You are on page 1of 59

1

LEVEL OF EFFECTIVENESS OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY GRADUATE


IN PREPARATION TO THE LOCAL BOARD EXAMINATION

Presented to
The Faculty of College of Health and Services
Professor Dennis Maximo
Arellano University

In Partial Fulfillment
of the requirements
in

ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH

Submitted by:
Franz Joseph Baniqued
Joyce Anne M. De Guzman
Christian Paul Rubio
Paul Alvin L. Yap

CHAPTER 1
PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
Many students have showed that passing a board examination is the product of
hardwork, excellent preparation and efficient learning style. Every student has an
inimitable technique of learning strategies that they believe it makes easily for them to
understand and learn their major subject or specialization.
One of the professional course that is great, so far different, and have an immense
opportunity is the Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology, a degree program that
teaches on how to perform medical imaging procedures. Medical Imaging is branch of
health care delivery that utilizes x-rays and other energy forms to give aid in a diagnosis
or treatment to some medical condition. This course is a combination of classroom
education and a clinical practice on internship, students learn to operate radiographic
equipment, principle of radiation protection, patient positioning and procedures, radiation
safety of patient care.
BS Radiologic Technology program are combination of classroom lectures,
discussions and hands-on practice or the clinical internship. The last year of their
education is the internship training program from different hospitals.
Furthermore this program in medical allied profession or a professional course
with board examination, in order for the graduate to practice they need to pass the board
examination. Where student will make all the necessary preparation prior to the board
examination. Part of this program is implemented during their education and review prior

to the board examination. In physical preparation which is consist of exercise, diet, and
sleep. While in mental preparation which is consist of study habits and in house review,
lastly the school program or college program.
Diet, exercise and sleep are interrelated, says Ulysses Magalang, MD, director of
the sleep medicine program at the Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus.
They are all essential for a healthy lifestyle. Good sleep habits and a healthy lifestyle
eating right and exercising- work together in a cyclical fashion. A healthy lifestyle
promotes sleep and, at the same time, adequate sleep also helps promote a healthy
lifestyle, explains Dr. Magalang. Think about it. You need to be well rested to have the
energy for a workout. And regulat exercise can help to manage your stress levels and tire
you out so that you sleep well at night. Being physically active also encourages you to
make other healthy lifestyle choices. Just be sure to exercise no later than a few hours
before bedtime so that you arent all revved up when you should be winding down.
Good study habits are essential ingredients for excellent academic performances
for every student. For study to be effective, Freeman and Mors (1993) have observed that
it should be regular, intense and should cover long periods. The habits of studying must
be a sustainable one, for that matter students must see the need to develop good study
habits. Although studies abound on the causative and predictive nature of factors of study
habit on students academic achievement, all factors of the variables tend to focus on poor
study habit while the effect is yet to be fully accessed on the nations educational
development. Study habits are important as they influence the academic performance of
students so parents and teachers must help in improving the study habits of student.

Furco (1996) defines Internship have been viewed by different researchers as


offering a diversity of benefits to the student intern. They engage the intern in service
activities primarily for the purpose of providing them with hands-on experience that
enhances their learning or understanding of issues relevant to a particular area of study.
They assist the internee to bridge the gap between the academic learning process and the
practical reality (Furco, 1996; Lam and Ching, 2007). McMahon and Quinn (1995) note
that internship is supervised work experiences where students has been carried out
(Mounce et al, 2004) but the effects of these internships on the success of the intern to
transfer the field practice into the actual workplace engagement needs follow up (Beard
and Morton, 1999). The importance of internships have also been established in
recruiting decisions by employers (Pasewark et al, 2001) and research studies in
accounting internships have shown improved subsequent academic performance (English
and Koeppen, 1993).
The core focus of this study is the Level of effectiveness of Radiologic
Technology graduate in preparation to the local board examination from different hospital
in Quezon City area such as Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center,
Philippine Childrens Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, St Lukes Medical
Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center. To achieve this end, the researchers will
vvisit the five hospitals in Quezon City to conduct a survey questionnaire in relation to
the given variables, to know what is the different preparation made by the different
Radiologic Technologist that is effective why they passed the board examination.

Theoretical Framework
Self- regulated Learning Theory
According to self-regulated learning theory (Zimmerman, 1990), the activities of
studying and using learning strategies, which reflect self-regulated learning, promote
academic achievement. In contrast, a students participation in other activities may not
produce positive effects on his academic performance.
The importance of personal responsibility and activity for academic achievement
stems from the perspective of self-regulated learning. According to this perspective, the
student is responsible because he or she perceives him- or herself as a learner. The
student can use learning strategies and engage in various activities to create environments
that are conductive to learning.
The term self regulated can be used to describe learning that is guided by
metacognition (thinking about ones thinking), strategic action (planning, monitoring, and
evaluating personal progress against a standard), and motivation to learn. In particular,
self-regulated learners are cognizant of their academic strengths and weaknesses, and
they have a repertoire of strategies they appropriately apply to tackle the day-to-day
challenges of academic tasks. These learners hold incremental beliefs about intelligence
(as opposed to fixed views of intelligence) and attribute their successes or failures to
factors (e.g. effort expended on a task, effective use of strategies) within their control.
Students who are self-regulated learners believe that opportunities to take on
challenging tasks, practice their learning, develop a deep understanding of subject matter,

and exert effort will give to rise to academic success. In part, these characteristics may
help to explain why self-regulated learning usually exhibits a high sense of self efficacy.
Self-regulation also considers a triadic interaction between the people (e.g. beliefs
about success), his or her behavior (e.g. engaging in a task), and the environment (e.g.
feedback from a teacher). Zimmerman et al. specified three important characteristics of
self-regulating learning: self-observation (monitor ones activities): self-judgment (selfevaluation of ones performance) and self-reactions (reactions to performance outcomes).
To the extent that one accurately reflects on his or her progress toward a learning
goal, and appropriately adjusts his or her actions to maximize performance, he or she has
effective self-regulated. An effective self-regulated learner understands which activities
he engages in bring about optimal academic performance.

Conceptual Framework
INPUT

Profile of the
Respondents:

PROCESS

Survey

Administration
of
questionnaire

Collection,
Interpretation
and analysis
of data

Age
Gender
Education
A. Physical Preparation
B. Mental preparation

OUTPUT

- To know the
effective preparation
of RXT and RRT prior
to the board exam.
- The result of the
study benefits the
student of Arellano
University taking
Bachelor of Science
in Radiologic
Technology.
- Awareness of future
researcher, School
Administration,
Faculty and Future
Examinee.

Figure 1
Research Diagram shows the flow of the study in the preparation of the two
colleges in the upcoming Radiologic Technology Licensure Examination
Figure 1 presents the conceptual framework of the study. It shows the input,
process and output diagram presentation. The diagram is consists of input, process and
output of the study. The demographic variables includes, gender and institution that
represent the input in terms of physical and mental preparation. The Process includes
Survey Questionnaire, Administration of test questionnaire and Collection, interpretation
and analysis of data. The output pertains to know the what preparation will be chosen by
the RXT and RRT prior to the board examination, and then the result of the study benefits

the student of Arellano University taking Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology.


This also includes the awareness of Future Researcher, School Administration, Faculty
and Future Examinee.

Statement of the problem

This study will cover the needed preparation done by the respondent prior to the
board examination that contributed in the success of the examinee.
This study aims to answer the significant questions to the problems:
1. What is the demographic profile of the student in terms of:
1.1 Age;
1.2 Gender;
1.3 Education;
1.3.1 XRT
1.3.2 BSRT
1.4 School/University
2. What are the necessary college programs in preparation for the board examination in
terms of;
2.1 Physical Preparation;
2.1.1 Sleep;
2.1.2 Exercise;
2.1.3 Diet;

2.2 Mental Preparation;

10

2.2.1 In house review;


2.2.2 Study habit;
3. Is there any significant difference between the Radiologic Technology school in manila
area in terms of;
3.1 Percentage of passing for board examination
3.2 Preparation for board examination
3.2.1 Physical
3.2.2 Mental
3.3 School program/college program
3.3.1 Internship program or clinical training program
3.3.2 Others activity such as seminar, convention.
3.3.3 RLE

Assumption

11

There is a significant difference between the preparations of graduating student of


radiologic technology school in manila area. When they group according to the profile of
the respondents.
Significance of the study
This research study will be beneficial to the following:
Students of Arellano University. Serves as their guide in creating a thesis in
their study and also to make them aware on preparing an examination.
Faculty of Arellano University. The result of the study will help the faculty to
provide the best strategy to the students prior to their preparation for their board exam.
School Administration. The study will help the Guidance Counselor Staff for
their assessment on which preparation is better for the students as part of their assistance
to the students.
Future Researchers. This will serves as a tool for research for those who are
planning to conduct a similar study or to continue researching about the readiness of the
students in other colleges with board examination. This will also serves as related studies
in other future research.

