Patterns of Instagram Usage Among Undergraduate Students of Imo State University, Owerri

Patterns of Instagram Usage Among Undergraduate Students of Imo State University, Owerri

CHAPTER ONE

Objectives of the Study

1. To find out how often the undergraduate students of Imo state University use Instagram.
2. To determine the numbers of hours undergraduates in Imo state University spend on Instagram
3. To ascertain the use of Instagram by Imo state University Undergraduates and how it influences their academic performances.
4. To determine the reasons for the students’ use of Instagram.

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

Concept of Social Media

Social media is a “group of internet based applications that build on the ideological foundation of the web which allow the creation and exchange of user generated content” (Kaplan, 2010). It can be seen as electronic communication, which facilitate the development of online social networks and relationships by connecting a user’s profile with other individuals or group, or offering tools that enable the users with compatible interests. Social media\Social networking is one of the technological foundation of web 2.0, which allow people to create, share, exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Sudipta and Chakraborty (2015) Furthermore, social media depends on mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platforms, through which individuals can share, co-create, and discuss user generated content.  The mass appeal of social media on the internet could be a cause for concern, the study of social media on academic performances has not been stable over the year. Tarawneh (2014) citing Paul and Gelish (2011) emphasizes the distraction that social media cause, but not to the extent of risking academic performance.  Particularly when attending to the gradually increasing amount of time student spend online. Undergraduates spend more time on Facebook, twitter and other social media through smartphones that are now in abundance among these youths (Osharive, 2015).Similarly,Nnamonu(2013) aptly expressed that “while the internet is the chief host of social media sites, the youths are the most prImominant clients “Hence, social media has become overwhelming common among youths in the country. The term social media is the use of Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, MySpace as well as Yahoo Messenger for communication sharing of ideas, sharing of photos and videos by users.

There are certain factor that influences the relationship between social media and academic performance, which a handful of studies have been discussed by researchers.Moon (2011) observed in a study on “impact of Facebook on undergraduate academic performance”, averred that social media have negative impact on students. According to the result, the more students use Facebook, the moreit affects their academic performance. This view is how ever rejected by some researcher.Nwangwe,Yonlolonfoun and Omotere(2014) citing Sajoh andBulus (2013) argue that the frequent use of Instagram sites has no negative effect on students’ studies, in the same vein,(Ogedebe, EmmanuelandMusa,2012) posited that Facebook usage does not have adverse effect on the academic work of the students in the university. In positive light, social media has helped undergraduates to formulate group discussion to exchange ideas and communicate to their lecturers and appeals to their friends on assignment. It is indeed true that most lecturers has not cultivated the habit of using this means, but there are some who has, by creating students groups, to enhance communication for seminar works meetings.

According to Nathan, MaGougan and Shaffer (2014) student reported that the use of Instagram (Facebook) in their course enhanced their learning experience. Some of the reasons by the students includes: greater enjoyment in learning, facilitating of group projects, and increased number of tools to complete projects. As much as it has been noticed that undergraduate can’t do without accessing their social networks, it has become a problem and a source of achieving academic excellence among students. The introduction of ICT into the educational sector has created a room for the use of technology devices, to enhance or make things easier. The issues have to do with individual differences which can be controlled to a stage by training the students on how to benefit on the use of Instagram. According to (McQuail, 2008) the phenomenon has become a source of worry to many who believe in knowledge and skill acquisition.

According to Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) classified social media into six different classes as follows:

1. Collaborative project (Wikipedia)
2. Blogs and micro blogs (Twitter)
3. Content communities (YouTube)
4. Instagram (Facebook,2go,BB chart)
5. Virtual game world (World of war craft)
6. Victual second world (Second life)

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CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODS

Research Design

Research design refers to the blue print that you prepare using the research method chosen, and it delineates the steps that you need to take. According to Nedha (2011), research design is the backbone of good research. It directs the experiment by orchestrating data collection, defines the statistical analysis of the resultant data, and guides the interpretation of the results. Research designwhen properly described in the written report of the experiment, it serves as a road map to readers, helping them negotiate the “Methods” section, and thus, improves the clarity of communication between author and readers (Knight, 2010). This research was carried out using the survey method. This is because it involves a system of collection of information about the opinions, attitudes, feelings, beliefs and behaviour of the people.

