Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Rationale

Dadzie stated that reading is the ability to understand words contained in a

document and make use of the knowledge for personal growth and development.

This implies making meaning out of recorded information either printed or nonprinted

in the life an individual. People read for different reasons and purposes, some of

which include for pleasure, leisure, relaxation, information, and for the knowledge (as

cited in Owusu-Acheaw, 2004).

Students were engaged to recreational reading such as narrative fiction,

ebooks, comics, novels and etc. it has been rampant to our society and it’s very

common among senior high school students. Reading played a crucial role in one’s

person because it generally motivated the reader’s insight and gave them enjoyment.

The motivation towards reading activates a student’s behavior and helps broaden

their minds and perception. In this study, it has been shown that reading gives a big

impact to the students because aside from the information, it also gives a lesson to

everybody and allowed readers to understand others’ feelings. Thus, reading helps

to develop an individual’s idea or belief that is necessary to apply in our daily living.

Reading influenced students in various reasons because of the benefits it

gives, not just about the emotions they feel during reading but in fact, it makes them

become independent in a way of learning from the context. In short, reading is the

key to all forms of information necessary for our day-to-day survival growth and

development.
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The researchers knew that recreational reading habits were acquired fairly

early in an individual’s school life, probably in elementary school given that

numerous studies showed a decline in time spent reading that begins in middle

school. Since reading has been taught from school to home, many readers had

motivated themselves to read and learn new things in accordance to their reading

preferences. Thus, students who are motivated were more likely to enjoy reading

and will choose to read more often.

The objective of this study is to determine the senior high school student’s

perception about recreational reading and how it affects their mental and emotional

aspects. Also, its purpose is to know as to why students most likely and prefer to

read and what are the benefits it gives to the authors/s, parents, readers and most

especially to the students.

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Theoretical Framework

Social Psychological Theory Theory of Leisure

Profile of the Respondents

1. Age
1.1 17 years old – 10
1.2 16 years old – 6
1.3 18 years old – 4
2. Gender
2.1 Female – 19
2.2 Male – 1

Recreational Reading

Recreational Reading Habits

Figure 1. Theoretical Framework of the Study

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The systematic diagram framework shows the theory about the Social Psychological

Theory, and Theory of Leisure.

According to Neulinger (1981) the "one and only one essential criterion" for

explaining leisure is the "condition of perceived freedom" (p. 16), which he defined

as a state in which one "feels that what he/she is doing is done by choice and

because one wants to do it" (p. 15). Significantly, Neulinger insisted that

"any activity" meeting this criterion "may be associated with the experience of

leisure" (emphasis added; p. 16). Asserting that "everyone knows the difference"

between choosing to participate and being forced to participate in an activity,

Neulinger blithely dismissed any need to explore the complexities of defining

freedom. Going still further, he dismissed the distinction between "true freedom" and

the "illusion" of freedom as "irrelevant" (p. 15). What matters, he believed, is the

perception of freedom, not its reality. "Perceived freedom," which Neulinger readily

admitted might be illusory, became the core criterion of his theory. It remains one of

the most frequently used terms in leisure research. In relation thereto, individuals

who are engaged into recreational reading more like have their freedom with regards

to their choices or preferences with such recreational reading materials.

The Social Psychological Theory which relates to the study about recreational

reading habits of students established that individuals are aware as to what is the

difference between voluntary participation and unwillingness in participation. With

regards to this, the preferences of the individual in choosing what they will do during

their leisure time depend on them since they have their free will. Leisure reading is

also known as recreational reading or reading for pleasure, most of the individuals

are motivated to read books not just because they don’t have anything to do during
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their free time but also, for the reason that the content of their chosen reading

materials satisfy their sense of engagement. Hence, the social psychological theory

supports the study for it presents the idea that recreational reading habits are made

by individuals’ perception of freedom.

Based on the Transformative Learning Theory, people can transform their

reference through reflecting upon the interpretations, beliefs or habit and perspective

they get from reading.

Transformative learning (Mezirow, 1991; Cranton, 1994) is the process of

effecting change in a frame of reference. Adults have acquired a coherent body of

experience—associations, concepts, values, feelings, conditioned responses—

frames of reference that define their life world. Frames of reference are the

structures of assumptions through which we understand our experiences. They

selectively shape and delimit expectations, perceptions, cognition, and feelings.