Scope and Delimitation

12

The respondent of the study are RRT and RXT from different hospital in Quezon
City area such as Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Philippine
Childrens Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, St. Lukes Medical Center,
Quirino Memorial Medical Center.
Definition Of terms
The following terms used in the research study are defined operationally:
Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology. It is a professional course that
deals with the study of different application of imaging modalities
Board Exam. Serious Exam that will take by a college student after he or she
finish the professional course.
Clinical Education. Duty of student in the hospital. Wherein they apply the
knowledge and skill learn in the school.
Internship. Hospital based duty of a junior and senior intern to utilize all the
skills and knowledge as a radiologic technology student.
Mental Preparation. Advance mindset in exercising the mind, by physical
activity and mental activity in order to be ready for the exam.
Physical Preparation. Advance practice in exercising the body in order to be
ready for the exam.
Preparation. Its all about advance mindset in organizing, practicing, reviewing
to one thing in order to be ready for the tomorrow challenges
CHAPTER II

13

REVIEW RELATED LITERATURE


This chapter consists of related literature and studies regarding the research
entitled

LEVEL OF

EFFECTIVENESS

OF

RADIOLOGIC

TECHNOLOGY

GRADUATE IN PREPARATION TO THE LOCAL BOARD EXAMINATION. This is


composed of local and foreign literatures and studies that the researcher believed to be
somewhat related to the dependent variables.
FOREIGN LITERATURE
An emerging body of multidisciplinary literature has documented the beneficial
influence of physical activity engendered through aerobic exercise on selective aspects of
brain function. Human and Non-Human animal studies have shown that aerobic exercise
can improve a number of aspects of cognition and performance. Lack of physical activity,
particularly among children in the developed world, is one of the major causes of obesity.
Exercise might not only help to improve their physical health, but might also improve
their academic performance. This article examines the positive effects of aerobic physical
activity on cognition and brain function, at the molecular, cellular, systems and
behavioral levels. A growing number of studies support the idea that physical exercise is
a lifestyle factor that might lead to increased physical and mental health throughout life.
Its well established that exercise substantially changes the human brain, affecting
both thinking and emotions. But a sophisticated, multifaceted new study suggests that the
effects may be more nuanced than many scientists previously believed. Whether you gain
all of the potential cognitive and mood benefits from exercise may depend on when and
how often you work out, as well as on the generic makeup of your brain.

14

For the experiment, Neuroscience researchers in the department of psychology


and neuroscience at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., recruited 54 adults, ages 18 to
36, from college and the surrounding community. The volunteers were healthy but
generally sedentary; none exercised regularly.
During their first visit to the lab, they completed a series of questionnaires about
their health and mood, including how anxious they were both at that moment and in
general.
They also gave blood for genetic testing. Earlier studies had shown that exercise
can increase levels of a protein called brain-derived neurotropic factor, of BDNF, which
is thought to play a role in the positive effects of exercise on thinking. But some people
produce less BDNF after exercise than others because they have a variation in the gene
that controls BDNF production, though its unknown whether they derive less cognitive
benefit from exercise as a result. So the scientists wanted to determine each volunteers
BDNF gene status.
Then the group submitted to a memory test, consisting of pictures of objects
flashed across a computer screen. Soon after, another set of pictures appeared, and the
volunteers were asked to note, with keystrokes, whether theyd seen each particular
image before.
This task involves a different part of the brain from the one most often focused in
studies of exercise and memory, says David Bucci, an associate professor of psychology
and brain science at Dartmouth, who oversaw the study. Other experiments typically
examine the effect of exercise on the hippocampus, the brains primary memory center,

15

he says, but the object-recognition task involves activity in the perirhinal cortex, you
might recall where youve put your car keys (a hippocampal memory task), but not what
car keys are.
Finally, after completing the tests, the volunteers were ramdomly assigned to
exercise or not during the next four weeks. Half began a supervised program of walking
or jogging four times a week for at least 30 minutes. The other half remained sedentary.
After a month, the volunteers returned to the lab for retesting. But first, some
exercised. Half of the exercising group walked or jogged before the testing; half did not.
Ditto for the sedentary group: Half exercised that day for the first time since the start of
the study; the rest did not.
The results were, in certain aspects, a surprise. As expected, many of the
volunteers whod been exercising for the past month significantly improved their scores
on the memory and mood tests. But not all of them did. In general, those volunteers who
had exercised for the past month and who worked out on the day of retesting performed
the best on the memory exam. They also tended to report less anxiety than other
volunteers.
Those who had exercised during the preceeding month but not on the day of
testing generally did better on the memory test than those who had been sedentary, but
did not perform nearly as well as those who had worked out that morning.
Interestingly, while exercising before the test didnt improve the memory scores
of those whod remained sedentary for the past month, it did increase their self-reported
anxiety levels. They were more jittery than they had been on the first lab visit.

16

Perhaps most intriguing, though, was that the researchers discovered when they
compared the volunteers BDNF gene variants and their scores on the memory test. They
found that those with the variant that blunts BDNF production after exercise - a fairly
common variation, existing in about 30 percent of people of European Caucasian heritage
did not improve their memories, even if they exercised regularly. (No consumer test
exists to check for the variant.)
What all of this means for people who are hoping that exercise will improve their
minds in unclear, Dr. Bucci says, but it does suggest that the interplay of physical activity
and brainpower is more complex than we have perhaps yet acknowledged.
Some peoples ability to recall objetcs, for instance, may respond less robustly
to exercise than other people, he says if their genetic makeup doesnt promote the release
BDNF.
But the overall message of this study and of ongoing research in his lab, Dr. Bucci
adds, is that exercise generally enhances the ability to remember. The people who did
improve their memory test scores, he points out, were invariably those whod exercised
throughout the previous month and again the morning of the testing, suggesting a
powerful cumulative effect from the exercise sessions, he says.
More generally, Dr. Bucci says, there are many types of memory involving many
different areas within the brain, and few seem unaffected by regular, moderate exercise,
although the effects may be inconsistent from person to person.
The current data strongly suggests that people should be physically active if
they wish to enjoy a sturdy, unporous memory in the long term, Dr. Bucci says. Walk or

17

jog regularly, in other words, and most of us can expect to continue recognizing our keys
as keys.
If you exercise regularly, theres a good chance that youre helping to boost your
immune system. In fact, recent studies have suggested that if you complete moderate
exercise just a few times every week, you can drastically reduce the number of colds that
you get every year. Outside of just keeping you in shape and helping you to become
healthier over time, exercise can boost your immune system and help your body fight off
harmful diseases and even something as simple as the common cold. Though doctors are
continuing to do research on the link between exercise and the immune system, they have
discovered some simple truths that impact how exercise can help.
When you exercise regularly, there are number of things that benefit your body.
Your heart gets stronger and is able to pump more blood throughout your body when you
exercise. Your lungs get better equipped at handling oxygen and dishing it out to the rest
of your body. Your muscles also get stronger as you use them more often. Your immune
system is no different. Doctors have found that exercise can boost your immune system
by providing a boost to the cells in your body that are assigned to attack bacteria. These
cells appear to work more slowly in people who dont exercise than in those that do. As a
result, if you exercise, your immune system is better equipped to handle bacteria that
could cause you to become sick. Though this boost only lasts for a few hours after you
exercise, its often enough to help keep you healthier than you would be if you didnt
exercise.

