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FACULTY OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

SESSION 2010/2011

STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF THE HOURS SPENT IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE (CGPA) AMONG 2010/2011 FIRST YEAR FACULTY OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA, KUALA LUMPUR CAMPUS KUALA LUMPUR.

No. Name Matric No.1. HOR POOI EEA1301822. NURUL ATIQAH BINTI ABD AZIZA1273673. SIAH PEK JIAA1302384. HASME ANIM BINTI AHMAD BASRIA1270215. YAP PUI TENGA1303566. NURWAHIDAYU BINTI ABD WAHABA1267647. CHIA BING SHINA1303418. GOH SU SANGA1302799. SA`IDAH NAFISA ZAIRA BINTI AHMAD NAZLIA12737610. LEE YING HUIA13012811. ROOPINI A/P PADMANABHANA12699712. AFIRA BINTI ZULKIFLIA12717913. NURFATINA BINTI MAT DINA12730414. MUHAMMAD HAZIQ BIN SHARIFFA12697815.NG CHEE SENA13023216.TAN SAU PEIA130408INTRODUCTION/ RESEARCH JUSTIFICATIONTo determine the effects of joining extracurricular activities, which include KTSN residential college activities, faculty activities and non beneficial organisations towards students academic performance (CGPA). Our respondents are made up of first year undergraduates of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FSK), UKM session 2010/2011.With this, we can know either involvement of university undergraduates in extracurricular activities can affect academic performance or not, and to identify other factors that might affect study performance among students.GENERAL OBJECTIVETo study of the effect of the hours spent in extracurricular activities on students academic performance (CGPA) among first year undergraduates Faculty Of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Campus Kuala Lumpur session 2010/2011.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVESTo identify types of extracurricular activities which the students get involved.

To compare hours spent on extracurricular activities between genders among 1st year FSK, UKM KL campus students.

To determine the significance between sleeping hours and hours spent on extracurricular activities among 1st year FSK, UKM KL campus students.

To determine the significance between study hours and hours spent on extracurricular activities among 1st year FSK, UKM KL campus students.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVESTo determine the significance between stress/distraction and hours spent on extracurricular activities among 1st year FSK, UKM KL campus students.To identify the preferences of student to participate in extracurricular activities on weekdays, weekend or both among 1st year FSK, UKM KL campus students.To compare the effect of number of sleeping hours, study hours and stress/distraction to academic performance among 1st year FSK, UKM KL campus students.

METHODOLOGYResearch DesignObservational Studies ,Cross Sectional StudiesSampling MethodSystematic Random SamplingSample size= 290 subjectsTarget Population= All first year undergraduates of University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Campus for 2010/2011 session.

Material and Research MethodPilot Study and Questionnaire (13 Questions)Research AnalysisPearson correlationANOVASimple regressionMultiple regressionVariable*Dependent

*IndependentCGPA

Individual factors, demographic factors, hours spent in extracurricular activities.Inclusion Criteria All first year undergraduates of FSKB, UKM session 2010/2011

Exclusion CriteriaFirst year undergraduates from Forensic Science Program, FSKB, UKM session 2010/2011

RESULTS ANDDISCUSSION

Table 3 Demographic Factors of StudentsVariableTotal Number of Respondent, NPercentage (%)Gender*Male*Female21931140 18.13% (31) 81.87% (140)Race*Malay*Chinese*Indian*Other2191145061 66.67%(114) 29.24% (50) 3.51% (6) 0.58% (1)VariableTotal no. of RespondentsPercentage (%)CourseBiomedical ScienceOptometryPhysiotherapyNutritionDieteticsDiagnostic Imaging & RadiotherapyEnvironmental HealthSpeech ScienceOccupational TherapyAudiology

3523102319121612912

20.4713.455.8513.4511.117.029.367.025.267.02

Table 4 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of StudentsVariableTotal Number of Respondents (N)MeanMinMaxCGPA1692.75 1.704.00 # The mean of the CGPA obtained among respondents = 2.75Table 5 Types of Activities Joined by StudentsVariableMeanMinimumMaximumKTSN Activities

