ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to examine the impact of internet utilization of student academic performance on social studies student in upper basic schools in Lekki, Lagos State.The study was carried out to find out the extent students utilizes the internet, ascertain whether the use of internet can improve students learning of social studies, determine whether the use of internet promote effective teaching of social studies and find out the extent students utilizes the internet for academics purposes. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of social studies teachers of some selected upper basic schools in Lekki, Lagos State. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 41 respondents and 35 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables. While the hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation statistical tool, SPSS v23.The result of the findings reveals that the use of internet can improve students learning of social studies.The study also revealed that the extent students utilizes the internet for academics purposes is low. Therefore, it is recommended that students should utilise the internet to improve their academic performance by restricting or limiting themselves to academic purposes since non-academic motives might have adverse impact in their academic achievement. To mention but a few.

Table of Content

Abstract

Chapter One: Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

1.2 Statement of the Problem

1.3 Objective of the Study

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Research Hypothesis

1.6 Significance of the Study

1.7 Scope of the Study

1.8 Limitation of the Study

1.9 Definition of Terms

1.10 Organization of the Study

Chapter Two: Review of Literature

2.1 Conceptual Framework

2.2 Theoretical Framework

2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three: Research Methodology

3.1 Research Design

3.2 Population of the Study

3.3 Sample Size Determination

3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure

3.5 Research Instrument and Administration

3.6 Method of Data Collection

3.7 Method of Data Analysis

3.8 Validity of the Study

3.9 Reliability of the Study

3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four: Data Presentation and Analysis

4.1 Data Presentation

4.2 Analysis of Data

4.3 Answering Research Questions

4.4 Test of Hypotheses

Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Recommendation

References

APPENDIX

QUESTIONNAIRE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of The Study

The internet and its utilization is of very great importance in our day to day living for being a source of channel for information enlightenments, information gathering, access to important and relevant academic materials for the teaching and learning likewise for socialization and fun. It has brought hope for students in particular and young generations in general. There has been a never before seen growth in the numbers of internet users since the 1990s According to Computer Almanac (2003) over 160 million people accessed the internet in United States of America (USA), over 120 million people in Europe and more than 60 million people in Africa. The numbers of those who access the internet keep on increasing.

Conversely, so as to meet the demand of educational tasks, educational (schools) institutions in the country are asking for more internet aided instruction (IAI) and initialization of different technology with education. The internet had long been use in the society and educational system. Teachers, students and the society at large have been feeling greatly the usefulness and the effect of the internet. Also, according to Anderson (2009), the internet can be problematic or filled with problems to the users, especially with the youths. Such problems may be in form of those who spend excessive time on the internet (addiction), betting in the internet, and use of mobile hand set in class during lectures, watching of pornographic pictures and videos, missing class, test and failure to submit assignments. According to Scott (2004), students that extremely use the internet may possess uncontrollable behaviour that is impossible to stop or interest towards the internet which may result to unhealthy life style and severely upset feelings.

More so, the internet provides students with continuous access to family members, friends and other social groups to get social support. Thus, access and usage of the internet may bring about increase stress and tension. Through various internet tools such as the e-mail, social network like Whatsapp, facebook, 2go, badoo, imo, twitter, Instagram, and so forth, students are able to communicate, interact and connect with family members, relations and friends. Anderson (2009) reported that students who use the internet extremely too much may encounter a drop in their study habit, exhaustion, loneliness and sleeplessness. Some students feel that life without the internet is boring therefore they show clear preference to internet as a medium for interaction and leisure activities. Sometimes students often look unstable, restless, exhausted and depressed when they make effort to reduce the time they spend on the internet. Also, they are always looking forward and eyeing the next interaction online. Sometimes students lie to their parents and lecturers to conceal the amount of time spent on the internet which they see as a way of escaping from problem of unstable behaviour such as having a feeling of guilt and stress. Davis (2008) opined that the act of spending extreme time on the internet results to disregard of school responsibilities and keeping away from classes which result to unsatisfactory academic performance.

Studies done on problems of Internet access and usage include effects of personal relationship and communication in internet room (Bellamy & Hanewisz (2001). Brown & Duguid (1996) investigated the influence of internet on academic performance of students. The finding of the study showed that students’ academic performance was influenced negatively by the internet. Beida (2008) examined internet use, abuse or dependence among Students of University of Maiduguri. The findings of the study showed that those who spend excessive time on line encounter a drop in their academic performances. Paul, Baker & Cochran (2012) in their study surveyed effect of online social networking on student academic performance. The study revealed that too much internet usage affects in a negative way students’ performance. Whyte (2008) asserted that focusing on one’s study and moderately using the internet no doubt will bring about a higher academic performance. It is against this backdrop that this study explored impact of internet utilization of student academic performance on social studies student in upper basic schools.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

The internet is a networking system through the computer and (ICT) which is controlled from a centralised monitor, where information is being diffused and passed to everybody globally. There are a lot of gains students and the generality of the society derive from the use of the internet. It is very significant to students because it has the possibility to make faster and more efficient and to reduce administrative challenges or task and make achievable greater effectiveness and productivity in the management of the educational system. Students are able to retrieve information and data through the availability of the internet. Ojedokun (2009) affirms that with recent development in information technology, no serious student will depend solely on his/her lecturers; they need the internet to support and authenticate facts and knowledge learnt or acquired in the classroom.

However, despite the numerous advantages and benefit of the internet to the educational and social environments, it’s access and usage excessive usage by students is not without its disadvantages which includes internet abuse, and compulsiveness, internet addiction, abandoning academic activities, going late to lectures, abstinence from classes, not submitting assignment, gambling and viewing of pornographic pictures and videos. Internet access and usage has been associated with missing classes, course failure and dismissal from school. It is with regards to the aforementioned that this study addressed Internet access and usage: its impact on students’ academic performance in secondary Social Studies.

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

The main objective of this research is to examine the impact of internet utilization of student academic performance on social studies student in upper basic schools. Other objectives of this study are to;

1.        To find out the extent students utilizes the internet.

2.        Ascertain whether the use of internet can improve students learning of social studies.

3.        Determine whether the use of internet promote effective teaching of social studies.

4.        Find out the extent students utilizes the internet for academics purposes.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions will be answered:

i.          What is the extent students utilizes the internet?

ii.        Can the use of internet improve students learning of social studies?

iii.      Does the use of internet promote effective teaching of social studies?

iv.      What is the extent students utilizes the internet for academics purposes?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

Ho: There is no significance relationship between internet utilization and student academic performance on social studies.

1.6 Significance Of The Study

The study would be useful to curriculum developers in education, policy decision makers,management of universities and the students as it will identify trends and use of internet forteaching and learning. It would also serve as reference point for other researchers who would liketo carry out further investigations in the chosen area.

1.7 Scope Of The Study

This study focuses on the impact of internet utilization of student academic performance on social studies student in upper basic schools.This study will be delimited to some selected upper basic schools in Lekki, Lagos State.

1.8 Limitations Of The Study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. However, the researcher were able to manage these just to ensure the success of this study.

Moreover, the case study method utilized in the study posed some challenges to the investigator including the possibility of biases and poor judgment of issues. However, the investigator relied on respect for the general principles of procedures, justice, fairness, objectivity in observation and recording, and weighing of evidence to overcome the challenges.

1.9 Definition Of Terms

Internet :

Academic Performance: This is regarded as the display of knowledge attained or skills, shown in the school subjects such achievements are indicated by test scores or by marks assigned by teachers. It is the school evaluation of students’ classroom work as quantified on the basis of marks or grades.

1.10 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDIES

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the  review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study,  sample size determination,  sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.