Table of Contents

Title Page I

Declaration II

Certification Page III

Dedication IV

Acknowledgement V

Table of Content VI

List of Table VII

Abstract

CHAPTER-I

1.1 Introduction 4

1.2 Need for the Study 4

1.3 Objectives of the Study 4

1.4 Scope of the Study 4

1.5 Limitations of the Study 5

1.6 Research Methodology 5

Primary Data

Secondary Data

Sampling

Sampling Size

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CHAPTER-II- Overview of Social Media and its Impact on students academic
performance

2.1 History of Network 6

2.2 Social Network 7

2.2.1 The Concept of Mass Media 10

2.2.2 Functions of Mass Media 13

2.2.3 The Concept of Internet 13

2.2.4 The Concept of Social Media 16

2.3 The Concept of Social Networking Site or Services 18

2.3.1 Constraints of Social Network in Education 19

2.4 Review of Related Studies 21

2.5 Summary 23

CHAPTER-III-DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Introduction 24

4.2 Data Analysis And Interpretation 24

CHAPTER -IV-SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Introduction 36

5.2 Summary of Findings 36

5.3 Conclusion 36

5.4 Suggestion for Further Studies 37

5.5 Bibliography;

Reference 38

Annexure 39

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 List of Tables

Demographic Data Tables

Pie diagram 1; Demographic Data on Sex 24

Pie diagram 2; Age Distribution 25

Pie diagram 3; Education 25

Pie diagram 4; Department 26

Pie diagram 5; Kind of student 26

Pie diagram 6; Access to the internet 27

Pie diagram 7; What do you use 27

Pie diagram 8; Aware of social networking site 28

Pie diagram 9; What are the social networking sites you know 28

Pie diagram 10; Do you have an account with Social Media 29

Pie diagram 11; Which do you prefer 29

Pie diagram 12; Why do you prefer it 30

Pie diagram 13; Where do you browse 30

Pie diagram 14; How often do you go online 31

Pie diagram 15; How many hours do you spend online 31

Pie diagram 16; What do you browse for 32

Pie diagram 17; What satisfaction do you get from surfing the net 32

Pie diagram 18; Can social media influence the academic performance of students 33

Pie diagram 19; How does social media influence your academic performance 33

Pie diagram 20; Social media help you in easy competition 34

Pie diagram 21; Broadened your knowledge on subjects 34

Pie diagram 22; Caused constant procrastination of your studies 35

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 CHAPTER-I
Introduction: Modern Technology in communication no doubt has turned the entire world
into a “Global Village”. But as it is, technology like two sides of a coin, bring with it both the
negative and positive sides. It helps people to be better informed, enlightened, and keeping
abreast with world developments. Technology exposes mankind to a better way of doing things.

The world’s first commercial space communication company created by the United State
Congress in 1962 was the communication satellite corporation (COMSAT). In 1964, the United
State Government and eleven (11) foreign Nations signed a space communication pact. The
partnership was known as “International Telecommunication Satellite Organization
(INTELSAT). The internet known as the worlds “Information Super Highway” is a worldwide
assemblage of Inter- Connected Computer Networks (Andrew, 2005).

Need for the Study

The study will help researchers with more information on the Influence of social media on the
student’s academic performance. It will be relevant in assisting students in understanding the
diversity of social media. It will provide relevance material for students and other researchers
undertaking similar research.

Objectives of the Study

The study has the following objective. They are:

1) To find out the various social networking sites the students had access to.

2) To find out how often the students of University of Abuja go online.

3) To determine how many hours the students spend in social networking activities daily.

4) To ascertain how the use of social media has affected the academic performance of the

students.

Scope of the Study

The essence of this research work is to primarily study the Influence of social media on the
academic performance of students. The research intends to focus on students of the TTWRDC
(MEN) MNGR, Under Kakatiya University for easy analysis of data. This will reduce cost and
avoid complexity that may arise as a result of having a very large population. But since in most

4
cases the characteristics of students are generally similar, the research findings would be
generalized to include all students of Osmania Universities.

Limitations of the Study:

➢ The research is confined to TTWRDC MANUGURU @ BHADRACHALAM.

➢ The information presented as per responses of respondent.
➢ The data collected by only randomly selected students.
➢ The major limitations of this study is sample size and time.

Research Methodology

Primary Data: Data was collected using the questionnaire (Google form) which the researcher
administered Mail to Mail to the respondents. Out of 150 copies of questionnaire distributed to
the respondents, 93 copies were retrieved. This represented a response rate of 62%.

Secondary Data: Secondary data is the data that have been already collected by and readily
available from other sources. Such data are cheaper and more quickly obtainable than the
primary data and also may be available when primary data can not be obtained at all.

Sampling Technique: Convenience Sampling Technique

Sample Size: 93

Period of the Study: 45 Days.

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 CHAPTER -II

Overview of Social Media and its Impact on Students academic performance

History of the Internet

There are conflicting versions about the origin of the internet but the common story is
that the internet is a product of a cold war. (Hafner and Lyon, 1996, p.116). Its origin is traced
back to 1957, when the Soviet Union launched ‘Sputnik 1 into space, as a reaction to this, in
1958, the United State founded the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA), a special
agency under the department of defense whose mission was to develop a long term highly
innovative and hazard research projects (Cartoni and Tarding, 2006, p.26).

In 1962, the air force wanting to maintain the military’s ability to transfer information
around the country even if a given area was destroyed in an enemy’s attack, commissioned
leading computer scientist to do so. ARPANET, the first prototype of the internet, was
developed by the ARPA department and saw the light in 1969 when four (4) of United States
Universities (University of California Los Angeles, University of California Santa Barbara,
Stanford Research Institute Polo Atto, and University of Utah) were connected by network of
computers (Lorenzo and Stefano,2010).

