THE EFFECT OF STUDY HABITS ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
OF FRESHMEN EDUCATION STUDENTS IN XAVIER UNIVERSITY,
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, SCHOOL YEAR 2008-2009”

Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM

A. Introduction

The extent of student’s learning in academics may be determined by the grades a student earns for a period of learning has been done. It is believed that a grade is a primary indicator of such learning. If a learner earns high grades it is concluded that they may also have learned a lot while low grades indicate lesser learning. However, many experiences and studies found out that there are also several factors that would account for the grades. No single factor can be definitely pointed out as predicting grades. It has been an interplay of so many factors – gender, IQ, study habits, age, year level, parent’s educational attainment, social status, number of siblings, birth order, etc. In fact, almost all of existing environmental and personal factors are a variable of academic performance. However, at this point in time, the researchers would like to investigate the possible relationship of study habits and the factors affecting it to the academic achievement of under graduate education students of Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan. The investigation of on this area thus becomes a real and compelling motivation for the researchers to conduct this study.

B. Conceptual Framework

Independent variables as it influence the dependent variable of this research are on the bases of psychological and educational theories, principles and concepts. Many studies say that learning are better acquired and mastered as soon as the learner attends to it. Gestalt psychology mentions the Law of Proximity referring to the way in which he tends to form groups according to the way they are spaced, with the nearer once being grouped