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Republic of the Philippines


Gerona Junior College Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING,
AND MATHEMATICS
Poblacion 3, Gerona, Tarlac
Tel No. 931-3673; Phone No. 0909-0690082; Website: www.gjc.edu.ph

APPROVAL SHEET

This research of Tristan James R. Salvdor titled “THE PREVALENT IMPACTS OF


MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION ON THE ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCES OF GRADE 11 STUDENTS OF GERONA JUNIOR
COLLEGE INC.” which is prepared and submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the applied subject in Senior High School – Practical Research 1, is
hereby accepted.

REY MARK ESTEBAN, BACSA


Research Teacher

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the


Academic Strand Applied Subject – Practical Research 1.

MARIA ZITA P. GUERRERO


Principal, Gerona Junior College Inc.
Date: _____________
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THE PREVALENT IMPACTS OF MISINFORMATION AND


DISINFORMATION ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES OF GRADE 11
STUDENTS OF GERONA JUNIOR COLLEGE INC.

A Research Study Submitted to


the Faculty of the Gerona Junior College
Senior High School Department
Gerona Junior College Inc.
Gerona, Tarlac

In Partial Fulfilment of
the Requirements for the Practical Research 1
of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

By:

TRISTAN JAMES R SALVADOR


May 2023
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All Rights Reserved.


Copyrighted 2023
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ABSTRACT

Title: PREVALENT IMPACTS OF MISINFORMATION AND


DISINFORMATION ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES OF
GRADE 11 STUDENTS OF GERONA JUNIOR COLLEGE INC.

Researcher: Tristan James R. Salvador

Track: Academic

Strand: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

School: Gerona Junior College Inc., Gerona, Tarlac

This study examined the prevalent impacts of misinformation and disinformation

on academic performances of grade 11 students of Gerona Junior College. This study

identified the prevalent impacts of misinformation and disinformation to academic

performance of the students’ The participants were selected using purposive sampling.

The descriptive phenomenological qualitative research design was used. Braun and

Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis (TA) was used to identify prevalent impacts of

misinformation and disinformation to academic performance of the students.

The study found that misinformation and disinformation have a detrimental

impact on academic progress, leading to confusion and hindering the acquisition of

accurate knowledge among participants. It emphasizes the importance of developing

critical thinking and fact-checking skills to address this issue. The study reveals the

consequences of misinformation and disinformation include lower grades, poor academic

performance, and even academic failure. Social media platforms are particularly

susceptible to the spread of misinformation, which further compromises the accuracy of

information available to students. Strengthening media literacy education is


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recommended to empower students in evaluating and navigating online information.

Future research should focus on


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implementing strategies to correct and prevent the negative impacts of misinformation


and disinformation in education, allowing grade 11 students to succeed academically and
develop critical thinking skills.
Keywords: impact of misinformation and disinformation, misinformation,

disinformation, academic performance, Academic progress


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

           The researcher gratefully acknowledges all those who had extended their time,

effort, most valuable guidance, encouragement, and assistance that contributed to

realizing this research work.

To his alma mater, the Gerona Junior College, Inc., for providing the researcher

this opportunity to experience conducting a qualitative research under this applied subject

Practical Research 1.

To Ms. Maria Zita Perez-Guerrero, principal of Gerona Junior College, Inc., for

permitting the researcher to conduct the study at Gerona Junior College, Inc.

To Sir Rey Mark E. Bacsa, his Practical Research 1 teacher, for his ineffable

concern, love, motivation, encouragement, and valuable support in sharing her expertise

in research and for being his English critic.

To Andrei John Salvador and Emmanuelle Melocotones, for sharing their time

and expertise to improve further the research paper; they are also his academic, for

always challenging his ideas to their limit and exhausting every idea to improve the

research paper.

To all the Grades 11 Students of Gerona Junior College Inc., who patiently

provided the data needed in his study.

To his friend, Aspiras Alain Paul, Willersdorf Stephen Jack and Capitulo

Jope for their assistance and incomparable support in aiding him throughout the paper's
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accomplishment, for his encouragement, overwhelming support, and for helping the

researcher not give up on his goals in life.


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To his parents, Angelo T Salvador, and Lily Rose R Salvador, for always

reminding him to take a rest during sleepless nights and for their unending love, support,

and guidance to achieve this dream.

Above all, to Almighty God, the researcher's greatest provider of knowledge and

skills, who makes all things possible, and the One Who provides the researcher's spiritual

strength and wisdom.


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DEDICATION

This research undertaking is wholeheartedly dedicated to my

beloved parents who have been my source of inspiration and the

ones who gave me strength when I thought of giving up, who

continually provide their moral, spiritual, and emotional support.

I would also like to express my gratitude to my research teacher,

Rey Mark Bacsa, who has provided invaluable support and

encouragement during this research journey. I am also grateful to

the participants who have generously shared their time and

experiences to make this study

To our Almighty God, my source of everything….

- Tristan
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL SHEET ….….……………………………………………………………i


TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………………………………. ii
ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………………. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ………………………………………….….……………vi
DEDICATION.……………………………………………………………….................viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………………….ix
LIST OF FIGURES ...………………………………………………………………...xi

Chapter

Page
I THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Background of the Study …..........................................................................1
Statement of the Problem ..............................................................................3
Significance of the Study ..............................................................................4
Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................5

II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND RELATED STUDIES

Foreign Literature ...............................................................................6


Local Literature ………..................................................................8
Foreign Studies ...............................................................................11
Local Studies
………............................................................................13
Synthesis …………………………………………………15
Conceptual Framework …………………………………………………17
Definition of Terms …………………………………………………18

III METHODS OF STUDY AND SOURCES OF DATA


Research Design .........................................................................................21
Locale of the Study .........................................................................................22
Sampling Design .........................................................................................23
Participants ………………………………………………………………….23
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Research Instruments ..........................................................................................24


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Data Gathering Procedure ...............................................................................24


Data Analysis .......................................................................................................26
Role of the Researcher ……………………………………………………
28
Ethical Considerations
...........................................................................................29

III PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA


Results ......................................................................................................30
Theme 1: Distorted
Knowledge…………………………………………..31
Theme 2: Academic Failure………………………………………………
31
Theme 3: Social media Platforms…………………………………………
32
Theme 4: Social Media Sites
………………………………………….33

Discussion ...............................................................................................34

IV SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS


Summary of the Findings .………………………………………………….40
Limitations of the Study …………………………………...…...
………40
Conclusions ......................................................................................................41
Recommendations .................................................................................................43

REFERENCES ......................................................................................................45

APPENDICES ……………………………………………….……………….48

A Letter to Conduct the Study ………………………….……….………49


B Data Gathering tool: 2. Questionnaire .…….…………….…. 50
C Questionnaire Transcript with Codes ……………………………….52
D Actual Responses of the Participants
in Questionnaire No. 1 ………………………………………….55
E Actual Responses of the Participants
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in Questionnaire No. 2 .…………………………………………56


F Actual Responses of the Participants
in Questionnaire No. 3 .…………………………………………57

BIONOTE ………………………………………………………………………….59
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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page
1 Paradigm of the Study .............................................................................18
2 Thematic Map .........................................................................................34
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Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Background of the Study

Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information that is unintentionally

spread, while disinformation refers to false or inaccurate information that is intentionally

spread to deceive people American Psychological Association (2021). With the

advancement of technology today information and data are being gathered online.

Misinformation and disinformation have become prevalent Grade 11 Students are more

exposed to it because they are still developing their critical thinking and skills

determining the validity of an information.

The problem of misinformation and disinformation occurring among student’s is

an urgent problem that has a serious impact on academic performance and critical

thinking among students. Students are more exposed to it because they’re still developing

their critical thinking and skills determining the validity of an information. The

prevalence of social media platforms and the internet has fueled the spread of inaccurate

information, leading to confusion, and misunderstanding among students, lack of trust in

reliable sources and prejudice. Therefore, research is needed to address this issue and

develop effective strategies to promote media literacy and critical thinking in students. 

Misinformation can spread rapidly through social media and other online

platforms, and it can have serious consequences for individuals and society. For example,

it can shape public opinion on important issues, erode trust in institutions, and even put

people's health and safety at risk University of Oxford, (2021).


