading materials. Study habits are important for students in distant learning programme whose needs include time management, note taking, internet skills, the elimination of distraction and assigning a high priority of study.
Statement of the Problem
In Nigeria, there are so many factors that affect the ability of students to cultivate effective and efficient study habit towards better academic performance. Such factors which are capable of influencing the academic performance of students in distant learning programmes are state of health, motivation, anxiety, their environment, adequacy of infrastructures like textbooks and well equipped libraries.
Showkeen and Khan, (2014) also examined the causes of poor academic performance among students in distant learning programmes and some of these factors identified are intellectual ability, poor study habit, achievement motivation, lack of vocational goals, low self concept, low socio-economic status of the family, poor family structure and so on.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The following are the objectives of this study:
To examine the factors affecting study habit and academic performance of students in distant learning programmes in Akwa Ibom State.
To examine the factors affecting academic performance of students in distant learning programmes in Akwa Ibom State .
To determine the relationship between study habit and academic performance of students in distant learning programmes in Akwa Ibom State.
1.4 Research Questions
What are the factors affecting study habit and academic performance of students in distant learning programmes in Akwa Ibom State?
What are the factors affecting academic performance of students in distant learning programmes in Akwa Ibom State?
What is the relationship between study habit and academic performance of students in distant learning programmes in Akwa Ibom State?
1.5 Hypothesis
HO: There is no significant relationship between study habit and academic performance of students in distant learning programmes in Akwa Ibom State?
HA: There is significant relationship between study habit and academic performance of students in distant learning programmes in Akwa Ibom State?
1.6 Significance of the Study
The following are the significance of this study:
The finding from this study will educate the stakeholders in the education sector and the general public on the factors that can affect student’s academic performance with special focus on study habit and factors that can reshape students study habit towards better academic performance.
This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.
1.7 Scope/Limitations of the Study
This study on the factors affecting study habit and academic performance of students in distant learning programmes in Akwa Ibom State will cover various forms of study habits practiced by students in distant learning programmes and its effect on their academic performance considering factors that can encourage better study habit.
1.8 Limitation of Study
Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Study Habits: Are the behaviours used when preparing for tests or learning academic materials. It also refers to the habitual practice a student or an individual uses to help them study and learn. Good study habits can help students achieve or maintain good grades.
Effect: An effect of one factor on the other.
Study: Ability to apply the mind to learning or understanding of a subject especially by reading.
Habits: The tendencies or dispositions to study and read in a certain or particular way.
Home type: In this study, it refers to the family where the students are brought up.
Academic performance: Refers to the outcome of education, the extent to which a student has achieved his educational goal.
Performance: Is how well or badly an individual does an activity.
Achievement: Refers to the grades both per subject and overall that the students obtain in test and examination. Its also refers to performance.
Motivation: Refers to being neither intrinsically nor extrinsically motivated to perform an activity
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