READING CULTURE AND MEMORY RETENTION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the reading culture and memory retention among secondary school students in Ondo State, Nigeria. It specifically investigated the relationship between reading culture and memory retention among secondary school students in Ondo State. The study found out the correlation between effective study habit and level of memory retention among secondary school students in Ondo State. It also Investigated the difference in reading culture and memory retention among secondary school students on the basis of gender in Ondo State and established the level of usage of school libraries influence on memory retention among secondary school students in Ondo State. The population of the study comprised all public secondary school students of class two (SS2) in the three senatorial districts in Ondo State. The sample for this study was six hundred (600) students of class two with multi-stage sampling procedure involving simple random and stratified sampling techniques. The instrument tagged “Reading Culture and Memory Retention Questionnaire (RCMRQ)” was used for the study. The findings revealed that reading culture and effective study habit significantly influenced memory retention among the students in Ondo State and that the use of library and learning strategies improves learning recall and academic achievement among secondary school students. The study concluded that effective study and reading culture, along with proper use of library resources, significantly enhance memory retention among secondary school students in Ondo State, with variations observed by gender and location. The education stakeholders should show greater commitment to the provision of necessary library infrastructures facilities and acquisition of recent information materials in to the library for enhanced library usage and memory retention.