TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Pagei

Declarationii

Certificationiii

Dedicationiv

Acknowledgementv

Table of contentsvii

List of tablesx

Abstractxi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1-6

1.1Background to the study1

1.2Statement of the problem5

1.3Research questions6

1.4Research objectives7

1.5Significance of the study7

1.6Scope of the study        7

1.7Clarification of concept8

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW9-18

2.1Literature review9

2.2Effect of mobile phone on students’ academics activities 9

2.3Effect of mobile phone on students’ sleeping habit15

2.4Effect of mobile phone subscription on student finance16

2.5Gap in knowledge 17

CHAPTER THREE: THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK    18-24

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

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

3.3Criticism of Merton unintended consequences of social action23

CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY             25-28

4.1Research design              25

4.2Study location              25

4.3Sampling techniques and sample size                        26

4.4Research instrument        27

4.5Data collection method27

4.6Source of data               28

4.7Data analysis      28

4.8Ethical consideration      28

CHAPTER FIVE: DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS29-51

5.1Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents.  29

5.2Effects of mobile phone on student academics activities34

5.3Effects of mobile phone on students sleeping habit       41

5.4Effect of phone subscription on student finance     43

5.5Discussion of findings.     48

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

6.1Summary53

6.2Conclusion55

6.3Recommendations55

Reference        57

Appendix63

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.