An Investigation into the Study Habits of Herat University Students

Abstract

Reading serves as a tool through which the ideas and experiences of intellectuals are disseminated throughout society. It also ensures the sustainability of culture, as various intellectual and ideological movements, scientific approaches, and religious, philosophical, artistic, and mystical teachings owe their preservation and perpetuation to being recorded and read. This research has been designed with the aim of understanding the process and patterns of reading among students and identifying the factors influencing this process. By gaining this understanding, the research seeks to enhance reading levels and address the challenges hindering it. The present study investigates the extent of reading, the types of content being read, and the

factors affecting reading habits among students at Herat University. This survey-based research was conducted using a questionnaire on a sample of 300 students from Herat University at the beginning of 2024, utilizing a non-probability quota sampling method. The results indicate that 63.7% of students read less than 11 hours per week for academic purposes, while 58.4% engage in the same amount of non-academic reading. Moreover, the level of non-academic reading among Herat University students is lower than their academic reading. Motivational books are the most frequently read, whereas poetry and novels are the least read genres among these students. Approximately half of the surveyed students did not read any books in the past year. Therefore, the overall reading level among these students is relatively low compared to other countries, and factors such as employment, health and psychological issues, social media, and economic conditions significantly influence this process.