THE PURPOSE IN LIFE AND ACADEMIC BEHAVIOR OF PROBLEM STUDENTS IN BANGLADESH

This study was conducted with a group of 30 problem students who have been identified as irregular in class attendence, non-attentive to cla ss lectures, creating disturbances in the class, etc. The problem stud ents were compared with a group of equal number of normal students wit h respect to a Purpose in Life (Pn) scale. It was found that the probl em students had lower scores (M = 59.87, SD - 18.09) as compared to th ose of normals (M = 87.93, SD - 0.68). These scores differed significa ntly (t = 7.230). From this study it was concluded that the problem st udents demonstrated such activities due to a lack of purpose in their lives, although it was granted that some causality probably runs in bo th directions. It is hypothesised that counseling may be helpful in or der to improve such behaviour.