EXPLORATION OF STUDY HABITS AS A FUNCTIONOF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL

Abstract

ABSTRACT Topic: Exploration of Study Habits as a Function of Academic Achievement at University Level Pages: 214 Researcher: Tehsin Ehsan Supervisor: Dr. Naveed Sultana Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Subject Area: Secondary Teacher Education University: Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad Year: 2021 University students must balance their studies and daily challenging activities of their university life to achieve excellence in their academics. There are a number of factors which are directly associated with academic performance. Study habits are one of those factors which may contribute in the academic achievement of students. The current study was designed to explore the study habits as a function of academic achievement at University level in Punjab. The purpose of the study was to predict the role of study habits in academic achievement of university students in Punjab. The study habits of high, average and low achievers in respect of gender were also explored. It was also aimed to discover the effective study habits that lead the high achievers to achieve success. A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches was used to carry out this research. The sample of 1334 university students was drawn by using multistage sampling technique from seven public sector universities of Punjab. Ten interviews were conducted by using face to face and online approach. xi To collect the data two instruments were developed. The questionnaire was developed to explore the study habits of university students and interview protocol was developed to discover the effective study habits which lead high achievers towards success. Semester GPAs were obtained for measuring academic achievement of university students in Punjab. Only one semester results were taken, this is because the one semester results can predict fairly the role of study habits in academic achievement. On the basis of their semester results they were divided inthree groups; i.e. high, average and low achievers. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied on 41 items of Study Habit Questionnaire (SHQ). Four factors were identified through factor analysis. These factors were; 1) commitment to learning, 2) concentration, 3) organization of study plan and 4) self directed study behaviour. Alpha reliability was computed for the study habits questionnaire. It was found .866. The data collected through the questionnaire and semester results were statistically analyzed by calculating means, percentages, SD, simple linear regression, independent sample t- test and two-way ANOVA. The findings revealed that the university students use different patterns specially study silently and group study. Calm places like study room, and bedroom were preferred places of study for all groups. It was found by statistical analysis that study habitshave a significant role in the academic achievement of university students. It was also found that high achievers have effective study habits as compared to low achievers. But in comparison of male and female university students; it was found females bore effective study habits than male university students in Punjab. The qualitative data revealed that there are a number of factors that contribute in transforming effective study habits that leads towards high academic achievement. These factor include; financial factors, institutional support, teachers’ support, personal factors and parents xii expectations and support. It was evident from the findings that students lacked awareness of developing effective study habits. It was recommended that the universities have to institutionalize students’ mentoring services to channelize students study behavior and develop a wide range of study habits and direct their mindset. The mentoring services may cover the motivational, educational, tutorial, note taking, counseling and issues involved by the body of students’ community. It is also recommended that the study habits of low achievers may be transformed by following the study habits of high achievers at university level