Study of extensive reading preferences among the science-based undergraduates in Sri Lanka: A case study of Medicine and Agriculture faculties at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Extensive reading of undergraduates would be more influential & valuable habit in so many different ways during their academic lives as they become confident, happy readers can be both challenging and immensely gratifying. Since measuring this habit quantitatively would be bit difficult due to the various aspects, however this study attempts to measure the ratio level of extensive reading of undergraduates instead of their intensive reading. Finally it tries comparatively analyzing the extensive reading preferences among the science-based undergraduates in Sri Lanka with reference to the Medicine and Agriculture faculties at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (RUSL) based on the time-series data retrieved from the Koha Integrated Library System. The main objective of the study was to identify the level of extensive reading of general reading books by science-based undergraduates. The specific objectives of the study were to find out the level of availability of library resources related to the extensive reading, to find out the existing extensive reading behaviors and to identify the comparison and gaps of extensive reading by the science-based undergraduates of RUSL. The case study method was used to conduct the study and time series data set retrieved from the Koha: Open-Source Library Integrated System called ‘ISURa’ which has been installed at the file server of RUSL during the time period from 2016 to 2019. The main assumption of the study was that checking out books from the library by the above students is the only use for them. The limitation of the study was not considering the Adhoc reading at the library during the selected period. The major finding of the study was that science-based student’s extensive reading behavior is satisfactory compared with their intensive reading (Agriculture students 50% and Medicine students 20%) further authors were recommended to enhance the available resources by increasing the annual budget proportionately.