18

While its obviously beneficial to give your immune system a boost by exercising
you also need to be aware of the fact that you could actually hurt your immune system if
you dont give your body enough rest. Too much exercise can actually cause your
immune system to weaken. Its one of the reasons that you may feel very rundown and
weak if youre training for a marathon or doing a lot of exercise during a short window of
time. In order to avoid having this effect on your immune system, make sure that you get
enough rest for your body.
The truth is that you dont have to be a super athlete to boost your immune system
through exercise. All you need to do is walk for a half hour every day or find time to hit
the gym a few times every week. By speeding up the cells in your immune system that
fight off bacteria, you can get healthier in no time. Studies have also known that people
who work out often take half as many sick days per year as those that dont work out. Try
to incorporate more exercise into your day to help strengthen your immune system over
time.
A typical student will spend a lot of time in lectures and working at desks or
computers. This can often mean that he or she isnt getting enough exercise for the body
to function at its peak. Not only exercise is important for students for overall health, but it
is also thought to be able to increaselearning abilities and concentration. Avoiding a
sedentary lifestyle while in university is difficult for many students, which is why an
exercise routine that includes cardiovascular exercise should be used on a regular basis.
Establishing a healthy lifestyle is important for people of any age, but it can be
hand for students who have to cope with a variety of different time crunches and stresses

19

for the first time. For example, most students will have to learn how to live away from
home, make new friends and how to study effectively. Student health can oftern become
of secondary importance in this situation. While high school and other lower-level
students dont often have to deal with living away from home or the stresses of college
life, regular exercise and activity is still of equal importance.
There are many health benefits to leading a healthy lifestyle. Exercise for students
will reduce the risk of problems such as obesity and diabetes. Regular exercise also
releases endorphins that can make problems such as depression less likely and increase
happiness. To increase fitness and overall health a student should aim for around 60
minutes of exercise most days of the week. In order to avoid injury, the exercise should
focus on a different area of the body each day.
Some people may also find exercising helps build concentration during lectures
and in general learn more efficiently. Studies performed over the years have discovered
the students who regularly exercised were happier and felt more alert. The same effects
are not seen immediately after exercising its a product of consistent workouts.
Exercise for students should involve a variety of different methods. For example,
university and college is often a good place to join a sports team or exercise class.
Exercises such as jogging, swimming and biking are also useful for cardiovascular
exercise. The more enjoyable the exercise for the student the easier it will be to continue
it for a long period of time.
Healthy eating should be used in conjunction with exercise for students. Avoiding
student obesity is important as it can cause numerous health problems later in life. By

20

combining a healthy diet that includes only a small amount of saturated fats with an
increased amount of exercise a student can quickly become healthier.
College students, especially online college students, have packed schedules.
Classes, employment and family or social obligations quickly fill up your calendar. It
seems cruel to add another obligation to the list, but heres ont to consider: exercise.
Scientific evidence is piling up that shows regular exercise provides important cognitive
benefits that could make your efforts a little less taxing.
Recent human and animal studies show that regular aerobic exercise has profound
effects on the brain. A recent New York Times article, How Exercise Could Lead To A
Better Brain, describes experiments performed on mice at the University of Illinois.
Mice who ran regularly on a wheel had nore neurons-brain cells-than those who did not.
Also, mice who ran regularly had more complex connections between neurons,
meaning they were able to access their brain cells more flexibly. Finally, the mice who
ran regularly did better on cognitive tests, such as completing a maze. Theres evidence
that this direct relationship also exists in humans.
The hippocampus is a structure in the brain that controls the formation, retention,
and recall of memories. In most adults, the hippocampus strats to shrink slightly starting
in the late 20s, leading to memory loss over time. Evidence from a 2011 study, recounted
in the New York Times article mentioned above, shows that exercise prevents this
shrinkage and may even promote regrowth.
A group of senior citizens were randomly assigned to a stretching program or a
walking program for a year. After the year was over, the stretching goups brains were

21

scanned, and their hippocampuses had shrunken according to normal expectations. In the
walking group, however, the hippocampus had grown. For college students, the
implication is clear: regular exercise could benefit the parts of your brain that help you
recall information.
In 2009, a Canadian school for learning-disabled and ADHD children took part in
an experiment that involved having students exercise for 20 minutes on treadmills or
exercise bikes before starting their math class. Teachers noted a marked improvement in
students ability to concentrate, participate, and retain information during the class after
they had exercised. Inappropriate behavior also improved in the group that exercised.
Additional experiments of this type, such as those taking place at Naperville
Central High near Chicago, IL, suggest that three 20-minute session a week is the
minimum dose needed to reap the concentration-enhancing benefits of exercise.
Numerous studies have shown that exercise profoundly improves your mood. A
1999 Duke study into the effects of exercise on depression had some participants work
out while others took a well-known anti-depressant medication. By the end of the study,
the exercise group showed as much improvement in mood as the medication group did.
So college students looking to maintain their positive attitude succeed can benefit from
regular exercise.
Prolonged stress can lead to health problems, such as heart attacks and stomach
problems. Exercise, by helping you sleep better and easing anxiety, can relieve the
negative effects of stress on your body. Many regular exercisers also find that they can
focus constructively on problems during or after about of exercise.

22

So make time exercise. Choose an activity you love that gets your heart rate up,
whether its hiking, running, or dancing, and put it on your schedule the way you would
any other appointment or class for atleast three 30-minutes sessions a week. Youll soon
be reaping the benefits that exercise offers the scholar: a sound mind in a healthy body.
A healthy diet is the basis for a well-functioning body. Food is the source of
energy for all of our bodily functions and directly affects how our bodies and minds
function in every stage of life. There are a variety of reasons why a healthy diet is
important, including disease prevention, maintenance of a healthy weight and quality of
life.
Calories are the unit of measure for stored energy in food. The energy provided by
food calories is needed for every function of the body, including thought, physical
activity, growth and healing. According to Medicine Plus, foods containing an equal
amount of calories and nutrients are ideal for a balanced diet.

Proteins, carbohydrates and fats are the building blocks of energy. After ingestion,
carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which provides raw energy that is either
used immediately or stored in the muscles for later use. Complex carbohydrates like
whole grains, vegetables and fruits provide a balance of calories and nutrients, whereas
tsimple carbs such as sugar and white flour are high in calories and low in nutrients,
making them a poor choice for energy production.

23

A healthy diet helps maintain an ideal body weight and prevent obesity. When
eaten frequently, foods high in saturated fat, trans fat and sugar can lead to excess weight
gain and obesity.
While calories are needed for energy, empty calories those derived from foods
with little nutritional value can lead to weight gain. Eating foods with a balance of
calories and nutrients can help provide the body with the fuel it needs to function while
avoiding weight gain.
A poor diet has been directly linked with diseases such as diabetes, heart disease
and certain types of cancer. Trans and saturated fats are known to cause atherosclerosis,
which is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Foods high in cholesterol can
raise levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood, which is also contributes to arterial
damage seen in atherosclerosis.
According to the American Cancer Society, processed meats, fried meats and
alcohol are associated with an increased risk for certain types of cancer, such as cancer of
the colon or liver. Foods that contribute to obesity are also indirectly linked to cancer,
since obesity increases the overall risk for developing cancer.
A healthy diet can lead to better overall performance of the mind and body.
According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, foods high in antioxidants can help
promote generation of neurons into old age while improving the ability of existing brain
cells to communicate with each other, resulting in improved cognitive functioning.
Whats more, diet may play an important role in mood and mental health.
According to the Americann Journal of Psychiatry, a healthy diet is associated with a

24

lower incidence of depression, anxiety disorders and dysthymia than a typical Western
diet high in sugar, processed foods and alcohol.
Azikiwe (1998) describes the study habit as the adopted way and manner a
student plans his private readings, after classroom learning so as attain mastery of the
subject. According to her, good study habits are good assets to learners because the
(habits) assist students to attain mastery in areas of specialization and consequent
excellent performance, while opposite constitute constraints to learning and achievement
leading to failure.
Good (1998) define the term study habits as: The students way of study whether
systematic, efficient or inefficient etc. Going by this definition it literally means that
good study habit produces positive academic performance while inefficient study habit
leads to academic failure. In Nigeria, there are so many factors influencing the ability of
students to cultivate effective and efficient study habit. Ozmert (2005) emphasized the
importance of environmental influence as a major factor in the development of students
studying habit. In the same vein, Adetunji and Oladeji (2007) submit that the
environment of most children is not conducive for studying; it is in the light of this that
made some parents to prefer their children to go to boarding school for proper discipline
and to inculcate better reading habit.
According to Hussian (2006) secondary school students in public schools often
come from economically poor and average income families. These families face various
problems causing emotional disturbance among their children. They have poor academic