University/ Faculty Activities

Non-beneficial organisation

Others3.72 2.66

1.431.08

0.461.02

0.180.520.00

0.00

0.00

0.0019.00

4.00

8.00

3.00VariableMeanMedianModeMinimumMaximumNo of hours spent in extracurricular activities per day2.7 1.42.52012No of hours spent in extracurricular activities per week16.6 16.611.256184Table 6 Number of Hours Spent in Extracurricular Activities Per Day and Per WeekVariableMeanMedianModeMinimumMaximum No of hours spent in extracurricular activities per day2.8 1.42.82012No of hours spent in extracurricullar activities per week9.7 10.076184Table 7 Number of Hours Spent in Extracurricular Activities per Day and per Week by Female RespondentsVariableMeanMedianModeMinimumMaximum No of hours spent in extracurricular activities per day2.8 1.42.82012No of hours spent in extracurricullar activities per week9.7 10.076184Table 8 Number of Hours Spent in Extracurricular Activities per Day and per Week by Male RespondentsVariableN = 141Percentage (%)Weekday

2618.4Weekend

2215.6Both

9366Table 9 Preferable Day of Joining Extracurricular Activities by Respondents There are only 141 respondents answer this questions as some of them do not answer the question. Missing data is not within the 10% drop-off in the calculation of sample size. The result considered as not reliable.

Kolmogorov-Smirnov TestA type of analytical method of testing normality of distribution for large sample size.

More sensitive than coefficient of variance.

More objective than histogram and plots.

In an analysis, if p>0.05, null hypothesis is not rejected. Hours spent in extracurricular activitiesStatisticdfSignificant10.119150.20020.091420.2002.50.28250.20030.089390.20040.147150.20050.22850.20060.33730.200Table 10 Test of Normality using Kolmogorov Smirnov TestSince p>0.05, null hypothesis is not rejected. Table 11 Test of Normality using Kolmogorov Smirnov Test

Hours spent in extracurricular activities per weekStatisticdfSignificant CGPA1.17890.2002.197120.2003.13290.2004.232100.1355.31570.0356.112230.2007.18780.200Hours spent in extracurricular activities per weekStatisticdfSignificant CGPA8.27060.19610.141140.20015.24370.20021.15390.200From the analysis, p>0.05, null hypothesis is accepted. Therefore, all the data distributed normally. Table 12 Test of Normality using Kolmogorov-Smirnov TestNumbers of hours spent in sleepingSignificant40.15560.2006.50.20080.054100.125From the analysis, p>0.05, null hypothesis is not rejected. Hence, the data is distributed normally. Table 13 Test of Normality using Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test.Numbers of hours spent in studying0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.0

2.3

3.0

4.0

5.0

Sig.0.20.20.20.20.20.20.20.20.072Since p>0.05, null hypothesis is not rejected. PEARSONS CORRELATIONPearsons correlation is a parametric test to measure the strength of the linear association between two variables.Table 14 Correlation Coefficient of Factors that Affect CGPACorrelation coefficiant, rpNumber of hours spent in extracurricular activities per day-0.0610.493Number of hours spent in extracurricular activities per week0.1190.151Number of sleeping hours0.1750.024Number of study hours-0.1230.115By using Pearsons correlation:There is a significant relationship between number of hours spent on sleeping and CGPA. With the positive correlation between the number of hours spent on sleeping and CGPA, this indicates that spending more time on sleeping will lead to high CGPA. However, this correlation is classified as weak with the correlation coefficient, r = .175.

The correlation between number of hours spent on sleeping and CGPA is classified as weak with the correlation coefficient, r = .175. PRIOR TO STUDYVariables associated with shorter sleeping hours, such as anxiety and psychological maladjustment, have consistently been shown to be negatively associated with educational performance (Covington & Omelich, 1987; Hill & Wigfield, 1984)

There is no significant relationship between number of hours spent on extracurricular activities per day or per week and CGPA, with the p > .05. This finding shows that joining extracurricular activities or not, does not influence students CGPA.

A study conducted by the U. S. Department of Education revealed that students who participate in co-curricular activities are three times more likely to have a grade point average of 3.0 or better than students who do not participate in co-curricular activities (Stephens & Schaben, 2002, para. 4).Another study that been conducted by the National Educational Longitudinal Study, found that participation in some activities improves achievement, while participation in others diminishes achievement (Broh, 2002, para. 1).Since the results for relationship between amounts of time spend in extracurricular and CGPA is very contradicting, hence its effect is still being debated.