Study Population

After identifying the unit of analysis, then the researcher must identify the target population, the group of people that the researcher wants to draw a conclusion about once the research study is finished. Identifying the target population requires specifying the criteria that determine which individuals are included and which individuals are not included. The population of this study includes 21,154undergraduates of Imo state University, Imo. The 100 level students were exempted from the study because they have not been exposed to ICT training and have not had cumulative grade point average (CGPA) to be able to access their academic performance. This is presented in Tables1 and 2.

CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATON OF RESULTS

Introduction

The purpose of the study is to determine “The Patterns of Instagram usage on Academic Performance of Undergraduate “A study of Undergraduate in Imo state University, Imo, Imo State. This chapter is concerned with the presentation and analysis of data gathered through the use of questionnaire distributed to respondents. Three hundred (300) copies of questionnaire were distributed, and two hundred and eighty (280) copies were retrieved and found usable. This gave rate of return of 93.3 percent.

Table 4.1, shows the questionnaire distribution which was 100 copies per faculty each, and return rate of the different faculty were, with 99 (99.0%) respondents weresocial sciences, 96 (96.0%) respondents were art, and 85 (85.0%) respondents were natural sciences, which gave a turn rate of 93.3 percent.

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMONDATION

Summary of Findings.

Based on the research conducted, the findings show that; there is a relationship between the use of Instagram and undergraduate student academic performance.

1. Undergraduate of Imo state University go online very often for various social media networking activities.
2. Undergraduates of Imo state University spendmore than 3 hours on Instagram activities, per day.
3. With the use of Instagram, majority has improved their skills in the use of ICT.
4. Due to the use of Instagram, undergraduates of Imo state University have had their academic performances influenced positively by way of improved grades.
5. Facebook is the most preferred Instagram, used by Undergraduates of Imo state University.
6. If undergraduates could use the social media for one activity, majority would use it for educational reasons.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that the Undergraduates in Imo stateUniversityare aware of the Instagram as well as having access and use it. Findings also indicates that they are influenced by the use of Instagram positively because it has improved their ICT skills and grades, which reflects on the use of Instagram for their academic purpose; that encourages group decisions on assignments with class mates, searching for information to supplement their notes given by the lecturers and improves their spellings .

It is the hope of the researcherexploring these finds will provide support for appropriate and effective services for instructors, ultimately leading to best practices model to facilitate the adoption and use of Instagram sites as tools to teach and communicate with the undergraduates when necessary in the university.

Recommendations

Based on the finds and conclusions of the study, the following recommendation was made:

1. The use of social networks should be embraced in the academic field, with lecturers using it to enhance their teaching and communication, to motivate students.
2. Undergraduates should be oriented on how to manage their time, between socializing and academic purpose
3. Undergraduates should be enlightened on the use of e-books and e-journals, which can be accessed with their personal computer, mobile phones and better still the e-library.
4. Universities should build and integrate interactive learning tools as well as links to research database to make the use of Instagram relevant to students.
5. Educational institution needs to take an active initiative to introduce the study of digital Library as a General course.
6. The university administration should show interest in ascertaining the functionality of newly established method of learning research to see how well they are going in the view of the universities’ ICT goals and the general ICT policies of Nigeria.

Contribution of the Study to Knowledge

The work has made it possible to know that social media has a positive influence on academic performance of undergraduate in Imo state University. The research has also revealed that undergraduates in Imo state University go online very often, are aware of and use social media site, and spend above 3hours on Instagram. Furthermore, it showed that the use of Instagram has influenced their academic performance in so many ways, such as: entertainment, reading newspapers, academics and looking for advertisement. With the research, knowledge is made available on the fact that undergraduate in Imo state University spend most of their time on Instagram. Hence, the findings could be used by academic advisers and counselor to proffer professional advice to the university authorities on how to regulate the use of Instagram networks, and how to manage their time between socializing and academic purpose among undergraduates of Imo state University.

Suggestions for Further Research

As it is the nature of exploratory research, these findings will be used to help guide and structure future research. The next phrase of this research should expand to a large statistically representative sample of the university population, and will seek to examine more in-depth those other mediating factors which have been shown to influence the academic performance of undergraduates with the use social media. Further studies can be on:

1.  The Patterns of Instagram usage usage on academic performance: abiding to university policy.
2. The Patterns of Instagram usage on academic performances, in satisfying the goals of  undergraduates.
3. The use of Instagram as a tool of  teaching, learning and communication to influence the academic performance of  undergraduates.

REFERENCE

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