Volume : 2, Issue : 8, AUG 2016

ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORK USAGE AND INFLUENCE ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA. IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

Dr Glad O. Unachukwu, Chioma B. Emenike

Abstract

The global trends in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has brought about growth in the usage of the internet, hence, online social network seems to be a norm among students in Nigeria, Anambra State inclusive. However, there seems to be a widespread abuse of its usage among students. This necessitated this study which sought to ascertain the usage of online social network by secondary school students and its influence on their academic achievement. Three research questions guided the study and one hypothesis was tested. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Out of a population of 15,005 senior secondary two students in the 256 public secondary schools in Anambra State a sample of 1,500 students made up of 750 male and 750 female students were involved in the study. The 1,500 students representing 10% of the population were sampled using disproportionate stratified sampling technique. Data was collected using a researcher developed instrument titled Social Network Usage and Influence on Students' Academic Achievement (SNUISAA). The instrument was validated by three experts who are all lecturers in the Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The Cronbach alpha was used to ascertain the reliability of the instrument. This yielded a high reliability coefficient of 0.81. The researchers together with six research assistants collected data for the study using the direct delivery and retrieval method. A 100% return rate was recorded. Frequencies, percentages and arithmetic mean were used to answer the research questions while the hypothesis was tested with z-test statistic at 0.05 level of significance. It was among others found out that the online social network prevalent among secondary school students in Anambra State are facebook, 2go and Twitter. It was also found out that these secondary school students are not heavy users of social network; that they use it mostly for entertainment, and that it is negatively impacting on their academic achievement. Based on the findings it was among others recommended, that, school administrators and teachers should ensure that students are educated on the responsible use of social network and also sensitized on its possible negative influence on their academic achievement. Conclusions were made and implications of the findings drawn.

Keywords

Online Social Networks, Students' Academic Achievement, Secondary Schools.

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