Influence of Social Media and Student Study Habit in Biology

INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND STUDENT STUDY HABIT IN BIOLOGY IN ETINAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The world today is improving in communication technology, which has broadened the scope of communication through Information and Communication Technology (ICTs). Modern technology in communication no doubt has turned the entire world into a “global village”. But as it is like two sides of a coin, brings with it both negative and positive sides. It helps people to be well informed, enlightened, keeping abreast with world development. Technology exposes mankind to a better way of doing things. Social media comprises of activities that involve socializing and networking online through words, pictures and videos.

Kaplan and Halein, (2010) defined social media as a group of internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allows the creation and exchange of user-generated content. It also refers to activities, practices and behavior among communities of people who gather online to share information, knowledge and opinion using interactive media.

Through social media people seek and enjoy the companionship of others online. It supports the sharing of information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest. In other words, a social media service is an online platform that is used by people to build social networks with other people who share similar personal or career interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections.

Social media is that means that employs mobile and web based technology to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals and community share, co-create, discuss and modifies user’s generated content.

Preibusch, Hoser, Gurses and Berendt, (2007). Aside these effects, other studies conducted by scholars have also proved that social media can be detrimental to students’ academic life if caution is not taken in its usage. For instance the study conducted by Obi, Bulus, Adamu and Sala’at (2012), titled “The need for safety consciousness among Youths on social Networking Sites” concluded that social media affects students use of English. They use short-handwriting when chatting with friends and unconsciously get used to it thereby replicating same errors during examinations.

Even though one may argue that these are minor challenges, it is important to acknowledge the increasing rate at which these errors are replicated in the education sector and if care is not taken future generation may see it as a norm. Indeed a number of studies including but not limited to the 10 study of Kuppuswamy and Shankar (2010), Osharive (2015), Maya (2015), among others have revealed unequivocally that social media can be problematic to students’ academic life if caution is not taken in its usage

Bittner, (2005). Thus, social media is the scientific study of the mass media (machines), the messages they carry (information, ideas, attitudes), and the audiences (people) they transmit these messages. A medium is called a mass medium if it meets two basic requirements: It must reach many people simultaneously (same time), and must use a technological device located between source and receiver. Social media also imply the use of mobile and web based technology to create highly interactive platforms via which individuals and community share, co-create, discuss and modifies users generated content kietzmannn, (2012).

Social media is a phrase being tossed around a lot. It is a website that does not just give you information but interact with you while giving you information. It is a group of internet based application that allows the creation and exchange of users generated content. It is easy to confuse social media with social news because we often refer to members of the news as the media. Adding to it, that social news site is also social media site. Social media refers to the means of interaction among people in which they create, share, exchange and comment among themselves in different networks.

Andreas and Michael (2000) stated that social media is a group of internet based application that builds on the ideological foundation and allows the creation and exchange of users – generated content. Social media has become one of the major channel of chatting through platforms such as 2go, BB chat, blogger and wiki a. There has been an increase in the mobile social media which has created new opportunity for browsing.

 Graeme & Maggio (2010). They allow users to manage; build and represent their social networks online, usually made up of other individual’s networks which also include the profiles of events, companies, even political parties. Broadly defined, social media is an internet or mobile-based social space where people can connect, communicate, create and share content with others. They typically support the public display of networks although they may offer privacy restrictions, or facilitate closed communities Rimmer, (2007). Furthermore, he added that it also refers to as the gathering, representation, processing and dissemination of social information, such as race, sexual orientation and partners, religion, body type, favorite books and movies, relationship status and photo albums. This information is shared between friends, colleagues, family members and strangers.

 Kuss and Griffiths (2011) described social media as virtual communities where users can create public profiles; interact with real- life friends and meet other people based on shared interests. It is also referred to as virtual places where people find themselves and share information.

Social networking sites such as; twitter, yahoo messenger, face book messenger, blackberry messenger (BBM), Whatsapp Messenger, 2go messenger, Skype, Google talk, and Google messenger are used by most people to interact with old and new friends, physical or internet friends Asemah and Adegoh, (2012). The world has been changed rapidly by the evolution of technology “this has resulted in the use of technology as the best medium to explore the wide area of knowledge.

The evolution of internet technology has led to its used as the best medium for communication. Whereby, two-third of the world’s internet population visits social networking or blogging sites, thus serving communications and connection tools. Social networking (SNS) are online communities of internet users who work to communicate with other users on area of mutual interest, whether from a personal, business or academic perspective William (2009). Millions of social networking sites have transformed the thought of global village into a reality whereby millions of people communicate through media. Numerous benefits have been obtained through distant communication by the use of social networking sites.

A direct relationship exists between social media usage and the study habit of students in secondary schools. However, the darker side within technological evolution has resulted in dilemmas such as the set back of real value of life especially among students who form the majority of users interacting through the use of social networking site. Online social media site focus on building and reflecting on social associations among people who share interest and activities with so many social media sites displayed on the internet. Students are tempted to abandon their homework and reading time in preference for chatting online with friends. Many students are now addicted to spending much of their time with Facebook, Whatsapp, Google, Skype, Badoo etc.

