Study habit skills as correlate of academic performance of undergraduate students in Edo state, Nigeria

Abstract

Study habit is one of the major factors that could influence students’ academic attainment. Thus, this study examined study habit skills as correlate of academic performance of undergraduates in Edo state, Nigeria. It employed a correlation research design, using multistage sampling technique. Two hundred and forty eight (248) undergraduates constituted the sample from four Departments in two Faculties of a Nigerian University. The instrument used was a modified version of Study Habit Skills Questionnaire (SHSQ) and using Cronbach Alpha; a reliability coefficient of .70 was obtained. The results indicated that the mean score of female students was slightly higher than that of the male students which indicated that the female students have better study habit skills than the male students. The finding also revealed that time management significantly correlated with the undergraduates’ academic performance. It was recommended that school counsellors should organize orientation for undergraduates on the importance of good study habits and time management. Such could assist in reducing the dwindling poor academic performance of the Nigerian undergraduates in some courses.

Keywords: Study habit skills, academic performance, correlates and undergraduate students