STUDY HABITS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN BASIC SCIENCE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN UDI EDUCATION ZONE
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between study habits and academic
achievement in Basic Science among secondary school students in Udi Local Education
Zone. Guided by a correlational comparative design, the research compared students
from public and private schools to examine differential patterns in study behaviours and
outcomes. A multistage sampling technique yielded 420 Junior Secondary II–III
students across eight schools, ensuring representation by school type, gender, and
urban–rural location. Data were collected using a validated Study Habits Inventory
adapted to Basic Science (α = 0.86) and a researcher-developed Basic Science
Achievement Test with acceptable content validity and KR-20 reliability of 0.82.
Descriptive statistics summarized study habit domains, including time management,
note-taking, test preparation, concentration, and help-seeking. Pearson correlation
analyses revealed a positive, moderate association between overall study habits and
Basic Science achievement (r = .41, p < .001). Multiple regression showed time
management and test preparation as the strongest predictors of achievement, jointly
explaining 28% of the variance. Independent samples t-tests indicated that privateschool
students reported significantly stronger study habits and achieved higher test
scores than their public-school counterparts. The study concludes that strengthening
students’ time management, spaced practice, and test-preparation routines can yield
meaningful gains in Basic Science achievement across contexts. It recommends
targeted study-skills interventions, teacher professional development, and equitable
resourcing to narrow achievement gaps. Findings provide actionable evidence for
school leaders and policymakers aiming to improve Basic Science outcomes through
habit-focused supports.
Keywords: Academic Achievement, Basic Science, Study Habits, Secondary
Education, Education Zone.
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