Influence of Social Media on Academic Performance of Undergraduates at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
- To find out how often the undergraduate students of Ambrose Alli University go on-line.
- To find out the various social media sites the undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University are aware of and use
- To determine the numbers of hours undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University spend on social networking activities
- To ascertain the use of social media by Ambrose Alli University Undergraduates and how it influences their academic performances.
- To determine the reasons for the students’ use of social networking sites.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEWED OF RELATED LITERATURE
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. Adding to it, that social news site is also social media site. Some media website includes:
Social Bookmarking: interact by tagging website and searching through website book marked by others (Blink list, simple).
Social News: interact by voting for articles and commenting on them (Digg, propello). Social Networking: interact by adding friends, commenting on photo and profiles, sharing groups for discussions (Facebook, 2go, BB chat)
Social Photo and Video Sharing: interact by sharing photos or videos and commenting on the user submission. (Youtube and Fliki). Wikis: interact by adding articles and editing existing articles. (Wikipedia, wikia).
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. The internet usage effect of social media, in views of Nielsen (2012) is that, students continue to spend more time on the social media than any site. The total time spent on social media across mobile devices increased by 37%, 121 billion minutes in July 2012 compared to 88 billion minutes in July 2011. Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) classified social media into six different classes as follows:
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine influence of social media on academic performance of undergraduates. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the influence of social media on academic performance of undergraduates. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the influence of social media on academic performance of undergraduates.
Summary
This study was on the influence of social media on academic performance of undergraduates. Three objectives were raised which included: To find out how often the undergraduate students of Ambrose Alli University go on-line, to find out the various social media sites the undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University are aware of and use, to determine the numbers of hours undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University spend on social networking activities, to ascertain the use of social media by Ambrose Alli University Undergraduates and how it influences their academic performances and to determine the reasons for the students’ use of social networking sites. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
The result from the findings of this study showed that, though Social media have negative effects on teenagers such as lack of privacy, distracting students from their academic work, taking most of their productive time, and such like, they also have benefits and can be used appropriately. For instance, students can form online communities in order to plan for a project, have group discussions about class material, or use the Social networking sites(SNS) as a way to keep in contact when a student who has been absent needs to be updated on current academic information.
The findings of this study and earlier ones showed some noteworthy results. The first independent variable influencing the academic performance of students, that is, social media participation was negatively related with students’ outcome, while the other independent variables were positively related with students’ outcome. The results of this study suggest that lecturers should come up with a template on how their students can maximize the benefits of Social media, that school management should incorporate rules and regulations on the use of the social media in the school and, that the government should put in place adequate control measures to regulate their use among students and lecturers.
Recommendation
Students should be educated on the influence of Social media on their academic performance.
Students should be monitored by teachers and parents on how they use these sites.
Teachers should ensure they use the social media as a tool to improve the academic performance of students in schools
References
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