25

performance. This singular factor has caused serious damage to the achievement status to
secondary school students.
Achievement is generally a pedagogical terminology used while determining
learners success in formal education and which is measured through reports
examinations, researchers and ratings with numerous factors of variables exerting
influence. Essentially, the National Policy on education (Federal Republic of Nigeria,
2004) has identified school achievement contents according to school subjects which are
classified as core or elective subjects.
Good study habits are essential ingredients for excellent academic performances
for every student. For study to be effective, Freeman and Mors (1993) have observed that
it should be regular, intense and should cover long periods. The habits of studying must
be a sustainable one, for that matter students must see the need to develop good study
habits. Although studies abound on the causative and predictive nature of factors of study
habit on students academic achievement, all factors of the variables tend to focus on poor
study habit while the effect is yet to be fully accessed on the nations educational
development. Study habits are important as they influence the academic performance of
students so parents and teachers must help in improving the study habits of students.
Research has shown that a large number of students performances are affected by
their attitudes towards specific subjects, education and academics in general. (Bowen &
Richman, 2000) It has been suggested that when students demonstrate week commitment
to their academics then they are bound to underperform. Additionally, some students with
an unrealistic view of themselves may perform poorly too. For instance, those who tend

26

to be overconfident or nave about the requirements of their academics may register very
poor performance. (Broughton, 2003) Conversely, when students do not believe in
themselves or when they have low self confidence, then chances are that they will
underachieve. (Powers, 2006) Sometimes some students may think of themselves as
people who cannot control their own destiny. They imagine that they are victims of the
system and this can lead to academic failure. In other scenarios some students may be too
proud to ask for help when they encounter a problem in their studies. (Bowen &
Richman, 2000) Also, some students find it difficult to grow or develop because they tend
to resist change and this impedes their academic progress. In other situations, a student
may not work well in groups yet this is a necessary part of the academic environment.
Lastly, some students tend to avoid those areas where they perform poorly such as in
science or mathematics. These and many more aspects of students attitudes can be
causes of academic failure. School context is depicted through certain avenues. These
avenues can either lead to excellent performance or poor performance depending on how
they are implemented. (Powers, 2006) In certain schools, the system may be too
bureaucratic to the point that both teachers and students cannot do their jobs. This
eventually leads to poor performance. (Bowen & Richman, 2000) In other situations,
teachers lack the skills to impart knowledge and this may cause failures. Likewise, some
teachers may be disengaged with their students and this brings about problems in the end.
(Broughton, 2003) Additionally, there are certain school environments that are influenced
by the external world to such a large extent that the students cannot concentrate on what
they are meant to do. Such schools lack discipline. (Broughton, 2003) Some school

27

environments may have certain levels of segregation and this impedes academic success.
(Broughton, 2003)
FOREIGN STUDIES
Many students give up sleep to get good grades, but research shows that students
who sleep more get better grades.
Members of the Student (SHAC), who provide a student perspective to University
(UHS), identified sleep as a top focus this year. They consulted noted sleep researchers
and developed recommendations for clinicians about how to address sleep with student
patients.
Its no secret that college students tend to skimp on sleep to squeeze the most out
of 24 hours. But this generation is different, and researchers are increasingly focusing on
college students because they are one of the most sleep-deprived populations. College
students go to bed one to two hours later and sleep less per night on average compared to
previous generations. As a result, 75% of U-M undergraduates do not sleep enough to
feel rested on five or more days per week, and 19% reported that sleep difficulties had an
impact on academic performance in the past year.
The amount of sleep that a college student gets in one of the strongest predictors
of academic success. Sleep plays a key role in helping students fix and consolidate
memories, plus prevent decay of memories. Without sleep, people work harder and but
dont do as well.

28

With these facts in mind, the Student Health Advisory Council made the
following recommendations for UHS clinicians to consider in their work with students,
which may also help you as you talk with your student.
Encourage students to adjust wake-up time, because it is may be easier to adjust
than bedtime.
Emphasize behavioral changes to improve sleep. Medicine is rarely necessary.
Students can practice relaxation techniques before bed to increase quality of sleep, avoid
doing homework immediately before (or in) bed, and avoid TV and computer use before
bed.
Encourage napping. Most students dont get a full nights sleep every night, and
naps help them make up the difference. Research shows that napping 10-45 minutes
(before entering REM sleep) can increase performance.
Advise students to avoid caffeine, especially later in the aftermoon/night. To help
the Student Life continue making a difference in students lives.
Nobody goes to graduate school expecting a walk in the park long hours spent
in the lab, in the library and sitting in front of a computer screen are just an accepted part
of daily life. For many students, it is most energetically demanding time of their lives, not
just for the hours put in, but the cognitive resources required to think critically and absorb
complex material. While such an assiduous lifestyle should perhaps warrant more rest
than normal, sleep often takes a backseat to projects, reading, and deadlines.

29

According to Northern Illinois University professor and Industrial-Organizational


psychologist Dr. Larissa Barber, sleep is the single most important health behavior we
engage in. In a 2010 study, she and her colleague found that healthy sleep patterns play a
critical role in self-regulation an executive function in the brain that controls our
behaviors (Stress and Health, 2010). It helps us to override urges, initiate behaviors, and
persist. It tells us to get out of the bed and get to class on time, to start working on that
thesis/dissertation, and to keep trudging through that dense journal article, despite the
impulse to incessantly check e-mail and Facebook. Without adequate sleep, our brains are
less equipped to control our behaviors and direct them towards our goals, which can spell
trouble for burdened graduate students.
I would say that graduate school is probably the ultimate self-regulatory
exercise, Barber said. Almost every critical performance outcome in graduate school
requires self-regulatory resources, or energy.
Not only is self-regulation important for knowing when to buckle down and
focus, or get yourself out of bed in the morning, its also critical for managing emotions
and stress. Sleeping less can cause people to feel more threatened by stressful events,
which in response, can lead to dysfunctional coping.
Things that usually rate as minor stressors all of a sudden seen like a big deal,
Barber said. So, sleep can often mean the difference between you crying after receiving
negative feedback from your advisor on a paper, or calmly evaluating the information as
constructive or motivating.

30

How much sleep is enough? While most people think of the standard as 8 hours,
studies show that performance decrements dont appear until you hit below 7 hours, with
less than 6 hours showing a large effect. But personality and individual differences do
play a role in a persons magic number. On average, people need between 6 and 8 hours
of sleep. However, people who score high on extraversion (talkative, out-going, assertive)
tend to recharge a bit faster than others. Same goes for older people, and people with high
metabolisms.
But 7 hours a night may not get you off the hook. Its not just the amount of sleep
that matters for positive well-being and performance outcomes; sleep routines are just as
important. Barbers study found that in order to see stress levels decline and self-control
improve, people need to get enough sleep consistently over the course of the work week.
Further evidence for the importance of sleep routines comes from a study of the
effect of staying up late and sleeping late on the weekends, which is a common practice
for young adults. CUNY researchers found that a delayed sleep schedule on the weekend
can seriously hurt cognitive performance and overall mood in the beginning of the week,
through Sunday night insomnia and the Monday morning blues (Psychology and
Health, 2001). Scientists suggest that a later wake-up time prevents exposure to morning
light which throws our circadian rhythm off kilter, and subsequently shifts our bodys
sleep schedule.
Barber finds it troubling that people commonly overlook routines in favor of just
catching up on sleep at a later date.

31

People often think of sleep in compensatory terms, like a credit card Ill just
pay it back later! she said. But they forget what I call the hidden interest rates, which
is circadian rhythm disruption. Poor Monday always gets a bad reputation, but the reality
is that we set ourselves up for Monday failure via our weekend sleep habits.
In addition to getting enough sleep and getting it routinely, high-quality rest is
also an important factor to consider. Studies indicate that sleep hygiene is one of the
greatest predictors of overall sleep quality (Hong Kong Med J, 2010). This refers to
general behavioral practices and environmental factors that allow for a sound sleep, like
diet, exercise, light, temperature, noise, as well as sleep schedule and pre-sleep activities.
On the flip side, poor sleep quality is associated with significant psychological distress,
depression, confusion, and generally lower life satisfaction. Poor sleep hygiene in
specific, is linked to a higher prevalence of insomnia and chronic sleep difficulties.
In a 2010 study, Chinese researchers found that despite its importance in sleep
quality, the level of sleep hygiene knowledge among university students was relatively
inadequate (Hong Kong Med J, 2010). A more recent study found that although sleep
disturbances are often comorbid with most psychiatric disorders, and can exacerbate
symptoms, graduate clinical psychology students receive little training in the assessment
of sleep and treatment of sleep disorders (Training and Education in Professional
Psychology, 2012).
Studies over the years show a relationship between tests, test taking, scores and
sleep, especially for children. Sleep has significant impact on test taking and test taking
preparation, especially by improving memory and attentiveness. Long before test day,

32

students should focus on good sleep habits, so when the night before arrives, they wont
be exhausted from thinking about ACT testing scores, test taking or getting better test
scores all night.
Sleep plays an important role in both behavior and activity every day, but even
more importantly in academic achievement. While you may not think there is a link
between sleep, an IQ test and scores resulting from it, but there is. You will be better able
to process and retain information, respond quickly and be more confident in your
performance if you are well-tested beforehand.
William Kohler, MD, medical director of the Florida Sleep Institute, director of
pediatric sleep services at University Community Hospital in Tampa, and an American
Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM) pediatric sleep expert, says that teens need more
sleep than adults because their circadian rhythm is easily disrupted. An adequate quantity
and quality of sleep is necessary for optimal learning, and Dr. Kohler encourages teens to
establish appropriate bedtime hours and a healthy sleep environment to ensure at least
nine to ten hours of quality.
A students performance in the classroom is dictated by the amount of sleep he
or she gets the night before, says Dr.Kohler. A teen who regularly gets enough sleep
will have improved academic performance and test scores, a positive attitude towards
their education, and be able to better interact socially with their peers and teachers.
Students can also remember better whay they learned if they get a good nights sleep after
learning the task. Sleep depriviation, on the other hand, increases the incidence of
academic failure, worse test taking, depression and behavioral problems.