The growth of ARPANET accelerated in the second half of the 1980s, through
computer protocol (Tcp/lp) Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol which was adopted
by ARPANET (Vinton, 1969 UCLA) in 1983 and is still the core of internet. ‘The transition
of Tcp/lp was perhaps the most important event that will take place in the invention of the
internet. After the installation of Tcp, the network could branch everyone’ (Hafner and Lyon,
1998, p.249). In the same year, after the end of ARPANETs experimental phase, the network
was split into two; A civilian network for the computer research community (ARPA internet)
and military network (MILNET). In 1980, ARPANET was replaced by NSFANET created by
National Science Foundation and in 1990, ARPANET was officially decommissioned and the
commercial use ofthe internet was allowed in 1991, (Berners-Lee, 2000, p.223).

In 1995, the internet was just one networking system among many others such as
Usenet, Fidonet, Mintel, AT$T, but with advent of the web, the internet became by far the most
important networking system. That led to what is now known as internet, a global network of

6
interconnected computers that communicate freely, share and exchange information
(Paul,2010).

Social Network
Early 1990s, chat rooms and bulletin boards were forms of Social Networking in a way,
they
help people to connect with others and share interest. A little cater; dating sites hooked
thoselooking for partners and class mates. Communication allows people to connect with
peoplethey had known in high school and colleges and enable them to meet others.

In the early 20s, a site called Friendster was set up where people invited their friends and
theirfriends also invited others. The site was popular for a while, but suffered from
technicaldifficulties and fake profiles and began to lose members. In 1999, MySpace took over
butbecame popular in 2003. Its roots are a bit muddy because it received financial and
logisticalsupport from another company called the E-Universe and most of the early users
wereemployers of e-universe but Tom Anderson and Chris DE Wolfe are given credit for much
of theinnovation and success of the site, which built up to one hundred and fifteen million
usersworldwide. Members post BIOS, photos, blogs, video and other things that strike their
fancy. Some Television Programmers’ had started producing programmers’ to air on MySpace
in 2005;Rupert Murdoclis News Corporation (parent of fox broadcasting) bought MySpace for
fivehundred and eighty million dollars ($580). A competitor to MySpace is face book which
startedin about 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg while he was a student at Harvard and grew rapidly
in 2007.At first, face book was solely for college and high school students but Mark opened it
to everyone and like MySpace, it encourages all types of member postings. There are also
smallersocial networks like 2go, YouTube, and blackberry chat for people to have access to.
(RetrievedNovember 7th2012) www.google.com

2go Logo

2go is a Social Networking Site, chat, and instant messaging (IM) application. It enables
users to chat on their mobile phones free. You can meet users and 2go users as friends. Chat
rooms on different topics are opened where you can join in the discussion and socialize with
others and also, 2go have gateways that enable users chat with friends on Gtalk, Mxit, and face
book.(Retrieved November 9th 2012) www. Google.com.wikkipedia. (Research work).

One of the greatest points of 2go chat is its simplicity and light weight, making it available to
lots of low-end phones. 2go runs on any java enabled phone, Nokia, LG, Samsung, and Sony

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Ericson. Blackberry users can use 2go on their Pc as part of an experimental service by the
company and with it, they can chat anywhere and anytime of the day as they so please.
(Retrieved November 9th 2012)www.google.com.

Blackberry Messenger

Blackberry is propriety internet-based instant messenger application included on

blackberry devices that allows messaging between blackberry users. It was developed by the
manufacturer of the blackberry research in motion (RIM); messages sent via blackberry
messenger are sent over the internet and use the blackberry pin system, so communication is
only possible between blackberry devices. (Retrieved November 10th 2012)
www.mit.edu/people/mkgray/net.

Pinging allows you to connect to friends using a ping ID, something akin to blackberry
pin but easier to remember because you can pick it yourself. Once you’ve shared your pin or
found friends via email or twitter, you can send text, messages, photos, videos and voice
memos. Pretty much anything you might want to send to a friend can be sent using pin.
Messages are in real time over the data network and pushed to the recipient. Once a message
is sent, a little S or D and a tick with an R indicating the message has been sent and read. Ping
chat also packs group messaging and social profiles, which allows you to display a photo, status
and some information about yourself to confirm contacts and through these, one is connected
to the whole world.

Statement of the Problem

Since the advent of social media sites in the 1990s, it is assumed in some quarters that
the academic performance of students is facing a lot of neglect and challenges. There is a
deviation, distraction and divided attention between social networking activities and their
academic work. It is observed that students devote more attention to social media than they do
to their studies.

Therefore, the question this study is out to answer is: how do social media affect the academic
performance of students of the Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Degree College(B)
Manuguru under Kakatiya University ?

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 Research Questions

1. What social networking sites do the students of TTWRDC (MEN) MNGR, Under Kakatiya
University had access to?

2. How often do the students of TTWRDC(MEN) MNGR, Under Kakatiya University go

online?

3. How many hours do the students spend on social networking activities?

4. How has the use of social media affected the academic performance of the students of

University of Kakatiya?

Definition of Key Terms

The following are key terms used in the Research Work:

1. Social Media- They are forms of electronic communication which facilitate interactive base
on certain interests. Social media include web and mobile technology. Kaplan and Helen (2010)
defined Social Media as a group of internet based application that allows the creation and
exchange of user generated content.

2. Social Networking Sites – A website where people put information about them and can
send to others.

3. Social Networking – The use of internet to make information about yourself available to
other people especially people you share an interest with to send messages to them.

4. Media – Are all those media technologies that are intended to reach a largeaudience by mass
communication. “They are messages communicated through a mass medium to a number of
people”(Bittner, 1980, p.10).

5. Academic – It is concerned with Studying from books as opposed by a practical work.

6. Students – Someone who is Studying at a University or School. Someone who is very

interested in a particular subject.

