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CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

Introduction

As we all know the modern technology is simply an advancement of old

technology which represents today’s generation. These devices include video games,

television, mobile and phone apps, computers, tablets, and PSP games. Nowadays, using

electronic gadgets plays a big role in every people’s lives, especially in the lives of the

millennial. Since there is a lot of new invention and growing innovations of electronic

gadgets, teenagers tend to be active consumers because of its rapid development that

mostly provide for their entertainment. This is the main reason why many electronic

products are targeted to the youth market.

Besides its useful purposes, every gadget has its own positive and also negative

effects to its users. Most of the teenagers are using gadgets for educational purposes and

also for entertainment but it depends to the users on how the gadgets and applications

may affect their cognitive and learning skills. They tend to spend most of their time using

electronic gadgets to play, watch, and entertain themselves rather than focusing on their

studies, that is why these gadgets can also be the reason of the addiction of some

teenagers because of the different applications that can be installed in their electronic

gadgets and makes their lives easier and more entertaining.

This study aims to raise awareness regarding the positive and negative

effects of electronic gadgets on the academic performance of the students. Furthermore, a

self-devise interview guide questionnaire will be distributed to selected Grade 11

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HUMSS students of Sacred Heart College to know their perception regarding the effects

of electronic gadgets.

Study conducted by Marco, 2004 revealed that the need to be constantly

accessible and connected with friends and colleagues was cited as the main reason they

couldn’t manage without a mobile phone in a day. Mobile phones have become an almost

essential part of every persons daily lives since their rapid growth in popularity.A

nationwide survey shows that, in 2010 shows that mobile phones are the most necessary

medium of communication for teenagers, it has virtually affected the society’s

accessibility, security, safety and coordination of business and social activities and has

hence become a part of culture of the whole world (Rabui et. al.,2016).

A research published in the National Communication Association’s journal in

2015, study has shown that students who text in class generally recall less about the

classroom content than those who do not. Similarly, those who used mobile devices in

class took notes of poorer quality, detracting from another cognitive process by which

students integrate new material. According to the study by Kuzenneckoff, et.al., that the

frequency of messaging using mobile phone was found to be a factor in the interruption

of learning.

According to Philstar (2019), DepEd said that it has taken into the consideration

various research on technology use in schools prior to the implementation of its

computerization program. The department also recognizes the dangers of technological

devices to the academic achievement of learners when these are used inappropriately.
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Tradition of Mendoza (2012), pointed out that students nowadays are spent much

time on electronic gadget which effect the study habits and academic performance. Due

to the upgrade of these gadgets in entertainment, students most likely focus on what

entertains them than on what may help them in their studies or for the good of their

knowledge.

According to Kahari (2013), cellphone is one of the most used tool for study as

most of the students used their phones for study purposes. In essence, the study revealed

that cellphones are beneficial for learning but learners have a tendency to abuse them.

As presented by Smith (2011), there are 87% of smart phone owners access the

internet or email on their handheld, including two-thirds (68%) who do so on typical

day, Also 25% of smart phone owners say that they mostly go online using their phone,

rather that with a PC. This supports our assumption that smart phones replaced PCs as a

mean of access to the internet.

According to Lanigan, et al. (2009), her research presented that from a sample 97

internet user majority of participants (89%) perceived that PC impacted their family

relations. Of those participants, 45% cited a mostly positive impact; 24% a mixed impact

and 20% a mostly negative impact.

A study published in the National Communication Association Journal (2015)

research has shown that students who text in class generally recall less about the

classroom content than those who do not. Similarly, those who use electronic gadgets in

class took notes of poorer quality, detracting from another cognitive process by which

students integrates new material. It is also found in the study by Kuzennekoff.et. Al., that
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