USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS IMPACT ON ACADEMIC

PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS

The researcher:

PAULO D. AGUILAR

In partial fulfillment in

Practical Research II
 SUBMITTED TO THE ADVISER/RESEARCHSTUDENT

TEACHER OF G-12 AUTOMOTIVE

MRS. KIMBERLY PARILLA

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This research study did not accomplished without those people behind of this success.

First and foremost, I bring back all the glory and honor to our Heavenly Father

who is the fountain of all goodness on earth. Additionally, I am thankful to Him for

sending the following persons who made my study possible:

To my parents, who have exerted big efforts to support me financially and

emotionally;

To my sister who motivated me to work hard. Thank you for all the pieces of advice

you have made to make my study even better and more comprehensive.

I express my heartfelt and endless gratitude to each and everyone of you. May

the heavens continually pour out its blessings upon you all.

The Researchers
 INTRODUCTION

Social media has exploded as a category of online discourse where people create

content, share it, bookmark it and network at a prodigious rate. Because of its ease of

use, speed and reach, social media is fast changing the public discourse in society and

setting trends and agenda in topics that range from the environment and politics to

technology and the entertainment industry(Asur and Huberman, 2010). In the last ten

years, the online world has changed dramatically, thanks to the invention of social

media, young men and women now exchange ideas, feelings, personal information,

pictures and videos at a truly astonishing rate. Seventy-three percent of wired

American teens now use social media websites (Oberst, 2010). Martn, (2008) &

Lusk, (2010) share the same concept of social media. To them social media is the use

of Facebook, Blogs, Twitter, My Space and LinkedIn for the purpose of

communication, sharing photos as well as videos. However for the purpose of this

study social media is captured within the use of internet through Facebook, Whatsap,

Twitter, Skype, MySpace as well as Yahoo Messenger for communication sharing of

ideas, sharing of photos and videos by users. The increased use of Social Networking

Websites has become an international phenomenon in the past several years. What

started out as a hobby for some computer literate people has become a social norm

and way of life for people from all over the world (Boyd. 2007). Teenagers and young

adults have especially embraced these sites as a way to connect with their peers, share

information, reinvent their personalities, and showcase their social lives (Boyd, 2007).

In the past years, social media websites have become common; giving young people a

new way to interact with each other and communicate with the world. Social

networking became popular between 2004 and 2006, after Facebook and MySpace

were created. Facebook, for example has over 500 million members and it is still

growing and approximately 85% of undergraduate students are Facebook users

continue to grow. And this is not only true for Facebook, numbers for YouTube users

closely follow as well (University of New Hampshire, 2009). Social networking

websites provide tools by which people can communicate, share information, and

create new relationships. With the popularity of social networking websites on the

rise, our social interaction is affected in multiple ways as we adapt to our increasingly

technological world. The way web users interact and talk to each other has changed

and continues to change. These users now socialize through the internet and it takes

away from the person socialization that has been around forever. Social networking

websites have affected our social interaction by changing the way we interact face-to-

face, how we receive information, and the dynamics of our social groups and

friendships (Asur and Huberman, 2010). 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. Most of the studies, Choney (2010), San Miguel, (2009)

Enriquez (2010), Karpinski & Duberstein (2009), Khan, (2009), Kubey et al (2010),

conducted on students’ use of the social media sites and its impact on academic

performance focused on students in the developed world. It is against this background

that it has become necessary to conduct this research aimed at investigating students’

use of social media sites and their impact on academic performance among

Polytechnic students in Ghana. This is largely because; no empirical study has been
conducted in Ghana to find out the impact of students’ use of social media sites on

academic performance of Polytechnic students in Ghana.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aimed to determine the Use of Social Media and its Impact on Academic

Performance of Students

Specifically, it sought to answer the following question:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of

1.1 Age?

1.2 Gender?

1.3 Year level?

2. To what extent of the student in terms of:

2.1 using social media?

2.2 addictiveness in social network?

3. To what does the social media network influence the academic

performance of students in:

3.1 class attendance?

3.2 behavior?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant to the teachers, parents and students. This study will help the

teachers of the school to know the influence that social media has on their students, so

as to assist them to enlighten and create awareness to the students on the possible

influence it has on them. The study is of significant to parents in the sense that they
will know the possible effects these social media usage has on their children, so as to

serve as watch-dog to their children on the usage of the social networking site.

The study will enable the students of the senior level so that they will be aware that,

apart from the social benefits of this social networking site, using the sites more than

necessary will pose possible dangers to their health. It will be relevant in assisting

students in understanding the diversity of social media. It will provide relevance

material for students and other researchers undertaking similar research. The study

will help researcher with more information on the Influence of social media on

student’s academic performance.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The general objectives of the study is to find out the use of social media and

its impact on academic performance of students.

The specific objectives of the study were as follows:

i. To examine the impact of social media on academic performance among

the students.

ii. To identify the benefits obtained from using the social media.

iii. To ascertain what students use social media sites for.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study focused on the Use of Social Media and its Impact on Academic

Performance of Students. To what extent of the students in using of social media,

addictiveness in social network, class attendance, behavior (academic performance in

class).
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

To make this more under stable, the research includes the following

operational definition of terms.

Social Media - They are forms of electronic communication which facilitate

interactive base on certain interests. Social media include web and mobile technology.

Media - Are all those media technologies that are intended to reach a large audience

by mass communication. “They are messages communicated through a mass medium

to a number of people.

Academic - It is concerned with Studying from books as opposed by a practical

work.

Students - Someone who is Studying at a University or School. Someone who is

very interested in a particular subject.

RELATED LITERATURE

According to Junco al et (2010), social media are a collection of internet websites,

services, and practices that support collaboration, community building,

participation, and sharing”. The growing dimension of the use of social media

among the youth of today cannot be over emphasized. Over the years, social

networking among second cycle students has become more and more popular. It

is a way to make connection not only on campus, but with friends outside of

school. Social networking is a way that helps many people feels as though they

belong to a community. Due to the increased popularity of it, economists and

professors are questioning whether grades of students are not being affected by
how much time is spend on these sites (Choney, 2010). According to Lenhart et

al., (2010), about 57% of social network users are 18-29 years old and have a

personal profile on multiple social media websites.

In a study by Pempek, Yermolayeva, and Calvert (2009), the amount of time

spent daily on social network sites varied greatly. However, an analysis of the

data indicated most participants spent approximately thirty minutes a day

socializing, mostly during the evening hours between 9p.m to 12a.m students

spent an average of forty seven minutes a day on Facebook. More than 50% of

college students go on a social networking sites several times a day (Sheldon,

2008). Quan-Haase and Young (2010), found that 82% of college students

reported logging into Facebook several times a day. Younger students tended to

use Facebook more frequently than older students to keep in touch with friends

from high school or from their hometown (Pempek et al., 2009) Many researchers

such as Choney (2010), San Miguel (2009) and Enriquez (2010) studies on

students’ use of the social media sites revealed a negative effect of the use of

social media sites on students’ academic performance. Nielsen Media Research

study conducted in June 2010 stated that almost 25% of students’ time on the

internet is spent on social networking sites (Jacobsen & Forste 2011).The

American Educational Research Association conducted a research and declared at

its annual conference in San Diego California (2009), that social media users

study less and generate lower grade (Abaleta et al, 2014).

San Miguel (2009), focused on the relationship between time spent on Facebook

and the academic performance of students. The overall findings indicated “more

time on Facebook equals slightly lower grades”. In his study, the average

facebook user had a GPA of 3.0 to 3.5, while the non facebook user had a GPA of
3.5 - 4.0. Also, the average facebook user study for 1 – 5 hours per week, while

the non facebook user would study 11 – 15 hours per week Enriquez (2010),

revealed that students who multi-task between social networking sites and home

work are likely to have 20% lower grades than a student who does not have a

social networking site. He believes that even running a social networking site on

the background on a student’s PC while studying or doing homework could lower

a student’s grade. He believes that “the problem is that most people have

Facebook or other social networking sites, their e-mails and may be instant

messaging constantly running in the background while they are carrying out their

tasks” Choney (2010), in looking at the time spend on facebook and its effect on

academic performance said a user of Facebook has an average “GPA of 3.06,

while non users have an average GPA of 3.82”. Furthermore, a study conducted

by Karpinski and Duberstein (2009), of Ohio Dominican university on college

students who use social network have significantly lower grade point averages

(GPAs) than those who do not. They also mentioned that among various unique

distractions of every single generation, Facebook remains a major distraction of

current generation.

According to Khan (2009), facebook users often time experience poor

performance academically. Similarly, Englander et al., (2010), posit that social

media is negatively associated with academic performance of student and is a lot

more momentous than its advantages. Internet addiction consequently gave rise to

internet usage within the last couple decades. Nalwa and Anand (2008),

recommended that addicted users prefer using internet setting back their personal

and responsibilities which ultimately leads to poor academic performance.

According to Kubey et al., (2010), impairment of educational performance and

internet dependency are correlated by utilizing synchronous communication

found a negative relationship between the use of various media, including mobile

phones, and self-reported GPA among first year university students in the United

States. In Taiwan, Yen at el. (2009), identified an association between mobile

phone use and respondents and report that respondents have allowed phone use to

interfere with their academic activities. Similarly, Hong et al. (2012), reported

that daily use of mobile phones is correlated with self-reported measure of

academic difficulty among a sample of Taiwanese university students. In a survey

of Spanish high school students Sanchez-Martinz and Otero (2009), found a

correlation between “intensive” mobile phone use and school failure. However,

other studies like Ahmed and Qazi (2011), Hanqittai and Hsich (2010), Pasek and

Hanqittai (2009), conducted on the same topic revealed no correlation between

social media and students’ academic performance.

A study conducted at Whittemore school of Business and Economic on one

thousand, one hundred and twenty seven students revealed that there is no

correlation between how much time is spent on social networking sites and grades

(Martin, 2009). Again, University of New Hampshire (2010) study also revealed

that students’ use of social media sites do not affect grades. A recent survey

showed that approximately ninety percent of teens in the United States have

Internet access, and about seventy-five percent of these teens use the Internet

more than once per day (Kist, 2008). This study also showed that approximately

half of all teens who have Internet access are also members of social networking

sites, and use the Internet to make plans and socialize with friends (Kist, 2008). In

September 2005, out of the total adult internet users (18-29 years) 16% were

using social networking site but this percentage increased to 86% in May, 2010.
Concept of social media

Social media is that means that employs mobile and web based technology to create

highly interactive platforms via which individuals and community share, co-create,

discuss and modifies user-generated content (Kietzmannn, 2012). Social media is a

phrase being tossed around a lot. It is a website that does not just give you

information but interact with you while giving you information. It is a group of

internet based application that allows the creation and exchange of users generated

content. It is easy to confuse social media with social news because we often refer to

members of the news as the media.

Social media refers to the means of interaction among people in which they create,

share, exchange and comment among themselves in different networks. Andreas and

Michael (2010) are of the opinion that social media is a group of internet based

application that builds on the ideological foundation and allows the creation and

exchange of users – generated content. Social media has become one of the major

channel of chatting through platforms such as 2go, BB chat, blogger and wiki a. There

has been an increase in the mobile social media which has created new opportunity

for browsing.

Social Networking Sites

It is used to describe any website that enables users to create public profiles within

that website and form relationship with other users of the same website who access

their profile. It is used to describe community base website, online discussion forum,

chat rooms and other social space online. Commonly, the phrase “social networking

sites” is used as an umbrella term for all social media and computer-mediated

communication, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and

Myspace, as well as the inaugural social networking sites of Cyworld, Bebo and
Friendster. Ellison and Boyd (2007) define social network sites as web-based services

that allow individuals to construct profiles, display user connections, and search and

traverse within that list of connections. A social media is an online service or

platforms that focus on facilitating the building of social network among people who

share interest, activities and background on real life connections. It is a website that

allows users to share information within a selected group. It is a great way to stay

connected and a convenient way to share photos from trips (Awake, 2012). It consists

of a representation of each user (profiles), social links and a variety of additional

services.

