EFFECTS OF POOR INTERNET CONNECTIVITY TO THE ACADEMIC

PERFORMANCE OF HUMSS STUDENTS OF ANGELES CITY NATIONAL TRADE

SCHOOL

A SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL RESEARCH PAPER

PRESENTED TO THE

FACULTY OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

OF AMACC ANGELES

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE SUBJECT INQUIRIES, INVESTIGATION AND IMMERSION

Balajadia, Kier Jacinto G.

 May 2022

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FONT STYLE: TIMES NEW ROMAN or ARIAL

SPACING: 2

CHAPTER AND TITLES: BOLD and ALL CAPS

 Introduction
 Background of the study
 Theoretical and conceptual framework
 Statement of the problem
 Hypothesis
 Scope and delimitation of the study
 Significance of the study
 Research Instrument
 Research Questions
 Research Methodology
 Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data (Use of charts/graphs with
interpretation)
 Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation

Research Respondents: Research Respondents: 15

 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

It used to take a long time to converse with someone else before the internet was invented. When

it comes to sending communications, you just have two options: make a phone call or send a

letter. There were also periods when people needed to physically travel to several locations in

order to keep track of their business. However, things change so quickly these days, and the

internet has altered everything. Nowadays, millennials, as well as the regular person, may profit

from internet access without ever leaving their homes. As humanity entered the 21st century,

these changes came our way in the 20th century and continue to make things more possible. As a

result, it is unavoidable that the technology world has infiltrated the lives of every human being

on the earth.

According to the most recent internet usage statistics, as of June 2017, the global total when

compared to the overall number of internet users in 2010, the number of internet users increased

by 22%. After 7 years, half of the world’s population has been displaced with the completely

engrossed in the current internet connection. This demonstrates that the internet is useful and

inadvertently become part of people’s wishes and needs. It’s also connected to the study of

Louge (2006)’s research, computer availability and use among teens and other age groups has

increased dramatically in recent decades.

At this time, the internet has become very important for students, particularly those in the K-12

curriculum, as it provides a way for them, particularly those in public schools, to easily obtain
the information they require, despite the fact that many educational institutions are still unable to

provide all of the teaching and facilities that students require.

Despite all of the advantages of the internet, it is unfortunately out of reach for many people.

This study’s major focus was on this issue, with the goal of establishing the impact of poor

internet connectivity to the academic performance of Humanities and Social Sciences students.

Following the completion of the current study, recommendations will be made to assist students

in achieving academic success.

THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Poor internet connectivity leaves students behind especially to those on rural places. Slow

internet connectivity or limited access from homes can contribute to students falling behind

academically. This study will focus on how Internet matters on students and how does having

unstable internet affects the students academically in Angeles City National Trade School. The

data will be gathered through a survey using Google Form Questionnaires to each of the

students.

RESEARCH PARADIGM

Poor Google
Academic
Internet Form
Performance
Connectivity Questionnaires
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to know how poor internet connectivity affects the academic performance of

the students. To fill the gaps in this study these are the following research questions that will be

addressed:

1. What are the alternative ways that can be used by the students in learning despite of poor

internet connectivity?

2. What are the effects of poor internet connectivity in the academic performance of the students

in Angeles City National Trade School?

3. How does the effects of poor internet connectivity affects the academic performance of the

students in Angeles City National Trade School?

4. Why internet is the main problem of the students in our current days?

HYPOTHESIS

Students are possibly to be left behind their lessons and they might have poor academic

performance.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study will take place at Angeles City National Trade School and will focus on the 15

students participating in the Humanities and Social Sciences strand in Grade 12 (ages 16-19)

during the school year 2021-2022. The study’s time frame is 2021-2022. This research will only

look at the consequences of poor internet connectivity on student’s academic achievement in the

Humanities and Social Sciences strand.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The researcher aims that this study will not only yield details that will be essential to him, much

more to the following groups of people:

Students. This study will help students to think and find alternative solutions in terms of their

poor internet connectivity that could improve their academic performance.

