ABSTRACT

This work surveyed the study habits of secondary school students in Calabar. The study made use of descriptive survey method to carry out the research with the use of questionnaire titled ‘‘Study Habits of Secondary School Students in Calabar’’. The analysis was carried out with percentage and chi-square statistical method was used to test the research hypotheses.

Simple random technique was used to select five secondary schools out of total number of secondary schools in calabar. In each of the selected schools, forty students were randomly selected to make a total of 200 students.

The findings of the study revealed that there are both good and bad study habits among secondary school students in Calabar, it was further revealed that some students have the combination of both good and bad study habits while some have either one of the two. It was also revealed that the most effective study skills perceived by students are regular class attendance, advance class preparation, effective note taking, memorizing and condensing information by summarizing with the use of keywords and visualizing with the use of diagrams, pictures and illustrations. It was further discovered that male and female students differ in their study habits.

It was recommended that students should be allowed to choose their preferred learning style and be guided by teachers and that appropriate parental counselling programmes need to be organized for parents which will educate them on how to motivate their wards to cultivate good study habits.