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By studying misinformation, researchers can identify the sources and types of false

information, as well as the factors that make it more likely to spread. This can help us

develop effective strategies to counteract misinformation and prevent it from spreading in

the first place.

The study explores the prevalence and impact of misinformation and

disinformation in the Philippines. Based on the findings, the spread of misinformation

and disinformation can affect various aspects of Philippine society, including political

participation, public health, and education. Specifically, misinformation and

disinformation can negatively affect the academic performance of students in the

Philippines. The negative impact of misinformation and disinformation on education in

the Philippines highlights the need for further research and solutions to address the issue

Siar(2021).

If students are exposed to misinformation and disinformation, it could negatively

impact their academic performances, critical thinking skills, and ability to make informed

decisions. This could potentially hinder their future opportunities and success in higher

education or the workforce.

Based on my observation grade 11 students are mostly the ones who are exposed

to the misinformation and disinformation because they are still developing their critical

thinking skills and skills in determining information thus this study must be conducted to

help students to know the impact and how they can develop their critical thinking skills

more.

Thus, this study focuses on the prevalent impacts of misinformation and

disinformation on grade 11 student’s academic performance of GJC Inc. It also aims to


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identify prevalent impacts of misinformation and disinformation to academic

performance of the students, the common online sites, or social media outlets that

students encounter misinformation and disinformation, and to address the impacts of

misinformation and disinformation.

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence impact of misinformation

and disinformation on academic performance of grade 11 students of Gerona Junior

College Inc.

             Specifically, this study aims to answer the following:

1. What are the prevalent impacts of misinformation and disinformation to academic

performance of the students?

2. What are the common online sites or social media outlets that students encounter

misinformation and disinformation?

3. What are the recommendations that can be made to address the impacts of

misinformation and disinformation?

4. Based on the findings, what future studies can be made on the impacts of

misinformation and disinformation?

Significance of the Study

 This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the prevalent

impact of misinformation and disinformation on grade 11 student’s academic


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performance of GJC Inc, and its relevance in the fields of media and information

literacy. 
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The findings of this study would be of great value to the following: 

 The students will benefit from learning strategies to identify and avoid false or

misleading information, as well as gaining a better understanding of how misinformation

and disinformation can impact their academic performance.

The teachers will gain insights into effective approaches to educate and guide

students on media literacy and critical thinking skills, which can enhance their students'

academic success.

This study will be beneficial to the School Administration. It can help the

development of effective policies and interventions to minimize the spread and impact of

misinformation and disinformation in the academic setting, promoting a positive learning

environment.

The parents will benefit from Learning about the possible effects of false

information on children's academic performance and general wellbeing as well as

acquiring ways to assist their kids in navigating the information landscape.

For the future researchers, the findings of this study may serve as a basis for

additional research and is suitable for use as related literature. Its findings and increase

understanding on this significant topic. By expanding on this study's findings and

examining different facets of the relationship between misinformation and academic

outcomes among grade 11 high school students.


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Scope and Delimitations

The study will focus and be limited only to describing the the prevalence impact

of misinformation and disinformation on grade 11 student’s academic performance of

GJC Inc., identifying the prevalent impacts of misinformation and disinformation to

academic performance of the students, the common online sites, or social media outlets

that students encounter misinformation and disinformation, and to address the impacts of

misinformation and disinformation.

The study begins during the second semester of the school year 2022-2023 until

the end of the semester. Meanwhile, the prevalent impact of misinformation and

disinformation on grade 11 students should be within the school years 2021-2022 and

2022-2023.

The researcher will include fifteen (15) of the grade 11 students who experienced

the prevalent impact of misinformation and disinformation to academic performance. The

participants will be purposely chosen by the researcher.

The researcher will also employ the descriptive phenomenological research

design interview questionnaire to ask the experience of the participants on the prevalent

impact of misinformation and disinformation to academic performance. The research will

also employ the descriptive phenomenological qualitative research design and focus

group to understand and describe the rich experiences of the participants.


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Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature and Studies


This chapter presents the related literature and studies after the thorough and in

depth search done by the researcher. This will also present the synthesis of the articles

and conceptual framework to fully understand the research to be done. This information

will help to inform the development of effective interventions and strategies to address

this issue and improve the academic outcomes of students.

Related Literature
Foreign
Social media's rapid growth has changed how information is shared, opening up

new channels for the propagation of misinformation. Muhammed and Mathew (2021) did

a thorough analysis of earlier research on the dissemination of false information on social

media, concentrating on the areas of disaster, health, and politics. The writers of the

article "The disaster of misinformation: a review of research in social media" found 28

articles that were pertinent and covered the traits of misinformation, research

methodology, and ideas used to analyze misinformation. To incorporate significant ideas

from earlier studies and to inform measures for preventing the spread of misinformation

on social media, they also suggested an Antecedents-Misinformation-Outcomes

framework. The review by Muhammed and Mathew adds to the growing body of

knowledge in data science and social media and emphasizes the necessity for efficient

tactics to counter false information on these platforms.


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The article by Machete and Turpin (2020) is a comprehensive literature review

that examines the state of knowledge regarding the application of critical thinking to

distinguish between real and false news. Only three of the 22 relevant papers that were

found in the study clearly discussed using critical thinking to spot fake news. Studies on

critical thinking identified it as a necessary ability for spotting fake news and suggested

information literacy be taught in educational settings in order to promote critical thinking.

The article underlines the value of critical thinking and information literacy in assessing

the reliability of internet news and calls for more study in this area.

(Katz et al., 2021) As misinformation and disinformation may contribute to

vaccine hesitancy, this study sought to investigate the COVID-19 vaccination-related

content on TikTok, a well-known social media platform. The study looked at 100 videos

that were popular at the time and had over 35 million views overall. Only a few videos

promoted getting the vaccine, while the rest discouraged it. Videos promoting

vaccination, however, earned more views and likes than those advocating against it. More

than half of the videos that opposed vaccination misrepresented the existence of a vaccine

and frequently depicted a mock adverse reaction. These results imply that anti-

vaccination content on TikTok may hinder campaigns to encourage vaccination uptake,

especially among young users of the platform.

Hameleers, et al (2022) conducted a survey in ten European nations to examine

the connection between attitudes toward misinformation and disinformation in the news

media and media trust and usage trends. The findings showed that perceived

misinformation and disinformation were both linked to a decline in media confidence as


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well as a decline in traditional TV news viewing. The consumption of mainstream

internet news and


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newspapers did not change, though. It has been discovered that people who

perceive misinformation and disinformation more strongly are more likely to read news

on social media and from alternative, non-mainstream sources. For individuals with

higher views of deception, this trend was more obvious. According to the survey, people

who are skeptical of the mainstream media's objectivity and integrity can instead turn to

counterculture publications.

Desai, et al (2022) highlight the potential disadvantages of social media in

spreading misinformation and disinformation related to infectious diseases, with a focus

on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. The

authors note that more than two-thirds of Americans receive their news from social media

outlets, which do not undergo the same review process as academic journals and

professional news organizations. This can lead to inaccurate health information being

presented as fact, posing a threat to public health. The article aims to inform the

infectious diseases community of the dangers of health misinformation and

disinformation in social media and provides tools for identifying and responding to such

misinformation. The authors also propose ethical considerations for social media.

Local

The article "Fake news, its dangers, and how we can fight it" by Siar (2021)

explores the idea of misinformation and disinformation, also referred to as "fake news,"

and how it affects the COVID-19 pandemic response in the Philippines. The essay

examines the factors that lead people to accept and spread false information while

emphasizing the risks associated with it. It also gives policy recommendations on how to
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stop the spread of fake news and insights into the steps taken by the public and

commercial sectors to do so.

In recent years, the dissemination of false information has become a significant

problem, having an impact on society, politics, and democracy as a whole. Quilinguing.

(2019) The article covers how fake news and misinformation affect politics, society, and

democracy in 2019. University of the Philippines (UP) specialists offer their opinions on

the matter. They describe how false information can be used to sway people's opinions

and actions, affect election outcomes, and even inspire violence. The experts also

talk on how individuals, the government, and the media all have a role to play in battling

misinformation. Promoting media literacy, fact-checking, and critical thinking abilities,

they contend, can aid in halting the spread of false information. The article's main point is

the importance of making a concentrated effort to combat the issue of misinformation and

safeguard the legitimacy of democracy.

