CHAPTER
ONE
2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 Background to the Study
The
world is today celebrating the improvements in communication technology which
has broadened the scope of communication through Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs). Modern Technology in communication no doubt has turned the
entire world into a “Global village”. But as it is, technology like two sides
of a coin, bring with it both negative and positive sides. It helps people to
be better informed, enlightened, and keeping abreast with world developments.
Technology exposes mankind to a better way of doing things. Social networking
sites include: Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, Facebook Messenger, Blackberry
Messenger (BBM), Whats app messenger, 2go messenger, Skype, Google talk, Google
Messenger, iPhone and Androids. These networking sites are used by most people
to interact with old and new friends, physical or internet friends ( Asemah and
Edegoh, 2012). The world has been changed rapidly by the evolution of
technology; this has resulted into the use of technology as the best medium to
explore the wide area of knowledge.
The
evolution of internet technology has led to its use as the best medium for
communication. Whereby, two-third of the world’s internet population visits
social networking or blogging sites, thus serving as a communication and connection
tool. Social networking sites (SNSs) are online Communities of Internet users
who want to communicate with other users about areas of mutual interest,
whether from a personal, business or academic
perspective‖ (William ,Boyd, Densten, Chin, Diamond & Morgenthaler 2009).
The millions of social networking sites have transformed the thought of global
village into a reality whereby billions of people communicate through social
networking sites. Numerous benefits have been obtained through distant communication
through the use of social networking sites.
Academic excellence or achievement plays an important
role in an individual placement, be it in the academic institutions or job
placement. Due to this, many people are concerned with the ways they can enhance
their academic achievement. The emphasis on academic excellence which is also
prevalent worldwide has encouraged many studies about the conditions promoting
it. The role of academic achievement as one of the predictors of one’s life
success and also in the aspect of academic placement in schools to higher
institutions as well as the level of employability in one’s career is
inevitable (Kyoshaba, 2009).
Academic performance, which is measured by the
examination results, is one of the major goals of a school. Hoyle (1986) argued
that schools are established with the aim of imparting knowledge and skills to
those who go through them and behind all this is the idea of enhancing good
academic performance.
Academic performance or achievement is the outcome of
education, the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved
their educational goals. Academic performance is commonly measured by
examinations or continuous assessment but there is no general agreement on how
it is best tested or which aspects are most important, procedural knowledge
such as skills or declarative knowledge such as facts (Annie, Howard &
Mildred, 1996).
A direct relationship exists between Social media
usage and the academic performance of students in universities. However the
darker side within technological evolution has resulted in dilemmas such as the
setback of real values of life especially among students who form the majority
of users interacting through the use of social networking sites. Online social
networking sites focus on building and reflecting social associations among
people who share interests and or activities. With so many social networking
sites displayed on the internet, students are tempted to abandon their homework
and reading times in preference for chatting online with friends. Many students
are now addicted to the online rave of the moment, with Facebook, Twitter etc.
Today most youths and students possess Facebook
accounts. The reason most of them perform badly in school might not be far- fetched.
While many minds might be quick to blame the poor quality of teachers, they
might have to think even harder, if they have not heard of the Facebook frenzy
(Oche & Aminu .2010). Olubiyi (2012) noted that these days’ students are so
engrossed in the social media that they are almost 24 hours online. Even in
classrooms and lecture theatres, it has been observed that some students are
always busy pinging, 2going or Facebooking, while lectures are on. Times that
ought be channeled towards learning, academic research and innovating have been
crushed by the passion for meeting new friends online, and most times busy
discussing trivial issues. Hence most students’ academics suffer setback as a
result of distraction from the social media. In (Obi, Bulus, Adamu &
Sala’at 2012), it was observed that the use of these sites also affects
students’ use of English and grammar. The students are used to short forms of
writing words in their chat rooms; they forget and use the same in the
classrooms. They use things like 4 in place of for, U in place of You, D in
place of The etc. and this could affect their class assessment.
Social networking sites although has been recognized
as an important resource for education today, studies however shows that
students use social networking sites such as Facebook for fun, to kill time, to
meet existing friends or to make new ones (Ellison, Steinfield, and Lampe
2007). Although it has been put forward that students spends much time on
participating in social networking activities, with many students blaming the
various social networking sites for their steady decrease in grade point
averages (Kimberly, Jeong and Lee, 2009), it also shows that only few students
are aware of the academic and professional networking opportunities the sites
offered.
According to Kuppuswamy and Shankar (2010), social
network websites grab attention of the students and then diverts it towards
non-educational and inappropriate actions including useless chatting. Whereas
on the other hand, (Liccardi, Ounnas, Massey, Kinnunen, Midy, & Sakar.