7. Computer – A computer is a machine that receives or stores or process data quickly

according to a stored program.

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2.2.1 The concept of Mass Media

Mass Media can also be defined as “messages communicated through a mass medium
to a large number of people” (Bittner, 1980, p.10). Thus, the study of Mass Communication 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 (Whet more,
1985:p.6-7).

The popular maxim that the mass media is regarded as the fourth estate of the realm as an ideal
expression that re-echoes through ages. Nwosu (1992) in his opinion said; they are channels
through which communication is addressed to a large heterogeneous and a cross section of the
population. Facuconner (1975) quoting Fleur conceives mass media as a computer of stable,
repetitive and patterned action that is in part, a manifestation of the psychological orientation
of the actors. It is a powerful and respected phenomenon that lubricates the engine of self-rule,
human dignity and emancipated polity.

Classification of the Media

A simple way to classify the mass media is to group them under print and electronic
media. The print media are such mass media as books, newspaper and magazine, whose basis
is the printed word. Electronic media, on the other hand, comprise all the mass media which
rely on the electronic power to get their messages to their audience which include radio and
television, recordings, movies,internet and the explosion of digital communication technology
in the 20th and 21st century.(Bittner, 1980 p:10). In 2000, a classification by (McQuail 1987)
called the (7) seven mass media became popular. They are:

1. Print, pamphlet, newspaper(established in the 15th c)

2. Recording – records, magnetic tapes, CD, DVD, gramophone(19th c)

3. Cinema – it started from about 1900

4. Radio – it started from about 1910

5. Television – it started in 1950

6. Internet – it started in 1990

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7. Mobile phone – it started in 2000.(Retrieved November 9th 2012)
www.mit.edu/people/mkgray/net.

Each mass media has its own content types, its own creative artist and technicians. Example,
internet includes website, blogs and podcasts built on top of the general distribution network.
The 6th and 7th are often collectively called “digital media”, the 4th and 5th radio and
television as broadcast media and some argued that video games have developed into a distinct
mass from media.

However, modern cell phones are no longer a single used device, but are rather
equipped with internet access and capable of connecting to the web which itself is a mass
medium. According to McQuail (1987), the media have a mediating role between objective
social reality and personnel experience. Mass media help in maintaining a form of
totalitarianism which does not rely on terror but works through the creation and manipulation
of “false needs” for entertainment, relaxation, information and new product for consumption.
(Sina, 2003, p.62).

Characteristics of Mass Communication

The general characteristics of Mass Communication include the following;

I. There must be the presence of Gatekeepers.

II. There must be the presence of a machine.

III. It has limited sensory organ.

IV. Feed backs are delayed.

V. It involves the sender and the receiver.

It is the exchange of opinion, ideas, feelings and thoughts to scattered medium of people
using technological devices. Characteristic of mass communication according to Thompson
2003: they include;

1. Both technical and instrumental method of production and distribution; this is evident
throughout the history of the media from print to internet.
2. Co modification of symbolic forms as the production of materials relies on its ability to
manufacture and sell in large qualities.

3. Separate context between the production and reception of information.

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 4. It reaches to those far removed in time and space in comparism to producers.

5. Information distribution; “a one too many” form of communication whereby products

are mass produced and disseminated to a great quantities of audiences.

Communication

Communication is the transmission of a message from the source to a receiver. Lass well
1948 describe communication as an answer to these questions.

a) Who?

b) Says what?

c) Through which channel?

d) To whom?

e) With what effect?

The process of communication includes the following;

1. Sender – the person who sends the information from one person to another.

2. Receiver – it involves the person who decodes the message.

3. Channel – they are mediums through which information is sent to the decoder from the
encoder.

4. Feedback – promotes understanding between parties. It facilitates self-assessment and

helps us in coping with communication breakdown.

5. Noise – it is anything that interrupts and disturbs communication. It includes;

a) Psychological noise: when one is bodily present but absent minded

b) External noise: when something happens outside and draws the attention of those
inside a place.

c) Semantic noise: communicating with someone in a language he does not

understands.

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Functions of Mass Media

The following are the functions of the mass media. They include;

1. Inform – they inform us of what is happening within and outside our immediate
environment.

2. Educate – they educate us on how to live in our environment and the epidermis that surrounds
us.

3. Entertain – they entertain us by bringing to our reach different activities such as music,
games and movies through television, radio and internet.

4. Surveillance – they serve as watch dog of the society.

5. They keep us connected to the outside world. (Retrieved November 10th 2012) www.wiki-
pedia free cyclopedia.com)

2.2.3 The Concept of Internet

Historically, there two conflicting versions about the origin of the internet opinionated by two
schools of thought. The first school of thought is of the opinion that, the internet is a product
of the cold war. The air force in 1962, wanting to maintain the military’s ability to transfer
information around the country even if a given area was destroyed in an enemy’s attack,
commissioned leading computer scientist to develop the means to do so. But many researchers
and scientist dispute this myth’ that has gone unchallenged long enough to become widely
accepted as a fact that the internet was initially built to protect national security in the face of
nuclear attack (Hafner and Lyon, 1996, p.10). In the second version, as early as1956,
psychologist Licklider a devotee of Marshall McLuhan, thinking on the power of citizens;

The internet (net or web) is a more interactive medium of mass media, and can be
briefly describe as network, of network of Pluclaskas (1994) which vehicles for network of all
kinds and individuals stand-alone computers to inter wine to form a global network which
connects people all round the world. The internet is a massive network of networks, a
networking infrastructure. It connects millions of computers together globally forming a
network in which any other computer as long as they are both connected to the internet.
(Retrieved November 10th 2012) (www.webopedia.com/did you know/internet/2012/web-
vs.internet-asp).

