TITLE: “Effects of Cramming on the Academic Performance of Level II, III and IV MSU-CHS Students, 1st Semester 2011-2012”
CHAPTER I
The Problem and Its Scope
Background of the Study
Student life is indeed a combination of learning, pleasure, and activities accompanied with hectic schedule of classes with several lectures, studying, and of course, examinations. As students, it prime is their obligation and responsibility to do their part in making good, especially in terms of taking examinations.
Examinations are given as a means of evaluating the students’ learnings throughout the discussions and lectures given. This is a part of the student’s education. Moreover, it is an assessment on both part of the student on how much they have learned from a subject, and for the instructor, if he or she has been effective in educating and imparting knowledge in his or her students.
Students, regardless of their busy and hectic schedules, must take time in studying their notes, books, and other items related to their subject as their preparation for taking examinations, may it be in the preliminary, midterm, or finals. In order to do that, one must have good study habits and effective time management to avoid failing an examination. But, in some instances, most of the students, except for those who really have good study habits and follow effective time management, end up practicing last minute studying or most commonly known as “cramming”.
Cramming before examinations has been the usual scenario observed and seen in most students, as their resort when they’re running out of choices, especially when they fail to practice good study habits and effective time management. This study technique, also known as mugging or swotting, is the practice of working intensively to absorb large volumes of information material in short duration of time. This method, as observed, drains the brain and causes stress and exhaustion in the part of the student. This is often discouraged by educators because the hurried coverage of the material tends to result in poor long-term retention of materials, thus knowledge gained through this is very short-lived.
However, in a positive view, this study method often saves the students from flunking an examination, as this causes much stimulation of the brain due to pressure that it gives. This activates the short-term memory side of the brain, and this short-term memory which refers to the information or material you had memorized and learned, in turn, is the one you will use and depend on when taking the examination.
Most students, as observed, cram before examinations, especially those students who took courses that deal with vast amount of concepts that are complex in nature and related learning activities that are requirements for education purposes and application of the theories and concepts in the academe. And one of these courses is nursing.
Nursing is considered to be one of the most difficult courses to take for it deals with complex concepts that involved human life as the main focus of the course. Thus, it greatly demands total focus and attention on the part of the student, as it is intricately designed as a combination of both an art and a science. That’s why, in order to finish this course, one must surpass and make it through the various major concepts, of course, with passing grades. Students, in order to pass, must be focused enough and have good study habits to be well-equipped with the knowledge and skills needed by the profession.
Thus, having good study habits and practicing effective time management is one of the requirements nursing students must deal with in order to pass. But, unfortunately, these things are often disregarded and neglected. And nursing students are not excused on this thing. Student nurses, regardless of the continuous reminders of instructors to have proper study habits and effective time management, still cram and fall into this category. Maybe there are other factors that bring about this scenario, factors that eventually lead to cramming, aside from having improper study habits and ineffective time utilization or management. Moreover, as stated, nursing is a difficult and complex course that requires total focus, attention, as well as dedication, and if these things are altered by such factors, this may lead to effects on the academic performance of these students.
Definitely, education prepares a man to assume responsibility in the society and towards others. Thus, nursing students should take hold the responsibility to do good in preparing and taking up examinations, as these examinations are part of the learning process. But, students nurses cannot deny the fact that cramming is already a practice and often cannot be avoided. And this cramming, nonetheless, bring about effects on the academic performance. Hence, this study was made to evaluate the extent of effects with regards to the academic performance of nursing students. In addition, this has assessed the factors that lead to cramming and the equilibrium of both that advantages and disadvantages of it as perceived by the nursing students. Finally, this was to evaluate how cramming affects the academic performance of students. These in effect have been the essence of this study.
Theoretical Framework
This section discusses the theories applicable and relevant to the study: (1) Imogene King’s Goal Attainment Theory; (2) Neuman’s System Model; and (3) Ror’s Adaptation Theory.
King’s model is composed of three interacting systems: these are Personal. Interpersonal, and Social Communication. These are used to establish a nurse-client relationship and utilized by the nurse to form a strong foundation for a dynamic and interactive environment. King discussed the three health needs of human beings: (a) Need for information; (b) Need for care for illness prevention, and (c) Need for total care when a person doesn’t have the capacity to help themselves.
According to King’s model, a person existing in an open system as a spiritual being and rational thinker, who makes choices, selects alternative courses of action and has the ability to record their history, through their own language, and symbols. Unique, holistic and have different needs, wants, and goals.
King’s model clearly shows that every individual has his own needs, wants, and goals in life. For the 4th year nursing students, they have one and common goal which is to pass the different concepts and make it through the nursing course, and in order to achieve this goal, one must be in an open system wherein students must be responsible in their actions and act as what is expected of a good student, to develop proper time management and follow good study habits to avoid cramming and its effects on their academic performance.
Furthermore, King’s Goal Attainment Theory comprises of the following: 1) Action – is a means of behavior or activities that are towards the accomplishment of certain act. The accomplishment of a task begins with mental action whereby a person seeks or formulates plan of activities and proceeded by physical action. Actions are aimed towards setting goal which is passing the concepts as a requirement in the nursing course or balanced interaction between the internal and external factors influencing their study habits and right attitude in taking examinations. 2) reaction – in King’s theory, reaction is not specified but somehow relates reaction as a part of action. According to her, reaction is a form of reacting or e response to a certain stimuli. Senior students should be prepared in overcoming the stressors that can affect their attitude to make it through the nursing course. These stressors could be the pressure and anxiety. 3) Interaction - as defined by King, is any situation wherein the nurse relates and deals with the clientele or patient. Senior nursing students must have a balance interaction of the internal and external factors or in the environment in order to have proper time management and enhanced academic performance. 4) Open system – is the absence of boundary existence, where a dynamic interaction between the internal and external environment can exchange information without barriers or hindrances. Thus, nursing students must have interactive and balanced system in order to fully function their role as nursing students with good academic performance and make it through the nursing course.