They set our “line of action.” Once set, we automatically move from one specific

activity (mental or behavioral) to another. We have a strong tendency to reject ideas

that fail to fit our preconceptions, labeling those ideas as unworthy of consideration—

aberrations, nonsense, irrelevant, weird, or mistaken. When circumstances permit,

transformative learners move toward a frame of reference that is more inclusive,

discriminating, self-reflective, and integrative of experience.

This study relates to this theory in a way that readers’ may develop

autonomous thinking from those recreational materials. It is because what they read

from the books are processed by their minds which are later on transformed into

real-life weapons such as knowledge equipment, development of one’s self,

imagination development, and empathy. Hence, through the use of mediums for
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reading, individuals do not just get entertained but also they learned something from

it which can be useful in their day-to-day life.

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Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to explore the extent of recreational reading habits among

senior high school students. The study was conducted in University of Cebu- Main

Campus during S.Y 2017-2018.

Specifically, the study sought to answer the following specific questions:

1. Profile

1.1 Age

1.2 Gender

2. What were the respondents’ insights on recreational reading?

3. Why did the respondents prefer to read?

4. What were the factors that influenced the respondents to read?

5. How the respondents described their feeling when they are reading?

Significance of the Study

This study aimed to find out the perception as to why students are into

recreational reading. With the data that has been gathered then also be able to see

the good and bad sides to being involved in this recreational reading.

This study benefited the following group of people:

Authors. This study benefited a lot of people in the book industry for them to

find out what kind of book genres most people get attracted to. This research study

helped the authors in a way that they would be gaining knowledge about what could

be the best part of the story to improve in order to attract more readers. In addition,
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they have known what kind of story they are going to write after reading this research

paper.

Parents. This study also helped the parents who were worried about their

children’s behavior towards getting involved into reading for pleasure because

through this, parents could gather information as to why such act became part of

their habitual behavior. Through this research paper they have known why their

children have found engagement in any reading materials.

Readers. This study also gave justice to people who were involved into

recreational reading since this has helped them in giving a proper explanation as to

why they are experiencing this phenomenon. They knew what have been the

possible cause and effect as they were engaged into such recreational reading.

Future Researchers. Lastly, this study benefited future researchers with

similar or related topic to this research study. For this study has helped in supporting

the details of their research study that are relevant to the topic being tackled in this

paper. In that way, they have known what they are going to add in their research and

the significant information which they need to support their future study.
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Scope and Limitations

This is a qualitative study that was in a form of a phenomenological approach

that aimed to seek more information about the recreational reading habits of senior

high school student readers. It also focused on how the students respond to the main

objective of the study which is to determine the extent of the student’s recreational

reading habit. The perspective of the students towards recreational reading was on

the lookout. The conducted study talks about recreational reading habits, in which

research questions focused on the behavior and insights of readers towards reading.

The researcher's tool that was used to get the results of the study was in a survey

type, whereas the survey type is in line on a descriptive research. The subject area

of the study was in the University of Cebu - Senior High School building which is a

nine floor building. The researchers had only 20 respondents for this study, and

these 20 respondents were from any of the strand since it utilized typical purposive

sampling. The researchers gathered data through conducting a semi-structured

interview. And the time that was allotted in conducting the study and getting the

results was 4 months.

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Definition of Terms

The following terms are conceptually and operationally defined for better

understanding of the readers.

Habits. Refers to what are usually done by students. Refers to a behavior

of a student that acquired by frequently repetition shows itself in regularity.

Recreational. The feeling of enjoyment or having fun on a particular

thing. Relating to an activity that can be done for enjoyment when one is not

working on.

Recreational Reading. Refers to entertainment brought by reading materials.

Reading book such as novels, short story poems wherein it gives readers

fun.

Readers. Refer to students who are engaged into reading for enjoyment; A

person who reads in a particular way with regards to reading preferences.

Reading. Refer as a cognitive process that involves decoding symbols to

arrive at meaning. It is an active process of constructing meaning of words.

Reading Materials. These are mediums that readers used to read during

their leisure time. Some of these reading materials are pocket books, short story,

electronic books, novels, and etc. which differ in genres.