Teachers. Effectively this study will help them to fully understand the situation of the students

due to poor internet connectivity and find alternative ways for the students to somehow excel

academically.

Curriculum Planner. They will be guided in evaluating, developing, and modifying the

curriculum to meet the student’s needs.

Future Researchers. This content may be useful to them as a source of information.

As a result, this research could be used as a starting point.

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Over the years, we’ve all witnessed changes in our lives, including various innovations and

creations that have resulted in both benefits and drawbacks in our lives. However, the internet is

currently the most popular and useful innovation that has ever been created and used by so many

people. Because of this invention, more things are now possible.

FOREIGN LITERATURE

In the sphere of education, the internet plays a significant role. The academic world has seen

significant change in recent years, taking on new dimensions impacted by technology-driven

applications. For students, the internet is a valuable source of knowledge as well as a tool to help

them be more productive (Metzger, Flanagin & Zwarun 2003). In comparison to the wider

public, this has resulted in students being heavy internet users (Ni, Yan, Chen, & Liu, 2007).

According to Jones (2002), 86% of university students in the United States utilize the internet,

but only 59% of the general public does. The internet offers a variety of strong technologies that

can assist in changing today’s isolated teacher-centered and text-book confined classrooms into

dynamic, interactive learning environments. Students’ attention is drawn to an interactive

learning environment. The internet was a game changer. Context has been described as a “sea of

information”. Taining texts that aren’t held between the walls of a library or a bookstore, and

topic areas that encompass all branches of study. Suhail and Bargees (2006) also mentioned

some of the advantages of having access to the internet for college students. They claim that
internet use benefits education by facilitating communication with students and teachers,

expanding access to libraries and educational resources, and enhancing study hours and habits.

Despite the fact that the internet has a positive impact on academic performance, research

findings have revealed excessive internet usage has a negative impact on one’s physical health

and family life as well as academic achievement (Ahkter, 2013). Academic issues include a

decline in study habits, a significant drop in grades, missed classes, and a lack of participation in

extracurricular activities.

Furthermore, researchers and academics have been debating the issue. Academic achievement of

students in influenced both favorably and negatively. The number of students accessing the

internet is increasing every year (Englander, Terregrossa, & Wang, 2010). The current scenario

reveals that the number of students using the internet is increasing every year. As a result, if

students use the internet for academic purposes, the academic performance of students will

improve (Brown, Ellore, and Niranjan, 2014).

LOCAL LITERATURE

According to the 2016 report by Salac and Kim (2016), geographical difficulty, bureaucratic

procurement, and connection monopolization are the key causes for the delayed infrastructure

improvement (Salac and Kim 2016). Because the Philippines is an archipelago, building cell

towers for connectivity inside the island is more difficult than installing them across a larger land

area.

Salac and Kim (2016) also claimed that the government hampered infrastructure development at

the period due to bureaucratic processes, or red-tape. The current duopoly of the entire
communication service exacerbates this, as potential entrants may be addressed with agreements

that benefit the incumbent carriers.

Perceived internet speed is a subjective assessment of the internet’s ability to facilitate online

learning sessions (Gledhill et al., 2017). The slow internet connection in the Philippines was

explained by Natividad (2021) and Salac and Kim (2016). They agreed that the Philippines’

Internet connection is slow due to inadequate internet infrastructure caused by antiquated

legislation and lengthy bureaucratic processes for internet infrastructure development.

Because the Philippines has sluggish internet connectivity, this is a national issue (Chiu et al.,

2017). The Philippines has a slow internet connection, according to Natividad (2021) and Salac

and Kim (2016), due to antiquated Philippine law and red tape that prevents mobile towers from

being installed quickly. This result backs up what Bhuasiri eat al. (2012) and Baticulon et al.

(2021).

