ABSTRACT: This study examines Study Habits and Academic Performance in Mathematics among Pupils. The study was specifically designed to find out how various variables such as study habits and academic performance among pupils, instructional materials pupils in their study habits and academic performance, peer group in their study habits and academic performance. In order to achieve the objective of the study, the researchers formulated three hypotheses to test the variables. A questionnaire was the main instrument use to obtain data from the respondents. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) pupils (participants) were selected a population size from fifteen (15) sampled Primary Schools in the study area.
Study Habits and Academic Performance in Mathematics Among Pupils
The findings revealed that there is no significant relationship between study habits and academic performance of pupils in primary schools. There is no significant relationship of instructional materials and study habit. There is no significant relationship between peer group and study habits. It was recommended that government should provide enabling environment in the primary school with the necessary facilities that enhance social and learning process.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Knowledge is something that can achieved in measures, through the difficulty, that much of what passes to knowledge at any given time is likely to be more or less mistaken, but that mistake can be rectified with care.
Most of the activities pupils exhibits is done stupidly if correctly. This practice soon becomes a habit. These exist several predetermined activities noted and are observed on daily based exhibited among pupils of the same age bracket “or class” which may influence or that are responsible for any given study habits that is acquired y pupils. Most of these activities are the pupils self discovery observation of what other pupils or peer are doing and imitating. He describes these activities as such which influence decide, regulate and monitor a pupils study habit has inevitable influences.
In a study that has become classic in development psychology, Morgan (2004) observed the activities of children can classified their participation into three form: the parallel activity, associative activity and organized supplementary play. He said that parallel activity describes situations in which a child plays beside other children, but with them.
He does not openly influence them nor do they try to influence him. In associative activity, the child is more actively involved in the activity of other children that are identical or similar.
Thus, they imitate the study habits of other pupils. To the research, these activities predetermine to a large extent the ways in which pupils develop their abilities in their studies. Most pupils hardly differentiate their play activities and the real study situation. Most do not really understand how to study, read book, practice what is taught in school, or use instructional materials or models during the learning processes.
In other words, study habits are influenced by their activities outside academic performance. This clearly shows that the influence of peer groups on the academic performance of a child is linked to how the child associates himself with peers that love educational actives and studies.
Study habit as a pattern of study behaviour which may be effective. An effective counselor should help pupils performance or develop effective studying habit. Academic success depends in reading or studying but in the quality and mode of study.
Pupils that sits on a chair and table to study with pencil to make relevant sketches as he/she studies is likely to perform better in examination than the one that study continually by lying in the effort of Lnuis bed with he/her books. It is against this background that the study habits and academic performance in Mathematics among pupils in the study area.
Study Habits and Academic Performance in Mathematics Among Pupils
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Study habits and academic performance of pupils are observed to different among pupils. No how pupils are the same and not even twins. These differences in children can be treated to any one or more of the following intellectual differences temperamental differences, home background, environmental and social differences. This will in variable determine the foundation of knowledge that would be built.
The researcher has also discovered the following problems;
- Societal ill and lack of motivation on pupils
- Hostility and poor attitude to learning among peer group
- Lack of proper upbringing of a child in the early education
- Lack of qualified teachers to handle peers behaviour and focus on academic performance.
- Lack of constant academic competition among pupils in primary schools.