STUDY HABITS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN GOVERNMENT AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OKOBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

Research on the correlation between study habit and academic performance in Government among secondary school students in Okobo Local Government Area has for a long received attention from scholars and educational agencies that have different views about the issue. 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, 2007 and Adetunji and Oladeji, 2007). Opined that the major reason for students’ under-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) defined the term study habits as: The student’s way of study whether systematic, efficient or inefficient etc”. Going by 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 habits. 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 prefer their children to being in boarding school for proper discipline and inculcating 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.

        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 cases of poor academic performance in Government in secondary schools students in Okobo Local Government Area especially in external examinations like in West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), made many educationists tends to shift the blame on the teaching methodology adopted by the teachers and lack of funds from the government to provide quality textbooks to other variables.  However, the main reasons why students perform poorly in examinations. It is clear from all indications is that most secondary school students in Okobo Local Government Area 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 habits and academic performance. Specifically, the study sought to determine

(1)        Students reading habit and their academic performance in Government among secondary school students

(2)        Students time management skill and their academic performance in Government among secondary school students

(3)        Student’s concentration habits and their academic performance in Government among secondary school students.

1.4    Research Hypothesis

        The following research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study:

(1)        There is no significant relationship between students reading habit on their academic performance in Government.

(2)        There is no significant relationship between student’s time management skills on their academic performance in Government.

(3)        There is no significant relationship between student’s concentration habits on their academic performance in Government.

Definition of Terms

Concentration Habit: this is the ability of the students to spend quality time on their books without being distracted after a considerable period of time.

Reading Habit: the ability of students to cultrate a habit of going through their notebooks and text books regularly.

Time Management Skill: the act of making good use of the time available to study.

                          

Government: this is subject who teaches the students about governance and the policies made by the government.