INFLUENCE OF ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING USAGE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL II STUDENTS IN ZARIA METROPOLIS

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INFLUENCE OF ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING USAGE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL II STUDENTS IN ZARIA METROPOLIS

 

ABSTRACT

The study examined the influence of online social networking usage on academic performance among secondary school students. The study was guided by three research questions and 3 null-hypotheses that were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive research design using survey method was adopted. The population of the study consist of 5020 students which were drawn from six senior secondary students in Zaria, Giwa and Sabon Gari Local Governments in Zaria metropolis. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 10% of the population of the students consisting 502 respondents. The instruments tagged influence of online social networking usage on academic performance among secondary students (IOSNUAP) developed by the researcher and Mathematics and English tests developed by experts were used for academic performance. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, simple percentage were used to present the demographic data of the respondent, mean score and standard deviation were used to analyse the research questions. Independent t-test was used in testing null-hypotheses one and two while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for hypothesis three. All hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The result indicates significant influence of online social networking usage on academic performance of male than female in Zaria metropolis. This suggests that the academic performance of the male is lower than that of the female because of the influence of online social networking usage has on their academic performance. Age bracket 12 – 14 in Zaria metropolis had negative significant influence of online social networking usage on their academic performance. This suggests that online social networking usage has negative influence on age bracket 12 – 14 years than 14-16. Very frequent users had higher negative influence of online social networking usage on academic performance in Zaria metropolis than their counter parts. This suggests that all the users had influence of online social networking usage but the negative influence is more on the very frequent users. The researcher recommended among others that counsellors should adequately mentor students on the influence of online social networking usage.

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1         Background to the Study

 

Social networking is becoming an increasing part of young generation life relative to the general humanity; students and young adults are the heaviest social net work users. The influence of on line social networking usage on the academic performance of student in secondary school is becoming an alarming issue. Karpinski (2009) observes that today’s children are spoiled, love luxury, their food is overtime devouring entertainment, communication and every form of social network, electronic communicators and the first to hustle into any new technology. They live in the recent popular social networks such as facebook, 2go and whatsapp.

Anywhere you see them with friends the question is, are you on online? Students are always ready to embrace the latest technology, fashion and its electronic applications. The fact that children make use of electronic devices and are called digital natives does not make them good users of social network that are at their disposal, Social network usage may have an influence on the academic performance of students in secondary schools.

 

Moon (2011) agrees that the time students need to improve on their study habit, they invest their time in browsing through their cell phone or computer modem to connect themselves to face book,2go and whats app.The time they may use in doing their homework, assignment and consulting literature for their academic performance is used in social networking, posting comments, sending pictures and carrying out social activities, some students at the interest of accessing their online social network, spent the money given to them for their school programme or material may be used to update the online social network account in order to have megabits which will enable them to go online networking while their study suffer deficiency due to lack of material and truancy in some of the school activities.

 

The influence of online social networking overdose is becoming traumatic among secondary school students because some who are addicted to the usage tend to display some anti social behaviour and aggressive tendencies. Students that are in secondary school are still within the range of adolescent and teenagers who are eager to exploit any latest invention and fashion to suit their youthful exhobirance. In this case social networking usage by secondary school students deserves close monitoring to ensure that it does not cause more harm than good.

 

Recham(2011) reported thatglobally parent are getting worried about their children displaying some antisocial behaviour, mania and aggressive tendencies, especially when approached for correction, Secondary school students enter into online relationships that will mar their lives, careers and future without the fore knowledge of their parents. This communication through social networkingsites becomes so secretive that parents may not know the online distance their children in secondary schools might have covered through social relationship. This has become a temptation that the degree of its attraction is irresistible to students and they always fall into the trap of getting themselves connected to the networking. It possess the ability to influence students academic progress. Online Social networking frequent users may become narcissistic. Narcissistic in the sense that, they develop inordinate affection with themselves, exclusively self love and vanity which is not a good desire from a child. Therefore putting all this influences together, there is that prediction that the academic performance of students may experience some set backs because of distraction, procrastination and time wastage which will invariable affect their academic performance. The need to investigate on the influence of online social networking usage among secondary school students become important for urgent attention. Although peopleoften say that the current generations have developed the ability to quickly switch between different tasks or different media. It is quite unfortunate because it does not mean that it is beneficial or profiting to their academic performance, it has been understood that combing behaviour for several task leads to poorer learning,which results in students poor academic performance (American Psychological Association 2006).

 

According to the study conducted by Kirschner and Karpinskias cited by Vaden Boogart (2006), it was observed that heavy social networking is among students with lower GPA. Boonie Rechman (as cited inRosen, 2009) reportedthat during 15 minutes observation of kids study time, middle age and high school students as well as College students who check their facebook, other technologies and media during the 15 minutes study time had lower test grades. Also during, the 15-minute study time, emphases was made that, students who most often had the lowest rate of reading retention are those who invest their time on social networking activities. Looking at the bunch of negative influence of social networking usage on the academic performance of students in secondary school, the investigation of the study becomesvery important in order to help students understand the level of negative influence that social networkingcan have on their academic progress, which if not curtailed may cause serious havoc for their career building period. The study investigated the negative and positive influence of the online social networking usage on academic performance among secondary school students and how it affects their academic performance. The study will help to give students understanding on how to manage, and balance the usage of online social networking activities to promotetheir academic progress.

 

1.2         Statement of the Problem

 

The only way to acknowledge the reality of the delivery done by teachers in schools is through academic performance of students. Academic performance has been affected by many factors, but the most prevailing factor today is the online social networking usage among secondary school students. Secondary school students’ involvement in online social networking usage is becoming an alarming issue because virtually all students in secondary school own mobile phones at home and sometimes go to school with them secretly, not for school work but to connect friends for the purpose of social interaction. Academic performance in secondary school is facing much deterioration due to students’ inability to maximize the study time and habit and concentrate on their school work which has been taken over by online social networking activities.

 

Academic performances of students are facing a lot of negative influences and challenges. There is deviation, distraction,procrastination and divided attention between online social networking activitiesand students’ academic work. Online social networking sites such as 2go, whatsapp and facebook exert distractive influence on students’ interest on their academic endeavour.The frequency at which they use theseonline social network sites, shows that some of the existing network sites have come to stay on the social network. Online social networking usage has becomea basic structure of the society.

Online social networkingusage generates procrastination of students academic work. Frequently students are addicted to browse and check their social network site even when there is class assignment and academic work, just to communicate and access with their friends online at the detriment of their academic work. In most cases students spend time on social network sitesinteracting with friends, posting comments, sending pictures and carrying out other social activities that do not have relevance to their academic work.For this reason, more time is spent and they express high degree of interest in interacting with friends thanseeking for information that will aid their academic progress through online social networking usage.

 

Vanden-Boogart (2006) has found that on this noteonline social networking usage has exerted some level of negative influence on students academic activities which may eventually affect academic performance among secondary school students. Students engage more on the social aspect of online social networking activities than other activities that are relevant to their study their concentration on academic work. The distractionis with much interference. They invest more time in checking information outside their academics, and little time is devoted to academic endeavor. The researcher observed within her immediate environment that students even after dinner,at late hour of the night,will not commit themselves to serious study habits; rather, they check their online social networkingsites such as facebook, 2go and whatsapp, chart with friends andabandon their academicwork and tasks to suffer. Most at times, the night will be spent on social networking sitesand during the day in class the students sleep off while lessons aregoing on.As a result of students interest in studies is distracted by online social networking activities as discovered and observed by the researcher among secondary school students who use mobile phonesto access online social networking sites secretly or openly in order to satisfy their social entertainment. The above raises concerns regarding the academic performance among secondary school students. This study therefore investigatethe influence of online social networking usage on academic performance among secondary school students in Zaria metropolis.

 

1.3          Objectives of the Study

 

The objectives of the study are:

 

  1. To determine the influence of online social networking usageon the academic performance of male and female secondary school students.

