ABSTRACT
The
study was on the influence of social media on academic performance of
undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State. The survey
research method was adopted for the study. Questionnaire was the instrument for
data collection. Out of 300 copies of the questionnaire that were
distributed,280 (representing 93.3%)were retrieved and analysed, from three
faculties, using the stratified sampling techniques, which included the table of
random numbers technique for the first stratum, and the accidental sampling
technique for the second stratum: and the sample size was 100 respondents from
each faculty, to make a total of 300. The research showed that undergraduate go
on-line very often, they are aware of and use social networking sites,they
spend above 3hours on social networking activities,and the use of social media
has influenced their academic performances positively in so many ways such as:
Information retrieval skill, activities participation in group discussion on
assignment with classmate, and in their grades. They use social networking sites
for entertainment, reading newspapers, academic, and looking for advertisement.
The research recommendation, lecturers and undergraduate should use social
media for academic purposes, and undergraduates should be oriented on how to
manage their time effectively when using social media for socialising and
academic purposes.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The world is
today celebrating the improvements in communication technology which has
broadened the scope of communication through information and communication
technologies (ICT) (Asemah, Okpanachi,and Edegoh, 2013). Modern Technology in
communication no doubt, has turned the entire world into a “Global Village”
(Osharive, 2015). It helps people to be better informed, enlightened, and
keeping abreast with the world developments. Technology exposes mankind to a
better way of doing things.
Information and
communication technology is a very broad term, which refers to various gadgets
that aids in communication such as computer, mobile phone, and satellite
communication. Information and communication technology is a tool that helps in
improving communication among people. According to Okwuchukwu (2015), information
and communication technology has given rise to unlimited access to information
in almost all spheres of human endeavor. Issa, Uzuegbu and Nwosu (2014)also noted
that ICT can be seen as the aggregate of computers, telecommunication gadgets,
multimedia resource and other related technologies that are applied and
utilized in the total process of information management and dissemination. Talukder,
Alam, and Apu (2015) state that educational institutions adopted ICT-based
teaching method and offering ICT related academic programms, impacting the
students with skills of using different smart devices and internet to have
access to information, which is of supreme importance’s to Academic. According
to Ntui (2014), ICT has been regarded as an important tool to leverage the
economy and society, thus mastering basic skills and concepts of ICT has become
one core part in education, beside reading, writing, and numeracy. ICT skills
are necessary prerequisites for information literacy and life-long learning.
According to Hasnain,
Nasreen, and Ijaz (2015), social media is a phenomenon developing in a rapid
pace.Social media is the fastest growing web application in the 21st Century that depends
on computer, mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platforms,
through which individuals can share, co-create, discuss, and modify
user-generated content. It introduces substantial and pervasive change to communication between
individuals.Al-Rahmiand Othman, (2013) note that the driving factors for
adopting of social media are progressively ubiquitous access, convenience,
functionality, and flexibility of social technologies.
Onah and Nche
(2014) observe that in the manner of a wild fire in harmattan, the phenomenon of
social media (networking) has spread to all nook and crannies of Nigeria,
engulfing a large number of her youths. Social media usage has become so common
among the youths, that it has become unfashionable not to engage oneself at
least in one of thesocial networking sites.Prior to the invention of this
phenomenon, communication over a distance was comparatively difficult. However,
the advent of social media has made the impossible become possible, as one can
conveniently communicate with anyone at any time irrespective of geographical
barriers and distance. According to Umekachikelu (2013) it is amazing that witha
click one passes information to thousands of people in a second. Social media
are new technologies which are used as channels of information dissemination to
heterogeneous audiences without the constraints of time, space or distance.
According to Onah
and Nche (2014), defined social media is a group of internet based application
that builds on the ideological and technology foundation of the web which
allows the creation and exchange of user generated content. They refer to the
internet-based social websites like the Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc which
allow users to interactively communicate with one another. Social media can
also refer to those web-based and mobile-based technologies which are used to
turn communication into interactive, dialogue between organizations,
communities and individuals. Ictech(2014) Technologies such as smartphones can
potentially make users more efficient and productive when they use them in an adventageous
manner instead as a distraction. (Sinan, Brynojolfsson, and Alstryne,2007)
Smartphones are no different from desk top and laptop, other than size and
computer power.The undergraduate student in this study are also known as, “Net
Generation” those born between 1980and 1989, who are in use of social media
technologies. Undergraduates of Ambrose Alli University use the social media,
for one reasons or another. It is of concern to know how social media has
influenced the academic performance of undergraduates.As it is, social media like
two sides of a coin brings with it both negative and positive impact.
Undergraduates are expected to make the best use of social media to impact
knowledge in a wide range, but some are found misusing it.
With the
invention of technologies, knowledge management has been enriched. It is of interest
to the universities that students should turn out to be good researchers, of
which they could search with different source of information, such as paper
based and data based information /digital libraries. This information source
has their special qualities, but Undergraduates seem to depend more on databases
/digital libraries which they can access on their personal devices because of
time factor. Nwangwe, Yonlolonfoun and Omotere,(2014) note that most undergraduates
running full time programmes in Nigerian universities spend more time on social
media than on any other activity of the day, including academic work.Junco and
Cotton, (2012) student has become addicted to social media; it split their
attention, causing massive decrease in knowledge retention. Idubor, Elogie, and Ikenwe,
(2016)believed that social media networks’ use is not only an addictive
behaviourbut also forms a collection of recognition and behaviour factors that
leave people prone to addiction leading to a negative effect on the individual’s
life. But,According to Dabbagh and Kitsantas (2012) social media can help
facilitate the creation of personal learning environments, which empower
students to take charge of their own learning by selecting ,creating and organizing tools and resources that help
in effective and efficient learning.