FOREIGN STUDIES

Emeka and Nyeche (2016) conducted research on Internet Usage on the Academic Performance

of Undergraduate Students at the University of Abuja, Nigeria. The results of the study indicate

that 111 (55%) of respondents are daily internet users, 31 (15%) use internet once a week, 9

(5%) use the internet once in two weeks, 26 (13%) use the internet once in a month, 20 (10%)

use the internet occasionally while 3 (2%) do not use the internet. According to the data, the

majority of students use the internet on a daily basis. The research reported that paying for

internet services was a difficulty, but the study reveals that the internet usage is on the rise. The

study also shows that the internet is one of the most useful instrument in current era of
information technology, not only for business but also for academic purposes. It helps students

develop skills and capabilities that will help them in their studies and careers.

Furthermore, in their study on the usage of internet resources by Sahin, Balta, and Ercan (2010)

found that during the elicitation of university student’s course projects, it was discovered that

57% of the participants were males while females made up 43% of population. The study also

reveals the student’s opinions on the credibility of the information. Based on information gleaned

from the internet it was shown that 70% of students compared information gathered through the

internet and other sources of information. Aside from that, the recommended rate of the

percentage of trustworthy websites is around 41%. For this reason, many students ensure that

these resources remain current for educational purposes only, and without bias.

LOCAL STUDIES

This issue should be addressed, especially, in a low-resource setting, to ensure that students have

a quality and reliable internet connection in order to get the most out of online learning. Given

the country’s slow and problematic Internet connection, this is particularly an issue among

students in the Philippines (Salac and Kim, 2016).

Despite the country’s constant increase in internet connectivity over the last ten years (Perreras,

n.d.), the speed of internet connection remains the key obstacle while using an online virtual

platform. According to Salac and Kim (2016), the Philippines continuous to trail behind other
developing Asian countries in terms of internet connection. Meanwhile, the Philippines is ranked

104th out of 160 countries in the world (Salac & Kim, 2016).

This may have altered the delivery of online courses and, as a result, the student’s satisfaction

with the online learning platform. Unfortunately, the Philippine’s internet infrastructure

continuous to lag behind other Asian emerging countries (Salac & Kim, 2016). The financial cost

of online programs have also been highlighted by Nepalese undergraduate nursing students (Deo

et al., 2020).
 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter describes the research design, data collecting, respondents, research instruments,

and data collection technique within this area.

RESEARCH METHOD AND TECHNIQUES USED

A review of the effects of poor internet connectivity on HUMSS students' academic performance

was conducted through a qualitative approach. The respondents were surveyed using a

questionnaire. The researcher gathered information and data for a descriptive study to underline

the topic of the consequences of poor internet connectivity on students' academic performance. It

appropriately described the topic of interest. A questionnaire is supplied as the study's

instrument, in accordance with the qualitative technique. The respondents are not given a time to

answer and finish the questionnaire. The researcher is able to develop the study's generalizations

through the use of the answers of each participant in this investigation.

POPULATION AND SAMPLES

This study has respondents directly from the chosen students of sections Zerachiel and Cassiel

introduced to the use of internet connectivity connected with their academic performance. All of

the participants will the respondents of the study. Herein, the respondents are not given time to

answer the survey questionnaire.

 Section Total Number of Students Number of Respondents

Zerachiel 15 15

Total 15 15

INSTRUMENT USED

This study included a questionnaire in the data collection process. Using a set of questions that

the respondents will answer. The questionnaires are made up of a series of particular questions

that were used to measure the impact of poor internet connectivity on students' academic

performance in the Humanities and Social Sciences. The researcher is the most critical factor

before collecting data.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

The respondents are approached directly by the researchers, who administer the study equipment.

Also, the importance of the study was discussed, and the instruments were distributed

appropriately by emailing the link to the Google Forms questionnaires. Respondents are given

free time to complete the survey, allowing them to ponder and react properly. On both parts, the

researcher assigned one student to deliver the questionnaire link. The researcher interpreted all of

the information gathered. For the study to be completed successfully, the data will serve as the

foundation or analysis.
DATA PROCESSING AND STATISTICAL TREATMENT

After collecting all of the data, the researchers add up all of the respondents' responses. The

following formulas were used to compute and explain all of the data collected after answering

the questionnaire:

1. FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION

All of the data is evaluated when the researcher receives the number of students who complete

the questionnaire and the percentage of the results.

