ABSTRACT
The main objectives of the study is to: investigate the reading culture of students, find out the types of materials they read, ascertain their purposes for reading and their perception of reading culture and academic performance, and lastly to find out factors that affect or hinder their reading culture. The study used the survey methodology and questionnaire as the main data collection instrument. Simple random sampling was used to select 133 students to participate in the study. Out of the 133 copies of questionnaires distributed, 131 were completed giving a response rate of 98.5%. The data was analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Frequency tables were used to present the findings.
The findings of the study revealed that the majority of the respondents acknowledge the importance of reading, read story books, textbooks and class notes. Their purposes for reading included acquiring acknowledge, learning new things, improving their vocabulary and grades, passing examination and for pleasure. The participants unanimously agreed that reading culture have a direct influence on students’ academic performance. The study recommended that both parents and school authorities must encourage students to read habitually for increased academic performance. The school library must be stocked with current, relevant and interesting books to increase library use and love for reading among the students.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Reading culture is a well-organized and systematic pattern of study that has resulted in a level of consistency on the part of students in terms of comprehending academic subjects and passing exams. Students’ academic performance is heavily influenced by their reading culture. Reading and academic success are intertwined and mutually reliant (Bashir, 2008). Students come from a variety of backgrounds and locations, with varying degrees of academic performance. As a result, their reading patterns are different. Some pupils have a strong reading habit, whereas others have a weak reading habit. Academic accomplishment refers to how much information a student has gained in school (Mattoo, 2012). Personal exploration is an important part of a creative and pragmatic education. Self-study, followed by self-thinking and analysis, is required for personal exploration. Self-study, often known as reading on one’s own initiative, necessitates the development of a reading habit. Reading allows one to have a better grasp of one’s own experiences and may be a fun journey of self-discovery. Reading culture are best acquired at school at a young age, but once formed, they may last a lifetime (Green, 2001). Reading and academic performance are critical for researchers and educators to understand that every kid, whether gifted, average, or normal, should be educated in his or her own method, but that if he or she has a good study habit, he or she may succeed and in any scenario. It is the habit of reading that aids the student in acquiring useful and desirable knowledge. A solid reading habit is a powerful tool for a student to succeed in life (Bashir, 2012). According to Pelani (2012), developing a reading habit is a necessary component of building a literate society in the globe. Individual personalities are shaped, and it aids in the development of good thinking skills and the generation of new ideas. According to Pelani (2012), efficient reading is a crucial component of effective learning, and reading is intertwined with the whole educational process; hence, educational achievement necessitates a good reading habit. Both the elderly and the young found time to read before the invention of television, but nowadays, reading has lost its relevance since both the old and the young are captivated to the television. In terms of educational institutions, it appears that preparing students for exams is the be-all and end-all of our educational system. Scholars and educational authorities have long been interested in the relationship between study habits and students’ academic success (Yenagi, 2009). Many factors impact students’ capacity to build a good and efficient reading or study habit in Nigeria. Students’ health, motivation, anxiety, their surroundings, and the sufficiency of infrastructures such as textbooks and a well-equipped library are all elements that might influence their academic performance. Nuthana (2009) investigated the factors of pupils’ low academic performance. Intellectual capacity, poor study habits, achievement motivation, lack of occupational ambition, low self-concept, low family socio-economic position, and bad family structure are some of the causes found. Teachers’ problems, insufficient school facilities, problems traceable to kids, problems created by parents and society at large, and government policies and low educational financing are all factors contributing to pupils’ poor performance (Olutola, 2007). In a similar vein, Ichado (1998) stated that a student’s home environment had a significant impact on his or her academic performance in school. The word study or reading habit refers to a student’s method of studying, which might be methodical, efficient, or unproductive. It essentially implies that a good study or reading habit leads to good academic performance, whereas a bad study or reading habit leads to academic failure. Reports, examinations, assessments, and ratings can all be used to examine and rate a person’s study or reading culture (Ajila, 2002). Students’ attitudes about any topic, such as Agricultural Science, have been defined as a product of their ideas about the subject and implicit evaluative reactions to those views. According to Hussain (2000), study attitude refers to predispositions that pupils have established through time