THE INFLUENCE OF STUDY METHODS ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG FRESH UNDERGRADUATES IN NIGERIA

This study investigated the preferred study method(s) among fresh undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University. It also determined the relationship between study methods and academic achievement. It further determined the influence of sex, age and course study on students’ study methods. A descriptive research survey was used for the study. The population for the study consisted of fresh undergraduates from the Faculty of Education for 2012/2013 academic session. The sample size comprised 200 (89 male and 61 female) students. A multistage sampling technique was to select the sample size. Two instruments was used namely; An Achievement Test (AT) which contained 50 multiple-choice general questions, and A self-developed instrument titled “Students’ Study Methods Questionnaire” (SSMQ) was used to elicit information from the students. Face and content validities of the instruments were established by experts in the field of Tests and Measurement, while the reliability co-efficients yielded 0.78 and 0.89 respectively. The result showed that 72 students representing 48% preferred the use of library to other study methods. The results also revealed that there was no significant (χ2 =10.013; df=9, p>0.05) influence of study methods on academic achievement of fresh students. The results further showed that there was no significant difference in the study methods of male and female fresh students (t=1.305; >p0.05). Finally, it was revealed that study methods was not statistically difference in terms of students’ age (F=1.741; p>.05), and course of study (F=0.489; p>.05). The study therefore concluded that academic achievement of fresh undergraduates may not be attributed to their study methods. As such, other contributory factors maybe research upon.