Neuman’s Systems Model is based on an individual’s relationship to stress, the reaction to it and reconstitution factors that are dynamic in nature. Reconstitution is the state of adaptation to stressors. The 4th year nursing students have their individual stressors that they have to go through and adapt to make it through the nursing course.
Neuman categorizes stressors as interpersonal stressors (those that occur within the individual); interpersonal stressors (those that occurs between the individuals); and the extrapersonal stressors (those that occur outside person). For the 4th year nursing students, they have their individual interpersonal, intrapersonal and extrapersonal stressors that could affect their study habits and how they are able to deal with the different concepts as a requirement of the course. These stressors could also be a factor leading to cramming, for example on a comprehensive examination on a certain major subject. And this cramming is a reaction to stressors accompanied with pressure and anxiety towards passing the concept.
But as part of the reaction, according to Neuman’s model, a person’s system can adapt to stressors, an effect known as reconstitution. Thus, nursing students must come up with good coping mechanisms to adapt effectively towards theses stressors, to achieve the goal of passing the nursing course and have a satisfactory academic performance, at least.
Based upon Roy’s Adaptive Model, it views the client as an adaptive system. A person’s reaction to external stimuli greatly depends upon how he or she adapts to the environmental factors. According to Roy’ model, it is the changing environment that stimulates the person to make adaptive responses.
Hectic schedules, tough requirements as well as difficult examinations are great stimuli to students nurses and may probably lead to cramming due to improper time management and bad study habits, and this cramming can affect the academic performances of these students. The extent of the effects on their academic performance depends on how they are able to adjust on the pressures and other related factors that they encounter. Definitely, it is on how they adapt to these factors , that may lead to cramming and eventually affecting their academic performance. The 4th year nursing students must know how to adapt to these factors that lead to the cramming practice, handle cramming effectively, and eventually have a good academic performance as a requirement in passing the course.
Conceptual Framework
The following study examines the factors to be considered that may lead to cramming of the level four (IV) BS Nursing students of the MSU-CHS main campus and the effects of cramming on their academic performance as shown in the diagram presented.
To elaborate more the association of the independents variables, factors that could lead to cramming were as follows: the respondent’s profile(demographic factor) which includes age, gender, academic status, religion and number of family members; the cognitive (educational background, competent faculty,study habit); psychosocial (stress, anxiety, economic, support system); physical ( nutrition, health status); and spiritual aspects (beliefs, practices). Whereas, the dependent variable is represented by effects of cramming on their academic performance.
Moreover, the association of the factors will be analyzed in relation with the possible result contributed by the above mentioned factors will affect one way or another to the effects on their academic performance.
Statement of the Problem This study will focus on the effects of cramming on the academic performance of the 4th year nursing students of MSU-CHS, 1st semester 2011-2012. This study also aims to determine the following: 1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of: a. Age b. Gender c. Civil Status d. Academic Status e. Religion f. No. of Family Members 2. What are the factors that contribute to the occurrence of cramming of students in terms of: a. Cognitive Aspect b. Psychological Aspect c. Physical Aspect d. Spiritual Aspect 3. What are the effects of cramming on the academic performance as perceived by these students? 4. Is there a relevant relationship between the profile of the students and the effects of cramming on their academic performance? 5. Is there a significant relationship between the profile of the respondents and the factors that could possibly contribute to cramming? 6. What is the CGPA of these students? 7. What are the perceived advantages and disadvantages of cramming as perceived by the students?
Research Hypothesis The following hypothesis were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Ho1 : There is no significant relationship between the profile of the respondents and the effects of cramming on their academic performance. Ho2: There is no significant relationship between the profile of the respondents and the factors that could contribute to cramming.
Significance of the Study The result of this study will bring benefits and advantages to a number of people who can likewise contribute to the end-goal of quality education. College of Health Sciences. This study may provide the college significant results on the effects of cramming on the academic performance which could have a great impact on the competitiveness of the students. Through this study, the college will be able to identify the existing problems or factors that could lead to cramming and how cramming can affect their academic performance. Faculty. Through this study, the faculty will be able to evaluate the factors that could possibly lead to cramming and how cramming could affect their academic performance. The faculty could be able to evaluate their performance and could continue fabricate students and preserve the standard and quality performance of the college. Students. The respondents will be able to assess and evaluate themselves by determining the factors that could lead to cramming and the effects of cramming on their academic performance. Researcher. This study will enable the researcher to determine the factors that could lead to cramming of the 4th year nursing students and the effects of cramming on their academic performance through reflecting on the results of the study.
Scope and Limitation
Definition of Terms The following terms are defined both conceptually and operationally to further understand the study: Academic performance – Age – Bad study habits – CGPA – Cramming – Effect – a change or a changes state occurring as a direct result of action by somebody or something else (Encarta,2007) Examination – Good study habits – Long-term memory – Nursing – Short-term memory – Study habits – Time management –
