STUDY HABITS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG PUBLIC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS IN THE EKUMFI DISTRICT: INVESTIGATING THE CONTROLLING EFFECT OF LEARNING STYLES
Robert Andrews Ghanney1 and Joseph Bentil2
1Department of Basic Education, University of Education, Winneba, GHANA,Email:ghanney66@yahoo.com
2Department of Basic Education, University of Education, Winneba,GHANA,Email:joseph_bentil@yahoo.com
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between study habit and academic performance by controlling for the possible effect of learning styles among pupils in public basic schools in the Ekumfi District. The Study Habit Inventory developed by Bakare (1977) and the VAK Learning Styles Theory postulated by Fernald et al. (1921) served as theoretical frameworks for the study. The descriptive survey design was used to collect quantitative data through a structured questionnaire and checklist from 475 pupils using multi-stage sampling techniques. Inferential statistical tools such as Pearson Product Moment Correlation and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that overall, study habits attained a strong and statistically significant positive relationship with overall academic performance. Besides, the study revealed that learning styles exclusively contributed significantly to academic performance. It was further revealed that learning styles did not impede the effect of study habits on academic performance. Instead, learning styles reinforced the link between study habits and academic performance among the pupils. Specifically, it was established that auditory learning style, visual learning style, kinesthetic learning style, reading and note-taking and time management made a significant unique contribution to academic performance whilst the individual contribution of examination, homework and assignments, and concentration did not reach statistical significance. Therefore, it is recommended that strategies aimed at improvement in study habits should run concurrently with approaches to enhancing learning styles of the pupils for better results.
Keywords: Study habits, learning styles, academic performance, Junior High School pupils
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