Lorenzo (2017) The growth of fake news and its impact on society, particularly in

the Philippines, are discussed in the article. The author highlights the growing global use

of social media and the internet, as well as how these platforms have democratized access

to knowledge and information. However, the development of false news has had a

substantial negative influence on the nation due to the lack of rigorous content filtering,

fact-checking, and editing. The article gives examples of how bots that utilize bogus

social media accounts to distribute misleading information have given rise to lynch mobs,

character assassins, and other types of groups. Government officials and bloggers were

invited to testify in Senate hearings on fake news as part of the Philippine government's

response to this crisis. The author comes to the conclusion that as the digital era only
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promises more sophisticated technology, procedures must be put in place to assist

citizens and readers in evaluating the authenticity and integrity of information offered to

them.

Balod and hameleers (2019) This study investigates how Filipino journalists see

their role in countering misinformation and deception in the country's media

environment. The study discovered that the disseminator and watchdog roles are viewed

as more significant, with journalists perceiving themselves as truth seekers and advocates

of society reform, through 16 semi-structured in-depth interviews with journalists.

However, journalists have highlighted a number of obstacles that prevent these duties

from being carried out, such as political pressure, a lack of resources, and technological

difficulties. The increase in false and misleading information is considered as both a

problem and a chance for journalism to develop as a profession and an institution. The

study's conclusions have effects on journalism and democracy more broadly.

Quitzon (2021)The article analyzes how false information spread via social media

could influence the elections in the Philippines in 2022. With over 90% of Filipinos

having access to the internet, it is noted that social media is a vital force in Philippine

society, and Facebook and YouTube are the most popular websites there. Additionally,

the average Filipino internet user spends about four hours per day on social media, and

Facebook has been ingrained in Philippine culture in large part as a result of its efforts to

expand into underdeveloped nations. The article notes that it is incredibly challenging for

Filipinos to fact-check what they see on their Facebook page or in Messenger,

WhatsApp, and Viber discussions due to inconsistent internet access and the rest of the

web being effectively paywalled.


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Related Studies
Foreign
Al Zou'bi (2022) investigated how media literacy and information literacy affect

students' capacity to recognize fake news. One-group experimental design was used in

the investigation, which involved 100 undergraduate Jordanians. Two post-tests, one with

closed-ended questions and the other with open-ended ones, were completed by the

participants. The study discovered that instruction in media and information literacy

improved participants' capacity to spot bogus news. The findings also demonstrated that

students used scientific and well-founded techniques to identify and reject fake news after

taking the MIL course. The results of this study may be helpful in formulating plans to

increase students' media and information literacy in order to stop the spread of fake news.

To better understand how fake news affects journalism and audiovisual

communication students at Carlos III University of Madrid, Herrero Curiel and González

Aldea (2022) undertook a study. 200 students enrolled in the 2019–2020 academic year

were given an online survey, and two focus groups with students pursuing these degrees

were held to get their perspectives on false news in a more qualitative way. The results

revealed that even though nearly three out of four surveyed students claimed to be able to

tell fake news from real news and more than half thought their teachers had given them

the tools to combat misinformation, 97.6% of students still thought it was crucial to

improve media literacy in university classrooms. The study provides valuable insights

into the perceptions of journalism students on fake news and highlights the need to design

strategies to help them avoid the spread of misinformation.


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The study conducted by Del Vicario et al. (2016) focused on the impact of

misinformation and conspiracy theories on the online social media platform Facebook.

The authors found that although both scientific news and conspiracy theories were

consumed similarly by users, the cascade dynamics differed due to selective exposure to

content. This resulted in the formation of homogeneous clusters, also known as "echo

chambers," where each cluster had its own cascade dynamics. The study also introduced

a data-driven percolation model, which showed that homogeneity and polarization were

the main determinants for predicting the size of cascades. Overall, the study highlights

the importance of understanding how misinformation spreads and the role of social media

platforms in shaping public opinion.

Luo, H., Cai, M., & Cui, Y. (2021). discussed the spread of misinformation in

social networks and its potential impact on public safety and social order. The authors

conducted a study using a deep learning method to analyze the content and emotional

features of both true information and misinformation datasets and applied an analytic

network process to analyze the differences in network diffusion characteristics between

them. The findings reveal that the spread of misinformation in social networks is

influenced by content and emotions, which can lead to different outcomes. This study

provides insights into the

spread of misinformation in social networks and contributes to the governance of

misinformation and the maintenance of network order.

Vosoughi et al (2017) a study that examined the dissemination of news articles on

Twitter between 2006 and 2017, misleading news stories had a 70% higher likelihood of

being retweeted than legitimate news items. Additionally, compared to factual news
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items, which only reached 1,000 individuals, the top 1% of bogus news reports reached

up to
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100,000 people. According to the scientists, misleading news articles may be

more likely to be shared on social media because of their novelty and emotional appeal.

These findings underline the need of encouraging media literacy and critical thinking

among social media users as well as the creation of efficient methods for spotting and

discrediting fake information.

Local

The spread of fake news has become a growing concern, affecting individuals and

communities worldwide. Paglinawan (2021) investigated how fake news affects

university students' engagement and disengagement in the Philippines. The study

examined students' perceptions of fake news and how it affected their communication

abilities using quantitative measurements and text mining of student replies. According to

the findings, students commonly use online platforms for communication and

information gathering. They described fake news as mockery with false and falsified

information that misleads and hurts individuals. Students also think that avoiding fake

news will help them become better communicators as they learn how to fact-check

information. The study of the content also uncovered a number of themes about students'

exposure to fake news and its effects on the curriculum.

In the study by Deinla et al. (2022) among college and university students in the

Philippines, the authors look at the connection between political polarization and

susceptibility to false information. According to the study, President Duterte's polarized

followers were more likely than opposition supporters to incorrectly distinguish between

fake and authentic news. The study also identifies some trends, such as the correlation
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between an increase in the self-reported frequency of encountering fake news and

a decrease in the likelihood of correctly identifying fake news, as well as the correlation

between an increase in social media news trust and a decrease in the likelihood of

correctly identifying both real and fake news.

Cabral et al (2016) conducted a study that investigated the effects of social media

on the academic performance of criminology students. 85 students participated in the

research by answering a self-made questionnaire. The study revealed that social media

access through Facebook on cellphones via WiFi connection saved time and facilitated

collaboration with others but did not affect academic performance based on respondents'

profiles. The researchers suggested that schools should monitor the implementation of

cellphone usage policies during classroom discussions, and faculty members should

consult with students regarding their academic performance.

de Guzman, Jr. (2014) conducted a study that looked at the connections between

social media use, academic success, and technology ethical choices made by college

students. The research includes using a self-made questionnaire, the Person's Product

Moment Correlation Coefficient, and Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral growth to

analyze students' profiles, social media usage, academic performance, and technological

ethics choices. The findings showed that most respondents had average academic

performance and moderate smartphone social media usage. The traditional morality stage

was where the students' technological ethics decisions fell, and social media use was

positively connected with age, sex, ethnicity, and parents' educational level. The study

comes to the conclusion that students lack orientation on social media's maximal
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educational and learning benefits, as well as their ethical level in handling

problems and trends that have an impact on their academic performance.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, Jhoselle Tus et al (2021). did a study named

"The Social Media Usage and Its Impact on the Filipino Learners' Academic Performance

Amidst the Online Education" to find out how social media usage affected students'

academic performance. Students from Bulacan, Philippines' Jesus is Lord Colleges

Foundation in psychology participated in the study. The study found that the respondents'

impression of how they used social media strongly impacted their academic achievement,

with an associated likelihood value of 0.05 alpha level of significance, according to the

statistical data. The survey emphasizes how pervasive and inevitable social media use is

among students, as well as how crucial it is to the fabric of their social and cultural lives.

Synthesis

The research focuses on the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation and

its impact on the academic performance of Grade 11 students at GJC. Numerous foreign

studies and literature indicate that misinformation and disinformation are significant

challenges in the current era of social media. For instance, Muhammed and Mathew

(2021) proposed an Antecedents-Misinformation-Outcomes framework to prevent the

spread of false information on social media, while Machete and Turpin (2020)

emphasized the importance of critical thinking and information literacy in evaluating the

reliability of internet news.


