Abstract
This article investigates the relationship between study habits and students’ academic achievement in science subjects of X standard students. The aim was to determine the relationship between various aspects of study habits and students’ achievement in Science. This was meant to provide a clear understanding of the phenomenon. The survey method was used in the study. A sample of 200 X students was chosen using simple random sampling technique. Some major hypotheses were raised leading to the application of correlation and regression analysis. Findings reveal that of all the study habits were regarded to students’ academic performances. Therefore, the students’ study habits enhance their academic achievement. Keywords: study habits, academic achievement, X standard students, science subjects Introduction
Education is the most important means used in the process of developing the members of the society to the next best standard of school living. The National Policy on Education (1986) provides for many strategies for achieving universal access to education. One such strategy is to shift attention from enrolment to achievement. One of the main concerns of educational planners and administration has been to raise the level of achievement of all children, including children coming from the rural area. The main purpose of educational affair is to know the achievement gained by the students after exploring the different methods and techniques this is known as academic achievement. Study means to apply the minds to the acquisition of learning whether by means of books or observation or experiment. A habits is an accomplished form of behavior in which the things are done quickly, accurately, automatically with little voluntary attention. Study habits means the acquisition of learning or observation of books quickly, accurately, automatically with attention. The formation of habits is very real needs for progress. Hence the need and indispensability of study habits is absolutely essential. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study was to find out the relationship between study habits and academic achievement of X standard students in Chidambaram Town. The study believed that if students’ study habits are improved and made consistent, academic performance would definitely improve. The knowledge of student level of study would of course help the teachers to select appropriate techniques of helping students during teaching and learning procedures. It is related to the academic achievement of the students that is the outcome of the training imparted to students by the teacher in the school situation. Achievement in education precisely speaking implies one’s knowledge, understanding or skills in science subject. Although, it is generally conceded that teaching students how to study should be one of the fore most purposes of the school. Therefore a comprehensive study of achievement in science of X standard students in relation of study habits is a much felt significant. statement of the problem
There is a direct relationship between study habits and academic achievement in terms of help by the family members, care by parents etc. In this sense the above discussion has made the present investigator to analyze the problem at hand and it is stated as “STUDY HABITS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SCIENCE AMONG X STANDARD STUDENTS”. academic Achievement
Academic achievement refers to the general term for the successful attainments of some goal requiring ascertain effort. It is the degree of success in a task. Knowledge attained or skills developed in the school subjects, usually designated by test scores or by marks assigned by teachers or both.
Study Habits
Study means to supply one’s mental capacities to the acquisition of knowledge. There is no doubt that study habits can be improved step by step. Study habits are very easy to improve and habits are very important for the
acquisition of knowledge. Even the most intelligent student cannot show their best if they do not possess sound study habits. Objectives of the study
The following are the objectives of the present investigation: 1. To find out the study habits of X Standard students.
2. To find out the academic achievement in science of the X Standard students. 3. To find out if there is any significant difference in the study habits of X Standard students belonging to different sub-samples. (a) Gender – (Boys / Girls)
(b) Parental Education – (Illiterate / Literate)
(c) Locale – (Rural students / Urban students)
4. To find out if there is any significant difference in the academic achievement of X Standard students in science belonging to different sub-samples. (a) Gender – (Boys / Girls)
(b) Parental Education – (Illiterate / Literate)
(c) Locale – (Rural students / Urban students)
5. To find out the relationship between study habits and academic achievement in science of X standard students. Hypotheses of the study
1. The study habits of X Standard student is good.
2. The academic achievement in science of X Standard students is high. 3. There is significant difference in study habits of X Standard students belonging to the following sub-samples. (a) Gender – (Boys / Girls)
(b) Parental Education – (Illiterate / Literate)
(c) Locale – (Students from Rural/Students from Urban)
4. There is significant difference in academic achievement of X Standard students in science belonging to the following sub-samples. a) Gender – (Boys / Girls)
b) Parental Education – (Illiterate / Literate)
c) Locale – (Students from Rural/Students from Urban)
5. There is a positive relationship between study habits and academic achievement in science of X standard students. Tool used for the study
Study Habits inventory constructed and standardized by “Patel” (1975) was translated into Tamil and administered by the investigator. Sample for the
study
Random sampling Technique was used in the selection of 200 X Standard students studying in the Higher Secondary schools in Chidambaram Town. The details of the sample are Boys –100 / Girls – 100, Students of Illiterate parents – 102 / Students of Literate parents – 98 and Rural students – 100 / Urban students – 100. Analysis and interpretation of data
The Means for the entire sample and its sub samples were calculated for the achievement in science and study habits Inventory of X Standard students. Tests of significance (t-test) were used in order to find out the significance of the difference between the Means of the pairs of sub sample of X Standard students in respect of study habits and academic achievement in science. Pearson’s product moment correlation was used to find out the significance of the relationship between study habits and academic achievement in science of X Standard students.
The means of the study habits and academic achievement in science of X Standard students are given in Table I. Table – I THE MEANS OF THE STUDY HABITS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SCIENCE OF X STANDARD STUDENTS
Variables Number Mean Academic Achievement in science 200 58.00 Study habits 200 185.00
It is seen from the above Table – I that the means of the students show the academic achievement in science is above average and the study habits is good. The mean scores of the sub samples of the students in study habits are given in Table II. Table – II
The Means, SD’s and CR’s of the sub samples of the students in study habits Variables Categories N M SD CR Remarks Gender
Boys 100 97.00 14.24 1.81 NS Girls 100 99.42 14.06
Parental Education Illiterate 102 99.00 14.38 1.67 NS Literate 98 96.33 14.32
Locale Rural 98.78 15.07 14.18 1.08 NS Urban 99.40 13.25 14.23
NS = Not-significant
It is seen from the above Table-II that there is no significant difference in the means of study habits of students based on their gender, parental education and locale (CRs’ are 1.81, 1.67 and 1.08 not significant at 0.05 level). The mean scores of the sub samples of the students study habits and academic achievement in science are given in Table III. Table – III The Means, SD’s and CR’s of the sub samples of the students in academic achievement in science Variables Categories N M SD CR Remarks Gender Boys 100 58.20 54.83 0.48 NS Girls 100 56.82 14.65
Parental Education Illiterate 102 58.22 72.04 0.60 NS Literate 98 55.02 15.16
Locale Rural 100 56.53 0.81 0.28 NS
Urban 100 57.30 4.50 NS = Not-significant
It is seen from Table III that there is no significant difference in the means of the achievement in science of students based on gender, parental education and locale (CRs’ are 0.48, 0.60 and 0.28 not significant at 0.05 level).
The relationship between study habits and academic achievement in science are given in Table – IV. Table – IV
Relationship between study habits and academic achievement in science N Variables Correlation coefficient Remarks 200 Achievement in science + 0.19 S Study habits
S = Significant
It is inferred from Table – IV that there is significant relationship between the study habits and academic achievement in science (Correlation coefficient is 0.19, significant at 0.05 level). Hence the study habits and academic achievement in science is positively correlated. Conclusion
The study concluded that the entire sample has revealed that the students have good study habits and above average academic achievement in science. The gender, parental education and locale of the students do not influence the study habits and academic achievement in science. There exists positive relationship between the study habits and academic achievement in science of the students. References
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