2007) reviewed that the students are socially connected with each other for
sharing their daily learning experiences and do conversation on several
topics.Tinto (1997) argued that extracurricular activities and academic activities
are not enough to satisfy some student those who are suffered by social
networking isolation. This shows that social networks are beneficial for the
students as it contributes in their learning experiences as well as in their
academic life. Trusov, Bucklin, & Pauwels (2009) noted that the Internet is
no doubt evolution of technology but specifically social networks are extremely
unsafe for teenagers, social networks become hugely common and well-known in
past few years. According to Cain (2009) social network websites provide ease
of connecting people to one another; free of cost and after connecting one can
post news, informative material and other things including videos and pictures
etc. Wiley and Sisson (2006) argued that the previous studies have found that
more than 90% of tertiary school students use social networks. In the same way
Ellison et al (2007) stated that the students use social networking websites
approximately 30 minutes throughout the day as a part of their daily routine
life. This statement shows the importance of social networking websites in
students’ life. Lenhart and Madden (2007) revealed through a survey that
students strongly recommend social networking websites to stay in touch with
friends to keep informed and aware.
Social information processing theory is an
interpersonal communication theory which suggests that online interpersonal
relationship development might require more time to develop than face-to-face
relationships, but when developed, it has the same influence as face-to-face
communication. This means, the more students use social media, the more they
influence their disposition to studies, given the fact that friends from social
media will begin to exert influence on each other.
1.2 Statement
of Problem
The world today is a global market in which the
internet is the most important sort of information. 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. The
educational system in Nigeria is faced with so many challenges which have
certainly brought about a rapidly decline in the quality of education. 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.
Students’ addictiveness to social networks, students’
frequency of exposure to social network, social media network that the students
are more exposed to and the influence of social media as a medium of
interaction between students has been part of discussion in recent times and
which have imparted on their academic performance. Instead of students reading
their books, they spend their time chatting and making friends via the social
media and this might definitely have influence on their academic performance,
because when you do not read, there is no way you can perform well
academically. It is a common sight to see a student chatting in sensitive and
highly organized places like church, mosque and lecture venues. Some are so
carried away that even as they are walking along the high way, they keep
chatting.
The manufacturing and distribution of equally
sophisticated cellular phones has complicated the situation, as students no
longer need to visit a cybercafé before they send and receive messages.
Attention has been shifted from visible to invisible friends, while important
ventures like study and writing might be affected in the process. This phenomenon
has become a source of worry to many who believe in knowledge and skill
acquisition.
In recent times social media have been a major stay in
the minds of students and the world at large thereby causing a lot of drastic
measure by students, teacher and even educational administrators at large. It
is therefore of great importance to explore some of the trending issues facing
students’ academic performance as a result of social media. Students at all
levels of learning now have divided attention to studies, as a result of
available opportunities to be harnessed from social media. Whether these
opportunities promote studies is a question that needs to be answered. Thus,
the problem this study investigates is the influence of social media networks
on the academic performance of the students in The Oke-Ogun Polytehnic .
1.3 Purpose
of the Study
The purpose of this study generally is to examine the
influence of Social Media on the Academic Performance of students in The
Oke-Ogun Polytehnic .
Specifically, the study seeks;
1. To examine the level of student addictiveness to
social media and the influence on their academic performance.
2. To determine the social media network that the
students are more exposed to and the influence on their academic performance.
3. To ascertain how the use of social media has
influence the academic performance of the students in The Oke-Ogun Polytehnic .
4. To ascertain the difference in students’ usage of
social media network by gender.
5. To ascertain how age has influence on students’
usage of social media network.
1.4 Research
Questions
The following research questions were raised;
1. To what extent would student addictiveness to
social network influence their academic performance?
2. Does the social media network that the students are
more exposed to influence their academic performance?
3. How has the use of social media influence the
academic performance of the students in The Oke-Ogun Polytehnic ?
4. Is there gender difference in the student’s usage
of social media network?
5. In what way do younger and older students influence
the use of social media?
1.5 Research
Hypotheses
The following hypotheses are generated by the
researcher and was tested in this study:
1. Students’ addictiveness to social network has no
significant influence on their academic performance.
2. Student’s exposure to social media network has no
significant influence on students’ academic performance.
3. Use of social media do no significantly influence
on the academic performance of the students in The Oke-Ogun Polytehnic .
4. There is no significant difference between male and
female student usage of social media network.
5. Age does not have significant influence on the use
of social media.
1.6 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 researchers
with more information on the Influence of social media on student’s academic
performance.
1.7Scope of the Study
The focus of this research work is to primarily study
the Influence of social media on the academic performance of students. The
study will comprise students in The Oke-Ogun Polytehnic .
1.8 Operational
Definition of Terms
As words may mean differently in different contexts,
the following definitions are given as the words used as intended to be
understood for the purpose of this study.
Social Media:
They are forms of electronic communication which facilitate interactive base on
certain interests. Social media include web and mobile technology
Social Networking Sites: A website where people put information about them and
can send to others.
Social Networking: The
use of internet to make information about yourself available to other people
especially people you share an interest with to send messages to them.
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.
Computer: A
computer is a machine that receives or stores or process data quickly according
to a stored program.
Tweets: A
short message posted on Twitter (a micro blog).
ICT: Information
and Communication Technology.
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