Literature Review
Students’ academic habits in college are formed due to various factors that should be taken into account when analyzing academic performance, productivity, and other criteria. To assess the conditions influencing the effectiveness of students’ work, it is possible to consider several scientific peer-reviewed articles that provide research on learners’ educational opportunities. It is supposed that these are external factors that play a key role in the formation of students’ habits and their academic performance.
Lepp, A., Barkley, J. E., & Karpinski, A. C. (2015). The relationship between cell phone use and academic performance in a sample of US college students. Sage Open, 5(1), 1-9.
The main focus of this study is made on the influence of cell phones on the level of American students’ academic performance. The authors claim that these devices “are an integral part of college life and culture” (Lepp, Barkley, & Karpinski, 2015, p. 1). Nevertheless, as a hypothesis, it is suggested that too often use of these gadgets carries a certain risk for the productivity of students and negatively affects their attention.
Lepp et al. (2015) conducted the study on the basis of a mixed-method, using participant interviews and analyzing the obtained data in statistical terms. In total, 536 students took part in the study, which allows speaking about the sufficient reliability of the obtained data (Lepp et al., 2015, p. 4). In conclusion, the opinion is expressed that the use of cell phones should be reduced since the existing indicators prove the assumption of the negative impact of devices on academic performance. There is another study where college students’ ability to perform different tasks is observed.
Mokhtari, K., Delello, J., & Reichard, C. (2015). Connected yet distracted: Multitasking among college students. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 45(2), 164-180.
The study by Mokhtari, Delello, and Reichard (2015) is devoted to students’ multitasking and their ability to simultaneously perform several objectives. As participants, 935 undergraduate college students were involved, which proves the scale of the study (Mokhtari et al., 2015, p. 164). The authors suppose that their mixed analysis method based on interviewing target group members and compiling statistical reports can be useful in identifying the problem of the impact of third-party resources on educational performance (Mokhtari et al., 2015). In conclusion, it is assumed that the use of various media resources in parallel with study load significantly distracts young people and can create problems during the learning process. To understand how to improve the performance of students, it is possible to consider another article that suggests approaches to improving educational motivation.
Petty, T. (2014). Motivating first-generation students to academic success and college completion. College Student Journal, 48(2), 257-264.
The study by Petty (2014) is, in fact, the review of the literature of different authors to find objective factors that can enhance the educational motivation of first-generation students. This article does not provide practical methods of analysis. The opinions of various respected authors are used as a basis for the need to find relevant and useful ways to increase students’ interest in the learning process and make life in the college more intense. As possible ways, Petty (2014) suggests using extra-curricular activities, regularly incorporating various visual education tools into the curriculum, and also organizing learners’ collaboration to strengthen teamwork. The study is not aimed at a specific intervention; however, its practical significance is great since, according to the author, “motivation is complicated, especially when dealing with students that face many challenges” (Petty, 2014, p. 258). Therefore, the search for appropriate approaches to the organization of the curriculum will be useful.
Conclusion
Thus, different external factors play a key role in the formation of students’ habits and their academic performance. The articles can be a useful theoretical basis for conducting a separate study on the working habits of college learners. Some ideas can be borrowed, for example, findings regarding the use of cell phones. Also, new topics may be affected to expand the scope of the theme, for instance, extra-curricular work of students and its impact on academic achievement in the learning process.
References
Lepp, A., Barkley, J. E., & Karpinski, A. C. (2015). The relationship between cell phone use and academic performance in a sample of US college students. Sage Open, 5(1), 1-9.
Mokhtari, K., Delello, J., & Reichard, C. (2015). Connected yet distracted: Multitasking among college students. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 45(2), 164-180.
Petty, T. (2014). Motivating first-generation students to academic success and college completion. College Student Journal, 48(2), 257-264.