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Okoye (2000, p.192), by 1999, said the internet was used by an estimated number of 50 million
people worldwide. Gutenbery made us all readers, radio and television made us all firsthand
observers, Aerox made us all publishers and the internet made us all journalist, broadcasters,
columnist, commentators and critics. In 1997, Finnegan jr and Viswanath identified three main
effects or functions of mass media in the internet.

1) Knowledge gap theory

The media influences knowledge gap due to factors including the extent to which the
content is appealing, the degree to which information channels are accessible and desirable, the
amount of social conflict and diversity there is in communication.

2) Agenda setting theory

People are influenced in how they think about issues due to the selective nature of what the
media places on the internet for public consumption.

3) Cultivation theory

The extent to which media exposure shapes audience perception over time is known as
cultivation. (Little John) www.white pages.com.

Features of the Internet

The internet is a global network of computer networks. In more technical terms, this
means that that a group of two or more networks are electronically connected and able to
communicate with one another. Together, they act as a single network. For this to work,
however, the computers have to speak a common language. The common language, called a
protocol by computer programmers, that was developed for the internet is called the TCP/IP
protocol. TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol. It is actually a
set of protocols that govern how data travel from one machine to another over networks. IP is
sort of like the address on an envelope. It tells a computer where to send a particular message.
TCP breaks up the information into packets that can be transmitted efficiently and resembles
them at their destination.

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Access to the internet is gotten from one of the two ways;

❖ Through an Internet Service Provider (ISP), a company that connects a subscriber to the
net and usually charges a fee.
❖ Through a commercial online service, such as American Online or MSN.

Once connected to the net, an individual can make use of a variety of services and tools for
communication and information exchange. (Retrieved November 10th 2012)www.white
pages.com.

Social effect of the internet.

Obviously, research concerning the effect of spending time on the internet is still on a
formative stage. The internet seems to have had the most impact on television usage. This is
not surprising since much internet use take place during the evening, the same time that most
television viewing takes place generally. Magazine and Newspaper reading, radio listening and
movie going seem not to have been significantly affected.

The internet is becoming more important as a source of news. At the same time, there
has been a decline in the number of people who rely on broadcast television and newspaper as
their main source of news. Another survey released in 2000 by the Pew Internet and American
Life Project found the opposite. This study reported that the use of internet is an important
factor in sustaining and strengthening social and family’s ties. It was proved that some net users
make use of email as well to connect to family members and friends they have not seen for a
while. (Retrieved December 2nd 2012).www.pewinternet.org.

Research has demonstrated that some individuals spend a great deal of time in the
internet. This has led to some suggestion by some social scientist that people can be addicted
to the internet in the same way they might be addicted to drugs, gambling, or alcohol.
Psychologists have identified three characteristic of an addiction: increased tolerance, loss of
control, and withdrawal. People who find themselves spending more time online, who can’t
control their internet use, and who neglect their family, friends, and other social obligations to
spend time online will fit these criteria.

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2.2.4 The Concept of Social Media

Social media is that means that employs 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 youinformation. 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. Some media website
includes;

1) Social book Marking – interact by tagging website and searching through website book
marked by others (Blink list, simple).

2) Social News – interact by voting for articles and commenting on them (Digg, propello).

3) Social Networking – interact by adding friends, commenting on photo and profiles, sharing
groups for discussions (Face book, 2go, BB chat)

4) Social Photo and Video Sharing – interact by sharing photos or videos and commenting
on the user submission. (U-tube and fliki).

5) Wikis – interact by adding articles and editing existing articles. (Wikipedia, wikia).
(Retrieved December 2nd 2012) (www.wikepediafreeencyclopedia.com). 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) are of the opinion 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. (Retrieved December 3rd 2012). (www.census.gov).

Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) classified social media into six different classes as follows;

1) Collaborative Project (Wikipedia)

2) Blogs and Micro blogs (Twitter)

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3) Content Communities(U – tube)

4) Social Networking Site (Face book. 2go, BB chat )

5) Virtual Game World(World of war craft)

6) Virtual Second World (Second life)

Technology includes the blogs, picture sharing, music sharing, crowd sourcing, e-mail,
instant messaging and voice over. These services could be integrated via social network
aggregation platforms.

Mobile Social Media

When social media is used in combination with mobile devices, it is called mobile social
media. Social media is a group of mobile marketing application that allows the creation and
exchange of users generated content. Due to the fact that mobile social media runs on mobile
devices, it differs from traditional social media as it incorporates new factors such as the current
location of the user, time delay between sending and receiving.

According to Kaplan 2002, social media can be divided into four types

• Space – timers [location and time sensitive] – exchange of message with relevance
for specific location and time (Face book, 2go, BB chat)
• Quick – time [time sensitive] – transfer of traditional social media application to
mobile services to increase immediacy (posting twitter messages, status update[2go],
and updating display picture(dp) [BBm].
• Space – locators [location sensitive] – exchange message with relevance for one
specific location which are tagged to certain place (yelp, oype).
• Slow – timers [neither location nor time sensitive] – transfer traditional social media
application to mobile devices (reading a wiki-pedia entry).

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2.2.5 The Concept of Social Networking Site or Services

It is used to describe any website that enables users to create public profiles within that
website and form relationship with other users of the same website who access their profile. It
is used to describe community base website, online discussion forum, chat rooms and other
social space online.(Retrieved December 3rd 2012). (www.wepodia.com).

A social media is an online service or platforms that focus on facilitating the building of
social network among people who share interest, activities and background on real life
connections. It is a website that allows users to share information within a selected group. It is
a great way to stay connected and a convenient way to share photos from trips. (Awake, 2012,
p.4). It consists of a representation of each user (profiles), social links and a variety of
additional services. For detailed analysis of social networking, the following terms will be
discussed;

• Impact of Social Networking Site

• Features
• Social Networking and Education
• Constraints in Education

Social impact

Through email and instant messaging, online communities are created where a gift
economy and reciprocal altruism are encouraged through co-operation. 2go and other social
networking tools are increasingly the objective of scholarly research. Scholars in many fields
have begun to investigate the impact of social networking site, investigating how such site may
play into issues of identity, privacy, social, youth culture and education.

