ABSTRACT
This study examined Social Media and the academic performance of Students in the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. Literatures were reviewed based on the research objectives to investigate whether or not access to Social Media has a negative or positive impact on the academic performances of Students of University of Calabar, Calabar. The study was anchored on Social Learning theory, Uses and Gratification theory. Because of the research questions, the work adopted a descriptive method. Questionnaire and in-depth interview were used to gather data from the respondents. Majority (62.1%) of the sampled population strongly opined that Social Media has a serious negative impact on the academic performances of students in University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria While minority 27.9% study population affirmed that Social Media have a positive impact on the academic performance of students of University of Calabar, Calabar and 10% of the study population were neutral. Therefore, the study concluded that there is need for students to focus more attention on their academic activities than other social media interactions or set a balance between the two. The work finally recommends parents/guidance and the school management to put a check on the type of phones their children use, peer groups they associate with and the social media activities they engage in.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iv
ABSTRACT v
TABLE OF CONTENTS vi
LIST OF TABLES x
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
- Background to the Study 1
- Statement of the problem 3
- Research Questions 4
- Objectives of the Study 4
- Significance of the study 5
- Research Hypothesis 5
- Scope of the Study 6
- Operational Definition of Terms 6
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
- The Concept of Mass Media 8
2.1.1 Social Media 11
2.1.2 Internet 16
2.1.3 Understanding Academic Performance 19
2.1.4 Social Media Sites 21
2.1.5 Common Social Media Sites Among Students 23
2.1.6 Constraints and Educational Use of Social Media Site 28
2.1.7 Social Media and Academic performance 31
2.2 Empirical Studies on the Impact of Social Media
on Academic Performance of Students 32
2.3 Theoretical Framework 34
2.4    Appraisal of the Reviewed Theories and Choice of Framework                                                               39
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design 43
3.2 Area of Study 44
3.3 Population of the study 48
3.4 Sample size 48
3.5 Sample Procedures 51
3.6 Sample and Sampling Techniques 52
3.7 Sources of Data Collection 53
3.8 Method and Instrument for Data Collection and Administration 53
3.9 Method of Data Analysis 56
- Ethical Considerations 56
- Problems encountered 57
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION,
ANALYSES AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents 60
4.2    Test of Hypotheses                                             89
4.3 Discussion of Findings 94
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary 98
- Conclusion 101
5.3 Recommendations 102
5.4   Contribution to Knowledge                                 103
5.5 Suggested Areas for Further Studies 103
REFERENCES 104
APPENDIX 115