33

Daniel S. Lewin, PhD, of the Childrens National Medical Center at the George
Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C, agrees that, on todays
society, in between school, after-school activities and socializing with friends, sleep often
takes a back seat among teenagers.
Weighing the importance of sleep and the essential activities is hard, and all too
often in our current culture of achieve-achieve-achieve, sleep loses, says Dr. Lewin.
The bad news is that when sleep loses, you lose. Heres why: adequate sleep on a nightly
basis is essential for learning, memory, safety and even preventing weight gain.
Dr. Lewin says that every now and then, a short sleep period is ok and even
necessary, but some care should be exercised the next day because the less you sleep, the
greater the risk of injury and getting into an automobile accident. Sleep loss night after
night leads to poorer grades and test scores, difficulty getting along with friends and
health problems in the long term, adds Dr. Lewin.
As mid-term exams approach, remember that adequate sleep will lead to
improved memory, says Dr. Lewin. Do not stay up late cramming for the test the next
day because there is a good probability that the loss of sleep will erode your performance,
and last-minute bits of information will not help much. There is some good news. If you
sleep adequate period of time, then rehearsing or practicing your test material at bedtime
will be very likely to improve your recall.
Researh has shown that inadequate and disruptive sleep can lead to problems with
behavior and mood along with difficulty with cognition and performance in the
classroom, especially with their test taking skills, test taking preparation and the

34

knowledge on how to improve test scores. A study published in a recent issue of the
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that students who have trouble sleeping do not
perform as well in school as students without sleep complaints.
Several recent studies outline the adverse effects of poor sleep among teens with
regards to their success in school and test taking:
1. Students with symptoms of sleep disorders are more likely to receive poor grades and
school test scores in classes such as math, reading and writing than peers without
symptoms of sleep disorders.
2. The brain responses of those children who dont get enough sleep can accurately
predict the impact that sleep loss has on their ability to pay attention during the course of
a day and test taking preparation.
3. Research examining the impact of sleep inn school-age children suggests that even
mild sleep loss produces marked deficits in their cognitive development, functioning and
the development of good test taking skills.
4. Sleep restriction can alter childrens initial stages of speech perception, which could
contribute to disruptions in cognitive and linguistic functioning skills necessary for
reading, language development and comprehension, which are crucial to test taking
preparation and test taking.
5. Teenagers who stay up late on school nights and make up for it by sleeping late on
weekends are more likely to perform poorly in the classroom. This is because, on
weekends, they are waking up at a time that is later than their internal body clock experts.

35

The fact that their clock must get used to a new routine may affect their ability to be
awake early for school at the beginning of the week they revert back to their old routine.
6. Aggressive behavior and bullying, common among school children, are likely to have
multiple causes, one of which may be an undiagnosed sleep-related breathing disorder.
7. Consuming caffeine may affect the sleep and school performance, including school test
scores, of young teens. Students who consume caffeine wake up later in the morning on
school days. The study links waking up later for school with having a lower grade-point
average and needing to improve test scores. Students who consume caffeine later in the
day are more likely to miss school.
8. Over the past decade, children have been going to bed later and sleeping less. This can
be attributed, in part, to a lack of awareness in the community concerning sleep need in
Children and how the amount of sleep a child should get each night is dependent on ones
age. The Sleep-Side Rule is found to be an effective classroom tool that improves
childrens understanding of the relationship between age and sleep need.
The following tips are provided by the AASM to help teens get the most out of
their sleep. Parents should be aware of these guidelines and should use them to help their
teen develop healthy sleep habits:
1. Try to get close to nine hours of sleep each night. Get enough sleep so that you wake
up refreshed and alert for the day, ready for test taking preparation and learning.
2. Try to wind down and relax before bedtime. Avoid intense studying, arguing and
exercising. Stop plating video or computer games and enjot some quite time before bed.

36

3. Avoid bright light in the evening. Darkness lets your body know its time to sleep.
4. Try to get bright light in the morning. This helps reset your clock for the next night.
Turn on bright lights and open your blinds when you get up. Getting exercise in the
morning also may help in setting the tone for test taking.
5. Try to catch up on any lost sleep when you can. Naps can be helpful to catch up with
lost sleep, but dont nap in the evening. Sleeping later on weekends can help catch up
with lost sleep. But do not sleep later than two to three hours past your normal weekday
wake up time, especially on Sunday mornings.
Another helpful resource to sleep better and improve test scores and test taking,
especially skills, is using the SOUND+SLEEP sound machine. SOUND+SLEEP is
designed to help student and test takers sleep naturally. SOUNDS+SLEEPs patented
Adaptive SoundTM technology adjusts volume and dynamically mixes complementary
sounds into the main sound track in response to background disturbances, which will help
children get natural sleep. This ensures a continuously relaxing environment regardless of
the surrounding noise. SOUND+SLEEPs quality sound recordings create the most
realistic and natural sounding environment that minimizes sleep disruptions to facilitate
sleep in the effort to improve school test scores and test taking preparation. As intrusive
noises subside, SOUND+SLEEP gradually and automatically returns to normal levels.
SOUND+SLEEP has been awarded the Parent Tested, Parent Approved (PTPA)
Winners Seal of Approval. PTPATM media is North Americas largest parent community,
with over 40,000 volunteer parent testers. SOUND+SLEEP was among several entries
from across North America competing to earn the PTPA Seal. Independent parent

37

volunteers evaluated sudmitted products in their own homes; thus PTPA winners are
chosen based on merit and consumer experience not on commercial considerations. As a
result, the PTPA Seal has gained recognition as a leader in certifying consumer products
for quality, effectiveness and value.
Reviewer feedback was overwhelmingly positive with such antidotes as, I loved
this product! I live by sound machines in my childrens rooms. This product provided a
soothing environment for my children to sleep in, as well as having us (the parents) be
able to be louder than a whisper downstairs while they are asleep!
If youre concerned about your or your childs test taking and study habits, test
scores consult a doctor for suggestions.
Sleep, learning, and memory are complex phenomena that are not entirely
understood. However, animal and human studies suggest that the quantity and quality of
sleep have a profound impact on learning and memory. Research suggests that sleep helps
learning and memory in two distinct ways. First, a sleep-deprived person cannot focus
attention optimally and therefore cannot learn efficiently. Second, sleep itself has a role in
the consolidation of memory, which is essential for learning new information.
Although the exact mechanisms are not known, learning and memory are often
described in terms of three functions. Acquisition refers to the introduction of new
information into the brain. Consolidation represents the processes by which a memory
becomes stable. Recall refers to the ability to access the information (whether
consciously or unconsciously) after it has been stored.

