Elizabeth N. Ohiozua

This study was designed to investigate the influence of study habits and peer pressure on academic performance among university students. Two research questions were raised to guide the study. The questions raised and examined include: What is the influence of study habits on the academic performance of university students? What is the influence of peer pressure on the academic performance of university students? The study adopted a correlational survey research design to examine the relationship between study habits, peer pressure, and academic performance among university students. The population of this study consists of 323 students in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology (EECP), Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. The population comprises students across all levels as follows: 400 level – 47, 300 level – 81, 200 level – 89, and 100 level – 106. The sample size of 100 was considered adequate and manageable for effective data collection, analysis, and generalization of findings within the department. The main instrument for data collection in this study was a structured questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument was determined using the Cronbach Alpha method to measure the internal consistency of the items. The questionnaire was administered once to a group of 200-level students who were not part of the study sample. The analysis produced a reliability coefficient of 0.82, indicating that the instrument was reliable and internally consistent for data collection. The data collected for this study were analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation, to answer the research questions. Findings from the study indicates that students agreed that study habits significantly influence their academic performance. It was also discovered that peer pressure plays a vital role in shaping students’ attitudes toward learning and achievement. From the study it was recommended that students should be encouraged to develop and maintain positive study habits such as effective time management, regular reading, goal setting, and consistent class preparation. It was also recommended that the University of Benin should also organize study skills workshops to help students improve their learning strategies