CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Background of the Study

In the society nowadays, the demands of high level of education and skill for the success
of each student is increasingly important for the students’ welfare as well as the society’s hope
for success. Yet, it is crucial that teachers should recognize certain basic elements in learning to
help students to gear up for greater advancement. One of these basic elements is study habits.

In the global setting, Igun (2007) of the Nigerian Universities and Delta State University
library stated that the study habits of students in some universities is a common problem because
of some factors such as barriers in creating a study environment.

In the national setting, Philippines ranked second and third to the last in the English and
Math National Achievement Test result (National Framework Plan for ICT’s Basic Education,
2005). The cause of this drastic decrease in the performance of the students was supported by a
study conducted by Acid (2010) who identified students in public high school in Manila who
performed low due to poor study habits.

In the local setting specifically in Davao City, Nacito (2006) and Azarcon, [Link]. (2004)
found that Grade Six students enrolled in Pie dad District of Toril S.Y. 2005-2006 as well as the
Freshmen students of Erico T. No gales National High School both need to improve their study
habits due to their low academic performance. In addition, college students of the University of
Mindanao, where the researcher is currently studying, observed that most of the students lack
study habits. It is due to these alarming issues that the researchers see the necessity to conduct
this study that would thereby determine the relationship between motivation and study habits of
Mea National High School Students.

Statement of the Problem

The main thrust of this study is to identify the factors affecting of the non-registered social work
graduates in the university of Mindanao.

1) What is the profile of the respondents according to:

1.1 Time management

 1.2 Attitude

2) What extent of influence did the independent variables have on graduate’s study habits?

3) Did the independent variables significantly influence graduates study habits?

Null Hypothesis

Based on the two specific problems which are concern of this research, the independent
variables do not significantly influence the study habits. Also, time management and attitude do
not have a significant influence on study habits.

Theoretical Framework

Dorothy E. Johnson’s behavioral system model stated that nurses should use the
behavioral system use the behavioral system as their knowledge base. This is comparable to the
biological system that physician use as their base of knowledge (lobo, 1995). The reason Johnson
chose the behavioral system model is the idea that “all the patterned, repetitive, purposeful ways
of behaving that characterize each person’s life make up an organized and integrated whole, or
a system. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) started as the Social Learning Theory (SLT) in the 1960s
by Albert Bandura. It developed into the SCT in 1986 and posits that learning occurs in a social
context with a dynamic and reciprocal interaction of the person, environment, and behavior. The
unique feature of SCT is the emphasis on social influence and its emphasis on external and
internal social reinforcement. SCT considers the unique way in which individuals acquire and
maintain behavior, while also considering the social environment in which individuals perform the
behavior. The theory takes into account a person's past experiences, which factor into whether
behavioral action will occur. These past experiences influence reinforcements, expectations, and
expectancies, all of which shape whether a person will engage in a specific behavior and the
reasons why a person engages in that behavior.
Conceptual Framework

Independent variables Dependent variables

-Time
STUDY
management
HABITS
-Attitude

Independent variables as it influences the dependent variable of

thisresearch are on the bases of psychological and educational theories, principles and
concepts. Many studies say that learning is better acquired and mastered as soon as the learner
attends to it. Gestalt psychology mentions the Law of Proximity referring to the way in which he
tends to form groups according to the way they are spaced, with the nearer once being grouped
together (Tria,et. Al., 1998). As applied to learning, this refers to the closeness in space or in time.
Furthermore, it explains why it is easier to remember recent events and hence more easily joined
with the interest of the present in a common Gestalt (tria, et. Al., 1998). In application to learning
process, immediate and then delayed and erratic study periods do. Diverse study techniques,
even for the improvement of memory stress the importance of immediacy in remembering and
learning.

Thorndikes Law of Exercise further supports this kind of

principleasserting that, other things being equal, the more frequent a modifiableconnection
between a situation and response is used, the stronger is the connection.

When a modifiable connection between a situation and a response is not being

use over a period of time, the strength of that connection isweakened. A behavior that is
stimulated over regular periods will tend to be repeated leading to habit formation. A student who
has developed this kind
of behaviour, in this case, in terms of having regular and scheduled studyperiods and follows ce
rtain methods in studying proves to have better performance.
 The study focuses on the factors affecting study habits, influencing the academic
performance of the student. In this view, the researchers wanted to study the factors in which
affect the study habits.