toward private reading. Study attitude also opens you a lot of opportunities for academic success. Academic performance of students is extremely significant in both education and the learning process. It is regarded as a crucial factor for assessing one’s complete potentialities and capacities, which are commonly assessed through examination results (Yenagi, 2009). Nagaraja (2004) concluded from a review of the research that excellent study or reading culture and attitudes are essential for academic performance. Scholars and educational agencies have long been interested in the relationship between reading culture and students’ academic success in Science disciplines. For example, in 1994, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) performed a research to determine the association between students’ reading culture and their academic performance. The results of the reading study demonstrated a link between reading culture and academic success. Onwuegbuzie (2001) conducted a series of studies to determine the link between academic performance and reading culture, and found a favorable correlation between the two factors. One of the main reasons for pupils’ underdeveloped abilities might be a lack of learning methodologies. Betty (2004) claims that it is not uncommon for kids who spend an excessive amount of time remembering reading content to still be struggling. Reading culture are learning habits that allow pupils to work independently. The reading habit, according to Azikiwe (1998), is the accepted style and manner in which a student arranges his or her private reading following classroom learning in order to achieve mastery of the subject. A healthy reading habit is beneficial to students since it helps them develop mastery in their areas of specialty and, as a result, exceptional performance , whereas the contrary creates barriers to learning and accomplishment, leading to failure. Environmental impact, according to Ozmert (2005), is a crucial role in the establishment of a student’s reading habit. In a similar vein, Oladeji (2007) claims that most children’s environments are not favorable to reading; as a result, some parents want their children to attend boarding school for adequate discipline and to instill a better reading habit. Achievement is a pedagogical phrase that refers to the process of determining a student’s performance in formal education. It is measured by ratings and is influenced by a variety of circumstances (Adetunji, 2006). In essence, the National Policy on Education (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004) has determined school accomplishment content based on school courses categorised as core or elective. Despite the fact that there are several research on the causative and predictive nature of determinants of reading habit on students’ academic performance, all of the variables tend to focus on bad reading culture. As a result, the importance of reading culture, particularly in elementary and secondary schools, cannot be overstated, given their impact on the development of intellectual abilities and student achievement.
1.2 Statement of The Problem
The challenge that most students have, which leads to their poor performance tests and examinations, is a lack of suitable reading culture (Oladeji, 2007). The learner must develop solid reading and study habits in order to achieve exceptional results. One of the numerous challenges plaguing students today is their lack of interest, rather than their incapacity to read (Ozmert, 2005). As stated above, the purpose of this study was to investigate students’ reading culture and their effect on academic performance in secondary schools.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study was to investigate reading culture and its effects on academic performance of Students in the Anambra of Nigeria.
1.4 Objectives of the study
• The research seeks to achieve the following objectives:-
• To investigate the reading culture of students.
• To find out the types of materials they read and their purposes for reading
• To find out the perception of students on reading culture and academic performance and the factors that affect their reading culture.
1.5 Research Questions
The study was guided by the following research questions;
• What are the reading interests of students ?
• What types of materials do they read and for what purposes do they read?
• What is the perception of students on reading culture and academic performance and what factors affects their reading?
1.6 Significance Of The Study
Students, school administrators, and scholars will benefit from the findings of this study. The study’s findings will inform students about the importance of developing a strong reading culture. The findings of the study will assist school administrators in developing policies that will encourage students to read. Ideally, the study will add to the body of current information and act as a resource for researchers interested in conducting more research on this issue.
1.7 Scope Of The Study
The research, titled “Effect of Reading Culture on Academic performance of Students ,” will be carried out in four (2) secondary schools in Idemilli North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Definition of Terms
Achievement: entails being successful in anything you do. It might be in your academics or in all aspects of your life.
School administrators: Administrative responsibilities at schools, universities, and other educational institutions are overseen by . They oversee the efficient operation of the organization as well as the management of facilities and personnel.
Student is a person who is enrolled at a university or another institution of higher learning “a sociology student”.
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