38

Each of these steps is necessary for proper memory functions. Acquisition and
recall occur only during wakefulness, but research suggests that memory consolidation
takes place during sleep through the strengthening of the neutral connections that form
our memories. Although there is no consensus about how sleep makes this process
possible, many researchers think that specific characteristics of brainwaves during
different stages of sleep are associated with the formation of particular types of memory.
Dr. Robert Stickgold discusses how sleep plays a role in memory, both before and
after new learning situation.
Sleep researchers study the role of sleep in learning and memory formation in two
ways. The first approach looks at the different stages of sleep (and changes in their
duration) in response to learning a variety of new tasks. The second approach examines
how sleep deprivation affects learning. Sleep deprivation can be total (no sleep allowed),
partial (either early or late sleep is deprived), or selective (specific stages of sleep are
deprived).
Different types of memories are formed in new learning situations. Scientists are
exploring whether there is a relationship between the consolidation of different types of
memories and the various stages of sleep.
The earliest sleep and memory research focused on declarative memory, which is
the knowledge of fact-based information, or what we know (for example, the capital of
France, or what you had for dinner last night). In one research study, individuals engaged
in an intensive language course were observed to have an increase in rapid-eyemovement sleep, REM sleep. This is a stage of sleep in which dreaming occurs most

39

frequently. Scientist hypothesized that REM sleep played an essential role in the
acquisition of learned material. Further studies have suggested that REM sleep seems to
be involved in declarative memory processes if the information is complex and
emotionally charged, but probably not if the information is simple and emotionally
neutral.
Researchers now hypothesize that slow-wave sleep (SWS) which is deep,
restorative sleep, also plays a significant role in declarative memory by processing and
consolidating newly acquired information. Studies of the connection between sleep and
declarative memory have had mixed results, and this is an area of continued research.
Sleep plays a major role in the ability to learn new tasks that require motor
coordination and performance. Research has also focused on sleep and its role in
procedural memory the remembering how to do something (for example, riding a
bicycle or playing the piano). REM sleep seems to plays a critical role in the
consolidation of procedural memory. Other aspects of sleep also play a role: motor
learning seems to depend on the amount and timing of both deep, slow-wave sleep
(SWS) and REM sleep.
Another are that researchers study is the impact that a lack of adequate sleep has
on learning and memory. When we are sleep deprived, our focus, attention, and vigilance
drift, making it more difficult to receive information. Without adequate sleep and rest,
over-worked neurons can no longer function to coordinate information properly, and we
lose our ability to access preciously learned information.

40

In addition, our interpretation of events may be affected. We lose our ability to


make sound decisions because we can no longer accurately assess the situation, plan
accordingly, and choose the correct behavior. Judgment becomes impaired.
Being chronically tired to the point of fatigue or exhaustion means that we are less
likely to perform well. Neurons do not fire optimally, muscles are not rested, and the
bodys organ systems are not synchronized. Lapses on focus from sleep deprivation can
even result in accidents or injury..
Low-quality sleep and sleep deprivation also negatively impact mood, which has
consequences for learning. Alterations in mood affect our ability to acquire new
information and subsequently to remember that information. Although chronic sleep
deprivation affects different individuals in a variety of ways (and the effects are not
entirely known), it is clear that a good nights rest has a strong impact on learning and
memory.
Although current research suggests that sleep is essential for proper memory
function, there are unanswered questions, as in any area of active scientific inquiry. For
example, certain medications will significantly, if not entirely, suppress REM sleep.
However, patients taking these medications do not report any memory impairment,
Similarly, injuries or disease causing lesions to the brainstem (and subsequently
eliminating a persons REM sleep) have not resulted in any obvious loss of the ability to
form new memories. Exploration and debate continue.
Mice exhibit an increase in REM sleep after completing a new course through a
maze.

41

Not all researchers are convinced that sleep plays as prominent a role in memory
consolidation as others believe. In experiments in which animals completed a course
through a complicated maze, the animals amount of REM sleep increased after
performing the task. Some researchers believe that the increase in REM sleep reflects an
increased demand on the brain processes that are involved in learning a new task. Other
researchers, however, have suggested hat any changes in the amount of REM sleep are
due to the stress of the task itself, rather than a functional relationship to learning.
Researchers are likewise split with regard to the impact of sleep deprivation on
learning and memory. For example, rats often perform much worse on learning tasks after
being selectively deprived of REM sleep. This suggests that REM sleep is necessary for
the animals ability to consolidate the memory of how to perfrom the task. Some
scientists have argued that the observed differences in learning are not actually due to the
lack of REM sleep, but may be due to the animals not being as well rested because they
were deprived a portion of their sleep.
In the view of many researchers, evidence suggests that various sleep stages are
involved in the consolidation of different types of memories and that being sleep deprived
reducesones ability to learn. Although open questions (and debate) remain, the overall
evidence suggests that adequate sleep each day is very important for learning and
memory.
Research shows students learn better when theyre well nourished. Healthy eating
has been linked to higher grades, better memory , more alertness, faster information
processing and improved health leading to better school attendance, according to

42

registered dietitian Elisa Zied, author of

Feed Your Family Right. Conversely,

unhealthy eating habits can negatively affect learning. Researchers have studied a number
of areas related to eating and learning.
Skipping breakfast can have impact on learning: A higher percentage of breakfast
eaters passed a biology exam in one study of college students by Gregory Phillips. Its
also important to eat high-quality breakfast. In a study of students 12 to 13 years old, the
average mark increased as breakfast quality improved. In another study of students ages
11 to 14, easting a breakfast with foods low on the glycemic index (GI) was associated
with faster information processinga
Even with breakfast, the brain can run out of fuel before lunch. In one study of
students ages 7 to 9, having a midmorning snack improved memory. The children who
ate a smaller breakfast and lunch but consumed a midmorning snack experienced a
smaller decline in immediate and delayed memory. Attention was not affected , however.
Zied recommends yogurt with blueberries; this fruit has been linked to better memory in
studies. Hardboiled egg is also a good snack choice because egg contains choline, a
nutrient shown to improve memory in animal studies.
Kids who eat healthy are more likely to be in school and participating. Without
proper nutrition and adequate calories, students often dont have enough energy to power
the brain, resulting in fatigue and learning problems. In fact, alertness improved
significantly in students eating breakfast in one study of high school students published in
the journal of Pediatrics. The male students also reported feeling more positive, may

43

improve academic performance by making students more eager to learn, according to


Zied.
Students who eat lots of junk foods are more likely to fall behind in school. A
study of public school students published in the Journal of School Health linked high
intake of sweetened beverages, such as sugary sodas to lower scored on math tests. A diet
high in junk food and sugary sodas is also linked to childhood obesity, which could result
in lower cognitive functioning, according to 2011 Yale University research. On the other
hand, students with healthy eating habits are less likely to be obese and more likely to
learn well.
Time management is a skill that directly impacts your academic performance.
Effective time management strategies make studying and school work less overwhelming
and more enjoyable. Academic stress occurs when students feel the pressure of cramming
for exams, rushing through homework and getting minimal sleep because of
disorganization and worry. Effective time management techniques should not only be
applied to your academic life but to your overall schedule to achieve success and peace of
mind.
A study conducted by Dr. Ranjita Misra, Ph.D., and Michelle McKean and
published by the American Journal Health Studies found that stress levels decreased
among students who managed their time well. Students who sought relaxation through
parties and other social events still maintained a relatively high stress level, in spite of
their efforts. The study also determined that the time-balanced students achieved higher
grades, felt less anxiety over tests and were more confident in their academic

44

performance overall. Furthermore, these students also fit a social life into their busy
schedules, simply due to efficient and realistic time planning.
Difficult tend to lack motivation. There are conflicting opinions regarding
whether the lack of motivation stems from the frustration of feeling that there is not
enough time available to study and attend classes, or if the lack of motivation was there
to begin with, resulting in poorer academic performance. Either way, students should
focus on their goals with passion that will carry them through to fruition. Sometimes this
means rejuvenating by joining a gym or entertaining a hobby. While this might seem to
oppose the purpose of focusing on studies, exercise and enjoyment can fit into a carefully
planned schedule in such a way that will actually increase motivation and encourage
good study habits.
Procrastination can be a problem for people of all ages, in and out of school.
Cramming too much information into your head right before a test can turn out to be
worse than not studying at all. Rushing through a paper the day before its due leaves
little time for reflection, review and editing. If you are overwhelmed by a school project
that you keep putting off, remember that tending to the assignment or studying a little
every day allows more time for quality work. Test grades are bound to be the higher
because the information is being absorbed in portions rather than your brain going into
overload. Term papers and other assignments reap higher grades when little bits are done
each day because there is plenty of time to correct and change things as needed. Your
stress level is bound to be lower, and your sense of organization will be more intact.

45

While students who manage time well undoubtedly achieve a higher level of
academic performance, their achievements also give them a greater sense of self-esteem.
Life is more enjoyable in general without the stress of a huge task list lingering in the
back of your mind. Confidence soars with higher grades, and the student carries those
effective time management skills and learning habits into the work world. Their careers
and family life are bound to be more successful and stress-free, and the pride they feel
from academic success is one they will carry on to future generations.
Parental support and Academic Achievement Fan (2001) demonstrated that
parents educational aspiration for their children proved to be strongly related to students
academic growth. Research studies have found that parental educational level has a
significant impact on childs learning, (Khan & Malik, 1999). Similarly, Scheneider and
Lee (1990) linked the academic success of the East Asian students to the values and
aspirations they share with their parents, and also to the home learning activities in which
their parents involve them. In fact, all parents have desired to do something better for
their children according to their available resources. But the extent and effectiveness of
parental support depends on a variety of reasons, such as, ethnicity, family income, and
home environment and their awareness about the importance of education.
Research studies indicated that socio economic status is correlated strongly with
parents educational ambition for their children. Khan, Khan and Zubairi (1999) stated
that interacting with and sharing the childs activities is affected by level of parents
education and income (p.92). In the families with low socio-economic status, majority
of the illiterate parents do not have understanding of the requirements of their childrens
education. Some poor parents make some agreements for helping their children in studies

46

and to do their home assignments, while others rely on school for the education of their
children as they do not have enough resources to spend extra money on home tuitions,
etc. This results poor performance in academic achievement of their children. Chohan,
Khan 16 The findings of the study conducted by Okpala, Okpala, and Smith (2001) also
supports the view that economic circumstances are significantly correlated with academic
achievement.
Over the past several decades, scholars are concerned with the poor academic
performance of children. The research studies revealed that various factors are
responsible for scholastic failure of students, such as low socio-economic background,
students cognitive abilities, school related factors, environment of the home, or the
support given by the parents and other family members (Khan & Malik, 1999; Fan, 2001;
Gonzalez- Pineda, Nunez, Gonzalez- Pumariega, Alvarez, Roces and Garcia, 2002).
Generally, schools are considered as places which provide appropriate learning
environment for a child, but importance of parents and community cannot be ignored.
Parents, adult family members, and siblings contribute significantly to various
components of personality of the child particularly and in improving his/her academic
performance.
The pivotal role of parents still continues as it has been recognized by the teachers
and parents themselves that they are essential for complete development of the
personality and career of their children. Gonzalez- Pineda, et al.,(2002) indicated that
without and childrens parental support, it is hard for teachers to devise academic
experiences to help students learn meaningful content (p.281). In home settings, the
learning processes occurs explicitly or consciously, often in an informal way. Parents
teach and train children early in their lives, the fundamental skills, attitudes and values
necessary for day-to-day living (UNESCO, 1992). The unwritten knowledge being
conveyed by parents to children, is specific and to a certain degree, specialized, i.e, that
which would enable the children to cope successfully with the requirements of the
immediate confines of homes and the community.

47

Research studies indicated that the nature of the parental support change at
different age levels of children. Gonzalez-Pineda et al. (2002) have found that parental
support is likely to decrease as children move from primary to middle and then to high
school grades. Similarly, a research study by Fan, (2001) showed that children also
develop sense of responsibility and perform better as they grow older. The study
indicated that those students whose parents had higher expectations for their childrens
academic achievement performed better from the beginning of their academic career and
accelerated faster in their academic progress during the transition period of middle to
high grades.
The children also seek emotional support from parents when they face some
academic problems at school. Educated and sensible parents always encourage their
children and give proper guidance in school related matters, but illiterate and
economically deprived parents may act violently and thus upset their child more. A study
by Repetti,(1996) indicated that children described themselves as more demanding and
difficult with their parents on days in which they had earlier perceived more problems
with peers, such as being teased by another child or feeling excluded by friends, or more
academic problems, such as receiving a poor grade or having difficult with schoolwork,
(p.1477)
LOCAL LITERATURE
Sometimes we wonder whether all this exercise is reaaly worth the effort. On
busy days, we are tempted to put the workout on hold. Well get back to it tomorrow, or
the day after tomorrow, or maybe the day after that when things settle down (which they
never do). A couple of weeks go by, and now you are too embarrassed to show up for
exercise class. Dont be! The benefits of exercise accrue only to those who make it a
lifelong commitment. Sometimes a reminder of the many health benefits offered by
exercise helps us reconfirm its importance and make exercise a lifelong priority.
Regular aerobic exercise helps prevent heart disease. It does this by slowing the
build-up of plaque in the arteries of the heart, Active people tend to have larger, cleaner
arteries. Aerobic exercise increases the level of the good HDL cholesterol in the

48

bloodstream, which helps carry the cholesterol out of the arteries, while decreasing the
bad LDL cholesterol, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
Aerobic exercise helps to prevent obstructive blood clots from forming in these arteries.
An additional cardiovascular benefit of aerobic exercise is that it helps to
normalize blood pressure, especially in people whose blood pressure is somewhat
elevated. Aerobic exercise makes the heart stronger and a more efficient pump. Resting
heart rate usually decreases after exercise training because the heart can pump more
blood per beat. Therefore, it needs to beat fewer times to circulate the amount of blood.
Exercise improves the bodys ability to regulate blood sugar, thus preventing type
2 diabetes.
Weight-bearing exercise prevents the loss of bone mineral that occurs as we age,
which can lead to a condition known as osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercise includes
walking, jogging, aerobics, racquet sports any activity that applies some force to the
bones.
Physical activity also strengthens the muscles and joints and other structures that
help hold the body together, like tendons and ligaments.
Exercise helps control body weight and is essential in any weight-loss program.
Exercise burns calories, and weight lost through a program of a low fat diet and exercise
is more likely to be fat loss, rather than water or muscle tissue loss. Weight loss is more
likely to be maintained if a person continues to exercise.
Since a history of repeated weight loss and weight gain can be harmful to your
health, slow but sure weight loss that stays off is the best way to go.
By preventing the loss of metabolically active muscle tissue (lean body mass),
exercise helps prevent the drop in metabolic rate that sometimes accompanies weight loss
and the gradual decline in metabolic rate that occurs as we age.
In many ways, exercise is the antithesis of aging. Exercise can slow the loss of
stamina, strength, flexibility, bone density, metabolic rate and general enthusiasm fore

49

being active that seems to go with getting older. Exercise gives you the ability to maintain
an independent lifestyle and increases the likelihood that youll enjoy your postretirement years.
Maintaining flexibility in the muscles of the legs and lower back, and strength in
abdominal and back muscles, can help prevent the development of back problems that
can be debilitating and very painful.
Exercise makes life more fun! As fitness improves, activity becomes easier, and
youre more likely to go out for a hike, or enjoy a day of skiing. Exercise increases your
stress resistance, helps you feel more relaxed and even helps you sleep better. An active
lifestyle also encourages other health-promoting habits, like avoiding tobacco and alcohol
and developing healthful eating habits.
The start of the year is the best time to get into a new healthy habit, and running is
perhaps one of the best, if not the cheapest, habit to put into practice. It is ideal to make
that new habit last for the long haul.
With no new skill to master and just a pair of running shoes, running is fast
becoming a very popular fad among Filipinos. Fun runs team relays and other running
competitions are being held all year around, not only in Metro Manila but also as high up
in Baguio and as down south Cebu.
Running has a lot of benefits. There are six ways to improves ones health, as
collated from websites of popular health magazines Runners world (6 ways running
Improves Your Health) And womans health (6 reason to start running, 3/22/13)
Running makes people happier. Aside from the runners high the rush of feel
good hormones known as endocannabinoids-Runners World cited a 2006 study in
Medicine and Science in Sport & Exercise which said that a single bout of exercise, like a
30 minute walk on a treadmill, could instantly lift the mood of someone suffering from
major depressive order. It added that moderate exercise may help people cope with
anxiety and stress even after theyre done.

50

Womens Health added that running is even recommended by mental health


experts to help treat clinical depression and other psychological disorders, such as drug
and alcohol addiction.
Running helps one to get thinner and stronger. Runners World cited studies
showing that regular exercise boosts afterburn or the number of calories burned after
exercise. Even after the exercise, the burn continues, it said.
According to Womens Health, running gives people a world-class work out.
[It] blasts the most calories; the faster you run, the harder your heart works and the
stronger it gets.
Running strengthens knees and other joints and bones. Its been a fact that running
increases bone mass, improves knee health and helps stem age related bone lose,
Runners World said.
Womens Health, meanwhile, said that running booster ones cartilage by
increasing oxygen flow and flushing out toxins, and by strengthening the ligaments
around the joints; and can prevent osteoporosis.
Running will keep minds sharper, even at old age. According to Runners World,
fitter older adults scored better in mental tests than their unfit peers. It added that regular
exercise helps defeat age-related mental decline, like task switching, selective attention
and working memory.
Running reduces the risk of disease. Runners World said that though running
doesnt cure cancer, theres plenty of proof that it helps prevents it, citing vast review of
170 epidemiological studies in the Journal of Nutrition, which showed that regular
exercise is associated with lower risk of certain cancers.
Meanwhile. Womens Health said that joggers have a leg up against heart
disease, stroke and diabetes. Running has been shown to lower blood pressure, raise good
cholesterol and boost immunity to colds and other viruses.

