Probing the Role of Self-Concept and Study Habits in Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students

Globalization and advancements in science and technology have posed new challenges for the young generation around the world. A well-educated, well-trained, and well-skilled generation is the demand of the rapidly changing modern world. The importance of education and skill could be estimated by the emphasis that was put in the visionary preambles enshrined in "The World Programme of Action for Youth," which was adopted in 1995 and prioritizes education as a top priority. India, with the largest adolescents, plays a significant role in this endeavour. India, having the largest population of adolescents in the world, is the largest stakeholder in this gigantic endeavour. Against this backdrop, the present study was undertaken with a randomly selected sample of 200 students belonging to secondary schools located in urban and rural areas of Siwan district. The Self-Concept Questionnaire by Dr. R. K. Saraswat (2011) was administered to assess the self-concept of the students, and the Test of Study Habits (TSHA) constructed by Dr. C.P. Mathur (1974) was applied. Percentage of the marks obtained in the last year grade examination accepted as an indicator of academic achievement. Statistical analysis of the data obtained confirmed all hypotheses framed to achieve the objectives of the study.