Several website are beginning to tap into the power of the social networking model for
philanthropy. In 2011 HCL technologies conducted research that showed that 50% of British
workers are banned from the use of social media during office hours.

It’s a vortex that sucks one in and one has no idea you’ve been trapped. Tim is a
commodity that cannot afford to be wasted which Philippians says; make sure of the more
important things......Dan Tap Scott in his book Grown up Digital says; ‘One of the ironies of
the internet is that it keeps you apart from the most important things’. It is a great way to stay
connected with people but you just have to know when to shut it down.

18
Features

According to the Boyd and Ellison 2007 article entitled “Why Youth Heart, social
networking site? The role of networked publics in teenage life”. It shares a variety of technical
features that allows individuals to construct a public or semi-public office, articulate list of
their users that they share connection with and view their list of connection`s within the system.
In an article titled ‘social networking sites’ definition and scholarship, Boyd and Ellison adopt
Sun dens(2003) description of profiles as unique pages where one can type oneself into being
a profile is generated from answer to question, such as age, location and interest.

Some site allows users upload pictures’, add multimedia content or modify the look of
their profile. For instance, 2go allows the user to update their status and change profile pictures
and BB chat that allows them change display picture, name and status. To protect their privacy,
they have a control that allows users to choose who can view their profile, contact and add
them to their list of contacts. (Retrieved December 3rd 2012). www.Free encyclopedia.com.

Social Network and Education

The advent of social network platforms may also be impacting the way in which
learners engage with technology in general. For a number of years, Prensky (2001) dichotomy
between digital natives and digital immigrants has been considered a relatively accurate
representative of the ease with which people of a certain age rate, in particular, those born
before and after 1980, use technology.

Social networking and their educational uses are of interest to many researchers. Living
Stone and Brake (2010) in their opinion said ‘social networking site, like much else on the
internet representing a moving target for researchers and policy makers’. Recent trends indicate
that 47% of American adults use social network. A national survey in 2009 found that 37% of
online teenagers use social networking site which increased to 555% three years later. (Len
Hart, Purcell, Smith and Zickuhr, 2010). It has also, shown that it provides opportunity within
professional education but however, there are constraints in such areas.

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Constraints of Social Networking in Education

In the past, social networking were viewed as a distraction and offered no educational
benefit. Blocking this social network was a form of protection for students against wasting
time, bullying and privacy protection. In an educational setting, 2go and BB chat is seen by
instructors and educators as frivolous time wasting and distraction from school work.

Cyber bullying has been an issue of concern with social networking site. An online
survey based on 9-19 years old and above discovered that students received bulling comments
online. Social networking, often include a lot of personal information posted publicly and many
believe that sharing personal information and the easy communication vehicle that social
networking opens the door to sexual predators.

Ning-for teachers and Term wiki-learning Centre

Social media are also emerging as online year book for private and public use. It allows
anyone from the general public to register and connect to others. It allows participant the
opportunity for just in time learning and engagement and prescribed curriculum. Jerkins (2006)
described it as participatory culture. It creates space for learners which James (2004) suggest
affinity space and dispersion of expertise and relatedness for learning.

20
Review of Related Studies

Two key studies related to the present study were reviewed.

Sofela, T. (2012). The Effect of Social Media on Students. (A paper presented in

Craft Magazine October 23 2012).

According to the researcher, the popularity of social media has grown expediently. The
social networking site such as face book, MySpace, 2go and BB chat allows social interaction
among students.

The study examined the positive effect of such site on youths. It said, gone are those
days when events happen and it stays a while before people begin to hear about it. But now,
through social media, events and news are now known within splits second after they are
shared. It offers youths a channel for entertainment, communication, and meeting friends and
those you’ve not seen for a long time.

But the reviewed study failed to throw more light on the negative influence of social media on
the academic performance of students. The present study therefore analyzed both sides of the
coin giving the students the opportunity to choose what impact they want the social media to
play in their academics.

Seyi, O. (2012), Social Media and Nigeria Youth Burden.(A paper presented in Blue
Print Newspaper December 17 2012).

This study stressed on the negative effect of giving too much time and undue attention
to online socialization to the detriment of academics.

According to the researcher, the 21st century brought with it the advent of the new media
with its fast tracking means of sending and receiving information via internet in our
contemporary society, the new media has gained popularity as its been used for entertainment,
networking and academics. The study noted that, the social media was given a boost as a result
of ideas from youths.

The study criticized seriously the obsessive attitude of Nigeria youths towards social
media. It pointed out that the rate at which youths devote their quality time in chit chatting,
calls for urgent attention. Some guys now find social media soothing to propagate harmful
schemes. The study however, traced the incessant incidents of murders and gang-rapping of
girls by guys whom they interacted with through social media.

21
 The study also observed that some students are always busy pinging and 2going while
lectures are on. Time ought to be channeled towards learning, academic research and
innovations have been wasted by the passion of meeting friends and discussing trivial issues,
hence, most students’ academic suffer setbacks as a result of distraction.

The reviewed study and present study were both centered on the use of social media
by students. They both emphasized on the statement of the problem suggesting the need for
more time to be channeled to academics to prevent setback that might be caused by the use of
social media.

The reviewed study was not based on any theory. It also failed to provide possible
solutions for the way forward in solving issues relating to student’s academic performance and
social media. The present study was based on diffusion of innovation theory and uses and
gratification theory, thereby giving it a firm foundation.

