DIGITAL DEPENDENCY AND THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE GRADE 12

STUDENTS FROM DEVELOPING DIGITAL DEMENTIA DURING THE

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

____________________

A Thesis
Presented to the Faculty of
Bataan National High School-Senior High School

____________________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

Practical Research 2

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by

ANNA KATHLEEN T.LIM

December 2020
 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our living ever since the year 2020 began.

It has shattered not just the economic, but also the financial, health, and educational

backbone of almost all nations worldwide[ CITATION Sub20 \l 1033 ]. As of November

2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported about 53.7 million confirmed

cases and 1.3 million deaths cause by the virus globally.

As the cases continue to arise with still no vaccine available for mass

consumption, countries worldwide including Philippines have declared strict lockdowns

and community quarantine as a preventive measure against the virus. People are ordered

to follow social distancing and staying at home during these lockdown periods. However,

as the global pandemic crisis continues, needs of everyone continue to arise including a

safe and inclusive way of socialization and communication.

As a response to this need, classes, meetings and other personal and professional

activities shifted to online setup with the help of the internet and digital devices

[ CITATION Sub20 \l 1033 ] . Teleconferencing, video conferencing, and online chat through

messaging apps and email has become the “new normal” nowadays. As a matter of fact,

the internet use pushes up to 70% and streaming more than 12% during the first quarter

of 2020 since most people now use online streaming platforms and social media such as
Twitter and Facebook for news updates and for personal entertainment such the Netflix

and Disney [ CITATION Bee20 \l 1033 ]

Consequently, the Department of Education has shifted the classes from the

traditional face-to-face to flexible learning whereas the students are given the freedom to

choose which type of modality they want to learn from. Through the use of the printed or

electronic materials and modules and their digital devices, students are now able to learn

and study in their own space and pace. Since almost everything you want to know is

already published in the internet, this is a great advantage for students to make their

education convenient. However, despite its benefits, the internet may also hinder one's

learning [ CITATION Kwi20 \l 1033 ].

Digital devices have been widely used throughout the entire Philippines, and only

a few studies have been conducted to assess health problems related to their

overuse[CITATION Abd18 \l 1033 ]. As technology continues to rise, heavy consumption of

digital devices may lead to psychological and physical issues, such as eyestrain, difficulty

focusing on important tasks, and depression [CITATION Jon20 \l 1033 ]. Also studies on

stress, sleep and memory suggest how the reliance and dependency on digital devices

influence the human brain and its behavior[ CITATION Kor14 \l 1033 ].

In his book Limitless, Kwik mentioned says that “we consume digital technology

at a rate that even its creators would find extreme” and that “we consume as much data in

a single day as an average person from the 1400s would have absorbed in an entire

lifetime” and in order to process these much information, the nervous system needs to
heighten the intensity of brain stimulation and the speed of processing these information

(Korn, 2014) which then results to long term ill effects.

A neuroscientist, Manfred Spitzer, coined the term digital dementia to describe

the overuse of digital technology resulting in the breakdown of cognitive abilities

[CITATION Sus15 \l 1033 ] . Digital dementia is a modern-day health epidemic resulting in a

sensory mismatch in the brain [ CITATION Syc17 \l 1033 ]. Spitzer said that the

overutilization of technology stimulates the left side of the brain, while the right side of

the brain, which controls attention, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving [ CITATION

ASH \l 1033 ], remains untapped and degenerates [ CITATION San18 \l 1033 ]. Meanwhile,

health problems such as slouched posture, forgetfulness, anxiety, anger, depression,

balance disorder, and developmental delays, show signs and symptoms of digital

dementia [ CITATION Syc17 \l 1033 ].

Since the use of digital devices during the lockdown period in Covid-19 pandemic

dramatically increase, there is a higher possibility of developing digital dementia among

people that overutilize the said devices specifically the students since they are using those

for their flexible learning. Hence, the researcher will conduct this study which aims to

determine the susceptibility from developing digital dementia by measuring the level of

digital dependency of the Grade 12 students from Bataan National High School.

Moreover, the researcher also aims to determine which factor of their digital dependency

contributes most to their susceptibility.

Statement of the Problem

The general problem of the study is: How susceptible are the Grade 12 students of

Bataan National High School from developing digital dementia based on their level of

digital dependency?

