Early Birds & Night Owls: Understanding Its Effect on Students' Study Habits at Mindanao State University-Sulu Senior High School

Abstract. The students today faced increasing demand to required them to balance study, rest and personal time effectively. Sleep chronotype refers to an individual’s natural preference for sleeping and being active in the morning or evening, which influences students’ focus, productivity, and study habits. However, limited studies have explored this among students in the Philippine context. The study was limited to selected STEM Senior High School students from Grades 11 and 12 at Mindanao State University–Sulu during the academic year 2025-2026 and focused only on sleep chronotypes and study habits. This study aimed to determine the sleep chronotype preference of students and how sleep chronotypes affect the study habits of Senior High School students at Mindanao State University–Sulu. The study employed qualitative research design using focus group discussions and structured face-to-face interviews. A total of twelve (12) STEM students from Grades 11 and 12 were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using an interview guide and were analyzed through thematic analysis to identify patterns and key themes related to students’ chronotypes and study habits. Findings showed that most students preferred nighttime study due to better focus and fewer distractions. Three key themes emerged: chronotype influences productivity, awareness of chronotype improves time management, and sleep patterns affect focus and academic performance. Misalignment with school schedules often results in fatigue and reduced classroom engagement. Sleep chronotype significantly influences students’ study habits and academic performance. Aligning study schedules with peak productivity periods can improve learning, but school demands may create challenges for students. Keywords: Early birds; Night owls; Sleep chronotype; STEM chronotype; Study habit