Study Habits and Academic Achievement: A Case Study of Secondary School Science Students in the Jalingo Metropolis, Taraba State, Nigeria

Ajai John T.^1, , Shiaki Bulus O.¹ and Bulus Tangsom C.²

¹Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education, Taraba State University, Jalingo, Nigeria

²Department of Pure & Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Ajai John T., Shiaki Bulus O. and Bulus Tangsom C.. Study Habits and Academic Achievement: A Case Study of Secondary School Science Students in the Jalingo Metropolis, Taraba State, Nigeria. American Journal of Educational Research. 2020; 8(5):282-285. doi: 10.12691/education-8-5-9

Abstract

The pattern of behaviour adopted by a student in his/her study is his/her study habits, which reveals his/her personality. Study habits serve as the vehicle of learning and may be seen as both means and ends to learning. This study, thus, investigated the study habits of secondary school science students in the Jalingo metropolis, Taraba State, Nigeria. The study which was guided by three research questions, employed a descriptive correlational research design. The sample of the study is made up of 199 students selected from 5 secondary schools through simple random sampling. Data for the study were generated through a questionnaire, tagged “Science Students’ Study Habit Questionnaire”. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, mean, and product-moment coefficient of correlation were used for data analysis. The study revealed that the secondary school science students in the Jalingo metropolis have poor study habits and weak academic performance. The study also found a strong positive, high and significant correlation between study habits and academic performance of secondary school science students. It is thus recommended that teachers, parents, guardians and the school management should collaboratively guide students on how to develop good study habits.

Keywords:
study habits science academic performance

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Mohammadpour A, & Matlabi M. (2002). The survey of the Gonabad medical sciences students’ views on their educational needs and improving theoretical and clinical education program (2001-2002). Iranian Journal of Medical Education, 2, 41-56.
[2]	Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2013). National Policy on Education (Revised). Lagos: NERDC, Yaba.
[3]	Bala, W. (2015). Study Habit, Self-Concept and Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students in Jalingo LGA of Taraba State. Unpublished undergraduate project: Taraba State University, Jalingo.
[4]	Gudaganavar, N. V. & Halayannavar, R. B. (2014). Influence of Study Habits on Academic Performance of Higher Primary School Students. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 3(2), 277-280.
[5]	Kumud & Rajesh (2016). Relationship between Study Habits and Academic Achievement of Secondary School Student. Electronic International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (EIIRJ), V (1), 16-20.
[6]	Oluwatimilehin, J. T. & Owoyele, J. W. (2012). Study habits and academic achievement in core subjects among junior secondary school students in Ondo State, Nigeria. Bulgarian Journal of Science and Education Policy (BJSEP), 6(1), 155-169.
[7]	Mashayekhi, F., Rafati, S., Mashayekhi, M., Rafati, F., Mohamadisardoo, M. R. & Yahaghi, E. (2014). The relationship between the study habits and the academic achievement of students in Islamic Azad University of Jiroft Branch. International Journal of Current Research and Academic Review, 2 (6), 182-187.
[8]	Looyeh, H. R., Fazelpour, S. F. S., Chehrzad, M. M., Masoule, S. I., & Leili, E. K. N. (2017). The Relationship between the Study habits and the Academic performance of Medical Sciences Students. Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery, 27 (2), 65-73
[9]	Ebele U. F. & Olofu P. A. (2017). Study habit and its impact on secondary school students’ academic performance in biology in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Educational Research and Reviews, 12 (10), 583-588.
[10]	Singh, P. (2015). Academic Achievement in Mathematics in Relation to Study-Habits. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 4 (5), 302-306.
[11]	Siahi, E. A. & Maiyo, J. K. (2015). Study of the relationship between study habits and academic achievement of students: A case of Spicer Higher Secondary School, India. International Journal of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, 7 (7), 134-141.
[12]	Kaur, A. & Pathania, R. (2015). Study Habits and Academic Performance among Late Adolescents. Study Home Communication Science Journal, 9(1), 33-35.
[13]	Cerna, M. A. & Pavliushchenko, K. (2015). Influence of study Habits on Academic Performance of International College Students in Shanghai. Higher Educational Studies, 5(4), 42-55.
[14]	Benwari, N. N. & Nemine, E. B. (2014). Intensive Reading as a Study Habit and Students’ Academic Achievement in Economics in Selected Secondary Schools in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Journal of Curriculum and Teaching, 3(2), 94-99.