An Exploration of the Effect of Institutional Factors on the Development of Reading Interests of Aau First Year Students
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Date
2001-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study is concerned with the exploration of the effect of institutional
factors on the development of reading interests (RI) of First year students at
Addis Ababa University (AAU), College of Social Sciences (CSS). The sample
population of the study were 200 students, out of whom 100 were from rural
background, while 100 from urban background.
To obtain the necessary information a questionnaire with 24 items that
focus mainly on exploring the ways in which institutions influence students' RI ,
and the perception of students about the effect of institutions on their RI was
constructed and administered to the students. A follow-up interview was also
held with selected students to consolidate the information secured through the
questionnaire.
The study showed that Freshman Students at AAU, CSS believe
institutional factors have affected the development of their RI. It was also
observed that students believe school and home factors have had the most effect
on their reading interest development (R ID), followed by community and peer
factors, in that order. Nevertheless, the actual assistance students received from
institutions indicated that peers contributed to their RID much more than did other
institutions.
The major ways in which institutions influenced the development of
students' RI were found to be through the provision of materials for leisure
reading at home, school and community; through encouragement and help given
by parents, language teachers and peers, and through setting leisure reader
models.
The result of the study also revealed the difference between rural and
urban students in terms of the contribution of assistance from home and
community to their RID to be highly significant. The students from urban setting
were better helped than were those from rural. On the other hand, the effect of
assistance from school and peers showed no statistically significant difference
between the two groups. A further finding was that students believe whether one
is from a rural or an urban background has strong effect on individual's RID.
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Keywords
Development, Reading Interests