Today, most youth and students possess Facebook account. The reason most of them perform badly in school might not be far-fetched. While many minds might not be quick to blame the poor quality of teachers, they might have to think even faster, if they have not heard of the Facebook frenzy Oche and Amino, (2010). Noted that these days, students are so engrossed in the social media that they are almost 24 hours online. Even in the classroom and lecture theatres, it has been observed that some students are always busy pinging, Facebooking, searching Google while lectures are going on. Times that ought to be channeled towards learning, academic research and innovating have been crushed by the passion for meeting new friends online. Hence, most students’ academic suffer set-back as a result of distraction from social media.

Google networking on its part has been organized as an important resource for education today, studies however shows that students use Google site to kill time. Facebook is used at times for fun and also to meet existing friends or to make new ones Alison (2007). Although it has been put forward that students spend much time on participating in social media activities, with many students blaming the various social media sites for their steady decrease in grade point average Kimberly, (2009). It also shows that only few students are aware of the academic and professional networking opportunities they site offered.

Apart from using Twitter for classroom teaching and learning, twitter is argued to have added an extra value for research project. This is because students are able to share and project themselves in the research community using the hash tag sign (#). Users of twitters would be able to search for student’s works by using these dedicated hash tags.

Crow & Crow,( 2007). Good study habits include many different skills such as time management, self-discipline, concentration, memorization, organization, and effort. From the researcher’s point of view, study habit is at the heart of self education and lifelong learning and it is an art capable of transforming life and society. It is also seen as a good asset to learners as they assist students to attain mastery in their area of specialization and to learn effectively.

 

Influence of Social Media and Student Study Habit in Biology

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The internet is today the most important source of information and the growing dimensions of the use of social media by students cannot be underestimated.

It has been observed that students devote more attention and time to social media than they do for their studies and this affect their study habits which may end them not passing  their examinations well if they do not learn.

Social media came up as a result of advancement in technology. It is also important to students since it helps them to exchange ideas, feelings, personal information, pictures and videos. The use of social media by students is also very educative and informative. Unfortunately, it seems that the use of social media by students has taken over the study habit of students in secondary schools. Students spend most of their time in the social media platform at the expense of reading their books. This has created distraction and lack of concentration from studies most of the time by students and it also has its negative characteristics like students spending most of their time to chat, some are introduced to pornography, examination malpractice, downloading nasty pictures at social media which has contributed to poor study habit.

The result of the use of social media in schools seems to produce poor academic performance in internal and external examination malpractice Akwa Ibom State ministry of education (2007) and poor reading culture which may affect student study habit. But whether social media use affect the secondary students study habit is yet to be determined hence the need for the study perceptions of the uses of social media on study habit of students in biology in Etinan local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

 

1.3 Purpose of the Study

This study aims at investigating the relationship between students’ exposure to social media and their study habits in physics. Specifically, the study aimed at the following objectives:

1. To examine the extent at which Facebook affect students’ study habits in biology
2. To ascertain the effect of Whatsapp  on student’s study habits in biology
3. To examine the extent at which Google and twitters affects student’s study habit in biology

Influence of Social Media and Student Study Habit in Biology

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions guided the study

1. To what extent, does Facebook affect the students study habit in biology?
2. To what extent, does whatsapp affect the study habit of student in biology?
3. what are the mean response scores of student use of google and twitters on their study habit

1.5 Hypotheses

The following hypotheses questions were formulated to guide the study:

1. There is no significant differences between the mean response scores of Facebook  and students’ study habits in biology
2. There is no significant differences between the mean response scores of whatsapp  and students’ study habits in biology
3. There is no significant differences between the mean response scores of google and twitters  on students’ study habits in biology

 

Influence of Social Media and Student Study Habit in Biology

1.6 Significance of the Study

The findings of this study would be of importance to the parents, educational policy makers, social media providers, health workers, students and future researchers. Parents, through the findings of this study would see the need to monitor activities of their children on social media in order to protect them from sex pest and pedophiles to ensure positive utilization of such media.

The findings of this study will be useful to the policy makers in various sectors of the government and parents.

Social media providers such as  MTN, AIRTEL, GLO and  other network providers would know how to place restrictions on some websites and services based on the age of the users, it is hoped that the findings of the study would bridge the  of social media on the  study habit of students. The curriculum developers in the education sector will be well informed Doctors and medical personnel especially those dealing with clinical counseling will effectively communicate to their clients. Students who are the main focus of this study would know the effect of negative use of social media on their lives and academic work. Also, the findings of this study would likely influence scholarly, other researchers who may be interested in this field of knowledge and initiated appropriate mitigation.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study is delimited to the relationship between social media and students study habits of senior secondary two (SS2 ) students in selected public school in Etinan Local Government Area in 2019/2020 academic session.