Factors Affecting Study Habits

The researcher would like to acknowledge with sincere appreciation and deepest gratitude those special people who help to finish this study. The Almighty God, who gives strength, talent, and wisdom and source of life. For without Him, the researcher is useless. To Ms. Vanessa Montenegro, for her patience, understanding and encouragement and whose expertise and knowledge were unselfishly shared. The researcher truly appreciates all the time and assistance that she gave to the researcher. To Mr. Romeo Delfin Jr. who gave the critical comments and valuable suggestions and assistance in the development of this study. To researcher’s beloved guardians, for the love, understanding and support they gave to the researcher. They serve as the researcher’s inspiration. Thank you!

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Research on the correlation between study habit and students academic achievement has for long received attention from scholars and educational agencies. 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). A major reason for students’ under8 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) define the term study habits as: The student’s way of study whether systematic, efficient or inefficient etc”. Going by 9 this definition it literally means that good study habit produces positive academic performance while inefficient study habit leads to academic failure. OBJECTIVES

This research entitled “Factors Affecting the Study Habits of the ACT Students” aims the following objectives:
1.) To know the importance of the study habits.
2.) To know the learning disabilities.
3.) To know how to make time management in study.
4.) To know how to improve the study habits.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This research seeks to answer the following statement of the problems.
1.) What are the factors affecting the study habits of the ACT students?
2.) How do the ACT students improve their study habits?
3.) How do the ACT students study more effectively?
4.) What are the effects of these factors in academic performance?

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
The researcher believes that students will be benefited from the findings of this study since the study provides basis for awareness and better understanding of how their current study habits affected their academic performance. Likewise, gives them more focused and clear perspective on how the specific behaviors related to their studies influenced study habits. Consequently, this awareness also gives a much deeper understanding of their selves as students considering that the college life is typically beset of developmental adjustment demands. SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The scope of this research is the education of all students here in National College of Science and Technology (NCST). But the main concerns of this research are those students under the first year students of the ACT. The limitations of this research are only those students of ACT that are currently enrolled at National College of Science and Technology (NCST) and having the prescribe study load for a given semester. DEFINITION OF TERMS

•Study habits – is a manner which consistently use to study for school or college or even for the next day lesson. •factors –
•Motivation – a: the act or process of motivating,
b: the condition of being motivated
• Academic – relating to or associated with an academic or school especially of higher learning • Achievement – the act of achieving: accomplish
• Performance – the execution of an action

CHAPTER II
INTERPRETATION AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
According to Palm Beach Community College (PBCC, 2008),they recommend that student’s study should have at least three hours out of class for every hour spent in class. They also said that a student must have a special place to study with plenty of room to work. And students should not be cramped. They presuppose that study time will go better if a learner take a few minutes at the start to straighten things up. A desk and straight-backed chair is usually best. “Don’t get too comfortable–a bed is a place to sleep, not to study” as what they said. A student must have everything close at hand (book, pencils, paper, coffee, dictionary, computer, calculator, tape recorder, etc.) before starting to study. Students are not suggested to spend on time jumping up and down to get things. The PBCC suggests also that distracting noise should be minimized however they said that there are some people need sound and some like silence. In this case, a learner must find what works for him or her. Culprits are family and friends. Consider a “do not disturb” sign and turning on your answering machine is the way also to have better study habits according to the PBCC.

Study habits are the ways that you study – the habits that you have formed during your school years. Study habits can be good ones, or bad ones. Good study habits include being organized, keeping good notes, reading your textbook, listening in class, and working every day. Bad study habits include skipping class, not doing your work, watching TV or playing video games instead of studying, and losing your work. The manner with which you consistently use to study for school or college or even for next day lesson plans if you’re a teacher. It means you are not distracted by anything; you have a certain place to go where it is quiet everyday where you study and do homework. Basically it means that you are doing the best you can to get the grades you want. It means you are not distracted by anything; you have a certain place to go where it is quiet everyday where you study and do homework. Basically it means that you are doing the best you can to get the grades you want. The manner with which you consistently use to study for school or college or even for next day lesson plans if you’re a teacher. Without good study habits, a student cannot succeed.

To succeed, students must be able to appropriately assimilate course content, digest it, reflect on it, and be able to articulate that information in written and/or oral form. Key is the ability to acquire effective study skills. Many people feel the hours of study are the most important. However, students can study for hours on end and retain very little. The more appropriate question is, “how can students study more effectively?” Some issues students must consider are as follows. • Students need to develop good time management skills. They must realize there is a time to be in class, a time for study, time for family, time to socialize, and time to just be alone. The critical issue is recognition that there must be an appropriate balance. • Students should acquire a vision; A clearly articulate picture of the future they intend to create for them selves. This will promote a passion for what they wish to do. Passion is critical and leads to an intense interest, dedication, and commitment to achieving career goals and objectives.

