CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Adaralegbe (2005) sees
social studies as a study of man in his environment and the effects of science
and technology among others. Esu and Inyang (2014) describes social studies as
an integrated study of and the outcome of his interaction with the environment.
The researcher on his own viewpoint sees social studies as the study of man and
his environment. Social Studies can be seen as a study of how man influence and
is in turn influenced by his physical, Social, scientific and technological
environment.
Social network has
exploded as a category of online discourse where people create content, share
it, bookmark it and network at a prodigious rate. Because of its ease of use,
speed and reach, social network is fast changing the public discourse in
society and setting trends and agenda in topics that range from the environment
and politics to technology and the entertainment industry.
In
the last ten years, the online world has changed dramatically, thanks to the
invention of social media, young men and women now exchange ideas, feelings,
personal information, pictures and videos at a truly astonishing rate. According
to Oberst (2010) Seventy-three percent of wired American teens now use social media
websites. Martins (2008) and Lusk (2010) share the same concept of social
media. To them social media is the use of Facebook, Blogs, Twitter, My Space
and LinkedIn for the purpose of communication, sharing photos as well as
videos.
However for the purpose
of this study, social network, used interchangeably with social media is
captured within the use of internet through Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Skype,
MySpace as well as Yahoo Messenger for communication sharing of ideas, sharing
of photos and videos by users. The increased use of Social Networking Websites
has become an international phenomenon in the past several years. What started
out as a hobby for some computer literate people has become a social norm and
way of life for people from all over the world. According to Boyd (2007)
Teenagers and young adults have especially embraced these sites as a way to
connect with their peers, share information, reinvent their personalities, and
showcase their social lives.
Most of the members to
these social networking sites are young people who are still in school. Al-Rahma
and Othman (2013) asserts that there is no doubt that social media has gained
wider acceptability and usability and is also becoming the most important
communication tools among students. A large percentage of teenagers in Nigeria
spend their time online either using smart phones or their computers and other
handheld gadgets such as ipads and tablets browsing these social networking
sites. Students in all levels of education seize every opportunity they get to
access social networking sites to check on status on Facebook and what is
trending on Twitter. Teenagers have learnt to multitask as they switch from one
Social networking site to another.
The world is today
celebrating the improvements in communication technology which has broadened
the scope of communication through Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs). Ufuophu and Ayobami (2012) observe that the ICTs include internet,
satellite, cable data transmission and computer assisted equipment. Social
network is a social structure made up of individuals or organizations called
“nodes”, which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of
interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial
exchange, dislike, sexual relationships or relationships of beliefs, knowledge
or prestige.
Boyd and Ellison (2007)
views Social network sites as the web-based services that allow individuals to
construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, articulate a
list of other users with whom they share a connection, and view and traverse
their list of connections and those made by others within the system. Social
network can also be referred to as a map of specified ties, such as friendship,
between the nodes being studied. The nodes, to which an individual is thus
connected, are the social contacts of that individual; the network can also be
used to measure social capital – the value that an individual gets from the
social network.
Social
networking sites include: Yahoo Messenger, Facebook Messenger, Blackberry
Messenger (BBM), Google talk, Google +Messenger, iPhone, Androids and so on.
These networking sites are used by most people to interact with old and new
friends, physical or internet friends. Martins (2008) suggest that social media
refer to Facebook, YouTube, Blogs, Twitter, MySpace or LinkedIn. He maintains
that among these, Facebook is the most used social network by college students,
followed by YouTube and Twitter.
Stollak,
Vandenberg, Burklund, and Weiss (2011) notes that Social networking among
secondary school students has become more and more popular, over the years,
because it is a way to make connections between friends within and outside the
school. Due to this popularity, people begin to ask questions whether the
performance of students are being affected by how much time students spent on
various sites of social networking. Social networking became popular from the
year 2005, after Facebook and other social networking sites were created. The
most successful and largest social networking site is the Facebook which
comprises more than 500 million active members in July, 2010. Its members are
multiplying greatly with each day passing.
The expansion in
technology has also affected internet software, thus leading to chatting sites
known by the name “social media”. With social networking sites, one can send
and receive messages almost immediately. However, lack of regulation of the
internet has led to its excessive use. McQuail (2008) avers that the internet
penetrates more homes. It is a common sight to see a youth chatting in
sensitive and highly organized places like church, mosque and lecture venues.
Some are so carried away that even as they are walking along the high way, they
keep chatting.