Formula:

Wherein:

P = Percentage

= Total number of students who answer the question

N = Total number of respondents

2. WEIGHTED MEAN

The total number of answers per question divided by the total number of respondents is

calculated using this formula.

Formula:

Wherein: = Weighted mean

= Summation of f and x; wherein f is the frequency of the answers while x is

the equivalent of evert answer which is based on the given legend.

N = Total number of answer in every item.

LIKERT’S SCALE

The purpose of this scale is to see if there is a link between inadequate internet connectivity and

HUMSS students' academic achievement. Respondents' views toward a topic are measured using

likert scale questions. Statement or question, it's important to remember that Likert-type data is

ordinal data, which means that we can only say if one score is higher than another, not how far

apart the points are.

Range Indication
3.73 – 4.00 Strongly Agree
2.64 – 3.72 Agree
1.55 – 2.63 Disagree
1.00 – 1.54 Strongly Disagree
To make the data more reliable and accurate, the researchers employed the following statistical

method:

RANGE. It is used to show the rank of every item which tells the hierarchy of each item.

WEIGHTED MEAN. It is used to know how the respondents agree with the factors which

affect the students’ academic performance in terms of poor internet connectivity.

 CHAPTER IV

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter summarizes the findings of the study by responding to all of the questions raised in

Chapter I, Statement of the Problem (SOP). The left-hand heading of each problem is the

heading, and the solutions are presented in textual, tabular, and/or graphical formats.

Table 1

The effects to the Humanities and Social Sciences Students when poor internet connectivity

occurs

Factors Weighted Descriptive Rank

Mean Equivalent

1. I can’t do my homework. 3.73 Strongly Agree 1

2. I don’t have access to online lessons. 3.53 Agree 3

3. I can’t gather information easily about the lessons. 3.67 Agree 2

4. I can’t search for relevant ideas when making 3.6 Agree 5

activities.

5. I can’t watch video tutorials about the lessons. 3.6 Agree 5

6. I can’t perform well in class during discussions 3.6 Agree 5

compared to those with internet access.

3.33 Agree 4
7. I am unable to perform advanced study.
3.53 Agree 3
8. I can’t review lessons that I don’t understand.
3.67 Agree 2
9. I’m not updated with the topics on our online group.
3.4 Agree
10. It lessens my inquisitive thinking to learn something 6
 new.

Overall Weighted Mean Rating 3.57 Agree

This Table 1 shows the effects of poor internet connectivity in the academic performance of

HUMSS students of Angeles City National Trade School. It contains the weighted mean,

descriptive equivalent, and the rank per item.

The item that indicates I can't do my homework, which has an average weighted mean of 3.15

and descriptive equivalent of agree, is clearly the item that ranks top, as seen in the table.

Approximately 65 percent of students use the internet to perform homework, which includes

conducting research, submitting assignments, emailing teachers, and connecting with classmates

online. It is an implication that without the use of internet, it limits the resources of reference of

students.

Similarly, the items I can't gather information easily about the lessons and I'm not updated with

the topics on our online group are the things both placed second, respectively, with an average

weighted mean of 3.67 and a descriptive equivalent of agree. According to Jones's (2002)

research, The Internet has been described as a "sea of information." Texts that are not contained

inside the walls of libraries and bookstores, as well as topic areas, cover all realms of knowledge.

It implies that internet connectivity is important for studying and aids students in their academic

success.