• The student must choose the best study schedule, a time they feel is comfortable, and in a place where there is little distraction. • The student must take notes on the subject matter and rehearse them frequently. • Students should not study hours on end. One should study 30 to 45 minutes then take a short break. Eat a snack, have a cup of coffee, play with the dog, etc., then return to study. This refreshes the mind, and often issues that may have been confusing before, become suddenly clear. • The student must develop good critical thinking skills, taking everything into consideration particular to the subject matter. • Students must not be afraid to ask for help when they have a problem understanding the subject matter. They need to do it immediately and not after days have gone by. They should not feel apprehensive to ask a faculty member, a friend, or go to the academic learning center at the school. Thus, it is not so much a question of hard study, but how to study in smart fashion.

The bottom line is that the student must take responsibility and ownership over their study habits. Lack of ability to concentrate, social lives (like texting, hanging out with your friends), and computer are the factors that may affect the study habits of the students of ACT. According to the how-to-study.com (2009), students who are very successful in their desired career have good study habits. It is stated in the website that students apply these habits to all of their classes. The website also recommends some tips in improving study habits. The website also suggests that the student should try not to study all the subjects in just a period. The website also added that if you try to do too much studying at onetime, you will tire and your studying will not be very effective. Space the work you have to do over shorter periods of time. Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy.

A study conducted by University of Kentucky was to determine if the college success can be improved with the Student Attitude Inventory (SAI). The inventory was developed in Britain and contains 47 items which attempt to identify students in higher education on the basis of: (1) motivation, (2) study methods, (3) examination technique, and (4) lack of distractions toward academic work. Students in six Kentucky community colleges were asked to express their attitudes toward study habits on the Student Attitude Inventory. There were 996 students in the sample population (413 males’ and 583 females). A measure of ability (composite American College Test score) and academic performance (cumuli grade-point average) were obtained for each student sampled. The Student Attitude Inventory did contribute statistically significant amount of variance beyond an ability measure for males and females. (Mark E. Thompson, 2005)According to Mark Crilly (2000), Successful students are able to balance social activities with good study habits.

A diversion from studies will alleviate stress and help prevent from becoming fatigued. He said that a student should make sure that he must take a break for an hour after studies to meet with friends, to play some cards, work out at the gym, or to gab with anew acquaintance. For this way, that student will find concentration when he does study, if he plans a social activity afterwards. He said, “To develop a healthy social life, develop routine study habits. After supper, lug your book sand homework to the library, find a comfortable and quiet niche, and study for two or three hours, taking intermittent 10 minute breaks every 45 minutes or so.” Making friends with whom you share similar study habits, and share a table or a study space with them would be a best way in developing study habits as what Mark said. Here are some ways to improve your study habits:

• Plan ahead. Get a special notebook and keep all your assignments in it. Keep the notebook with you so you will always know what your work will be. Also, get one of those big calendars with blank boxes for each day — write down the dates when your big assignments are due so that you never have one slip up on you. • Pay attention in school. The more you learn in class, the less studying you’ll have to do. • Take good notes. Good notes are the best way to study because they have everything that is going to be on the test. • Get rid of the distractions. When you are studying, you need to turn off the TV, video games, cell phone, iPod, internet — yes, the internet! Studies show that even having it on in the background distracts you! If you listen to quiet, instrumental music it’s OK, but not anything with fast rhythm or words. • Make a Study Deck – use index cards (some people like to cut each card in half to make a smaller card). On one side, write the term you need to learn (a vocabulary word, date, formula, whatever you’re learning) – on the other side, write the definition or explanation of that term.

Keep the deck with you all the time, and whenever you have a minute or two (when you’re waiting in line, riding the bus or subway, or any time you’ve got a free minute), go through the deck. Look at the top card. If you can answer it correctly, turn it upside down and put it on the bottom of the deck. If you can’t answer it, study the correct answer for a minute, then shuffle that card back into the deck so that you will see it again. Once all the cards are upside down, you’ll know the material! • Start studying now. As soon as you know when an assignment or test is due, go ahead and get started. That way, you only have to do a little studying each day in order to do well on it. • Get enough sleep. Children and teens need between 10 and 12 hours of sleep a night — more than an adult needs, because your bodies are still growing! If you skip on sleep, you’re going to be tired all the time, and a tired brain doesn’t learn as well as a rested brain.

• Eat healthy. Especially eat a good breakfast! You want to stay away from all those “quick energy” junk foods like sweets and “energy drinks” because they give you a quick buzz and then let you down hard, so that you’re even more tired afterwards! A good filling breakfast will last you until lunch time, and you’ll be more alert and ready to study. Evidence shows that a small cup of coffee or tea is the best caffeine “pick me up” and will work to make you more alert if you’ve eaten a healthy meal as well.

References:

htttp://wiki.answers.com/Q/How can you improve your study habits#ixzz3H1oW1ixk http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_are_study_habits_important#ixzz3Hm8PYWJJ http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_study_habits#ixzz3Hm9LZnVP http://www.scribd.com/doc/24002413/%E2%80%9cthe –of-study-habits-on-the-acadenic-performance-of-freshmen-educator-students-in-xavier-university-cagayan-de-oro-city-school-year-2008-2009 http://www.springerlink.com/content/w3715h5884172656 “/http://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/essay-on/Factors-Affecting-Study-Habits/60556”