THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA LITERACY

ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF
SELECTED G12 STEM STUDENTS OF OLFU, QC

A Research Proposal

Presented to

Faculty of Senior High School

Our Lady of Fatima University

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for

Practical Research 2

Christene Joy D. Panes

Alison S. Uchi
Anjerica Rose J. Avila
Dan Cedric C. Dizon
James Ongotan
Jayson U. Luzong
John Dayve S. Dacillo
Maria Nikka Catalan
Sande C. Fabros

Estefanie Rose F. Lumbre, RPm, MA Psy (Cand.)

(September, 2020)

CHAPTER I
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THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

In the modern age, the media is an important part of the way people work in society. It is

often claimed to be an essential method or a communication tool. Before, media was accessible

to television, radio and newspapers were the main places where we could gather information,

now we have social media where we can access the media more easily. Social media are the sites

where people can post what they want to say or give an opinion regarding a timely issue.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google, Gmail, Youtube are just one of the most popular social

media sites used by people especially young people because in these sites, people are free to

express their feelings or give an opinion. They can also get information from the educational

sites and pages where they share topics that provide knowledge to its readers, people can also

search on google or youtube about that topic that they want to know and they can find the

answers or topics that they are looking for. In using Social Media, people can also communicate

with their friends or family members who are far away because of the expanded and

strengthened technology, even teachers are already using social media for their teaching.

According to Tufts University’s definition, “​Social Media” refers to the means of interactions

among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual

communities and networks. This means that social media can be a bridge to knowledge because

of its content that can provide knowledge and help an individual or young people who are

struggling with their education.

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Social media has a lot to do with individuals and young people. In addition to it, people can

quickly find more information due to the exchange of ideas that take place and it further expands

the knowledge and thinking of an individual and youth with the help of sites that give knowledge

to its user. In practical terms, social media literacy requires analyzing the media and interpreting

its message accordingly. Students are subjected to mass media on a daily basis. Most of them

invest a lot of time using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. This severe exposure to

mainstream sources contributes to a need for public education. Social media awareness is one

way to help students learn about topics that they are not intimately engaged with.

​According to UNESCO, ​Education is strongly influenced by the processes emerging within

the society, by intellectual, philosophical and political movements. In the past the humanists’

approach had the most lasting impact on education, initiated innovation in school

curriculum and pedagogical methods. Current advances in information technologies and

propagation of new digital media and learning environments stipulate the increasing

importance of media literacy, which is today recognized almost universally as one of

the key competences in the educational system. The main objective of the study commissioned

by the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education to Tapio Varis

(University of Tampere, Finland) and José Manuel PérezTornero (Autonomous University

of Barcelona, Spain) was to investigate digital and media literacy in the context of edu

communication and new humanism that is committed to the goal of counteracting the

depersonalising effects of mass technology. The study was initiated to provide a deeper

insight into the recent trends in the development of media culture and media literacy

movement, and to provide conceptual framework for media literacy, new media literacy

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curriculum and teacher training. The authors adhere to the definition of the media literacy

as ‘the process of assimilating and using the codes involved in the contemporary media system

as well as the operative skills needed to properly use the technological systems on which these

codes are based’ and as ‘the capacity to access, analyse and evaluate the power of the images,

sounds and messages with which we are faced every day and which play an important role in

contemporary culture. It includes the individual capacity to communicate using the media

competently. Media literacy concerns all media, including television, film, radio and

recorded music, the press, the Internet and any other digital communication.

In the Philippines, a grade school library measured the effectiveness of their Media

Information Program (MIP) and it was noted that due to their exposure to the media information

modules created by the library, an evident increase in their test scores were recorded (​Dela Cruz,

2016). Hence, the introduction of MIL in the early years of education can improve one's skills set

in accessing and using various forms of media. Further, the advancement of the media and

information literacy in the Philippines flourished with the passing of the Republic Act No.10533

also known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”. With the increased number of years

in the high school level, a salient feature of the new curriculum is the addition of the subject –

Media and Information Literacy. This course exposes students to basic understanding of media

and information channels and aims to develop the creative and critical skills of the students

making them responsible users and creators of media and information (Congress of the

Philippines, 2013).

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Objectives of the Study

​The main goal of this paper is to explore the extent to which the young generation can be

trained to be more selective in dealing with abundant information on online/social media literacy

and how it affects their academic performances. The study aims to produce research based data

on how social media literacy can affect the academic performance of the students. The

researchers want to further identify the risks and benefits of using social media in gathering

information for educational purposes. The purpose of this study is to guide the readers how to

gather information online safely and effectively and also to provide knowledge on how being

social media literate can be useful to people especially those who gather information from social

media and use it for their academic purposes.

Statement of the Problem

This study entitled ​"​The Role of Social Media Literacy on Academic Performance of

selected Grade 12 STEM students of OLFU, QC​" aims to determine what is the impact of

Social Media Literacy on their academic performance.

Specifically, it aims to answer the following:

1.What is the demographic profile of the students in terms of the following:

1.1 Gender;

1.2 Age; and

1.3 Number of Social Media accounts?

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2.What is the status of social media literacy to the Grade 12 students in terms of the following:

2.1 Effectiveness;

2.2 Reliability;

2.3 Usefulness; and

2.4 Valuable?

3. What is the evaluation of the Academic Performance of the respondents in terms of General

Weighted Average (GWA)?