Next are the items that rank third are the ones that say I don't have access to online lessons and I

can't review lessons that I don't understand, and they have an average weighted mean of 3.53 and
a descriptive equivalent of agree. As a result, according to the study, students had difficulties

with their schoolwork, sleeping, and revising for upcoming quizzes. This issue may have an

indirect impact on their academic performance (Anderson, 2001)

Next comes the fourth rank item, which states that I am unable to perform advanced study and

has an average weighted mean of 3.33 and agree as a descriptive equivalen.t Some benefits of

internet access for college students were documented by Suhail and Bargees (2006). They claim

that internet use has a good impact on education by increasing communication with students and

teachers, expanding access to libraries and educational databases, and improving study hours and

habits. This implies that having access to the internet can benefit a student in their education.

Then the items ranked fifth have an average weighted mean of 3.6 and descriptive equivalent of

agree that states I can't search for relevant ideas when making activities, I can't watch video

tutorials about the lessons, and I can't perform well in class during discussions compared to those

with internet access. At its most basic level, Internet use, according to Angrist and Lavy (2002),

signifies a particular level of technological savvy that results from a student learning a new skill -

this alone can result in improved marks. This implies that internet access is a tool for improving

students' academic achievement.

The item It lessens my curious thinking to learn something new was placed sixth, with an

average weighted mean of 3.4 and the descriptive equivalent of agree. According to a survey,

most individuals see the Internet's benefits as healthy productive activities, such as students

taking advantage of the chance by visiting websites, participating in chat rooms, using it as a

research tool, and watching videos pertinent to their studies (Young,2000).

 Table 2

Effects of poor Internet Connectivity that affects the Academic Performance of HUMSS

Students

Factors Weighted Descriptive Rank

Mean Equivalent

1. I can’t relate to the discussions. 3.8 Strongly Agree 1

2. I got low performance on our recitation. 3.4 Agree 5

3. I gained low scores in our quizzes. 3.47 Agree 4

4. I passed my projects beyond the given deadline. 3.53 Agree 3

5. I got low performance during practical activities. 3.6 Agree 2

Overall Weighted Mean Rating 3.56 Agree

The Table 2 shows how the effects of poor internet connectivity affects the academic

performance of HUMSS students of Angeles City National Trade School.

The item that states I can't relate to the discussions has the highest average weighted mean of 3.8

and descriptive equivalent of strongly agree, while the ranked 2 item that states I got low

performance during practical activities has an average weighted mean of 3.6 and descriptive

equivalent of agree. Matthews and Schrum (2003) found a substantial positive link between

grade achievement and opinion of the Internet as a beneficial academic tool in a survey

performed at a big public university in the southeast of the United States. For HUMSS students,

this implies that internet access is a beneficial learning tool.

The third and fourth items, which states I passed my projects beyond the given deadline and I

gained low scores in our quizzes, have an average weighted mean of 3.53 and 3.47, and the

descriptive equivalent of both agree. Academic problems, in contrast to the study, include a loss

in study habits, a significant drop in grades, missed courses, and poor integration in

extracurricular activities (Akhter, 2013). It implies that internet connection should be used

properly to improve their study habits in order for them to achieve excellent grades in school.

Last but not least, the item that ranked the lowest which states I got low performance on our

recitation and have an average weighted mean of 3.4 and descriptive equivalent of agree.

Controlled internet users, on the other hand, appeared to have stronger interpersonal connections,

academic grades, and academic satisfaction. Heavy internet users, on the other hand, have been

proven to be more prone to become unhappy, physically unwell, lonely, and introverted.

However, heavy internet users were found to struggle with their learning, although not

necessarily in terms of academic accomplishment (Chen & Peng,2008). This implies that the

internet is beneficial to students' academic success.

Table 3

Alternative means of learning that would benefit a lot for the HUMSS students despite of having

poor internet connectivity

Factors Weighted Descriptive Rank

Mean Equivalent

1. Suggested books to read. 3.53 Agree 4

2. Recorded virtual classes. 3.47 Agree 5

 3. Using mobile hotspot as a substitute internet. 3.73 Strongly Agree 2

4. Alternative activities and projects. 3.67 Agree 3

5. Printed modular. 3.8 Strongly Agree 1

Overall Weighted Mean Rating 3.64 Agree

The Table 3 shows the alternative means of learning that HUMSS students can use with its

weighted mean, descriptive equivalent, and rank.

