Reading habits among the graduates: an evaluative study based on the graduates of the faculty of Islamic studies & Arabic language, South Eastern university of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Reading is a habit that completes man as education is the basis of social progress. It is an essential one among university graduates. The reading habits of man living in a mechanized world have suffered a setback due to increased workloads. In this too, graduates face various obstacles in developing reading habits and gaining continuous reading. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of assessing the level of reading among the university graduates and identifying the factors that hinder the reading habits and this exploration carried out based on 2016/17 academic year graduates of Faculty of Islamic Studies & Arabic Language, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. This study uses descriptive methodology through mixed approach. Questionnaire and interview were used to obtain the primary data for this study. Also used as secondary data were research articles, texts, web articles, and journals related to the topic. The Questionnaire was given through a Google Form among randomly selected 2016/17 graduates of Faculty of Islamic Studies & Arabic Language, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. In addition, data were obtained from ten selected interviews. At the end of the study, the study found that undergraduates’ reading habits were declining among graduates, and that the main factors that prevented them from continuing their reading habits were home works, increased workload, social media, certain economic problems, peer harassment, and lack of time to read. And the suitable recommendations were given in last for reduce the obstacles.