4. Is there a significant relationship between the Social Media Literacy of the respondents and

their demographic profile?

5. Is there a significant relationship between the Academic Performance and demographic profile

of the respondents?

6. Is there a significant relationship between the Social Media Literacy and Academic

Performance of the respondents?

Null Hypothesis:

Ho: There is no significant relationship between the Social Media Literacy of the respondents

and their demographic profile.

Ho: There is no significant relationship between the Academic Performance and demographic

profile of the respondent.

Ho: There is no significant relationship between the Social Media Literacy and Academic

Performance of the respondents.

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Scope and Delimitation

The study is focused on the association of the status of social media literacy in terms of

effectiveness, reliability, usefulness and value to the academic performances of Grade 12 STEM

students of Our Lady of Fatima University. The researchers will be also measuring ​the academic

performance in terms of General Weighted Average (GWA) of the respondents when the study

will be conducted. ​This study will be conducted within the first semester during the academic

year 2020-2021.

The researchers utilized a quantitative correlational research design. Due to the situation that

the country is experiencing a pandemic where ages 21 years below are not allowed to go outside

and to secure the safety of the participants, there is no face-to-face survey that will be conducted.

The participants will be asked to answer a questionnaire using google form. Their consent will be

asked through any messaging app that the respondents are using.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study may help a certain person or a group and the benefits they may be

able to acquire are as follows:

Students. ​This paper might be useful for students who use social media as the primary source of

information specially in our situation that they are not allowed to go outside and go to some

libraries. This paper will give them knowledge about how Social Media Literacy can help or

affect their academic performances and for them to figure out if the informations they are using

are reliable and not misleading.

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Young Social Media Users. ​Almost all of them are using social media. Some of the posts are

misleading and biased. It may influence their mind and way of thinking. This paper might help

by showing how being social media literate can develop their critical thinking and how it helps

them with their study.

Parents. ​Huge part of social media users are youth therefore, this study might help the parent on

guiding their children when using social media seeing that there is a lot of content that are not

suitable for their age. Parental guidance can secure the child from a lot of misleading information

in social media.

Social Media Developers. This research might give them an idea on what area in social media

they can manage the flow of information and consciously engage in the implication of

regulations for the use of digital media , in order to avoid the contamination of our youth's minds

from inappropriate content.

Future Researchers. This study can serve as a cross-reference that can give them an overview

of the impacts of the status of social media literacy to the academic performance of students. The

result of this study can serve as a basis for further research about this topic.

Definition of Terms

​For a better clarification and understanding of the terms related to this study, the following
terms are defined conceptually and operationally.

Academic Performance​. The measurement of student achievement across various academic

subjects. Teachers and education officials typically measure achievement using classroom

performance, graduation rates and results from standardized tests. (BallotPedia, n.d.)

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In this study, Academic Performance is the variable that is going to be examined by the

researchers to determine if it is really affected or influenced by the status of social media literacy

of students.

Communication. The act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or

exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else.

(Merriam-Webster, n.d.)

In this study, the word communication is used as a medium of understanding each other and a

way of interchanging different information.

Data. ​Is the complete list of facts and details like text, observations, figures, symbols and

description of things. It is the raw list of facts that are processed to gain information. (BYJU's

Learning App, n.d.)

In this study, data is what the participants are gathering or sharing through social media

platforms and being collected to form information.

General Weighted Average. A representation (often numerical) of the overall scholastic

standing of students used for evaluation. (Oteropatricia, n.d., 5)

In this study, The researchers will use the General Weighted Average of the participants to

represent their academic performance.

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​Information​. ​Knowledge gained through study, communication, research, instruction, etc.;

factual data. (Dictionary.com, n.d.)

In this study, information is data that the participants are analyzing and interpreting upon

reading or posting on social media.

​Internet. ​An electronic communications network that connects computer networks and

organizational computer facilities around the world —used with the except when being used

attributively. (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)

The internet is the one who made everything possible in this study. From the information

gathering to conducting a survey, the researchers will be using the internet to access information

and communicate with the participants.

Social Media​. Forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking

and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas,

personal messages, and other content (such as videos). (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)

In this study, social media is the platform where the participants gather and share information.

​Social Media Literacy​. ​A set of competencies that empowers citizens to access, retrieve,

understand, evaluate and use, create as well as share information and media content in all

formats, using various tools, in a critical, ethical and effective way in order to participate and

engage in personal professional and societal activities. (Future Classroom Lab, n.d.)

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This the variable that the researchers will figure out if it has relation to the other variable

which is Academic Performance.

​Status.​ S​tate​ or condition with respect to circumstances. (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)

In this study, the standing of the Grade 12 STEM students in terms of Social Media Literacy is

what researchers are concerned about. The status will depend on the participants.

Technology. ​A manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes,methods,

or knowledge. (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)

In this study, technology with the help of internet is the way to connect or to communicate

with the participants since there is pandemic and people are not allowed to go outside.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITYSENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT