IMPACT OF SMARTPHONES ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF TERTIARY INSTITUTION STUDENTS

IMPACT OF SMARTPHONES ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF TERTIARY INSTITUTION STUDENTS (A CASE STUDY OF MAPOLY ABEOKUTA)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of smartphones on the academic performance of tertiary institution students (a case study of Mapoly Abeokuta). Other specific objectives of the study are to examine the impact of information and communication technologies on the performance of broadcast organizations and to find out if OGTV uses information and communication technologies in its broadcast reporting. The study made use of primary sources to generate data, and the chi-square technique was used to analyze the stated hypothesis. Based on the findings of this research work, make some recommendations that are capable of improving the academic performance of students: students should take a more active role in the learning process and take an interest in using smartphones to improve educational experiences.    Students should be encouraged by their lecturers to make more use of chat rooms, such as Viber and WhatsApp for group discussions, share images through Bluetooth to explain scientific concepts and processes, use videoconferencing for face-to-face group discussions, read eBooks, and download needed materials from the internet.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

Nowadays, smartphones are considered an integral part of everyone’s daily life, and university students are no exception to it. Smartphones not only provide informational access to university students but also work as a major communication tool. However, concerns have emerged regarding the impact of smartphone usage on academic performance. According to a study by Junco and Cotton (2012), excessive smartphone usage among college students may lead to distraction, reducing the time for studying and academic activities. Moreover, the constant notification and alert from social media platforms and messaging apps can disrupt their concentration during lectures and study sessions (Lepp et al., 2015). Previous research suggests that excessive smartphone usage also negatively affects sleep patterns, which in turn impair their cognitive and academic performance (Huang et al., 2020). Another study highlighted that the blue light emitted by smartphone screens inhibits the production of melatonin, a hormone crucial for regulating sleep, thus impacting overall sleep quality (Chang et al., 2015). Similarly, those students who excessively use smartphones are also prone to daytime fatigue and poor class attention, which in turn impact their academic performance (Ahmed et al., 2020).

In recent years, a new phenomenon of "phubbing," or phone snubbing, has gained the attention of researchers. In this behaviour, individuals prefer online interaction over meeting face-to-face with each other. This behaviour has negative implications for both interpersonal relations and academic engagements (Baranova et al., 2022). Subsequently, students with more engagement in phubbing not only miss fruitful collaborations with their peers but also hinder their academic progress as well (Chotpitayasunondh et al., 2016). Nevertheless, smartphones also play an important role in the academic success of students. Nowadays, mobile learning applications offer exciting new ways for students to access any kind of educational materials and other learning resources (Hwang et al., 2014).

In addition, the ease of communication between relevant stakeholders helps in creating a conducive environment among instructors and students (Marquez, 2023). Although smartphones are instrumental these days in offering convenient and speedy access to university students, their potential negative implications also exist. Various studies have been carried out in the last couple of decades to establish the linkage between smartphone usage and its relevance with the academic performance of university students (Ceniza et al., nd; Sharma, 2021; Vurdien, 2020).

In a study conducted by Lazarotto et al., it was observed that students having excessive use of smartphones score poor grades on their exams (Lazarotto Schroeder et al., 2023). Furthermore, it is found that the addiction to smartphones also decreases the academic engagement of university students (Agostini & Petrucco, 2023). Mitigating the negative impact of smartphones coupled with their potential benefits has created a unique type of challenge for all stakeholders to ensure the intelligent use of smartphones (Rosen et al., 2013). It not only improves the intellectual well-being of students but also saves them from unnecessary distractions (Kibona & Mgaya, 2015).

A tri-relation synergy exists between smartphone usage, academic grades, and the mental well-being of students (Amin et al., 2024); Aljomaa et al. (2016) identified an association between phone-related stresses and the poor grades of university students (Aljomaa et al., 2016). Moreover, numerous factors like fear of social media bullying, sleep disorders, and mental stress are created due to excessive use of smartphone usage (Rosen et al., 2013; Aljomaa et al., 2016).

1.2  Statement of the Problem

It is imperative to foster a healthy environment in educational institutions, thus protecting the psychological well-being of students. In a nutshell, the intelligent and productive use of smartphones offers tremendous support to students; however, its excessive use can negatively impact their academic performance. A negative correlation between smartphone usage and academic achievement is also established by Liu et al. (2020) in their research on smart education. Despite numerous studies carried out in this area, it is imperative to conduct a study from a student’s perspective to see the dominant patterns of smartphone usage. ADs: Get more free education project topics

1.3       Research Questions

The present study is carried out to investigate the following research questions:

1.  What are the different kinds of phone usage patterns among university students?

2.  Are these patterns related to their academic performance?

3.  Is there any mediating factor(s) between phone use and academic performance?

1.4       Research Objectives

The objective of these questions is to explore different ways university students use their smartphones and what the potential impact of these patterns is on their academic performance. The results of the study can be used by students as well as academic institutions to adopt responsible smartphone use.

IMPACT OF SMARTPHONES ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF TERTIARY INSTITUTION STUDENTS (A CASE STUDY OF MAPOLY ABEOKUTA). GET MORE PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS 

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