TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Declaration ii

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Table of contents vii

List of tables x

Abstract xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1-6

1.1 Background to the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 5

1.3 Research questions 6

1.4 Research objectives 7

1.5 Significance of the study 7

1.6 Scope of the study        7

1.7 Clarification of concept 8

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 9-18

2.1 Literature review 9

2.2 Effect of mobile phone on students’ academics activities  9

2.3 Effect of mobile phone on students’ sleeping habit 15

2.4 Effect of mobile phone subscription on student finance16

2.5 Gap in knowledge 17

CHAPTER THREE: THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK     18-24

3.1 Theory of unintended consequences of social action propounded by Robert Merton 1957.                                                          19

3.2 Merton unintended consequences of social action will be employed in explaining the Effect of mobile phones’ among student in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife 19

3.3 Criticism of Merton unintended consequences of social action 23

CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY              25-28

4.1 Research design               25

4.2 Study location               25

4.3 Sampling techniques and sample size                          26

4.4 Research instrument         27

4.5 Data collection method 27

4.6 Source of data                28

4.7 Data analysis       28

4.8 Ethical consideration       28

CHAPTER FIVE: DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 29-51

5.1 Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents.  29

5.2 Effects of mobile phone on student academics activities 34

5.3 Effects of mobile phone on students sleeping habit        41

5.4 Effect of phone subscription on student finance      43

5.5 Discussion of findings.     48

CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS  53-56

6.1 Summary 53

6.2 Conclusion 55

6.3 Recommendations 55

Reference         57

Appendix 63

LIST OF TABLES             PAGE

Table 5.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondent   30

Table 5.2 Effects of Mobile Phone on Student Academic Activities      34

Table 5.3 Cross-tabulation showing on Respondents’ Pattern of Mobile Phone usage                                37

Table 5.4 Cross-tabulation showing Respondents’ Mobile Usage during Examination                                 38

Table 5.5  Cross-tabulation showing Respondents’ Mobile Usage during Class                                        39

Table 5.6. Cross-tabulation showing Respondents’ Reports on Impact of Mobile Phones Possession on Academic Activity      40

Table 5.7   Respondents’ Report on Effects of Mobile Phone on Students Sleeping Habit                         42

Table 5.8  Respondents’ Report on Effects of Phone Subscription on Student Finance                    44

Table 5.9  Respondents’ Report on Monthly Mobile Subscription and Perception                           45

Table 5.10:  Chi-Square and Cross-tab of Student Monthly Subscription and Perception on  Finance   47

                      ABSTRACT

This research work assess the effect of mobile phone on student’s academics activities and lifestyles among the students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State as a case study. The study seeks to examine the effect of mobile phone on student’s academic activities and lifestyles as it can be seen that mobile phone has gained massive ground and common today which has become vital to explore internet and several application for surfing the web. The objectives of the study is to investigate the effects of mobile phone on student academics activities, to examine the effects of mobile phone on student sleeping habit and to assess the effects of phone subscription on student finance.

Merton’s unintended consequences theory was employed as the theory suitable for this study. Questionnaires were used in gathering necessary information. The sampling technique used under the methodology was the probability and non-probability sampling technique using accidental (convenience), simple random, purposive and quota sampling. 

The study findings revealed that although mobile phone usage has both positive and negative effects on students’ academic performance but its negative effects are more than the positive effects. Prominent among the major activities for which students utilize mobile phones are to assist in assignment and academic research, sending and receiving information pertaining to class and/or campus affairs, learning electronically. On the hand mobile phone serves as vessel for distraction from academic activities. Furthermore, the effects of mobile phone on students sleeping habit, the study findings shown that mobile phone usage have some adverse effects on students’ quality and quantity of sleep. In addition regarding the effects of mobile phone subscription on student finance, the study findings revealed that regardless of students’ amount of monthly phone subscription, it does not seem to affect or adversely impact on student finance

The conclusion is that mobile phone is contributing to the recent poor academic performance of students in Nigerian universities.