51

Running adds years to your life. Runners World said that even that minimum
amount physical activity- 30 minutes, five times per week- can do wonders in prolonging
ones life.
Womens Health, meanwhile, said that regular exercise could reduce both
disability and risk of death by increasing cardio fitness and bone mass, lowering
inflammation and improving response to vaccination.

52

SYNTHESIS AND RELEVANCE OF THE REVIEWED LITERATURE AND


STUDIES
The gathered information on both Foreign studies and Local Literature have
identified Exercise, Sleep, Diet, Attitude, Study habit, In house review, and School
program/college program, as the potential variables which the researchers believe it is
somewhat related and important to the present study or topic entitled. LEVEL OF
EEFECTIVENESS

OF

RADIOLOGIC

TECHNOLOGY

GRADUATE

IN

PREPARATION TO THE LOCAL BOARD EXAMINATION


Physical preparation consists of exercise, sleep and diet. Exercises have a positive
effect on cognition and brain function that may affect both thinking and emotion. There is
part of our brain called the hippocampus the brains memory center that be maintained
healthy by exercising. As David Bucci said this hippocampus is essential to remembering
particular things or object and whether they happen to be new in your experience. People
who are not often exercise have unhealthy perirhinal cortex that cause the brain not to
function well. Exercise also make our immune system strong, by exercising, the heart
pump more blood throughout the body, therefore the cell within the body will receive the
appropriate nourishment that makes them work properly to their assigned job, like attack
harmful living thing that enters within our body. Students who are regularly exercise have
the concentration and focus to learn efficiently because they are healthy and stay alert
often in facing the everyday activities in life.
A life of college student is very busy because of many lesson, homework, or
deadlines that it should past on time. Most student work overtime and sleep lately at
night, in order to finish all their work. According to Northern Illinois University

53

Professor and Industrial Organizational psychologist Dr. Larissa Barber, sleep is the
single most important health behavior we engage in. The standard time to sleep is 8 hours
a day, studies shows that not having enough time of sleep can lead to major problems
such as stress, personality changes, depression, confusion and generally lower life
satisfaction. A students have a normal sleep can learn efficiently and have a sharp
memory than to a student works overtime and sleep lately at night. Therefore sleep is
very significant to students learning, in order to think and participate always in class that
may affect their performance and learning process.
Food is one of the vital things in life in order to live. Choosing a great food
especially to student is very essential to stay healthy and strong. Healthy eating has been
linked to higher grades, better memory, more alertness, faster information processing and
improved health leading to better school attendance, according to registered dietitian
Elisa Zied, author of Feed Your Family Right. Conversely, unhealthy eating habits can
negatively affect learning. Every morning before students go to school sometimes they
skip meal for breakfast, because they are wake up lately or maybe breakfast is not part of
their priorities. Skipping a breakfast have a major effect in our daily task and work
because breakfast is the most important part of the meal in order to refuel the body and
mind after an overnight fast in order to start the day running effectively. It is also
important to consider the quality and nutrients in every food to ensure that the body and
soul is well nourish and healthy. Students that eat a food with high in cholesterol, sugar,
and calories or have a poor diet may result to lower their cognitive function, makes them
ill always, stress, and lower their life satisfaction that makes them less likely to learn
well.

54

Every student has a unique way to learn and study in particular subject or
specialization in school that makes them easily understand and study well. Study habit is
the way of setting up and taking action repeatedly and masters a subject matter or
specialization. Quality study habits is performed well to have a excellent academic
performance than to other student that have a poor study habits because student that have
a study habit have a high quality learn effectively. Ozmert (2005) emphasizes the
importance of environmental influence as a major factor in the development of students
studying habit. Therefore student have a quality parent or good parents that sustain and
discipline on their study may also reflect to student to have also a good study habit and
quality academic performance.
The above literatures and studies enabled the researcher to be guided in the
completion and formulation of the present study which is reviewed, enrich by the
researchers and give the valuable insights of the problem on hand.

55

CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter covers the perspective to be employed by the researcher in
conducting this study. It includes research design, the respondent and data gathering,
research material, and statistical treatment of data.
Research methods used
The researchers used the descriptive method of research utilizing surveyquestionnaires as the main instrument for data gathering. This method employed
collection, measurement, classification, analysis and interpretation of data involving
statistical treatment to test significant of difference in the level of effectiveness of
Radiologic Technology graduate in preparation to local board examination.
Research Instrument
To come up with a worthy output, this study used several research tools and
instruments these include survey and test questionnaire served as the primary instrument
in the study. The questionnaire as main instrument used to gather paertinent information
needed in the study the questionnaire checklist was based on the specific question, which
the study attempted to answer questionnaire was divided in two parts. The first part aimed
to collect data on the profile of the respondents, while the second part aimed to assess the
significant difference between Radiologic Technology School in Quezon City hospital
area in terms of, Percentage of passing the board exam, preparation of the board exam,
and School Program.

56

Significance of the Study


The study consistent of respondents who were practitioners in Tertiary Hospital of
Quezon City working at Radiology Department.
Data Gathering Procedure
The researcher used books, published thesis from the different libraries such as
are Arellano library to gather facts and information to substantiate this study. Internet was
utilized to gather foreign studies relevant to this research.
The administration of survey-questionnaires to the respondents was carried out by
the researcher during the first week of July, 2015.
Statistical Treatment of Data
To answer the specific question raised in the statement of the problem. The data
and information gathered for each respondent was tabulated according to the purpose of
the study and were treated statistically. This was done after tallying the date in order to
ensure a comprehensive interpretation.
Statistical treatment
To facilitate presentation and analysis of acquired data, the following statistical
approaches will be utilized to determine the reliability of the research. The research will
utilize the percentage, frequency, weighted mean, ranking and T-test.
1. Percentage distribution for the descriptive data. Percentage is used in determining
the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of Gender and Institution.

57

Formula is:
P

---------------- x 100
N

Where:
P = Percentage
n = sample size
N = Total no. of population
2. Frequency. It is the actual response to a specific questions or item in the survey
instrument. Frequency distribution is used to determine the frequency of the respondents
answers.
3. Weighted Mean is use:
The weighted mean is used to describe the preparation of senior intern in their
board exam in terms of Physical and Mental activity.
Formula is:
Weighted mean =

xw
_______
w

Where:
xw = The summation of the product of the frequency and the weights.
w = The total number of frequency.
4. Ranking. Once the weighted mean is computed, they are ranked according to the
magnitudes, from the highest to the lowest describing their positional importance.
5. T-test is used to solve the problem if there is a no significant difference in the
preparation of senior interns in the board examination.

58

The formula is:

Where :

the computed value

X1

the mean of the first group

X2

the mean of the second group

S11

the variance of the first group

S22

the variance of the second group

number of elements

The t-test a null hypotheses in the form:


Ho: P = 0
Against an alternative hypothesis in the form:
Ha: P 0

59

Reference
How Does Physical Activity Affect Academic Performance?. Spark countering childhood
Obesity since 1989. Retrieved January 29, 2015 from http://www.sparkpe.org/blog/howphysical-activity-affects-academic-performance/

College students performance suffers from lack of sleep By tailYahalom. USA TODAY.
Retrieved February 14, 2015 from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-0916-sleep deprivation_N.htm

Good diet and nutrition is important for high student performance. Retrieved February
14, 2015 from http://www. Publicschoolreview.com/blod/how-diet-and-nutrition-impacta-childs-learning-ability

Reading Habits Among Students and its Effect on Academic Performance. Retrieved
February
14,
2015
from
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=2908&context=libphilprac

Filipino Children Less Physically Active. Retrieved February 14, 2015 from
http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&i =562

Healthy lifestyle tips for students. By.Retrieved February 14,2015


http://www.philstar.com/cebu-lifestyle/2014/07/28/1351225/healthy-lifestyle-tipsstudents

from

The science of sleep. Retrieved February 14, 2015 from http://www.philstar.com/healthand-family/602979/science-sleep

The
Benefits
of
Reading.
Retrieved
February
http://metrocebu.com.ph/2014/02/the-benefits-of-reading/

14,

2015

from

Self regulated learning and academic achievement. Retrieved February 17, 2015 from
http://itari.in/categories/ability to learn/

You might also like