For demographic factor, there is no significant association between amounts of time spent in extracurricular activities and CGPA for aspect of race, but has significant effect for genders aspect.Male students spend more time in extracurricular activities than female student in a week.

Normally, girls spend more time outside the home in organized activities, taking lessons, doing academic activities, engaging in outdoor play and socializing, whereas boys spend more time outside the home in unorganized activities and team sports (McHale et al., 2001). Previous research from Liu, O.L., Rijmen, F., MacCann, C., & Roberts, R., in 2009 also reveals that boys spend significantly more time on non-academic activities such as computer gaming, television, sports and the Internet. This certainly support our findings that male student spent more time in extracurricular activities than female student.

4. Number of hours spent on studying has no significant relationship with CGPA, where p > .05. This finding implies that students who spend more time on studying might not have a high CGPA.

Data collected from the survey conducted in Harvard University and Kalamazoo College (2004) also shows that amount of study hours correlate with GPA, although the correlation is weak where value r is 0.199225.This might due to the respondents were not being honest with their studys hours.

The amount spent in sleeping hours was positively correlated with CGPA. spending more time in sleeping will obtain a higher CGPA.The variables associated with shorter sleeping hours, such as anxiety and psychological maladjustment, have consistently been shown to be negatively associated with educational performance (Covington & Omelich, 1987; Hill & Wigfield, 1984). The experience of anxiety, psychological maladjustment, and neuroticism tend to adversely affect the educational experience by decreasing individuals' attention and concentration and increasing task performance errors (Woolfolk, 1993). Stress is negatively correlated with CGPA

Although an optimal level of stress can enhance learning ability (Kaplan & Sadock, 2000), too much stress can cause physical and mental health problems (Niemi& Vainiomaki, 1999), reduce students self esteem (Linn & Zeppa, 1984; Silver & Glicken, 1990)

Increased anxiety from the test reduces the capacity available for performing the task, the result is that performance breaks down and the result becomes self-confirming (Fisher, 1994).

CoefficientsaModel BBeta Sig.Constant 2.6230.000No. of study hours-0.033-0.1100.158No. of sleeping0.0480.0580.042Stress -0.059-0.0730.352Multiple Regression Equation: Y = AX+B+C GCPA = 2.623+ (-0.033* no. of study hour) + (0.048*no. of sleeping hour) + (-0.059*stress) = 2.579

R2 = 4.7%. F (3.160) = 2.604.

largest influence on CGPA is no. of sleeping (0.158)negatively correlated no. of study hours and stress (-0.011, -0.073)

Discussion:**shows that the presence of stress will had an adverse effect on academic performance. Learning and memory can be affected by stress. Although an optimal level of stress can enhance learning ability (Kaplan & Sadock, 2000)

CONCLUSIONHighest reasons for students to join extracurricular activities is for merit (N=140, 37%) compared to other reasons like self interest (N=100, 27%), being forced to join (N=84, 22%), influence by peer group (N=46, 12%) and for other reasons (N=7, 2%).

Students that involve in extracurricular activities mostly are females (81.87%), and Malays (66.67%).

Activities that join by students, mostly is KTSN activities with mean of 3.722.66.

On average, students join 4 KTSN college activities, 2 university or faculty activities, 1 non-beneficial organization and 1 other activity.

Parameter of the academic performance, CGPA, the result showed mean CGPA of 2.750.39.

The amounts of time spending on extracurricular by students daily and weekly showed the mean hours of 2.781.40 hours and 16.61.66 hours respectively.

Female students spent more times in joining extracurricular activities daily with mean of 2.81.4 hours while male students spent only 2.51.3 hours per day.

However, female students spent less time (9.710.0 hours) than male students (10.510.1 hours) in extracurricular

Most of the students preferably like joining activities for both weekends and weekdays (N=93, 66%) rather than only joining activities during weekdays (N=26, 18.4%), or only in weekends (N=22, 15.6%).

There is a significant positive relationship between number of hours spend on sleeping and CGPA but the correlation is considered as weak, with the correlation coefficient, r = .175. There is no significant relationship between number of hours spent on studying with CGPA, where p > .05.

From regression analysis between number of hours spent on sleeping and CGPA, it comes out with the regression equation of CGPA= 2.435 + (0.052* Number of hours spent on sleeping) Since t value for number of hours spent on sleeping is (t= 2.274, p