Investigación longitudinal de los hábitos de estudio en una cohorte de alumnos universitarios

Abstract

Introduction. In this article the evolution of study
\nhabits of a university students´ cohort (throughout
\n5 years of professional studies) that started their
\nstudies in a private university in 2002, is described.
\nObjective. To establish the changes in the study habits
\n(HE), as a product of the professional formation.
\nAdditionally, this research work aims to characterize
\nthe relationship between the study habits and the
\nacademic performance. Materials and methods.
\nThe Gasperín´s Study Habits Test was applied
\nto 162 new students in their first week of classes.
\nAfter 5 years, the same test was re-applied to the
\nsubjects that were still in the university. Also, information
\nabout their admission scores, performances
\nand their social & economical levels, were gathered.
\nResults. In the first application of the test there were
\nno statistically significant differences in the HE, according
\nto each professional studies program. In the
\nfirst semester, a positive correlation between the
\nperformance and one of the scales of the instrument
\nwas found (concentration and place of studying). In
\ngeneral terms (considering the three programs studied)
\nthere were no significant differences in the HE
\nin the before-and-after comparison. Conclusions.
\nThis research work is aligned with other empirical
\nefforts interested on learning about the relationship
\nbetween HB and academic performance. On the
\nother hand, contributing with empirical evidence to
\nthe knowledge about the high stability of the HE
\nthrough the time, offers clues to suppose that, possibly,
\nthe fact of dominating a knowledge area may not
\nbe necessarily related to an improvement of the way
\nin which we approach it, as it is commonly thought.