INVESTIGATION OF STUDENTS READING HABITS ON THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPETR ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION 

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Objective of the study

1.4        Research Hypotheses

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope and limitation of the study

1.7       Definition of terms

1.8       Organization of the study

CHAPETR TWO

2.0   LITERATURE REVIEW

CHAPETR THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1    sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introductions

4.2 Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

Appendix

 Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between study habits and students’ performance in senior secondary school examinations in Surulere L.G.A. of Lagos State. The research design was descriptive survey and simple random sampling technique was used to select the sampled schools. The researcher used the standardized questionnaire of study habits inventory which was the main instrument for the study. Also the students’ JSCE III results were used to check their performances in English, Mathematics, Biology and Economics.

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Reading is an indispensable tool in learning that forms an integral part of any learning situation, and the bedrock of education. Therefore, Access to information is crucial to individual advancement as well as corporate educational development. Information is indispensable, and, according to Yusuf (2007), bridges the gap between knowledge and ignorance. One of the major avenues for acquiring information is reading. Reading is the foundation upon which other academic skills are built. It offers a productive approach to improving vocabulary, word power, and language skills. Tella and Akande (2007) assert that the ability to read is at the heart of self education and lifelong learning and that it is an art capable of transforming life and society. Yani (2003) posits that reading habits of Nigerians are a matter of concern in our educational and national development, stating further that in a developing country like Nigeria, the concept of reading habits should not be relegated to the background. This is because through reading, human beings get better informed and understanding of the universe they live on. More so, reading makes a way for better understanding of one’s own experience and can be an exciting voyage of self discovery. A child that forms the habit of reading is always different from his peer group at school because he becomes more knowledgeable than them and understands better than his colleagues what they are being taught in class and even in examination internal or external. Adetunji (2007) described reading as the act of translating symbols or letters into word or sentences that have meaning to an individual. It is also the understanding of what is seen in a text, which is the ability of reader to take incoming visual information, process that information and obtain meaning from it. Reading can also be perceived to be a process of constructing meaning through dynamic interaction among the reader’s existing knowledge, the information suggested by the text being read, and the context of the reading situation. The Wikipedia online dictionary defines reading as a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols in order to construct or derive meaning. It is a complex interaction between the text and the reader which is shaped by the reader’s prior knowledge, experience, altitude and language community which is culturally and socially situated. Reading and academic achievement are essential for research workers and educationists to know that every child whether he or she is gifted, average, normal or backward etc, should be educated in his or her own way but if he or she possesses good study habits, he or she can perform well in academics and in every situation. It is the reading habits which help the learner in obtaining meaningful and desirable knowledge and perform well in examination. Good reading habits act as a strong weapon for the students to excel in life (Bashir & Mattoo, 2012). Palani (2012) is of the opinion that, effective reading is important avenue of effective learning and reading is interrelated with the total educational process and hence, educational success requires successful reading habit. He believes reading is the identification of the symbols and the association of appropriate meaning with them. It requires identification and comprehension. Comprehension skills help the learner to understand the meaning of words in isolation and in context. Before the advent of the television, both the young and the old found enough time to read. Apart from teachers, other professionals used to spend their leisure time in reading both English and vernacular literature. English medium schools almost always demanded extra reading from their students. But all these have become a thing of the past. Palani (2012) further added that, nowadays, reading habit has lost its importance as both the young and the old are glued to the television. As far as educational institutions are concerned, coaching students for the examinations seems to be the be-all and end-all of our educational system.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Reports have shown that there has been a downward trend in academic performance of in-school adolescents in Nigerian secondary school in general. Parents, teachers, Curriculum experts have also expressed considerable concern about this poor performance in external examination such as West African Examination Council. But one of the major problems facing the educational system in Nigeria is the abysmal failure of students in public examinations especially at the senior secondary level of education. (Ajayi 2012). This abysmal failure can be conceived to be linked with the absence of reading habit among students or non challant attitude to reading to the use of internet. Although there are many reasons why people read, but observations and researches have shown that there is a low reading habit among students in recent times, especially in developing countries, because reading is not considered as a relevant leisure activity as it does not form part of children’s social interaction and watching of television. Another major problem that leads to the absence of reading habits among students is on the advents of ICTs like internet, cell phone, video games and other viewing gadgets. Umar (2009) is of the view that students now have viewing culture instead of reading culture because of the advents of these ICTs gadgets

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1. To ascertain the benefits they can derive from having a reading habit
2. To find out the likely problems that hinders the secondary school students from forming the habits of reading and to proffer solutions to the likely problems hindering them from reading.
3. To find out the level and frequency of reading amongst the secondary school
4. To ascertain the relationship between reading habit and academic performance in external examination

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀:   there are no benefits they can derive from having a reading habit

H₁: there are benefits they can derive from having a reading habit
H₀²:  there is no relationship between reading habit and academic performance in external examination

H₂:  there is relationship between reading habit and academic performance in external examination

 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study, which is primarily aimed at explaining investigation of students reading habits on their academic performance in external examination, will provide an insight into the problems associated with student reading habit towards academic performance. This report would be of great benefit for student, teachers and parents, to expose them to reading habit of student. The findings will be useful for researchers to further generate knowledge in the field

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers investigation of students reading habits on their academic performance in external examinations. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

STUDENT READING HABIT: Reading is one of the most fundamental skills a child needs to learn to succeed in life. Developing good reading habits is vital to your child’s future not just academically, but in everyday life as well.  Here are five reasons you should develop reading habits young, and why they are so important.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: Academic achievement or (academic) performance is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

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