Theoretical Framework

Two key theories formed the foundation for this study. They were:

Diffusion of innovation theory.

Uses and gratification theory.

Diffusion of Innovation Theory

Diffusion of innovation theory (DIO) developed by E. M Rogers in 1962, is one of

the oldest social science theories. It originated in communication to explain how over time an
idea, or product gains momentum, and diffuses (spread) through a specific population or social
system. Doing something differently than what they had previously.

Diffusion is the process of spreading a given idea or practice over time, via specifiable
channels, through a social structure such as Neighborhoods. (Katz et al, 1963). Their work on
the diffusion of innovations records that for a new idea or innovation to diffuse, there must be;

a. Awareness stage

b. Interest stage

c. Evaluation stage

d. Trial and adoption stage.

22
 Different types of innovations require different kinds of adoption units; Bittner (1984)
recognizes that the media can lead someone into getting aware of the existence of an item.
From there he gets interested in, makes attempt to evaluate it, and gives it a trial touch before
making up his mind to acquire it.

The diffusion of innovation theory by Rogers (1983) was set to examine how new ideas
are spread among people through media. It is a theory that seeks to explain how, why and at
what rate new ideas and technology spread through cultures. Adoption of a new idea, behavior,
or product does not happen simultaneously in a social system; rather it is a process whereby
where by some people are more apt to adopt the innovation than others. Everett Rogers, a
professor of rural sociology popularized the theory in his 1962 book; Diffusion of innovation.
The categories of adopters are; innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and
laggards (Rogers, 1962, p. 150).

Uses and Gratification theory also called functional theory is concerned with the social
and psychological origin of needs, which generate expectation of the mass media which leads
to different patterns of media exposure, resulting in need gratification and other consequences,
mostly unintended ones. (Kats, 1974, p.20). It is purely audience centered and addresses needs
like surveillance, excitement, guidance, relaxation, tension release, socialization, escape and
integration. To be able to gratify these needs, it must be able to realize that the mass media
audience may belong to the low, middle or high post brow group. (Savary and Carico, 1971).

Therefore, uses and gratification approach emphasizes audience members motive for
making specific consumption choices and the consequences of that intentional media use.
That’s to say, they choose the content, make meaning of it and act on the meaning. It embraces
the interactive nature of media and its audience. It is audience centered and addresses needs
such as surveillance, identity, and socialization and information acquisition. Therefore,
people’s needs are generated by their individual differences. It could be based on sex, ethnic
group, and educational qualification. Because the needs are determined by who or what they
are, and people use the mass media for the purpose of gratifying these needs (Okunna, 1988).

Summary of Literature Review

This chapter reviewed the concepts of mass media, internet, social media and social
networkingsite. It also had a review of related studies. The Diffusion of innovation theory and
Uses and Gratification theory formed the theoretical base of the study. The relevance of the
theories to the study was clearly stated.

23
 CHAPTER-III

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Introduction;

The purpose of this study was to determine the ‘Impact of Social Media on the student’s
Academic Performance “A Study of Students of Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Degree
College Manuguru at Bhadrachalam Under Kakatiya University undergraduate. This chapter
is concerned with the presentation and analysis of data gathered through the use of
questionnaire distributed to the respondents. One hundred and fifty (150) copies of
questionnaire were distributed and one Ninty three (93) copies were retrieved. This gave a
response rate of return of 62%.

The study answered the following research questions;

1) What social networking sites do the students of TTWR Degree College have access to?

2) How often do the students of TTWR Degree College go online?

3) How many hours do the students spend on social networking activities?

4) How has the use of social media affected the academic performance of the students of TTWR
Degree College?

Analysis of Demographic Data

Question 1; what is your Gender?

Pie diagram 1; Response to question 1

From the Pie Diagram above, 83 respondents (89.2%) were males while 10 respondents
(10.8%) were females.

24
Question 2; what is your age bracket?

Pie Diagram 2; Response to question 2

From the Pie Diagram above, 30 respondents (32.3%) fell under the age bracket of 15-
20, while 60 respondents (64.5%) were under the bracket of 20-25, while 1 respondents (1%)
were under the age bracket of 25-30, while 2 respondents (2.2%) were between the age bracket
of 30 above years.

Question 3; Education?

Pie Diagram 3; Response to question 3.

From the Pie Diagram above, 1 respondents (1.1%) were Highschool students, 17
respondents (18.3%) were Intermediate students, 67 respondents (72%) were students of
Graduation, while 8 respondents (8.6%) were students of Postgraduate.

25
Question 4; what department are you?

Pie Diagram 4; Response to question 4.

From the Pie Diagram above, 37 respondents (39.8%) were Commerce students, 8
respondents(8.6%) were Arts students, 30 respondents (32.3%) were students of Science, while
18 respondents (19.3%) were students of Others.

Question 5; what Kind of student are you?

Pie Diagram 5; Response to question 5.

From the Pie Diagram above, 81 respondents (87.1%) were full -time students while 12
respondents (12.9%) were part-time students.

26
 Analysis of Data from Survey (field)

Research question 1; What social networking sites do the students of TTWR Degree College
have access to?

Items 6-11 answered research question one.

Question 6; Do you have access to the internet?

Pie Diagram 6; Response to question 6.

From the Pie Diagram above, 83 respondents (89.2%) had access to internet, and 10
respondents (10.8%) had no access to the internet.

Question 7; which of the following do you Use?

Pie Diagram 7; Response to question 7.

From the Pie Diagram above, 8 respondents (8.6%) use a computer, 76 respondents (81.7%)
use a Android phone, and 9 respondents (9.7%) use a Laptop.

27
Question 8; Are you aware of the Social Networking Sites?

Pie Diagram 8;Response to question 8.