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Katz et al. (2021) found that COVID-19 vaccination-related content on TikTok

often misrepresented the existence of a vaccine, which could hinder vaccination

campaigns. Hameleers et al. (2022) discovered that perceived misinformation and

disinformation were linked to a decline in media confidence and an increase in social

media and non-mainstream sources. To combat infectious disease-related misinformation

on social media, Desai et al. (2022) proposed ethical considerations and tools for

identifying and responding to such falsehoods. Siar (2021) and Quilinguing (2019)

highlighted the importance of media literacy, fact-checking, and critical thinking in

combating the spread of false information in the Philippines. Lorenzo (2017) emphasized

the need for procedures to help citizens evaluate information authenticity.

Balod and Hameleers (2019) discovered that Filipino journalists face political

pressure, lack of resources, and technological difficulties in countering misinformation in

the country's media environment. Quitzon (2021) noted the challenges of fact-checking

on social media during elections in the Philippines. Al Zou'bi (2022) found that media

and information literacy instruction improved students' ability to recognize and reject

fake news. Herrero Curiel and González Aldea (2022) revealed the need for improved

media literacy in university classrooms.

Del Vicario et al. (2016) showed how selective exposure to content on social

media can result in the formation of echo chambers. Luo et al. (2021) used deep learning

to analyze the spread of misinformation in social networks, while Vosoughi et al. (2017)

identified the need for media literacy and critical thinking among social media users to

combat the spread of misleading news stories. Paglinawan (2021) found that university

students in the Philippines view fake news as harmful and see fact-checking as crucial.
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Deinla et al. (2022) found that political polarization affects susceptibility to false

information among college and university students in the Philippines.

Cabral et al. (2016) found that social media access did not affect academic

performance among criminology students in the Philippines, and De Guzman Jr. (2014)

showed that social media use was positively correlated with age, sex, ethnicity, and

parents' educational level among college students in the Philippines. Tus et al. (2021)

found that social media usage strongly impacted students' academic achievement during

the COVID-19 epidemic in the Philippines.

Conceptual Framework
The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalent impact of misinformation

and disinformation on grade 11 student’s academic performances of GJC inc.

The researcher will find out the prevalent impact of misinformation and

disinformation on grade 11 student’s academic performances. The researcher will also

explore the common online sites or social media outlets that students encounter

misinformation and disinformation. To gather data, the researcher will conduct the study

through an open-ended questionnaire by surveying chosen participants. (Purposive

sampling).
18

Input
1 prevalent impact of
misinformation and
disinformation to
students

2.common online
sites or social media Process
outlets that students Researcher conducts Output
encounter the study through an Misinformation and
misinformation and open-ended disinformation have
disinformation. questionnaire by an impact to the
surveying chosen students’ academic
3. Recommendations participants. performances.
to address the (Purposive sampling)
impacts of
misinformation and
disinformation

Figure 1: Impact of Misinformation and Disinformation on Grade 11 Students Academic


Performances of GJC Inc

Definition of Terms

To comprehend and better understand this study. The following terms are defined

as the context of this research:

Misinformation. False or inaccurate information that is spread unintentionally.

Disinformation. False information that is spread intentionally to deceive or

manipulate people.
18

Academic performance. The level of achievement in academic studies, typically

measured by grades, test scores, and other indicators of learning.


19

Media literacy. The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a

variety of forms.

Critical thinking skills. The ability to objectively analyze and evaluate

information to make informed judgments or decisions.

Fake news. False information that is presented as if it were true, often designed to

mislead people.

Gerona Junior College Inc. (GJC). A school is an institution for educating

people. This school has a vision and mission to mold and uplift the lives of individuals.

Dissemination of false information: The act of spreading incorrect or misleading

information through various channels, such as social media, with the intent to deceive or

misinform people.

Antecedents-Misinformation-Outcomes framework: A framework that

identifies the factors that lead to the spread of misinformation, the characteristics of

misinformation, and the outcomes of its dissemination, with the aim of developing

effective strategies to counter its impact.

Information literacy: The ability to access, evaluate, and use information

effectively and ethically.

Journalism: The practice of collecting, analyzing, and presenting news and

information through various media channels.


20

Audiovisual communication: The use of audio and visual media, such as

television, film, and digital platforms, to convey information and messages.

Political polarization: The division of a society into distinct and often opposing

political factions or groups, with little or no middle ground or common ground between

them.

Social media: Digital platforms and technologies that enable people to create, share, and
exchange information, ideas, and content with others.
21

Chapter 3

METHODS OF STUDY AND SOURCES OF DATA

This chapter deals with a systematic set of procedures that were followed in the

conduct of the study. It includes the research design, locale of the study, sampling design,

participants, research instruments, data gathering procedure, data analysis, role of the

researcher, and ethical considerations.

Research Design

In this study, the researcher will use descriptive phenomenological qualitative

research design to identify the prevalence impact of misinformation and disinformation

on grade 11 student’s academic performance of gjc inc phenomenological qualitative

research design is an approach to research that seeks to understand the essence or

meaning of a phenomenon from the perspective of those who have experienced it. It

focuses on the subjective experience of individuals and the ways in which they make

sense of their experiences Creswell (2013).

The researcher will also use group focus to collect rich human experiences and

perceptions of a particular group on Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate

information that is unintentionally spread, while disinformation refers to false or

inaccurate information that is intentionally spread to deceive people. With the

advancement of technology today information and data are being gathered online.

Misinformation and disinformation have become prevalent Grade 11 Students are more

exposed to it because
22

they are still developing their critical thinking and skills determining the validity

of an information. Define focus group.

Locale of the Study

Gerona Junior College, Inc, located at Población 3, Gerona, Tarlac is the study

setting where the researcher is currently studying.It is the biggest private school among

the eight government-recognized private institutions in the whole town of Gerona, Tarlac.

It offers both secondary and tertiary education. It is the only Higher Education Institution

in town offering a Bachelor of Elementary and Secondary Education, with English as one

specialization.

The researcher is currently studying as a grade 11 student under Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics strand.

The researcher finds the school suitable for this study because the problem of

misinformation and disinformation occurring among GJC Grade 11 Student’s is an urgent

problem that has a serious impact on academic performance and critical thinking. Grade

11 Students are more exposed to it because they’re still developing their critical thinking

and skills determining the validity of an information The prevalence of social media

platforms and the internet has fueled the spread of inaccurate information, leading to

confusion and misunderstanding among students, lack of trust in reliable sources and

prejudice. Therefore, research is needed to address this issue and develop effective

strategies to promote media literacy and critical thinking in students.


23

Sampling Design

The study will employ the purposive sampling technique in selecting the

participants. Purposive sampling is a non-probability sampling technique used in research

where participants are selected based on specific criteria and the researcher's judgment

about who will provide the most relevant and valuable information for the research

question Creswell (2013). In GJC Inc There are two hundred thirty-five (235) grade 11

students in GJC Inc. The researcher personally asks the population if they have personal

experiences, values, opinion, thoughts, practices, beliefs, perceptions, ideas, insights

and/or knowledge regarding the research topic. Out of two hundred thirty-five (235), the

researcher will purposely choose fifteen (15) grade 11 students who are recruited to be

part of the focus group and be the participants of this study.

Participants

The participants of the study are fifteen (15) Grade 11 students at Gerona Junior

College, Inc. enrolled during the school year 2022-2023 who are under the blending

learning.

The fifteen (15) grade 11 students are chosen to be the participants of the study

because they are still developing their critical thinking and skills determining the validity

of an information.
24

Research Instruments

The researcher will utilize a semi-structured questionnaire to collect qualitative,

open-ended data; to explore and delve deeply on participants’ thoughts, feelings and

beliefs about the prevalent impact of misinformation and disinformation. A semi-

structured interview is a method of data collection in which questions are asked within a

predetermined thematic framework (George 2022). A semi-structured questionnaire is a

research tool made up of a series of questions designed to elicit specific information from

participants.

