Comparison of study habits of university students and their academic success (A case on the students of Gaziantep University)

ABSTRACT This research was conducted with the purpose of comparing the study habits of university students with their academic successes and defining how and in what range these habits affect their academic successes and putting forward some recommendations to increase the academic successes of those students throughout their university instruction. Population of the study consisted of the students of Gaziantep University and 518 students, 162 girls and 356 boys attending the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences and Vocatinal School of Higher Education in the spring term of the 1996-97 academic year were the subjects of the study. For data collection purposes "Study Habits and Attitudes Questionnaire" which was improved by Brown and Holtzman was used after being revised in accordance with the research situation. Through the questions in the first section of the questionnaire, determination of the demographic characteristics of students was aimed. In the second section, the study habits of students were compared with their academic successes. The cumulative grand point average (CGPA) of students at the end of the previous term was taken as the basis for their academic successes. The data obtained was processed using Chi-Square technique. Questions related to similar study habits of students were analysed under seven categories. A statistically significant difference was found between successful and unsuccessful! students in terms of regular study habits, the use of time efficiently while studying, difficulties in planning studies and finding required supplementary material from the university library. On the other hand, no significant difference was found between successful and unsuccessful students on some other issues.