INTRODUCTIONHandouts are very important to students and lecturers. Some people are of the view that handouts make students lazy whiles others also think it helps improve the academic performance of students.

PROBLEM STATEMENT Handouts indirectly make students lazy It limits students ability to get more

information Attendance to lectures is poor due to

the availability of handout

GENERAL OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the role of handouts in helping students of Koforidua Polytechnic to study. 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVESTo know if handouts help students in Koforidua polytechnic in their studiesTo know how effective the handouts helps to improve the academic performance of students in koforidua polytechnic To know the benefits of students using handoutsTo know lecturers perception on the role of handout in helping students in their studies

RESEARCH QUESTIONS What is the use of the handouts? Do students find it difficult to use the handouts? What is the administration doing to facilitate the use of

handout? Does the use of handouts improve the performance of

students? Does handouts limit students ability to research?

HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY H0: The use of handouts helps students in their studies H1: The use of handouts do not help student in their studies

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study is intended to provide accurate information on

the role of handout in helping students of Koforidua polytechnic in their studies

It is intended to discover the problems associated with the use of handouts and its possible remedies.

It is aimed at student’s perception on the use of handouts.

AREA OF STUDYThe study is carried out in Koforidua polytechnic specifically

in the school of business and management studies.

CHAPTER TWOLITERATURE REVIEW The benefits of well organized notes

that combine the professor’s thoughts as well as the student’s thoughts may prove more beneficial as a reference for long term retention than the benefits of independent note taking. (Titsworth, 2004)

CHAPTER THREERESEARCH METHODLOGY RESEARCH DESIGN The method used in conducting this research was by survey. This included the use of unstructured interviews and questionnaire for collection.

POPULATIONThe population for the study included the marketing department, accountancy department, purchasing and supply department and secretaryship and management studies department in Koforidua Polytechnic.

SAMPLE SELECTIONThe sample size selected was done through non-random sampling method specifically accidental sampling. This is because it was difficult getting all the students in the various departments of school of business and management studies.

DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION This chapter seeks to analyze the data collected for this study. The findings are based on the analysis of the response given and also the data collected from the students of koforidua polytechnic specifically in the school of business and management studies. Thirty (30) copies of the questionnaires were administered and respondents were made up of some students in the school of business and management studies of koforidua polytechnic.

Sex Number of Respondents

percentages

Male 13 43.3%Female 17 56.7%Total 30 100

The distribution of sex as per sample size

Sex Very Useful Useful Not useful

Male 10 1 2

Female 12 3 2

Total 22 4 4

PERCENTAGE 74% 13% 13%

Respondents Yes No Total

Lecturers 1 4 5

Total 20% 80% 100%

Handouts in improving the performance of students:

CHAPTER FIVEFINIDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

MAJOR FINDINGSHandouts have been useful to students.It has been revealed that handouts emphasis on topics to be treated and gives students more insight into the topics

It serves as a reference for students in their studiesIt limits students ability to think beyond their scope

CONCLUSION The use of handouts helps students in their studies. It helps to improve their academic

performance and also serves as a guide in their studies. Handouts also help to specify the study areas that students need to tackle and this enlightens them on some particular areas that they need to study so far as the academic syllabus is concerned. Therefore handouts provide a lot of benefits for students so far as academics is concerned.

RECOMMENDATIONN Lecturers should encourage students to research more and not to solely rely on handouts. The library should be stocked with more books which will be relevant to students course

of study.