The research has two (3) predetermined questions regarding the prevalent impacts

of misinformation and disinformation to academic performance of the students and the

common online sites or social media outlets that students encounter misinformation and

disinformation.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researcher employs descriptive phenomenological research with a focus

group. the research design is employed to identify the prevalence impact of

misinformation and disinformation on grade 11 student’s academic performance of gjc

inc

The following procedures are made:

First, the researcher will ask the research teacher to check and validate the

research instrument. The researcher-made questionnaire is submitted for face and content

validity and for checking the alignment of the research questions to the questions in the
24

instrument. Solicited recommendations and insights will be used to improve the

instruments' structure
25

and verify that it answers what it purports to answer. Also, the findings in this

study will be validated to assess the accuracy of the results, as best described by the

researcher and the participants. Second, the researcher will make a schedule for data

gathering, including the coordination with the Grade 11 adviser and orientation with the

participants. Third, before the actual data gathering, the researcher will coordinate first

with the adviser of the participants, for the orientation and discussion of the purpose of

the research, about the questionnaire’s objectives, directions, and mechanics. The

researcher employs purposive sampling teaching in selecting the fifteen (15) students to

be participants in gathering the data. Purposive sampling, also known as judgmental,

selective, or subjective sampling, is a form of non-probability sampling in which

researchers rely on their own judgment when choosing members of the population to

participate in their surveys (Jordan, 2021). Fourth, the researcher will coordinate again

with the participants’ advisers for the smooth and efficient administration of the semi-

structured questionnaire. The researcher utilized an online via online-making test

application or the Google Form as a platform to identify the prevalence impact of

misinformation and disinformation. Fifth, informed consent will also be distributed to the

participants before administering the semi-structured questionnaire. sixth, the research

instrument will be administered to the participants online. They are given a maximum

period of 30 minutes to one (1) hour to answer the questionnaire and will submit after the

given time. seventh, the data gathered will then be interpreted and analyzed.
26

Data Analysis

For the questionnaire results, the researcher will analyze the data using Braun and

Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis (TA). The course of action encompasses transcribing

information, in-depth analysis, and formulating the theme (Howitt & Cramer, 2014). It is

frequently used in analyzing qualitative data, which includes transcribed answers from

the questionnaire. It applies to the data that comprises comprehensive word-based

research instruments, including deliberate answers to the questionnaire. In using thematic

analysis, six steps were classified throughout the process, and there was an unconstrained

manner of going between individual steps (Braun & Clarke, 2006). From these steps, the

researcher identified themes that comprehend what is relevant identify the prevalence

impact of misinformation and disinformation on grade 11 student’s academic

performance of GJC inc.

Step 1: Data Familiarization. This initial step required the researcher to

familiarize the transcribed data thoroughly. Since data collection was done online and

there was no face-to-face interaction between the participants and the researcher, data

familiarization happened through the perusal of the participants’ encoded answers.

Step 2: Coding. The emergence of themes is from providing the codes for each

line in the transcript. In this regard, the researcher was particular in understanding the

data and started to have a visualization in a broader context. It denotes that a broad-

ranging view of the data could lead the coding from the beginning rather than focusing on

a single line of the transcript. Generating a code did not materialize solely from the

gathered data but through merging the researcher's thoughts and perceptions regarding

the data.
27

Step 3: Generating Themes. Through coding, the researcher was able to work on a

systematic way of analyzing the data concerning the research questions. The researcher

collated pertinent data over the potential themes. Refinements were also applied to ensure

a well-defined theme. The themes indicated sequence from the generated codes in the

previous step and perhaps a second stage in analyzing the data. Like the facets of

analyzing qualitative data, disengaging from the process of coding along with the

generation of potential themes was pragmatically unfeasible.

Step 4: Reviewing Formulated meanings. The process of developing a set of

tentative formulated meanings clarified the data. The researcher organized the data

around the formulated meanings, exactly as the data was organized around the coding. It

was a matter of cutting and pasting the material that was organized around the different

coding and reorganizing it around the various themes. With the larger data sets, the

researcher opted to analyze half of the data initially, then refined the analysis based on

how well it handled the remaining data.

Step 5: Defining and Naming Themes. Precision and accuracy were the academic

research watchwords. The researcher was unlikely to be able to define and label the

themes that emerged from their research without being prepared to refine and reconsider

the analysis at all stages. While providing a label to the theme appeared simple, it proved

to be more difficult to define exactly what the theme was. It was likely to continue at this

stage the process of developing sub-themes. The themes eventually became clearer, and

the data which were hard to code yet became understandable considering conceptual

developments during the analysis.


28

Step 6: Writing. This was the detailed description of the stages in the research. In

comparison to other types of research reports, qualitative tends to provide greater detail

on the analysis problems. At this final stage, the researcher refined the analysis by

considering the problems that emerged while writing up. Report writing provided an

additional opportunity to reflect on the researcher’s analysis, data, and data adequacy in

connection to the analysis. The researcher’s final thinking reflects in the report.

This thematic analysis applies to the responses of the Grade 11 students in the

questionnaire about The Prevalence Impact of Misinformation and Disinformation The

objective of the study is aimed, through the information given by the students themselves,

to provide an understanding of how The Prevalence Impact of Misinformation and

Disinformation on Grade 11 Student’s Academic Performance Of GJC Inc , the common

online sites or social media outlets that students encounter misinformation and

disinformation, and to address the impacts of misinformation and disinformation

Role of Researcher

In this qualitative study, the researcher identifies himself/herself as an observer.

The researcher is known to the participants but has limited interaction with them. The

researcher will facilitate the entire data collection and synthesis. The researcher will

outline the questions and guidelines to obtain the needed data for this study. A letter of

approval is given to the principal of the school. Upon approval, the participants are

provided a consent letter to seek their approval to participate in this study. After the

approval of participation and the consent are signed, the researcher conducts an interview

through
29

questionnaire with the participants online. The researcher plays an interviewer

during the individual interviews via Google form.

Additionally, the researcher answers queries for clarification from the participants

After the data gathering, the recorded answers are transcribed and analyzed by the

researcher. The researcher will also encode the data and synthesize the information. In

verifying the findings, the researcher will send synthesized information to the participants

individually to confirm the correctness of information.

Ethical Consideration

Establishing a good relationship between the researcher and participants is

significant in a study. Likewise, having good communication aids in building rapport and

engagement. Before the data gathering procedure, the researcher will send individual

messages through Messenger and email to become more acquainted with them. The goal

was to encourage them to involve themselves and prevent hesitation in partaking in the

study. In this regard, the researcher implied "no harm" and protected the information

given by the teachers throughout the study. Participants are given the right to privacy on

their personal information by giving their approval or withholding their consent to

disclose their information for any purposes. As the researcher attains ethical

responsibility, it also constitutes integrity in research-participants relationships and the

study.
30

Chapter 4

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter is concerned with the presentation, analysis, and interpretation of

data gathered from the participants. The participants’ responses to the questionnaire were

presented in a figure through a thematic presentation. This report presents the findings of

a thematic analysis conducted to understand the prevalent impact of misinformation and

disinformation on the academic performances of the grade 11 students of Gerona Junior

College Inc.

Results
The results of the study generated four themes on the prevalent impact of

misinformation and disinformation. Figure 2 shows the identified themes along with the

corresponding codes using Braun and Clarke thematic analysis. Quotations extracted

from the transcription of the questionnaire with the Grade 11 students are also provided

below.

The first main theme, Distorted knowledge, encapsulates one formulated

meaning: 1) False information creates confusion and alters knowledge. The second main

theme, Academic failure, captured one formulated meaning:1) Misinformation leads to

poor performance and low grades, Third main theme Social media platforms,

encapsulates one formulated meaning 1) Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, lastly

The fourth main themed , Social Media Sites encapsulates one formulated meaning 1)

Unknown websites and Wikipedia spread misinformation.


31

Theme 1: Distorted knowledge

distorted information puts our conceptions of reality and perception to the test. It

draws attention to the ways in which irrational thinking, unreliable reasoning, and false

information can affect our viewpoints This theme pertains to the reported prevalent

impact of misinformation and disinformation by the participants. To excavate this theme

further, the formulated meaning was sorted into the prevalent impact of misinformation

and disinformation to which each belongs.

1.1False information creates confusion and alters knowledge.

Online information is not always trustworthy or accurate. False

information can confuse people and change the knowledge base on a subject,

which can result in erroneous thinking and potentially dangerous behaviour.

Before using information to form conclusions or make decisions, it is critical to be

aware of the information's sources and to confirm their reliability. Student A

reported that this was one of the prevalent impacts of misinformation and

disinformation according to him, “It caused me to put false information in my

output. I do not know if the information I get is false or truthful because false

information can look like truthful information.”