Specifically, the study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the students in terms of:

1.1. Age;

1.2. Sex;

1.3. Track or Strand;

1.4. Type of Modality chosen for the School Year?

2. How may digital reliance of the Grade 12 Students be described in terms of:

2.1 Memorization of information;

2.2 Solving math problems and;

2.3 Developing informed decisions and opinions about an issue or topic?

3. What is the average number of hours usually spent by the respondents using their

digital devices?

4. How many digital devices do they usually use at the same time while studying or doing

other activities at home?

5. How many hours do the respondents usually spend using their digital devices before

going to sleep?

Significance of the Study

The aim of the study is to determine the susceptibility of developing digital

dementia during the Covid-12 pandemic based on the level of digital dependency of the

Grade 12 students from Bataan National High School. Moreover, it seeks to discuss the

factors that contributes most to their susceptibility and the implications of those. In

particular, the following are deemed benefit, directly or indirectly, from this study:

Students- This study is significant for the students because they will become well- aware

of how their reliance in digital devices make them susceptible in possible developing

digital dementia in the future. Moreover, they will become also aware what digital

dementia is and its implications in their health.

Teachers- Teachers will become aware on what is happening on their students. Digital

dementia can also affect the students learning resulting to low academic performance,

making this study significant to them.

Parents- This study is significant for the parents because during this pandemic, parents

are our companion. By this study, parents will become aware of digital dementia and how

it could affect their children. Due to this, parents can limit their children’s time in using

digital devices and can make ways on how students reduce their dependency on it.

Future Researchers- This study is significant for the future researchers because this

could give them information that may lead to further research. Since technology
continues to rise, problems with digital dementia may also rise making this study relevant

in the future. Furthermore, this study could give them inspiration to continue on how

students are susceptible to digital dementia and what factors makes them rely on digital

devices. This could also be their guide to pursuing further studies related to digital

dementia.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The goal of this study is to determine the susceptibility of the Grade 12 students

from developing digital dementia during the covid-19 pandemic by measuring their level

of Digital dependency by asking a set of questions that aims to describe their manner and

behavior of using the digital devices.

Specifically, the study will described the profile of the respondents in terms of age,

sex, track or strand , and their type of modality chosen for the S.Y 2020-2021.

The questionnaire to be used will be utilizing the likert- scale. The data was

treated statistically using frequency count, percentage for the profile of the respondents

and their level of digital dependency.

The respondents of the study will be the Grade 12 students of Bataan National

High School S.Y. 2020-2021 but is only limited to students who have internet access

since the questionnaires will be distribute through an online survey form.

 Notes in Chapter 1

Alamri, A. A., Alnefaie, M., Alhibshi, N., Alzhran, W., Almaymuni, A., & Mosli, M. (2018). Patterns
of digital device usage and its related effects on elementary and middle school students
intrument development and regression analysis. Electronic Physician, 7333-7340.

ASHA. (n.d.). Retrieved from asha.org: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/right-

hemisphere-brain-damage/#:~:text=Our%20brains%20have%20two%20sides,%2C
%20reasoning%2C%20and%20problem%20solving.

Beech, m. (2020, may 25). covid-19 pushes up internet use 70% and streaming more than 12%,
first figures revealed. Retrieved from forbes.com.cdn.ampproject.org.

Greene, S. (2015, july 1). Phychology Today. Retrieved from psychologytoday.com:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/mind-change/201507/digital-dementia

Johnson, J. (2020, February 25). MedicalNewsToday. Retrieved from medicalnewstoday.com:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/negative-effects-of-technology

Khoja, S. M. (2018). Letter to the Editor: Digital Dementia–Is Smart Technology Making Us
Dumb? The Ochsner Journal.

Korn, C. (2014, june 25). our dependence on digital devices may affect sleep and memory.
Retrieved from theconversation.com.cdn.ampproject.org.

Kwik, j. (2020). limitless. United States: Hay house Inc. .

Subudhi, R. N., & Palai, D. (2020). Impact of Internet use during the Covid Lockdown. Jpurnals of
humanites and social sciences research, 59-66.

Sycamore Valley Chiropractic. (2017, may 8). Retrieved from sycamorevalleychiropractic.com:

https://www.sycamorevalleychiropractic.com/digital-dementia-a-modern-day-health-
epidemic/#:~:text=Digital%20Dementia%20is%20a%20modern,loss%2C%20symptoms
%20associated%20with%20dementia.

WHO. (2020). Weekly epidemiological update. World health organizatiom.