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 (Bloyd, 2007).Teens can form online communities in order to plan for a
project, have group class material, or use the social networking sites as a way
to keep in contact when a student has been absent and needs to be updated on
current academic information(Alexander and Salas, 2008).
Internet is the
great global virtual library, where anyone at anywhere in the world can secure
access to the huge digital archive where knowledge, leisure and professional
world converge in one’s space. It has changed the face of the lives of people,
turning them completely into the modern and latest lifestyle with its developments,(Arua,
Uzuegbu, and Ugah, 2014).The internet facilitates data exchange by allowing
users of the interconnected computers of all types and sizes to communicate in
real time. The availability of high speed internet broadband connection with
massive use of desktop computers, laptops, e-reader ,tablets and smart phone
enable millions of people including undergraduate to actively engage in social
networking, text, message, blogging, content sharing, online leaning and much
more (Nwangwe, Yonlolonfoun and Omotere, 2014).Today, instead of the print
materials, undergraduates use the internet to access e-materials, in which the
interactive nature of online environments has expanded with social networks. The
social networking sites are being used in various ways like forming
communities, chatting, blogging, etc. Academic performance of the undergraduate
students is measured by the examination, which is one of the goals of the
university to find out the students’ capabilities. According to Osharive (2015)
citing Hoyle (1986), 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.
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
Since the advent
of social media sites in 1990s, it is assumed in some quarters that the
academic performance of students is facing a lot of neglect and challenges.
There is a deviation, distraction and divided attention between social
networking activities and students’ academic work. The idea of social media was
to keep this global world more connected, but it has done more than that, it
has become the fourth meal of the day. Baran (2010) argues that “technology can
be used in ways beneficial and otherwise, technology isa double-edge sword. Its
power for good and bad resides in its use”. The time spent on social media is
not limited to free time; it impacts on all areas of one’s life. The emergence
of social media as a result of advancement in technology and expansion in
internet software has raised great concern of social media influence on
academic performance of undergraduate students. Asemah, Okpanachi, and Edegoh(2013)
argue that students at all levels of learning now have divided attention to studies,
as a result of available opportunities to be harnessed from social media for
leisure and recreation.
Youth have
become fully involved in social networking all the time, therefore it is
important to check on the influence of social media on their academic performances.
Osharive(2015) observes that the manufacturing and distribution of equally
sophisticated cellular phones has complicated the situation. Universities and
the society at large are getting worried, notwithstanding, there are strict
rules established by various school authorities on the use of these technological
gadgets. Some researchers like: Helou and Rahim (2014) have already underscored
a lot of importance of using social network by the undergraduate students. Other
researchers such as Asemah, Okpanachi, and Edegoh (2013) citing Ndaku (2013)in
an attempt to salvage the academic performance at this stage investigated the
impact of social media use on academic performance and study of undergraduate
students. However, little or no literature abounds on the Influence of social
media on academic performance of Undergraduates’ in Ambrose Alli University, access
of various social networking sites, use and how it has influenced their
academic performance. Furthermore, the study will examine with the keen passion
to suggesting recommendations that will guide undergraduates of different
universities, University administration and general public on how to utilize
social media.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
i.
To find out how often the undergraduate students
of Ambrose Alli University go on-line.
ii.
To find out the various social media sites the
undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University are aware of and use
iii.
To determine the numbers of hours undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University spend on social networking
activities
iv.
To ascertain the use of social media by Ambrose
Alli University Undergraduates and how it influences their academic performances.
v.
To determine the reasons for the students’ use
of social networking sites.
1.4 Research Questions
i.
How often do undergraduate in Ambrose Alli
University go on-line?
ii.
What social networking sites do the
undergraduates in Ambrose Alli Universityare aware of and use?
iii.
How many hours do undergraduates spend on social
networking activities?
iv.
How has the use of social media by
undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University influenced their academic performances?
v.
What are the reasons for which undergraduates in
Ambrose Alli University us social networking sites?
1.5 Scope of the Study
The study seeks
to unravel the influence of social media on academic performance of
undergraduates. The study is focused on 200 to 400 levels, while 100level would
be excluded in the participation of the study. In most cases the characteristics
of undergraduates are generally similar, the research findings would be
generalized to include all undergraduates’ of Ambrose Alli University.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The study will
provide researchers empirical data on the influence of social media on undergraduates’
academic performances. It will be relevant in assisting the undergraduates to
understand the diversity of social media and their effectual use in academic
activities.The results of the study are likely to influence further scholarly
research by other researchers who may be interested in this field of knowledge
and initiate appropriate investigation. The findings could be used by academic
advisers and counselors to proffer professional advice to the university
authorities on how to regulate the use of social media network among
undergraduates of Ambrose Alli University and other institutions of learning.
Also, the findings of this study would provide facts that will enable the
ministry of education and ministry of communication technology to know what arises
from the use of social networking sites, so as to be guided on how to control
social networking sites usage to enhance learning and research. It is also
important to note that it would be of relevance to various people around and
universities across Nigeria.
1.7 Operational Definition
of Terms
Academic Performance: Theoutcomeof somebody’s efforts in education
and extent to which a student has achieved his educational goals.
Influence of social media:The power of social media to cause change
in the users without directly forcing suchchanges to happen.
Information andCommunication Technology (ICT): A term that
describes the general processing and communication of information of all kinds through
technology.
Internet: A global digital infrastructure that connects millions of
computers and people in what is often referred to as network of networks with
cross platform compatibility that ease communication.
Social Networking site: An online platform that provides a virtual
community for people interested in a particular subject or just to hang out
together.
Social Media: A wed based and mobile capabilities, used to turn
communication into interactive dialogue between organizations, communities and
individuals.
Undergraduates: A
student at a college or university who has not yet earned a bachelor's or
equivalent degree.================================================================
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