Influence Of Facebook and Instagram Social Networking Sites Usage on Computer Science Students’ Academic Achievement in Tertiary Institutions in South East Zone, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to ascertain the influence of Facebook and Instagram social networking sites usage on Computer Science students’ academic achievement in tertiary institutions in South East Zone, Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance guided the study. Correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consists of (859) eight hundred and fifty nine of 2019/2020 academic session in the five federal universities in South East Zone while (615) six hundred and fifteen third year Computer Science students were using the social networking sites under study. The sample size of 242 respondents was selected using Taro Yamane formula among the social networking sites users and 19%, 21%, 19%, 20% and 22% of respondents were selected proportionately using simple stratified random sampling technique among the social networking sites users from five federal universities in South East Zone. Structured questionnaire and Computer Science Achievement score from the Computer Science Department of the Federal Universities in South East Zone were used for data collection. Computer Science Achievement score from the Computer Science Department of the Federal Universities were not subjected to any other validation and reliability assessment exercise because it is an official valid document domiciled in the Departments and Exams and Records of the federal universities under study. The questionnaire was validated by three lecturers and the internal consistency of the (questionnaire) instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha coefficient method which yielded an overall reliability estimate of 0.79. Research questions were analyzed using the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) and coefficient of determination (r²) while the hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance using Simple Linear Regression procedures. The result of the study found out that the usage of Facebook and Instagram social networking sites all recorded positive predictive influence on Computer Science students’ academic achievement. It also revealed that the usage of Facebook does not significantly influence Computer Science students’ academic achievement while Instagram significantly influence Computer Science students’ academic achievement. It was recommended among others that Teachers can adopt new strategies by channeling assignments or discussions on social networking sites like Instagram to help inculcate the habit of using these sites for academic work.Students should be encouraged to utilize social networking sites like Instagram in a manner that will promote their academic achievement positively. They should be encouraged to create educational groups and see how to use that to enhance their academic growth and worth.

Keywords: Facebook, Instagram, Social Networking Sites, Tertiary Institution, Computer Science

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-30-16

Publication date:October 31^st 2022