Theme 2: Academic failure

Academic failure is a term used to describe a situation where a student is unable

to achieve the desired level of academic performance despite putting in reasonable effort.

It refers to a condition where a student is unable to meet the academic standards set by
31

their institution or instructors. This theme captured one formulated meaning 1)

Misinformation.
32

leads to poor performance and low grades. To excavate this theme further, the

formulated meaning was sorted into the prevalent impact of misinformation and

disinformation to which each belongs.

2.1Misinformation leads to poor performance and low grades.

Misinformation can significantly affect a student's ability to succeed

academically, resulting in poor outcomes and a lack of academic success. Misinformation

is defined as misleading or faulty information that is disseminated and taken to be true,

often resulting in misunderstanding. In school, false information can come from a variety

of sources, including out-of-date textbooks, unreliable sources, and even instructors who

provide false material. Student b reported that this was one of the prevalent impacts of

misinformation and disinformation according to him, “When I'm researching for my

reports i encountered incorrect information that makes my grade low”.

Theme 3: Social media platforms

Social media platforms are websites or applications that enable users to create and

share content, connect with other users, and participate in social networking social media

platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and many

others. This theme captured one formulated meaning 1) Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and

YouTubeTo excavate this theme further, the formulated meaning was sorted into the

prevalent impact of misinformation and disinformation to which each belongs.


33

3.1 Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube

Social media platforms are common sources of misinformation and

disinformation that students often encounter. The widespread accessibility of social

media has led to an increase in fake news, false information, and inaccurate data, which

can negatively impact academic performance and critical thinking skills. Student a

reported that this was one of the prevalent impacts of misinformation and disinformation

according to him, “I usually encounter misinformation on social media sites like

Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.”.

Theme 4: Social media sites

Social media sites are online platforms that allow people to create, share, and

interact with content such as text, images, and videos. These sites enable individuals to

connect and communicate with others in various ways, including messaging,

commenting, and sharing content. This theme captured one formulated meaning 1)

Unknown websites and Wikipedia spread misinformation. to excavate this theme further,

the formulated meaning was sorted into the prevalent impact of misinformation and

disinformation to which each belongs.

4.1 Unknown websites and Wikipedia spread misinformation.

Social media sites have become a common source of information for students, but

they are also a major platform for the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The

ease of access and the lack of fact-checking make social media sites prone to false

information, which can lead to confusion and wrong ideas among students. Student b
34

reported that this was one of the prevalent impacts of misinformation and

disinformation according to him, “On Wikipedia some of their information are

incorrect.”. Prevalent Impact of


misinformation and
disinformation

Academic failure
Distorted knowledge Social media platforms Social media sites

Misinformation leads Unknown websites


False information to poor performance Facebook, TikTok,
and Wikipedia spread
and low grades. misinformation.
creates confusion and Twitter and
alters knowledge. YouTube

Figure 2. Thematic Map: Prevalent Impact of Misinformation and Disinformation

on Students

Figure 2 illustrates the prevalent impact of misinformation and disinformation

from the questionnaire administered to the 15 participants. The three identified main

themes were: a) Distorted Knowledge, b) Academic failure, and c) Digital

Misinformation

Discussion
The findings of the qualitative research showed how misinformation and

disinformation frequently affect Grade 11 students' academic performance. Students in

grade 11 may experience substantial effects as a result of false and misleading

information. False or inaccurate information is frequently transmitted, which can lead to


34

distorted knowledge, academic failure, and exposure to digital disinformation. Promoting

critical thinking and fact-checking abilities is essential to addressing these problems.


35

Distorted Knowledge

Based on the results The impact of misinformation and disinformation on Grade

11 students resulted in distorted knowledge, which can negatively affect their academic

progress and overall understanding of important concepts. False or misleading

information can lead to incorrect or incomplete knowledge, making it difficult for

students to succeed in coursework and assessments. Misconceptions and biases may

develop,

False information creates confusion and alters knowledge is also found on the

result Online data isn't always reliable or accurate. False information can mislead people

and alter their understanding of a topic, which may lead to risky thinking and conduct. It

is crucial to be aware of the information's sources and to confirm their credibility before

using the information to draw conclusions or make judgments.

This claim was supported by the study conducted by Al Zou'bi (2022) highlights

the importance of media and information literacy in helping individuals recognize and

reject fake news. The findings suggest that without proper training, students may be more

likely to be misled by false information, which could result in distorted knowledge and

potentially negatively impact their academic progress and understanding of important

concepts. In contrast, by improving their media and information literacy skills, students

may be better equipped to critically evaluate sources and identify false information,

reducing the risk of developing misconceptions or biases.

Similar to this, Herrero Curiel and González Aldea's (2022) shows that even

though many journalism and audio-visual communication students assert to be able to


35

distinguish between true and false news, the vast majority still think that enhancing media

literacy is
36

essential. This implies that even people who are aware of the problem to some

extent may still be susceptible to incorrect information and may benefit from additional

education and training to prevent forming false beliefs or misunderstanding crucial ideas.

Academic failure
The rise of misinformation and disinformation in the digital age has created a

growing concern for the educational sector, based on the result The impact of false or

misleading information can have a prevalent effect on their academic progress, leading to

misconceptions, and biases. that result in academic failure for Grade11 students

struggling to succeed in coursework and assessments due to incomplete or incorrect

knowledge. there is a need to understand the extent of the problem and develop effective

strategies to help students combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation to

ensure their academic success.

Misinformation leads to poor performance and low grades is one of the results. A

student's capacities to perform academically can be substantially impacted by

misinformation, which can lead to subpar results and a lack of academic success. The

term "misinformation" refers to false or misleading information that is spread and

believed to be real, frequently leading to misunderstanding. misleading information in the

classroom can come from a variety of sources, including outdated textbooks, dubious

sources, and even instructors who intentionally deliver misleading information.

Paglinawan's (2021) study found that exposure to fake news can affect students'

communication abilities and may even impact the curriculum. This can result in students

having incomplete or incorrect knowledge, which could ultimately lead to poor


37

grades.Also, Deinla et al.'s (2022) study found that political polarization can lead

to susceptibility to false information, and that individuals who are more frequently

exposed to fake news are less likely to correctly identify it. This highlights the

importance of being able to discern credible sources of information, as relying on false or

misleading information can lead to misconceptions and biases, which in turn can impact

academic performance.

These two studies suggest that it is important to address this problem and create

tactics that will assist students stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation. And

misinformation and disinformation have a negative impact on the academics of the

student which supports the claim that misinformation and disinformation can cause

academic failure and lead to a poor and low grade.

Social media platforms

Students frequently encounter false information because of social media

platforms. Because social media is so widely accessible, there is a rise in misleading

information, faulty data, and fake news, which has an adverse effect on academic

performance and critical thinking abilities.

Some of the most prominent social media platforms where students might find

false information and disinformation are Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. On

these sites, a lot of users distribute content without fact-checking or confirming the

reliability of the sources, which promotes the spread of incorrect information. Confusion,

erroneous conceptual comprehension, and eventually subpar academic achievement may


37

come from this. Students must therefore approach information on social media sites

critically and
38

check the credibility of sources before taking it at its value. By doing this,

students can improve their critical thinking abilities and mitigate the detrimental effects

of false and misleading information on their academic achievement.

These claims are supported by Vosoughi et al. (2017), who found that misleading

news stories on Twitter had a 70% higher likelihood of being retweeted compared to

legitimate news items, reaching a larger audience of up to 100,000 people. These findings

underscore the importance of media literacy and critical thinking, particularly for students

who are susceptible to false information on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Twitter,

and YouTube. Students should approach social media critically, verify sources, and

enhance their critical thinking skills to minimize the adverse effects on academic

achievement. Additionally, Tus et al. (2021) discovered that students' perception of social

media usage significantly impacted their academic performance, emphasizing the need to

effectively manage the influence of social media on education.

Social media sites

social media sites provide a vast amount of information, it is crucial to recognize

the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation found on these platforms. Unknown

websites and even well-known platforms like Wikipedia can be sources of inaccurate and

misleading information. Students often encounter false information when relying on

unknown websites or referencing Wikipedia without proper verification.

The accessibility and ease of sharing content on social media sites make it

challenging to ensure the accuracy of information. Users can easily post and share

content
39

without fact-checking or considering the consequences of spreading false

information. This can lead students astray, resulting in confusion and the formation of

incorrect ideas.