According to the results of the study, printed modular ranked as first, with a average weighted

mean of 3.8 and a descriptive equivalent of strongly agree. This implies that the majority of

HUMSS students prefer to learn using printed modules.

The item that comes in second rank, using mobile hotspot as a substitute internet, has an average

weighted mean of 3.73 and a descriptive equivalent of strongly agree. This implies that adopting

a mobile hotspot as a temporary internet replacement when bad internet access arises could be

beneficial to HUMSS students in the meantime.

The third item is alternative projects and activities, which has an average weighted mean of 3.67

and has a descriptive equivalent of agree. This implies that teachers can provide students with

poor internet connectivity with resources to help them improve their academic performance.

The fourth item is suggested books to read, which has an average weighted mean of 3.53 and a

descriptive equivalent of agree. This implies that teachers can recommend books for students to

read that are relevant to the lessons.

The fifth item is the recorded virtual classes, which have a weighted average of 3.47 and a

descriptive equivalent of agree. This implies that teachers can record every virtual class and

upload it to the class group chat so that those with poor internet connectivity can watch and

comprehend the discussion clearly.

 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter presents the summary, conclusion, and recommendation of the study.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

This study sought to determine the impact of poor internet connectivity on HUMSS students at

Angeles City National Trade School's academic performance, with the goal of demonstrating the

value of internet connectivity and how it aids in improving students' academic performance.

It seeks responses to the following questions:

1.What are the alternative ways that can be used by the students in learning despite of poor

internet connectivity?

2.What are the effects of poor internet connectivity in the academic performance of the students

in Angeles City National Trade School?

3. How does the effects of poor internet connectivity affects the academic performance of the

students in Angeles City National Trade School?

4.Why internet is the main problem of the students in our current days?

The effects of poor internet connectivity on the academic performance of HUMSS students at

Angeles City National Trade School were studied using a qualitative method. The researchers

used a total of 15 students from the Grade 12 section Zerachiel class as participants.

Questionnaires are used to collect the information.

FINDINGS

The study's findings were as follows:

1. Alternative means of learning that would benefit a lot for the HUMSS student`s despite of

having poor internet connectivity

Based on the results of the conducted questionnaires, the top 3 factors are printed modular which

is the student`s prefer for learning, using mobile hotspot as a substitute internet when poor

internet connectivity occurs which is very convenient to the students to cope with the situation

for the meantime, alternative projects and activities which the teachers can give for the students

to recover from their academic performance.

2. The effects to the Humanities and Social Sciences Students when poor internet connectivity

occurs

According to the researchers' findings, the item that ranks top is the item that claims I can't do

my homework, which has an average weighted mean of 3.73, implying that internet connectivity

is a sea of information. 65 percent of students use the internet for schoolwork, including

completing research, submitting assignments, emailing teachers, and communicating with

classmates. The item that received the lowest rating was the one that stated, "It lessens my

inquisitive thinking to learn something new," which had a weighted average of 3.4. In addition,

all of the participants give a descriptive equivalent of agree to all the factors.

3. Effects of poor Internet Connectivity that affects the Academic Performance of HUMSS

Students
The item that indicates I can't relate to the discussions has the highest average weighted mean of

3.8 out of the 5 statements supplied to the participants by the researchers. While the item stating

that I got low performance on our recitation and have an average weighted mean of 3.4 rated

lowest. In conclusion, all of the participants agree with the questionnaire's statements.

4.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The researchers recommend the following to students, teachers, parents, curriculum planners,

and other researchers:

For the teachers, they should assist in promoting the project so that students can become more

globally competitive. It's because the internet is both a tool for communicating and a tool for

learning.

For the students, they should use the internet sensibly and solely for educational purposes.

Because the internet can be used to achieve academic success.

For the future researchers, they should expand on the consequences of lack of internet access on

academic performance of HUMSS students at Angeles City National Trade School, but cite the

current research's legal owner.