 

  1. To find out the influence of online social networkingusageon academic performance of studentsof different age brackets in secondary schools.

 

  1. To discover the influence of online social networking usageon academic performance of very frequent, frequent and rare users in secondary school.

 

1.4         Research Questions

 

The following research questions were answered

 

  1. What is the influenceof online social networking usageon academic performance of male and female secondary school students?

 

  1. What is the influence of online social networking usageon academic performance of studentsof different age brackets in secondary schools?

 

  1. What influence does online social networking usagehave on the academic performance of very frequent, frequent and rare users in secondary schools?

 

1.5         Hypotheses

 

The following hypotheses were formulated.

 

  1. There is no significant differential influence of online social networking usage on the academic performance ofmale and female secondary school students.

 

  1. Thereis no significant influence of online social networking usage on academic performance of secondary school students of different age brackets.

 

  1. There is no significant influence of online social networking usage on academic performance of very frequent, frequent and rare users in secondary school.

 

1.6         Basic Assumption

 

The following assumptions were made

 

  1. Online Social networking usagemay have significant differential influence on the academic performance of male and female secondary school students.

 

  1. Online social networkingusagemay influence the academic performance of secondary school students of different age brackets.

 

  1. Online social networkingmay influence the academic performance of very frequent, frequent and rare users in secondary school.

 

1.7         Significance of the Study

 

The findings of this study will be beneficial to all stake holders in secondary school educational section such as secondary school students, secondary school management, counselors, teachers, parents and would-be-researchers. The secondary school students will benefit from the findings of this online social networking usage on the influence it may exert on both male and female secondary school students. This will sensitize male and female secondary school students on the need to reduce the time spent on online social networking and balance it with their study ensuring demarcation between online social networking activities and academic programmes. It will also stress the need to study for academic excellence and concentration to achieve outstanding academic performance.

 

Secondary school management would, from the findings of this study, see the need to establish strong rules and regulations that will guide the students against the use of mobile phones connecting to online social networking sites for social activities. Related to this, it will make secondary school management to establish punitive measure that will serve as preventive and remedial measures for any student found using mobile phones within school environment and lesson periods. This will reduce the usage of online social networking for entertainment and social activities especially within the school setting Counsellors would find the findings useful in the sense that they would design strategies on how to mentor secondary school students on implications of both positive and negative influence of online social networking over the students academic performance. Teachers would also benefit from the findings of the study because if the students are able to balance their academic programmes and online social networking activities, it will enhance teaching and learning effectiveness among secondary school students.Parents would not be left out with the benefit from the findings of this study in the sense that they would understand the influence of online school networking usage on academic performance among secondary school students and know how to help their wardsthrough mentoring and monitoring of their mobile phone usage for social networking. Would-be-researchers will find the study useful as a reference point and will add to their literature in the area of relevance to their research work.

 

1.8         Scope and Delimitation

 

The study involved selected secondary schools in Sabon Gari, Zaria and Giwa Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. The schools are: Government Girls Secondary School Samaru, Government Secondary School Basawa,Yusuf Aboki secondary school Shika, Government Secondary SchoolBomo,Alhudahuda CollegeZaria and GovernmentSecondary SchoolTudun Jukun. The reason for selecting these schoolswas because the schools are all public schools and the researcher will be able to get reliable information knowing that the factors affecting the students may be similar.

 

The study also involved the influence of online social networking usage on academic performance of male and female secondary school students from six schools in the three Local Government Areasin Zaria metropolis.Furthermore, the study involvedstudents at different age brackets of 12 – 14years, 14 – 16 years and the frequency level of very frequent, frequent and rare users.

 

The students from these schools were involved in the usage of online social networking sites, which some of them were left to the choice of how frequent theyaccess onlinesocial network sites at the distraction of their study. The respondents were students from SSII who used online social networking sites within selected schools. Junior secondary school students, Senior Secondary I and II were not be involved in this study.

 

INFLUENCE OF ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING USAGE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL II STUDENTS IN ZARIA METROPOLIS

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