The manufacturing and
distribution of equally sophisticated cellular phones has complicated the
situation, as youths no longer need to visit a cybercafé before they send and
receive messages. Attention has been shifted from visible to invisible friends,
while important ventures like study and writing are affected in the process.
This phenomenon has become a source of worry to many who believe in knowledge
and skill acquisition.
Social studies is the
study of people in relation to each other and to their world. It is an issues
focused and inquiry-based interdisciplinary subject that draws upon history,
geography, ecology, economics, law, philosophy, political science and other
social science disciplines. Social studies fosters students’ understanding of and
involvement in practical and ethical issues that face their communities and humankind.
Social studies is integral to the process of enabling students to develop an
understanding of who they are, what they want to become and the society in which
they want to live.
Though social studies
has to do with the relation between people and the society and social
networking has to do with interaction among people, it remains to be seen if
use of social networking in secondary schools significantly translate to good
academic performance or not. The present study is therefore targeted to explore
this relationship
Tuckman (1975) defined
achievement as the apparent demonstration of understanding, concepts, skills,
ideas and knowledge of a person and proposed that grades clearly depict the
academic achievement of a student. Hence, their academic performance must be
managed efficiently keeping in view all the factors that can positively or
negatively affect their educational performance. Use of technology such as
internet is one of the most important factors that can influence educational
performance of students positively or adversely. Shah (2011) proposed that
student users are affected by the internet and this impact is determined by the
type of internet usage.
There are certain
factors that influence the relationship between social media and academic
performance such as how long students use social networking sites? What time of
the day do they use these sites the most? A handful of studies have discussed
the relationship between these variables internationally as well as in Nigeria.
A research done by
Madge, Meek, Wellens and Hooley (2009) shows negative relationship between
Facebook and the academic achievements of students. However, the study didn’t
focus on which students were using Facebook and what time of the day they used
it the most. Moreover, the sample used for the study was homogenous thereby
restricting their research findings. Whereas according to Pasek, More and
Hargittai (2009) the use of Facebook has a positive relationship with academic
achievements. According to their research the students with higher grades tend
to spend more of their time on Facebook. On the other hand, Paul, Baker and
Cochran (2012) suggested that a negative relationship exists between time spent
by students on social networking sites and their academic achievements.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The rapid advancement of media technology has had a
great impact on the way people communicate on a daily basis. The growing
dimension of the use of the social media among the youth of today cannot be
over emphasized. Over the years, social networking among students has become
more and more popular. It is a way to make connections, not only on campus but
with friends outside of school. Social networking is a way that helps people
feel they belong to a community. Due to the increased popularly of it, economists
and professors are questioning whether grades of students will not be affected
by how much time is spent on these sites.
Jacobsen and
Forste, (2011), MehMood and Taswir, (2013), believe that the use of technology
such as internet is one of the most important factors that can influence
educational performance of students positively or adversely. Many parents and
guardians are worried that students are spending too much time on Facebook and
other social media sites and have not enough time to study. Though parents are
worried about students’ constant use of the social media sites, many students
continue to utilize these sites on a daily basis. It is against this background
that this research is being conducted to ascertain the impact of social
networking on students’ academic achievements in social studies.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to examine the
impact of social networking on academic achievements of students in Social
Studies in Secondary Schools in Afikpo North Local Government Area.
The
Specific objectives of the study are:
1. To
ascertain the influence of social networking sites in teaching and learning of
social studies.
2. To
determine the motive of using social networking sites by students of Social
Studies.
3. To
determine the relationship between using social networking sites and students’
academic achievements.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The findings of the study will be of immense benefit
to the school authorities, the parents and future writers.
The
school authorities: the findings of the study will be of great benefit to
secondary school authorities because it will enlighten them on the need to
properly regulate the students’ use of internet gadgets and social networking
sites.
The
parents: the findings of the study will as well enlighten the parents to
monitor their children and regulate their use of social networking sites at
home.
The
study when concluded will serve as a guide to researchers who may wish to
conduct a study on this topic or similar topics.
1.5 Scope of the Study
The study examines the impact of social networking
on academic achievements of students in Social Studies in Secondary Schools in
Afikpo North Local Government Area. The content scope is social networking and
academic achievements. The geographical scope is Afikpo North Local Government
Area.
1.6 Research Questions
The
following research questions were formulated to guide the study:
1. How
does a social networking site influence the teaching and learning of social
studies?
2. What
are the motives of using social networking sites by students of social studies?
3. What
is the influence of using social networking sites on students’ academic
achievement?
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