The Influence of Social Network and Pupils Academic Performance in Social Studies

The Influence of Social Network and Pupils Academic Performance in Social Studies

Abstract

The study was designed to examine social networks and academic performance in Social Studies in Primary Schools in Karu LGA of Nasarawa state. Two research questions were raised and two hypotheses were formulated in the study. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted for the study. A total number of one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five (1,825) students offering Social Studies in all six (6) public Primary schools in the study area constituted the population of the study. The sample size consisted of One hundred and eighty (180) pupils drawn from the six schools chosen for the Study Area.

A questionnaire titled; Social Media questionnaire (SMQ) and Social Studies achievement test were used to collect data in the study. Data collected were analyzed using an independent t-test. Findings show that social media has a significant impact on the academic performance of students as it enables learners to reach varieties of instructional content through the social media platform. Also, there is a difference in the performance of male and female students who use social media in their learning process.  It was recommended that Teachers/lecturers can adopt new strategies by channeling assignments or discussions on social media platforms to help inculcate the habit of using these sites for academic work.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

In recent times the world has witnessed a rapid increase in technological innovations, this era ushered in the advent of social media among other modern technologies in society. At present, the use of social has been linked to every part of human endeavours, such as industries engineering, agriculture, education, etc. also, the inception of social media has imparted positively in teaching methodology, research and developments, information and other related areas.

The integration of these media into the teaching and learning process in Nigeria Institutions (Primary Post-primary and tertiary) is a very welcomed development towards, improvement and advancement of education in line with the global standard. Akeem (2006) asserted that the integration of social media in the school system helps students to learn independently, be updated with school information, and stand a better chance to obtain better academic achievement since the world itself is technologically inclined.

He went further to say that the use of social media like computer systems will help the teachers in preparing the lesson content, assist in curriculum design, and stand a chance of delivering their lessons to the students in a more effective and comprehensive manner. Braith, (2003) asserted that social media are mediums or channels through which students get involved with social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and the rest of them.

Social media are interactive computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests, and other forms of expression via virtual communities and social networks (Boyd, 2007). Students usually access social media services (social networks) via web-based technologies on desktops and laptops, or download services that offer functional educational information to their mobile devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets) which help them in their academic endeavors.

As users engage with these electronic services, they create highly interactive platforms through which individuals, communities, and organizations can share, co-create, discuss, participate, and modify user-generated content that can help them improve both academically and otherwise. Kaplan and Haenlein (2010), defined social media as a group of internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0 and allowed the creation and exchange of user-generated content.

The Oxford dictionary (2011), also defined social media as “applications used for social networking”. Another definition of social media is that it is a ‘’communication channel which is very popular, extremely fast and broad, has proven to be highly effective, as well as trusted by billions of people, to share and discover content concerning individuals, brands, information, entertainment, and knowhow’’ (Dearborn, 2014). One theme that all these definitions underpin is that social media involves some form of communication between individuals over the internet.

The Influence of Social Network and Pupils Academic Performance in Social Studies

Today, social media has taken a new dimension and has encouraged more participation through the introduction of mobile phones that support social networks. The use of mobile phones that are powered by Android applications for social networks, with these developments in technology social networking sites have become more and more popular among students because of the use of social media, and a major concern has arisen over how the use of social media sites among undergraduate students affects their academic performances.

It was on this background that the researcher was interested to examine the influence of social media on academic performance in Social Studies in Primary schools in Karu Local Government Area

1.2 Statement of the Problem

In the educational system, success is measured by academic achievement or how well a student meets the standard set out by the institution. The menace of failure among young school students has stared parents, government, and stakeholders in the face. There is a consensus of opinion about the fallen standard of education as a big problem that is hindering the posterity of the Nigerian nation in terms of quality manpower resources. Most students in Primary schools experience academic challenges that manifest themselves in the form of poor academic achievement mostly in Social Studies subjects.

Many researchers have sought to find out the reasons for the downward trend in the academic performance of Primary school students. Ogbemudia and Aiasa (2013) reported a lack of good home foundations for students as the cause of poor performance by students. Achieng (2014) found home factors, student factors, and institutional capacity as the causes while, Adesehimwa and Aremu (2010) posited that factors resident in child, family, society, government and the school may be composite causative effects for these downward trends. Hence, this study seeks to examine the influence of social media on academic performance in Social Studies in Primary schools in Karu Local Government Area.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study will be to examine social Networks and academic performance in Social Studies in Primary schools in Karu Local Government Area.

Specifically, the study sought to:

1. Determine the extent to which the use of Facebook influences students’ academic performance.
2. Examine the extent to which the use of Youtube influences students’ academic performance.

1.4 Significance of the Study

The study will be of great significance in the following ways

(i) This study significantly will help the government, educational planners as well as other philanthropic organizations to know the need for the integration of computer-based technologies that could help the teaching and learning process.

(ii) It will enhance innovative thinking, creativity, and resourcefulness among students and teachers as they will have to think of and select relevant application media during the teaching-learning process.

(iii) The study will be of great significance to future researchers who may wish to carry out more studies on topics related to the influence of social media and academic performance.

1.5 Research Questions

In order to achieve the derived objective of this research study, the following research questions will be raised to guide the study:

1. To what extent does the use of Facebook influence the academic performance of students in Social pupils in Karu Local Government Area?
2. To what extent does the use of youtube influences the academic performance of pupils in Social Studies in the Karu Local Government Area?

1.6 Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses will be postulated to guide the study:

1. The use of Facebook does not significantly influence the academic performance of pupils in Social Studies.
2. Youtube use does not significantly influence the academic performance of pupils in Social Studies.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

In conducting a research study of this kind, there are bound to be some challenges. Thus, some of the challenges encountered in the course of this study are as follows:

1. Time constraint: time duration allowed for the completion of this research work could not be enough for the research to have a wider scope. Hence some schools were sampled and students out of all the schools in the area.
2. Financial problem: this constituted one of the major limitations to the researcher especially as the researcher had to source relevant materials on the topic and visit the sampled schools under investigation for data collection.
3. Insufficient reference materials: this also was a problem as the researcher needed enough relevant literature on the topic.

The Influence of Social Network and Pupils Academic Performance in Social Studies