ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the problems of poor reading habits and its consequences on the academic performance of a child in some selected schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. A proper research was carried out to find out those factors that lead to poor reading habits in students. In carrying out the research, research questions are been set in order to direct the researcher in administration of questionnaires. There is also review of relevant literature as to the causes of poor reading habits in students and how to curb the situation. Questionnaires which was the instrument used was given to the students by hand by the researcher herself. Also there is presentation of data collection and its analysis. Finally, this research work gives a liquid explanation of the causes of poor reading habits and how it can be prevented as can be seen in the concluding part i.e. conclusion and recommendations.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Reading as an intellectual activity is undertaken in literate society for obtaining information, acquiring and expanding knowledge. It is an important activity in the life of an individual because it motivates the individual interest towards the achievement of more knowledge. It also affords the individual to derive pleasure and entertainment in sharing from the experiences of others communicated through print or test materials. It is also a process by which printed words are assimilated, interpreted and transmitted into spoken words to understand the meaning and apply it on a daily basis. Reading is a receptive skill like listening and vocalizing what was stimulated, it also productive when it is done aloud. However, it is a mental process involving the interpretation of signs perceived through the sense organs. According to Longe and Ojo (1996) reading is the ability to transform the visual representation of language into meaning.
According to Walker (1998) reading is an active process (not a product like history) in which readers shift between sources of information (what they know and what the text says) elaborate meaning and strategies, check their interpretation (receiving when appropriate and use social context to focus their responses). The Interpretation Reading Association (2005) says reading is a complete system of deriving meaning from print that requires all the following: 1. The development and maintenance of a motivation to read. 2. The development of appropriate active strategies to contrast meaning from prints 3. Sufficient background information and vocabulary to foster reading comprehension. 4. The ability to decode unfamiliar words 5. The ability to read fluently. From this definition of reading, we can deduce the reading is a complex activity that requires good mastery and personal interest for sound effectiveness, consequently most students lost interest and concentration thereby leading to poor reading habits among students.
