A study of reading habits of students in Chandigarh City of India

Abstract

This paper aims to study the reading habits and behavior patterns of college students in the age group of 18–22 from different professional colleges in Chandigarh city of India. The study aims to find, if students did any extra readings apart from the requirement mandatory for the course. It was found that only a certain percentage of students had spent extra time on reading additional books. Another group spent time in extra reading, only if they were asked to do so, by teachers, elders, friends or peers and only a miniscule number indulged in reading as an activity of delight or to gain knowledge or enhance their understanding of the concepts outside of the academia or curriculum. The set of students who read only the bit that is required for their curriculum, are likely to do so only at the time of examination. Most of the time, this group is least interested in gaining even an iota of knowledge outside of their prescribed curriculum. However, this section or other sections of students might show interest in gaining knowledge and working on their growth in other areas, for instance, learning about history by watching a docu-drama, a movie, or a play, rather than reading about it. The study also found that the students are unable to keep up a conversation if there is a discussion about issues of general knowledge, or current happenings. A majority would be aware about the current events, but would not know them in detail.