Review of Related Literature

According to Palm Beach Community College (PBBC, 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 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 takes a few minutes at the start to straighten things up. A desk and straight-backed chair
are 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 [Link] Pogue (2000)
did a research project to determine why students fail. What he founds to be true in that study
habits survey was that more than 30 years ago still rings true today--students fail because they
do not know how to study. The best advice he can give is to develop sound study skills.

He said that a student should make sure that he/she has a good
studyenvironment, a good desk, a sturdy chair, good light, comfortable roomtemperature and a
quiet atmosphere. That means he/she should eliminate
allexternal and internal distractions. Second, get a good overview of theassignment before
starting the work. Know what skills, facts and ideas that are expected to master and the ground
that are expected to cover. Start with most difficult subject first, while the mind is freshest and
most receptive. Professors in the developing countries said that the undergraduate students
should be fully equip with high level of analytical skills, the capacity for critical reasoning, self-
reflection and conceptual grasp and ability to learn autonomously and exercise flexibility of mind
(Simmons2003). Study habits are said to be improving because of the advent and wide use of
the Internet, hypertext, and multimedia resources which greatly
affectsthe Study Habits (Liu, 2005). Karim and Hassan (2006) also note theexponential growth d
igital information, which changes the way studentsperceive studying and with printed materials
that are to be use in facilitating study. Liu (2005) and Ramirez (2003) report that students print
material from the Internet in order to study and read later on. Igun (2005) also found that Nigerians
study from materials downloaded from the Internet. Reading is an attempt to absorb the thought
of the author
andknow what the author is conveying (Leedy 1956). Studying is theinterpretation of reading ma
terials. Study habits and skills are particularlyimportant for college students, whose needs
include time management,
notetaking, Internet skill, the elimination of distractions, and assigning a highpriority to study.

Fielden (2004) states that good study habits help the student in criticalreflection in skills
outcomes such as selecting, analyzing, critiquing, andsynthesizing. Nneji (2002) states that
study habits are learning tendencies that enable students work private. The study conducted by
Hope L. Graven (2008) on the relationship between an individual's amount of caffeine
consumption during his/her study session and the individual's study habits
showed that the main effect of drinking caffeine on exam preparation was not significant There
wereparticipants, 20 male and 58 female college students (N=78), answered self-ratings on their
personal consumption of caffeine as well as their study habits when preparing for a test/exam. It
was hypothesized that the more caffeine a student consumes while studying, the more accurately
his or her study habits would be labeled as 'unhealthy', as determined by the researchers.
Unhealthy study habits were operationally defined as low scores on amount of time
per study session, time
(in days) when preparation began, and amount of information the participants believed they had
retained. High scores onanxiety level were included in 'unhealthy' study habits. A Pearson
correlationindicated no relationship between amount of caffeine consumed whilestudying and
the individual's effectiveness of studying and preparation. Marcus Credé and Nathan R. Kuncel
(2008) in their research at the University of Albany said that Study habit, skill, and attitude
inventories and constructs were found to rival standardized tests and previous grades as
predictors of academic performance, yielding substantial incremental
validityin predicting academic performance. The meta-analysis examined theconstruct validity
and predictive validity of 10 study skill constructs for college.

Significance of the Study

The researchers believe that non-registered social work graduates 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 performance. Likewise gives them a 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
graduates considering that the college life is typically beset of developmental adjustment
demands.

Definitions of Terms

Study habit. This is a behavior style that is systematically formed by graduates towards
learning and achievement. Also, are the ways that you study- the habit that you have form during
your school year.

Study skills. These are peculiar strategies developed by the graduates in studying.

Academic. This has been variously defined but for the purpose of this study, Hornby
(1991) define academic has that which has to do with school college studies or learning in other
words designate the intellectual; aspect of education particularly the final subject deals with
organized knowledge.
Graduates. A person who has successfully completed a course of study or training,
especially a person who has been awarded an undergraduate academic degree.