IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

Social media has been suggested as an effective tool for educational purpose. This study was conducted to have an analysis of the impact of social media on students’ academic performance among senior secondary school students. In addition, this study applied quantitative approach, and the questionnaire was conducted using 133 students. The results show that social media use is useful, enjoyable and easy to use. They believe that social media can be used positively and that it can provide significant interaction, engagement and collaborative learning thus improving learners’ performance. Some students however pointed out that if not carefully curtailed, social media has the capacity of been a distraction to learning. The results of this study also revealed the percentage and frequency of the tools of social media used for collaborative learning, sharing, discussion and publishing.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0   INTRODUCTION 

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Objective of the study

1.4        Research Hypotheses

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope and limitation of the study

1.7       Definition of terms

1.8       Organization of the study

CHAPETR TWO

2.0   LITERATURE REVIEW

CHAPETR THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1    sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introductions

4.2 Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

Appendix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The era of the teacher being a reservoir of knowledge has past. The world is moving at a jet speed as a result of advances in technology. Importantly, technology entails information and communication which may be defined as the handling and processing of information (texts, images, graphs, instruction) for use by means of electronic and communication devices such as computer, cameras, telephones (Oleabhiele, 2015).

The Internet revolution changed the information world with regard to sharing, speed, storage and retrieval of information in whatever form regardless of the person’s location. Through the Internet a number of web technologies emerged, and one technology that is making waves with regard to information sharing and communication are the social media networks. The evolution of social media has cut across all facets of society with its positive and negative impacts. Social media has transformed and impacted on communication, learning, research and education in general. Among the vast variety of online tools which are available for communication, social networking sites (SNS) have become the most modern and attractive tools for connecting people throughout the world (Aghazamani, 2010).

Davis et al (2012), refer to social media technology (SMT) as “web-based and mobile applications that allow individuals and organizations to create, engage, and share new use regenerated or existing content, in digital environments through multi-way communication”.

Through this platform, individuals and organizations create profiles, share and exchange information on various activities and interests. An interesting aspect of social media is that, it is not limited to desktop or laptop computers but could be accessed through mobile applications and smart phones making it very accessible and easy to use. Examples of these social media platforms both on the web and mobile application include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Whatsapp, Instagram, blogs etc.

Communicating through the internet and social networking websites is quite different from communicating in person-to-person situation. When users communicate through these websites, they use things like instant message (IM) and chatting as well as status or Twitter updates to talk to friends and express themselves (Kaitlin, 2010). Kaitlin (2010) further opines that social networking websites also affect the way we receive information and news. The sites open up different portals through which we get information and create more diverse news outlets.

The use of social media (like facebook, Youtube, twitter and whatsapp) by secondary school students today is resulting to mass failure of students in academic achievement (David, 2014). This is because students these days spend more time chatting with their friends rather than engaging in research or reading their books. A growing number of Nigerian scholars agree that addiction to social media sites have become a distractive technology to students’ academic work in higher education. Among the scholar is Oluwatoyin (2011) who surveyed 1,860 Facebook users from the Lagos State University and found that 90percent of the students could not get up to cumulative grade point average (CGPA) above 3.50 because they had spent a large part of their time on social media than on their home work and study time (which could contribute to higher grade).

Social media plays a variety of roles in education as highlighted by Al-Khalifa and Garcia (2013) which include providing a medium to share ideas and opinions as well as allowing students to build their own communities to collaborate with each other. As stated by Ndaku (2013), students spend a lot of time on social networking sites than in their academic activities and this affects their academic performance.

There have been a lot of debates on various platforms and media as to the impact that social media has on society and specifically, its effect on education. Some of these studies found a drop in students’ grades and academic performance, and lack of time for studies as consequences of social media network participation (Banquil et al, 2009; Kirschner and Karpinski, 2010; Ndaku, 2013). On the other hand, Pasek et al. (2006) “stated that a site-specific culture can both positively and negatively affect the building of social capital and found that Facebook usage is not positively associated with lower grades of students and rather Facebook users scored higher grades”. Kolek and Saunders (2008) did not find any correlation between GPAs of student users and social network participation such as Facebook. Rather social network sites (SNS) promote interactions among students and teachers (Ahmed & Qazi, 2011). Hence, this study will investigate the impact of social media on students’ academic performance among senior secondary school students in education district I of Lagos State.

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Since the advent of social media sites in the 1990s, it is assumed in some quarters that the academic performance of students is facing a lot of neglect and challenges. There is a deviation, distraction and divided attention between social networking activities and their academic work. It is observed that students devote more attention to social media than they do to their studies.

Secondary school students particularly in Lagos State are becoming very busy with their handset and laptops. Social media gives most students access to the Internet and this has resulted or affected the students’ academics. Through the use of Facebook, chatting, checking their email, pinging, whatsapp, youtube, and MySpace students spend lots of time away from studying.

It is speculated that an average Nigerian youth spends about six to seven hours on the internet daily, some even do all night browsing. When do they have the time to read/study their books or undertake research? Literature reviewed shows that students who use facebook had grade point averages (GPA) between 3.0 and 3.5, while non-users had grade point averages (GPA) between 3.5 and 4.0. Users of social media spend one to five hours a week studying, while non-users study 11 to 15 hours per week (Kapinski & Kirschner, 2011).

It is believed that the use of technology such as internet is one of the most important factors that can influence educational performance of students positively or adversely. Many parents and guardians are worried that students are spending too much time on facebook and other social media sites and have not enough time to study. Though parents are worried about students’ constant use of the social media sites, many students continue to utilize these sites on a daily basis.

Preliminary investigation and interviews with some teachers and students revealed a number of challenges in relation to student’s participation on social media networks. These included a high addiction rate among students which affects their time of study, the wrong usage of grammar and spelling in social media discourse as well as distracting students from their studies. Therefore, this research seeks to explore the impact of social media on students’ academic performance among senior secondary school students in education district I of Lagos State

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

This study was conducted with the following objectives:

1. To examine the impact of social media on academic performance among secondary school students in Lagos State.
2. To find out the amount of time students invest into social networking.
3. To ascertain how the use of social media is affecting the study habits of students.
4. To identify the benefits obtained from using the social media.
   • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

HYPOTHESES ONE

Ho: There is no relationship between social media and academic performance

Hi: There is a relationship between social media and academic performance

HYPOTHESES TWO

Ho: Social media has negative effect on student’s habit

Hi: Social media has positive effect on student’s  habit

1.5       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is hoped that the finding of this project work will not only add to the vast knowledge about the impact of social media on the students of Lagos state University, it’s also designed to highlight the function of the media and more importantly how social media has impacted the generality of students. It will also be useful to educators, parents and even the students in monitoring the use of social media by students and taking necessary measures to curtail wrong usage.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study is primary concerned with the impact of social media on students’ academic performance among senior secondary schools students. This study covers Lagos State University. The researcher encountered some constraints, which limited the scope of the study. These constraints include but are not limited to the following.

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

MEDIA: This means the way through large number of people receive information and entertainment that is television, radio, newspaper, magazine and internet.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Means media for social interaction using highly accessible and able publishing technique. It’s also a form of electronic communication to share information, ideas, personal messages and other content.

NETWORKING: This is the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups or institutions. It’s also the establishment or use of computer.

 1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concerned with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

Related Project Topics :