This claim is supported by these studies De Guzman, Jr. (2014) highlighted the

prevalence of misinformation on social media platforms, including well-known sites like

Wikipedia. The ease of content sharing makes it challenging to ensure accuracy, leading

students to encounter false information and form incorrect ideas.

de et al. (2016) found that social media access through platforms like Facebook

on cellphones saved time and fostered collaboration but had no significant impact on

academic performance among criminology students. But this highlights that student

should be cautious and critical when using social media, verifying information from

unknown websites or platforms like Wikipedia. Fact-checking and critical evaluation are

essential to avoid confusion. Schools can monitor cellphone usage during classroom

discussions and consult with students about academic performance to mitigate potential

negative effects of social media.


40

CHAPTER 5

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents the summary of the findings, study's limitations and the

conclusions derived from the study's findings. It also provides recommendations that can

be pursued by the institution and by the teachers.

Summary of Findings

1. Misinformation and disinformation cause distorted knowledge, which hinders the

academic progress of the participants.

2. Misinformation and disinformation cause academic failure by affecting the

participant’s academic progress.

3. Misinformation is widespread on social media platforms, which affects the

accuracy of information and leads students to form erroneous ideas.

4. Social media sites provide information, but misinformation is prevalent, leading

to false ideas among students.

5. To address the impacts of misinformation and disinformation, it is recommended

to strengthen media literacy education.

6. Future studies can concentrate on correcting and prevention strategies for the

negative impacts of misinformation and disinformation in education.

Limitations of the study

The study achieved its aim; however, there are still several limitations to note.

First, the study solely focused only on the prevalent impacts of misinformation and
41

disinformation on grade 11 student’s academic performance, to identify prevalent

impacts of misinformation and disinformation to academic performance of the students,

the common online sites, or social media outlets that students encounter misinformation

and address the impacts of misinformation and disinformation. Therefore, future

researchers must excavate the focus further; they may widen the scope to include other

areas of the misinformation and disinformation, such as False News/Fake News,

Clickbait, Rumors & Gossips, Health Misinformation, and Political Misinformation.

Second, the study's

participants are merely Gerona Junior College Incorporated students. Future

researchers may consider doing the study in public schools or other private schools to see

if there is a difference in the findings. Third, the study employed the descriptive

phenomenological qualitative research design. A quantitative, correlation or even

experimentation for a more accurate data may also be explored. Fourth, future researchers

might also consider changing the grade level of the participants; they may examine the

junior high school learners Since the participants in this study are grade 11 students,

getting learners from lower grades might also bring about interesting results.

Conclusions

Based on the indicated findings, the following conclusions were drawn:

1. Misinformation and disinformation cause distorted knowledge, which hinders the

academic progress of the participants. This implies that participants are experiencing

confusion about their knowledge, which in turn affects their academics. This implies the

need for critical thinking and fact-checking skills among participants. Critical thinking is
42

essential in identifying and rejecting false information, while fact-checking verifies the

accuracy of received information. Failure to develop these skills can lead to incorrect or

incomplete understanding of essential concepts and ultimately result in academic failure

for grade 11 students.

2. Misinformation and disinformation cause academic failure by affecting the

participant’s academic progress. This implies that participants experience consequences

such as lower grades, poor academic performance, and academic failure. Therefore, it is a

need for strategies and tactics to combat the spread of misinformation. Failure to combat

it can contribute to misconceptions and biases, which in turn can lead to poor academic

performance and eventual failure. This implies that it is essential to equip grade 11

students with the necessary tools to combat misinformation and ensure academic success.

3.Misinformation is widespread on social media platforms, which affects the accuracy of

information and leads students to form erroneous ideas. This implies that participants

experience misinformation on social media platforms. The widespread presence of

misinformation on these platforms has a significant impact on the accuracy of

information available to students, consequently affecting their academic performance.

4.Social media sites provide information, but misinformation is prevalent, leading to false

ideas among students. This implies that participants on social media sites have a direct

and significant impact on academic performance. With abundant information available on

these platforms, coupled with the dissemination of misinformation, students often

develop false ideas and misconceptions. Consequently, their understanding of academic

concepts becomes distorted, hindering their ability to acquire accurate knowledge and

succeed academically.
43

5. To address the impacts of misinformation and disinformation, it is recommended to

strengthen media literacy education. This implies that by equipping participants with the

necessary skills to critically evaluate and navigate information online, they can develop a

better understanding of academic concepts and make informed decisions. Strengthening

media literacy education will empower students to distinguish between reliable and

unreliable sources, enabling them to succeed academically and contribute positively to

the digital landscape.

6. Future studies can concentrate on correcting and prevention strategies for the negative

impacts of misinformation and disinformation in education. This implies that there is a

need to prioritize research and study the strategies that can be employed to counteract the

negative impacts of misinformation and disinformation in the field of education.

correcting and prevention strategies for the negative impacts of misinformation and

disinformation in education can help Grade 11 students acquire accurate knowledge and

develop critical thinking skills.

Recommendations

This study revealed that students are prone to digital misinformation and

disinformation, leading to a distorted understanding of academic concepts and hindering

their academic progress. and causes academic failure of the gr 11 students. Thus, the

following recommendations are hereby presented.

1. Given the prevalent impacts of misinformation and disinformation on the internet,

which has a negative impact on academic progress, students must prioritize their

critical thinking and fact-checking abilities to identify trustworthy sources of


44

2. information and to fact-check them before depending on them, students may

develop media and information literacy. To prevent the spread of misinformation

and guarantee academic achievement.

3. Based on the impacts of misinformation and disinformation teachers need to

incorporate media and information literacy lessons into their lesson plans so that

students can recognize and reject misleading information. Teachers can also warn

students about the risks of false information to encourage academic success.

4. School administrators must fund training programs and materials for teachers and

students in media and information literacy. This will promote fact-based learning

and ensure that students have the skills to discern credible sources of information

and identify and reject false information.

5. Parents can teach their kids how to think critically by emphasizing the value of

checking the credibility of information sources before relying on them. Parents

can also promote media and information literacy in their homes while also

educating their kids about the risks of digital misinformation.

6. With the revealed results of the study My recommendation for future researchers

would be to investigate the impact of digital misinformation and disinformation

on different aspects of society, including education, politics, and health. Future

studies should aim to explore the most effective ways to combat the spread of

misinformation and promote media and information literacy.


45

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48

APPENDICES
49

Appendix A
LETTER TO CONDUCT THE STUDY

Republic of the Philippines


Gerona Junior College Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND
MATHEMATICS
Poblacion 3, Gerona, Tarlac
Tel No. 931-3673; Phone No. 0909-0690082; Website: www.gjc.edu.ph

April 3, 2023

MARIA ZITA P. GUERRERO


Principal
Gerona Junior College Inc.

Madam:
Good day in the name of our Lord!
Research is indeed a platform of excellence in education. Hence, it crafts the best possible ways
to mold the best future for students.
In line with this, I am currently writing my thesis titled “The Prevalent Impacts of
Misinformation and Disinformation on the Academic Performances of Grade 11 Students of
Gerona Junior College Inc”.as a requirement for the applied subject in senior high school,
Practical Research 1.
May I request your permission to allow me to gather data on the Grade 11 students in your
school.
I am hoping for your kindest and immediate response to this request. Thank you and God bless!
Respectfully yours,
(Sgd.) TRISTAN JAMES R SALVADOR
Researcher
Noted:
(Sgd.) REY MARK E. BACSA
Reacher Teacher
Approved:
(Sgd.) MARIA ZITA P. GUERRERO
Principal
50

Appendix B
DATA GATHERING TOOL: QUESTIONNAIRE

Republic of the Philippines


Gerona Junior College Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING
AND MATHEMATICS
Poblacion 3, Gerona, Tarlac
Tel No. 931-3673; Phone No. 0909-0690082; Website: www.gjc.edu.ph

Name: _____________________________ School: _____________________________


Grade level: _________________________

Directions: Read the questions carefully and answer them comprehensively based on
your experiences, perceptions, feelings, insights, or knowledge in the prevalent impacts
of misinformation and disinformation.
1.As a student, what are the prevalent impacts of misinformation and
disinformation to your academic performance?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. What are the common online sites or social media outlets that you encounter
misinformation and disinformation?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
51

3.How does misinformation and disinformation affect your academic


performance?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for participating. Rest assured that the data and personal information
gathered in this study will remain confidential and will only be used for research
purposes.