From the Pie Diagram above, 80 respondents (86%) were aware of the social networking
sites, and 13 respondents (14%) were not aware of social networking.

Question 9; what are the social networking sites you know?

Pie Diagram 9; Response to question 9;

From the Pie Diagram above, 0 respondents (0%) were aware of Facebook, 15
respondents (16.1%) were aware of You tube, 15 respondents (16.1%) were aware of
Instagram, and 61 respondents (65.6%) All of the above, 2 respondents (2%) said others

28
Question10: which of the social networking site do you have account with?

Pie Diagram 10; Response to question10.

From the Pie Diagram above, 8 respondents (8.6%) had an account with Facebook, 11
respondents (11.8%) had an account with You tube, 24 respondents (25.8%) had an account
with Instagram, and 50 respondents (53.8%) All of the above sites.

Question11; which type of network you prefer?

Pie Diagram 11; Response to question 11.

From the Pie Diagram above, 20 respondents (21.5%) preferred You tube, 29 respondents
(31.2%) preferred Chrome, 39 respondents (40.9%) preferred All of the above, and 4
respondents (3.0) preferred others.

29
Research Question2; How often do the students of TTWR Degree College go online?

Items 12-14 answered research question two.

Question 12; Why do you prefer it?

Pie Diagram 12; Response to question 12.

From the Pie Diagram above, 28 respondents (30.1%) said its faster, 12 respondents
(12.9%) said its cheap and reliable, 19 respondents (20.4%) said it could open multiple pages
at the same time, 21 respondents (22.6%) said it has a good reception, and 13 respondents
(14%) said others.

Question 13; Where do you browse?

Pie Diagram 13; Response to question 13.

From the above bar diagram, 47 respondents (50.5%) browse at home, 7

respondents (7.5%) browse in the café, 10 respondents (10.8%) browse in school, and 48
respondents (51.6%) browse in college,and 28 respondents(30.1%)said other places.

30
Question 14; How often do you go online?

Pie Diagram 14; Response to question 14.

From the Pie Diagram above, 30 respondents (32.3%) go online very often to
chat, 38 respondents (40.9%) go online often chat, 14 respondents (15.1%) go online not very
often to chat, and 11 respondents go online not often to chat.

Research Question 3; How many hours do students spend on social networking activities?

Question 15;How many hours do you spend online.

Pie Diagram 15: Response to question 15.

From the Pie Diagram above, 11 respondents (11.8%) spend 6 hours online, 6
respondents (6.4%) spend 5 hours online, 26 respondents (28%) spend 4 hours online, and 50
respondents (53.8%) below 2 hour online.

31
Research Question 4; How has the use of social media affected the academic performance of
the students of TTWR Degree College?

Item 16-22 answered research question four.

Question 16; What do you browse for?

Pie Diagram 16; Response to question

From the Bar diagram above, 72 respondents (77.4%) browse for educational purpose, 25
respondents (26.9%) browse for sports , 37 Respondents (39.8%) browse for news and 17
respondents (18.3%) said others.

Question 17; What satisfaction do you derive from it?

Pie Diagram 17: Response to question 17.

From the Pie Diagram above, 64 respondents (68.8%) were satisfied by obtaining
information, 6 respondents (6%) preferred affiliation (chatting), 19 respondents (20.4%)
preferred entertainment, 4 respondents (9.2%) preferred pornography.

32
Question 18; Do you believe social media can effect your academic performance of students?

Pie diagram 18; Response to question 18.

From the pie diagram above, 67 respondents (72%) believed that social media can
influence the academic performance of students, and 26 respondents (28%) disagreed.

Question 19; How has the use of social media influenced your academic performance?

Pie diagram 19: Response to question 19.

From pie diagram above, 73 respondents (78.5%) said it has influenced their academic
performance positively, 11 respondents (11.8%) it has influenced them negatively and 9
respondents (9.7%) made no response.

33
Question 20; social media sites help me get involved in some competitions such as easy
competition?

pie diagram 20: Response to question 20.

From pie diagram above, 80 respondents (86%) said it has easy competition, 13 respondents
(14%) said it has not easy competition.

Question 21; social media have broadened my knowledge on different subject matters

pie diagram 21: Response to question 21.

From pie diagram above, 84 respondents (90.3%) said broadened knowledge on different
subject matters to positive, 9 respondents (9.7%) said has negative.

34
Question 22; Social media caused constant procrastination of my studies

pie diagram 22: Response to question 22.

From pie diagram above, 64 respondents (68.8%) said yes to caused constant
procrastination on studies , 29 respondents (31.2%) said no to caused constant procrastination
on studies

35
 CHAPTER-IV

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

5.1 Introduction:

The main objective of this study was to determine the “A STUDY ON SOCIAL MEADIA AND
ITS IMPACT ON THE STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE ”: A study of students of
Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Degree College Manuguru at Bhadrachalam Under
Kakatiya University undergraduate. Survey research design was adopted using the
questionnaire (google form) for the gathering of data. Following the analysis of data and
discussion of findings, this chapter presented the summary of findings, conclusion and
recommendations.

5.2 Summary of Findings:

I. A great number of students in the TTWRDC MANUGURU Under Kakatiya University

are aware of the social media and had access to various social networking sites.

II. The students of TTWRDC MANUGURU Under Kakatiya University are often online in
various social networking activities.

III. A great amount of time is spent on social networking sites than in academic activities by
the students of TTWRDC MANUGURU Under Kakatiya University.

IV. Due to a great number of times spent on social networking activities, the academic
performance of students suffer setbacks which could lead to a poor performance in the student’s
academics and therefore, fail to create a balance between the social media and academic
activities.

5.3 Conclusion:

This study has demonstrated that the students of TTWRDC MANUGURU Under
Kakatiya University are aware of the social networking sites and had access to them. Findings
also indicated that they are influenced to a great extent by the social media negatively because
attention there are focused on chatting and music while their academic activities are neglected
and left to suffer.