Influence of Social Media Network on Student Academic Performance

Though there have been many social, economic, and environmental factors that have

added to the pressure of university students in the past ten years, the drop-out rate for

students is still a major national problem (Bowen, 2008). Current statistics show that

university students in Nigeria are under increased pressure due to higher academic

standards in other countries, and it has become more important than ever for educators

to encourage graduation and further education (Bowen, 2008). However, with more

and more students being preoccupied with social media networks and technological

social lives, how will this affect their studies? It is estimated that even those students

who do graduate high school, one out of three does not have possess the knowledge

and skills that would lead him or her to the next level, such as college or an advanced

trade school (Bowen, 2008).

The top academic areas that many school professionals are concerned about are

English (ELA) and advanced literacy (Williams, 2008). The current generations of

teens live in a fast-paced technological world with many different types of

communication happening all at the same time. For example, he or she may be on the
computer on a SNS, while also talking on the phone, sending instant messages to a

friend, and emailing someone else all at the same time (Williams, 2008). While there

may be some advantages to this, such as the teen learning how to type faster and

multi-task many things at once, there may also be a breakdown in much of that

communication (Williams, 2008). Literacy has also taken a dive in the past decade,

which has caused many educators to question what can be done to help students

improve their reading, writing, speaking, and thinking- all of the most basic skills for

a successful future (Wise, 2009). As one researcher stated, “Literacy is, in reality, the

cornerstone of student achievement, for any student, in any grade” (Wise, 2009, 373).

The question that many school professionals have with regards to communication is

whether or not a tertiary institution student is able to follow school curriculum in

courses like English or Language Arts (Williams, 2008). Also, will it be possible to

teach them without the use of multi-tasking and using new forms of

technology.Usage of Social Media and Students’ Academic Performance. The social

media engages students and have to be examined as entrepreneurs of understanding.

The medium of internet is marketing with increase in its programs. The interactive

character of online conditions has extended with social networking. Hooking up

through social networking began as being a niche activity, though time it's a

phenomenon. The web sites are employed in many ways like developing metropolitan

areas, speaking, blogging etc. Additionally different institutions even nowadays are

developing groups on several Websites (Saba Mehmood 2013).

The improved usage of Websites has become a worldwide phenomenon for quite

some time. What began out as being a hobby for several computer literate people has

converted to a social norm and existence-style for individuals from around the globe

(Nicole Ellison, 2007).Teens and teenagers have especially recognized these internet
sites to be able to contact their peers, share information, reinvent their personas, and

showcase their social lives Nicole Ellison,(2007).While using the increase of

technology helpful for getting together with others along with the recognition on the

internet, Internet sites are now being an activity that's done mainly on the web, with

Websites Vaughn, Coyle (2008).

According to Khan U (2009), social media users often time experience poor

performance academically. Similarly, Englander, Terregrossa & Wang (2010) posit

that social media is negatively associated with academic performance of student and

is a lot more momentous than its advantages. Internet addiction consequently gave

rise in internet usage within the last couple of decades. Nalwa & Anand

(2003).recommended that addicted users prefer using internet setting back their

personal and professional responsibilities which ultimately leads to poor academic

performance. In the same vein, Karpinski (2009) pointed out that social media users

devoted lesser time to their studies in comparison to nonusers did and subsequently

had lower GPAs. Karpinski & Duberstein. (2009).Also mentioned that among various

unique distractions of every single generation, Social media remains a major

distraction of current generation.

This chapter presents the methodology that was used in this study on Use of Social

Media and its Impact on Academic Performance of Students.

RESEARCH DESIGN

This study was used descriptive method using survey questionnaires to

determine the Use of Social Media and its Impact on Academic Performance of

Students.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

The survey questionnaire was distributed to the respondents of the study.

Beforehand, the survey questionnaire was checked and approved by the research

adviser. The researcher will explain to the respondent the statement and the purpose

of the study based on the research, the objective and validity of the questionnaire is

limited on the academic year 2018-2019.

INSTRUMENTATION

The instrumentation used in conducting the study was a survey questionnaire

constructed by the researcher through the helped of adviser and guidance committee.

Te survey questionnaire contained several questions to be answered by the

respondents.

The respondents determine the Use of Social Media and its Impact on Academic

Performance of Students.

Likert Scale Description

5 Strongly Agree
4 Agree

3 Disagree

2 Strongly Disagre