Influence of Social Media on Group Behaviour and Academic Achievement among Senior Secondary Students in Ilorin-West, Kwara State

Abstract

This study was designed to find out the influence of social media usage on group behaviour and academic performance among senior secondary school students in Ilorin-West Local Government, Kwara State. The study used ex-post factor design. Purposive and simple random samplings were used to select the sample. Four senior secondary schools with a total population of 1,660 and a sample size of 310 students were drawn and used for the study. Two questionnaires were used for the study: Social Media, and Group Behaviour Questionnaire [SGBQ] and English Language and Mathematics Test [EMT]. Three research hypotheses were raised and tested. Pearson r, and ANOVA tools were used for the statistical analysis. The result shows positive correlation exists between social media usage and group behaviour. The finding shows there is negative correlation between social media usage and academic performance. The result also shows significant age difference among students. Recommendations were that: Students should be conscious of the time they spend on social media sites in order to have more time for their classroom activities and homework. Teachers should encourage the students to expend some meaningful hours on social media sites so as to make friends that would help increase their self-image. The comments of these friends are better to boost and enhance group behaviour on social media.

Keywords: social media, group behaviour and academic performance.