LEVEL OF EFFECTIVENESS OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY GRADUATE IN PREPARATION TO THE LOCAL BOARD EXAMINATION

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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

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CHAPTER 1 PROBLEM AND IT’S 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

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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 aren’t 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.

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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 Children’s Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, St Lukes Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center. To achieve this end, the researcher’s 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.

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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 student’s 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 one’s 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,

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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 one’s activities): self-judgment (selfevaluation of one’s 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.

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Conceptual Framework INPUT

Profile of the Respondents:

PROCESS

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Survey

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Administration of questionnaire

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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

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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

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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;

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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

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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

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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 Children’s 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. It’s all about advance mindset in organizing, practicing, reviewing to one thing in order to be ready for the tomorrow challenges CHAPTER II

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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. It’s 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.

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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 it’s unknown whether they derive less cognitive benefit from exercise as a result. So the scientists wanted to determine each volunteer’s 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 they’d 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 brain’s primary memory center,

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he says, but the object-recognition task involves activity in the perirhinal cortex, you might recall where you’ve 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 who’d 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 didn’t improve the memory scores of those who’d 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.

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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 people’s ability to recall objetcs, for instance, “may respond less robustly” to exercise than other people, he says if their genetic makeup doesn’t 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 who’d 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

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jog regularly, in other words, and most of us can expect to continue recognizing our keys as keys. If you exercise regularly, there’s a good chance that you’re 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 don’t 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, it’s often enough to help keep you healthier than you would be if you didn’t exercise.

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While it’s 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 don’t give your body enough rest. Too much exercise can actually cause your immune system to weaken. It’s one of the reasons that you may feel very rundown and weak if you’re 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 don’t 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 don’t 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 isn’t 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

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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 don’t 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 – it’s 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

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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 here’s 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. There’s 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 20’s, 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 goup’s brains were

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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 student’s 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.

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So make time exercise. Choose an activity you love that gets your heart rate up, whether it’s 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. You’ll 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.

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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. What’s 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

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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 student’s 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

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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

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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 student’s 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

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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. It’s 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 don’t do as well.

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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 don’t get a full night’s 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.

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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, it’s 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.”

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How much sleep is enough? While most people think of the standard as 8 hours, studies show that performance decrements don’t 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 person’s “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. It’s not just the amount of sleep that matters for positive well-being and performance outcomes; sleep routines are just as important. Barber’s 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 body’s sleep schedule. Barber finds it troubling that people commonly overlook routines in favor of just catching up on sleep at a later date.

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“People often think of sleep in compensatory terms, like a credit card – I’ll 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,

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students should focus on good sleep habits, so when the night before arrives, they won’t 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 student’s 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 night’s sleep after learning the task. Sleep depriviation, on the other hand, increases the incidence of academic failure, worse test taking, depression and behavioral problems.”

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Daniel S. Lewin, PhD, of the Children’s National Medical Center at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C, agrees that, on today’s 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. Here’s 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

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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 don’t 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 children’s 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.

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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 one’s age. The Sleep-Side Rule is found to be an effective classroom tool that improves children’s 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.

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3. Avoid bright light in the evening. Darkness lets your body know it’s 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 don’t 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+SLEEP’s 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+SLEEP’s 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) Winner’s Seal of Approval. PTPATM media is North America’s 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

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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 children’s 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 you’re concerned about your or your child’s 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.

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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

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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.

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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 body’s 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 night’s 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 person’s 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.

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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 reducesone’s 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 they’re 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

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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. It’s 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. Hard–boiled 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 don’t 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

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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

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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 it’s 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.

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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 parent’s educational aspiration for their children proved to be strongly related to student’s academic growth. Research studies have found that parental educational level has a significant impact on child’s 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 parent’s educational ambition for their children. Khan, Khan and Zubairi (1999) stated that “interacting with and sharing the child’s activities is affected by level of parent’s 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 children’s education. Some poor parents make some agreements for helping their children in studies

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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, student’s 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 children’s 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.

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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 children’s 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. We’ll 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. Don’t 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

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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 body’s 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

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being active that seems to go with getting older. Exercise gives you the ability to maintain an independent lifestyle and increases the likelihood that you’ll 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 you’re 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 Runner’s world (“6 ways running Improves Your Health”) And woman’s 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-Runner’s 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 they’re done”.

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Women’s 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. Runner’s 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 Women’s 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. It’s been a fact that running increases bone mass, improves knee health and helps stem age related bone lose, Runner’s World said. Women’s Health, meanwhile, said that running booster one’s 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 Runner’s 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. Runner’s World said that though running doesn’t cure cancer, there’s 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. Women’s Health said that jogger’s 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.

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Running adds years to your life. Runner’s World said that even that minimum amount physical activity- 30 minutes, five times per week- can do wonders in prolonging one’s life. Women’s 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.

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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 brain’s 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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 =

Σ xw _______ Σw

Where: Σ xw = The summation of the product of the frequency and the weights. Σ 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.

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The formula is:

Where :

t

=

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

n

=

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

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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

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

14,

2015

from

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