It may be the first week of classes, but Abra Jeffers spent Tuesday afternoon poring over a chemistry workbook at the tables outside Espresso Royale Caffe, 527 E. Grand River Ave.

The chemistry senior said she studies there often because she tries to be in an environment where she can relax amid background noise.

"I make it one of my top priorities," Jeffers said. "This way, I understand the material more and I know what I need to figure out more."

A few tables away, computer information systems junior Chris Swayze sat with a closed notebook in front of him as he pushed buttons on his MP3 player.

Swayze said he only chooses to study if an exam is soon or he has nothing better to do.

"I'm not organized, I just never set the time to do it," he said. "I get to doing other things."

A study was released Aug. 24 by the Student Monitor, a national research company based in New Jersey, which suggested women study more frequently and efficiently than men.

The report, which was conducted nationwide in the spring, asked about 1,800 young people 30 questions about their individual study habits.

The study found that half of the female participants studied daily, as opposed to only one-third of the men. Females also read text assigned to them more thoroughly - men skimmed the information more - and party less than men. The margin of error was 2.2 percent.

Eric Weil, managing partner for Student Monitor, said they didn't follow participants for a period of time because they didn't want to be disruptive.

"We pretty much took them at their word," he said. "If we observed someone studying, it would be hard for us to decide if they are studying efficiently or not. Also, I don't think we would be welcome to study with them at 1 or 2 in the morning."

Weil said the common belief that females mature differently than males probably contributed to the study's findings.

"We aren't suggesting that women miraculously have this equipment when they get to college - they are just carrying habits they gained through elementary and high school," he said. "Females mature faster than men and by that I mean emotionally and mentally."

Fred Barton, coordinator of the MSU Learning Resource Center, said when students enter the center seeking help from tutors, their sex does not affect their abilities.

"I can't say I notice and we don't track that sort of thing," he said. "But it doesn't seem to depend on the (sex) as much as the major. Both males and females in science and medical majors are dealing with material that is much more dense and complex.

"It's more the major than the student that cause the behaviors."

Jeffers said she studies more than her friends.

"All my friends are guys and I study more than them, but I have a harder major," she said. "I know I do better, but I have no experience with girls, so I can't compare."

Turfgrass management sophomore Lou Meyers said he would agree with the findings.

"I'd agree, just by being around girls, I know they study more," he said. "I read thoroughly but they read everything."

Psychology Assistant Professor S. Alexandra Burt said females are more detail oriented.

"There is some evidence that, on average, girls are more conscientious (than males), but it is a very small difference," she said. "It's not clear, but it is probably related to gender-role expectations set in by childhood."

Burt said how students study is an indication of their organizational skills. She said new college students struggle with balancing sleep and an exercise regiment alongside studies.

Barton said good study habits for everyone stem from knowing one's personal patterns.

"We encourage all students to think when their peak hours are, whether they are morning or night people - study your harder topic when you are at your peak," he said. "It's an aspect of learning style and time organization. The more they can learn about themselves as students, the better they are the best student they can be."