STUDY HABITS OF 4TH YEAR STUDENTS

A research proposal presented
To the Department of English and Literature
College of Arts and Sciences
Lyceum of the Philippines - Manila

In partial fulfillment of
ENGN 12A

July 2012
CHAPTER I
Introduction
Study habits, in general, can be simply defined as the ability of an individual to comprehend information in order to fully understand and maximize the capacitance of learning in which it became a demand to our society. It does not only limit itself to students often going to school to master and memorize the concepts/lessons he/she has acquired from their teachers, but it does apply on every field of work. However, the problem that several universities have in common with their students is that almost 1/2 of the total population from different departments suffer from failure and repetition of grades indicating lack of proper training and communication. This phenomenon until now continues to be the number one dilemma for students especially when confronting their worse, feared, or even so-called “hated” subjects. Students are also more likely to fear and feel more anxiety when it comes to quizzes and examinations regardless of a subject’s difficulty. Failing grades either indicate the laziness of a student, poor study habit, or the environment that usually affects his/her mental state. Another factor that emphasizes the importance of study habits is the stress levels of the students depending on whether they can handle demanding or strict teachers and loads of assignments along with quizzes. Studies have shown that giving too much assignments or quizzes is not healthy for learning due to stress leading to confusion, focal distraction and short attention span. Nowadays, there are several ways on how to cope up with good study habits and fight out stress and problems that may pave the way to learning. Also, due to massive influence of modern technology today students have difficulties in overcoming their motivation to study although at times gadgets can also be of assistance in their studies.
Theoretical Framework It is believed that looking on to the study habits of a student can be of help in order to improve his/her performance in understanding and grasping information in a concept/lesson along with evaluation which is an initial step to change or enhancement one at a time. Through surveying, the researchers can determine on the general performance of the class based on the following specific information being asked as stated in the Conceptual Paradigm:
Conceptual Paradigm

Statement of the Problem In this study, the researchers seek to answer the following: 1. Community environment as a factor in contributing interruption affecting the study habits of a student 2. Other miscellaneous works (assignments, quizzes, seatworks, projects) as a contributing factor in either helping or disturbing a student’s study habit. 3. Significant differences in the practiced study habits between the students based on the following factors: a. Delay avoidance b. Work Methods c. Educational acceptance (literacy)
Scope and Limitations The study is conducted to assess and evaluate the study habits of the students from the College of Art and Science in the Department of English and Literature of Lyceum Philippines – Manila in order to further improve the overall general performance of the class. It therefore does not reach outside of the campus and the locale also does not cover with other departments of the university.
Definition of Terms
*Attention span – the degree of attentiveness of a student in determining whether he/she is listening to their teacher
*Focal distraction – a type of disturbance that a student experiences by way of ineffective communication and responsiveness towards his/her teacher ; it is especially precautionary
*Visual – a type of learners who uses pictures, graphs, and other visual aids in improving their learning skills
*Auditory – a type of learners who only listens to their teachers by ear and does not need any visual aids to improve their academic performance
*Study habits – the way students learn either by hearing, writing, speaking, and etc. for as long as they pick up sense of information; it is also known as the learning style

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
In this chapter, previous studies, in further relation to this study, were provided as a basis or support in further investigation of the study. Here are the following studies (both foreign and local):
Foreign Literature and Studies According to Micaller (1987), students nowadays tend to disregard their studies due to the lack of patience and commitment towards the lessons that teachers taught them. In simpler terms, this study implies that students are in favor of wasting their time and effort copying word-for-word in each and every assigns given to them. The real problem behind the situation is that students, especially in this generation with a world full of technology, finish their homework without understanding the concepts as taught by their mentors or teachers. The solution to this problem therefore, was to enhance the ability and skills of the students to be able to fully understand the lessons that they read or wrote in their notes.
A support study from Smith (1991) expressed that the ideal system of education would not happen if students do not develop their study habits, and methods in learning new skills and lessons provided. This explains why home works were given high emphasis in improving a student’s study habits.

Local Literature and Studies A study from Duallo (1984) stated that among students today, effort is the only solution in enhancing a student’s learning style and the ability to cope up with hard-core information and lessons provided by the teachers. The only problem that the students currently have is that they lack the ability to take studies seriously. Students are also nowadays preoccupied with present frivolities away from unmindful of what lies ahead. This study is further supported by former President of the University of the Philippines Vincente Sinco stating: “Many of our students today come to their classes without spending an hour or so in preparing their lessons. And there are many us parents who complain when their sons and daughters have to observe a class schedule that demands even only a medium amount of preparation or else flunk in their subjects.” Based from an unpublished thesis of Jabonete (2004), “Study Habits Enhancement Program: Its Effectiveness”, it states that the Study Habits Enhancement Program was established in order to eliminate deficiency in class performance and promote awareness in improving their learning styles. The researches formulated the program based on the students’ baseline data which was gathered from their given survey of study habits and attitudes in assessment of adjusting their program. Specifically, the researchers were able to obtain data from their selected students as profile: sex and grade. As revealed in the survey, the researchers were able to discover and identify the problems the students have. These are delayed attention, learning styles, and educational background.

Chapter III
Methodology
This chapter introduces the ideas and tactics that the researchers used in determining and concluding their investigation.
Research Locale The study was conducted in the campus of Lyceum University in the College of Arts and Sciences among students taking up Customs Business Administration (CBA). It is also noted that the designated number of students was organized according to level of intelligence and it was only limited to a block of 4th year senior batches.
Research Design An approach to this investigation was made by qualitative method from surveys, evaluations, and descriptions to come up with a solution in assessing and developing the improvement of the selected students’ study habits to provide better quality of education in the designated campus based from the study itself.
Research Survey The researchers used the methods of research as working approaches since this research is served to develop a study habit enhancement program among the students based on the given surveys from previous studies.