--- Nothing Follows ---


52

Appendix C
QUESTIONNAIRE TRANSCRIPT WITH CODES
Q1: As a student Responses
Participants what are the prevalent impacts of misinformation
Codes and disinformation
Themes
to your academic performance?
a 5
it can cause confusion and 5
False Distorted knowledge
errors in work. When relying information
on false or inaccurate creates
information, students can make confusion and
mistakes and put false alters
information in their outputs. It knowledge.
can be difficult to determine the
truthfulness of information
found on the internet, which
can lead to confusion about
what is correct and incorrect
information. This can
negatively impact academic
performance, as the
information presented in class
is often sourced from internet
research.
b 2
I forgot a formula in Misinformation Academic failure
10

chemistry and looked for it leads to poor


online but found the wrong performance and
formula which resulted in a low low grades.
score in the quiz.
When I'm researching for my
reports i encountered incorrect
information that makes my
grade low

8
Misinformation can result in
poor academic performance, as
it can cause confusion and lead
to errors in projects and exams,
resulting in low grades. As a
student, relying on false or
inaccurate information can
greatly impact academic
performance, leading to lower
52

substantial performance.
53

Q2: What are the common online sites or social media outlets that you encounter
misinformation and disinformation?
Participant Responses Codes Themes
s
A 7
Facebook and illegal Facebook,
13

websites are where I often TikTok, Twitter


comeacross and YouTube.
misinformation. Facebook Social Media
is a common platform for Platforms
spreading false information
by self-proclaimed "feeling
journalists" who don't
consider its consequences. .
4
I usually encounter
misinformation on TikTok.
2
Social media platforms,
such as, Instagram, and
YouTube, are some of the
most common places where
misinformation and
disinformation can be
spread.

B 2
On Wikipedia some of 2
Unknown Social Media Sites
their information is websites and
incorrect. Facts coming Wikipedia spread
from unknown or misinformation.
unverified websites like
Wikipedia.
54

Q3: How does misinformation and disinformation affect your academic performance?
Can you give specific examples?
Participant Responses Codes Themes
s
A 5
"Due to relying on unreliable 5
False Distorted
sources and being too quick to information knowledge
believe them, I inadvertently creates
included false information in confusion and
my biology work. Although I alters
sometimes asked my classmates knowledge.
for clarification, their responses
sometimes led to further
confusion and
misunderstandings. As a result,
I made mistakes in completing
tasks assigned by the teacher.
B 4
Misinformation is equal to 10
Academic failure
wrong academic projects or Misinformation
activities resulting in low grades leads to poor
especially when presenting a performance and
topic or working on academic low grades.
projects. And with
misinformation it can affect my
grades. most prominent at
presenting a certain topic.
It gives me a wrong report and
facts in gen math subject which
lead to a lower and not good
result.
6
Misinformation negatively
impacts academic performance
by causing errors, lower grades,
and reliance on incorrect
information during exams and
research. Being misinformed
affects one's mindset and it can
lead to the spread of false
information, impacting
academic performance.
55

Appendix D
ACTUAL RESPONSES OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN QUESTIONNAIRE NO. 1
Question 1: As a student what are the prevalent impacts of misinformation and
disinformation to your academic performance ?
Misinformation greatly affects the information needed for my academics and learning. since
the information is not true or correct it can effectively change the knowledge and
understanding.
As a student, misinformation and disinformation lead to poor academic performance since
all the gathered information that I need is intended to be used for my activities, which
critically affect my academic performance.
We students tend to search the internet whenever we need some information for our reports
or presentations. However, in some cases, hindi natin maiiwasan na makapag gather ng
information na hindi naman factual. We sometimes get wrong information which can cause
confusion kung ano ba talaga yung tama and wrong infos. This can affect our academic
performance because obviously, what we search on the internet is what we present in class.
When I'm researching for my reports i encountered incorrect information that makes my
grade low
a student is relying on false or inaccurate information, it can lead to errors in their work,
which can result in lower grades.
The effect of this is I got the wrong information and then when someone ask or even in the
exam I answered wrong
Low grades
Sometimes misinformations can cause confusion in my work.
Misinformation is equal to low grades because when I am misinformed I will get confused
and get lost and sometimes I don't know what to do
My grades low
One time, I forgot to write down the formula in chemistry that had been discussed. And of
course, I will look for it. Unfortunately, I found the wrong formula on a specific site online,
and that caused a low score in our quiz because I used a different formula
When I am getting misinformed in projects I make the project wrong resulting to low
grades
The impact is that your academic might fall to lower substantial performance
It caused me to put false information in my output. I do not know if the information I get is
false or truthful because false information can look like truthful information.
55

poor performance
56

Appendix F
ACTUAL RESPONSES OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN QUESTIONNAIRE NO. 2
Question 2: What are the common online sites or social media outlets that you
encounter misinformation and disinformation?
Facebook, Google, and TikTok is full of disinformation and misinformation.
Especially now that social media is accessible, it will be full of fake news, false
information, and misinformation.
Mostly, I encounter it on Facebook and some illegal websites.
I think facebook is one of the most common social media outlets out there where we
can encounter misinformation because there are this "feeling journalist" people who
loves to spread fake news without considering the consequences of their actions to the
people who might read it on the internet.
On Wikipedia some of their information are incorrect
Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, are some
of the most common places where misinformation and disinformation can be spread.
Google, Facebook,tiktok
Fb
Facts coming from unknown or unverified website like Wikipedia.
Pinterest,yt,fb,tiktok
Messenger, Facebook and Tiktok
I usually encounter misinformation on social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, and
TikTok.
Messenger fb yt tiktok tweeter instagram pinterest google
Facebook, instagram, and YouTube
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Information I encounter in these outlets are brief and
random. Just showing information with no evidence to back it up. In Google, I seek
information for a topic and may encounter false information.
rappler and facebook
57

Appendix E
ACTUAL RESPONSES OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN QUESTIONNAIRE NO. 3
Question 3: How does misinformation and disinformation affect your academic
performance? Can you give specific examples
Some activities require some research and with misinformation it can affect my grades. most
prominent at presenting a certain topic.
In a way that I thought I gained knowledge about certain things, yet it is not guaranteed and I
might spread false information, which would completely affect my academic performance.
I havent experienced this before but i thinkmisinformation and disinformation can affect a
student's academic performance by having lack of evidence that the information is true. For
example, pedeng i-question ni teacher si student about his/her presentation, the teacher might
ask the student some proofs that the presentation is factual but then, since the presentation
isnt actually true then hindi makakasagot yung student because she failed to provide some
proof. Minsan nga hindi tayo aware na what we read isnt entirely true pala kaya we need to
examine everything we read or watch carefully para ma avoid yung misinformation and
disinformation.
I got a false information on my research that make my grade low due to inaccurate sources
a student is preparing for an exam and relies on incorrect information, they may not perform
as well as they could have if they had accurate information.
To fast to believe and then to fool to informed
Wrong information in biology
It gives me a wrong report and facts in gen math subject which lead to a lower and not good
result.
When the teacher says that we need to do something sometimes I dont understand the
situation and when I ask my classmates they give the wrong idea leading to me doing the
wrong thing.
Being misinformed of something affected my academic performance because my mind and
mindset is already at playing games
I have experienced negative impacts on my academic performance as I believed false
information and used it in my work, leading to errors and lower grades.
Misinformation is equal to wrong academic projects or activities resulting to low grades
It affected my academic performance due to a misinformation given by a classmate on the
exam reviewer
It led me to put false information in my academic outputs such as presentations and online
57

outputs.
unreliable sources in my own research
58

BIONOTE

Tristan James R. Salvador is currently pursuing the Science, Technology,


Engineering and Mathematic strand as a grade 11 student at Gerona Junior College
Incorporated.
Grade 11 students are vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation piqued his
curiosity. Hence, he is in the process of completing the study titled “The Prevalent
Impacts of Misinformation and Disinformation on the Academic Performances of Grade
11 Students of Gerona Junior College Inc.” which aims to identify prevalent impacts of
misinformation and disinformation to academic performance of the students, the common
online sites, or social media outlets that students encounter misinformation and
disinformation, and to address the impacts of misinformation and disinformation.

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