36
5.4 Recommendation:

Based on the findings and conclusions of this study, the following recommendations were

made:

1) Social networking sites should be expanded and new pages should be created to enhance
academic activities to avoid setbacks in the students’ Academic performance.

2) The students should create a balance between chit-chatting and academic activities. More
attention should be directed to research.

3) There should be a decrease in the number of time spent by students when surfing the net.

4) The impact of social media on the academic performance of students should focus more
on the positive side than on the negative side to achieve balance.

5.5 Suggestion for further Studies:

Further studies should be conducted to create more pages for research and academic activities
to enable Students improve in their academics performance, thereby avoiding a distraction
which leads to deviation from their academic work. Furthermore, access to the media should
be made easy for students as an encouragement and should be for both the lecturers and students
to meet up with the academic work. The scheme of work for the academic session should be
placed online to enable the students get interested in research activities.

37
Bibliograohy:

References

Agbanu, V. & Nwabueze .C. (2011). Readings in Mass communication; Global

Perspective of Communication Issues. Enugu: Rhyce Kerex Publishers.

Agee, W. (1922). Public Opinion. New York: Macmillan Free Press.

Aina, S. (2003). Anatomy of communication. Abeokuta: Julian Publishers.

Akuezuito, O. (1993). Research methodology and statistics: (standard edition)

Port Harcourt: Nuel centi publishers.

Albertazzi, .D. & Cobley .P. (2010). The media: An introduction: (3rd edition).

England: Pearson Education Limited.

Baran, S.J. (2002). Introduction to mass communication: media literacy and

Culture: (2nd edition). New York: McGraw hill companies.

Baran, S.J. (2004). Introduction to mass communication: media literacy and

Culture: (3rd edition). New York: McGraw hill companies.

Bittner, R.J. (1989). Mass communication: an introduction: (3rd edition). New

Jersey: Prentice Hall Incorporation.

Chinyere, S.O. (2002). Teaching in mass communication: a multi-dimensional

Approach. Enugu: New Heaven Books.

Dominic, J.R. (2002). The dynamic of mass communication: media in the digital

Age (7th edition). New York: McGraw Hill.

About Computer (2012). People.bv.edu/bows/brief%2520 computer.

Jonah, A. (2013). Social networking: the new Nigeria. The bug (8th edition). P. 2

What you should know about social networking. Awake magazine: February 2012

www.wikipediafreeencyclopedia/wiki/socialnetworking.retrievedoctober12

38
 Annexure
Questionaire

A STUDY ON SOCIAL MEADIA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE STUDENTS

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Dear respondents I am a final year student of the above named institution, conducting
a research on the topic‘A STUDY ON SOCIAL MEADIA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE
STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE; A study of students of TTWRDC
MANUGURU@BHADRACHALAM. I humbly request your assistance in filling the
questionnaire. All information gathered shall be used purely for research purpose and shall be
treated with confidentiality.

Section A

1. What is your Gender?

A. Male [ ]

B. Female [ ]

2. What is your age bracket?

A. 15-20 [ ]

B. 20-25 [ ]

C. 25-30 [ ]

D. A bove 30 [ ]

3. What is your Education?

A. High school [ ]

B. Intermediate [ ]

C. Graduation [ ]

D. Post graduate [ ]

39
4. What department are you?

A. Commerce [ ]

B. Art [ ]

C. Sciences [ ]

D. Others [ ]

5. What kind of student are you?

A. Part-time [ ]

B. Full-time [ ]

Section B

6. Do you have access to the internet?

A. Yes [ ]

B. No [ ]

7. Which of the following do you use?

A. Computer [ ]

B. Android phone [ ]

C. Laptop [ ]

8. Are you aware of social networking sites?

A. Yes [ ] B. No [ ]

9. What are the social networking sites you know?

A. Facebook [ ]

B. Youtube [ ]

C. Instagram [ ]

D. All of the above [ ]

E. Others [ ]

40
10. Which of the social networking sites do you have an account with?

A. Facebook [ ]

B. Youtube [ ]

C. Instagram [ ]

D. All of the above [ ]

11. Which type of network you prefer?

A. Facebook [ ]

B. Youtube [ ]

C. Instagram [ ]

D. All of the above [ ]

E. Others [ ]

12. Why do you prefer it?

A. It is faster [ ]

B. It is cheap and reliable [ ]

C. It opens multiple pages at the same time [ ]

D. It has good reception [ ]

E. Others [ ]

13. Where do you browse?

A. Home [ ]

B. Café [ ]

C. School [ ]

D. College [ ]

E. Other places [ ]

41
14. How often do you go online?

A. Very often [ ]

B. Often [ ]

C. Not very often [ ]

D. Not often [ ]

15. How many hours do you spend online?

A. Below 2 hours [ ]

B. 4 hours [ ]

C. 5 hours [ ]

D. 6 hour [ ]

16. What do you browse?

A. Education [ ]

B. Sports [ ]

C. News [ ]

D.Others [ ]

17. What satisfaction do you derive from it?

A. Information [ ]

B. Affiliation(chatting) [ ]

C. Entertainment [ ]

D. Pornography [ ]

18. Do you believe that social media can affect your academic performance?

A. Yes [ ]

B. No [ ]

42
19. How has the use of Social Media influenced your academic performance?

A. Positive [ ]

B. Negative [ ]

C. No response [ ]

20. Social Media sites help me get involved in some competitions such as easy competition?

A. Yes [ ]

B. No [ ]

21. Social Media have broadened my knowledge on different subject matters?

A. Yes [ ]

B. No [ ]

22. Social Media caused constant procrastination of my studies?

A. Yes [ ]

B. No [ ]

43