CANDIDATE NAME:

CANDIDATE NUMBER:

CENTRE NAME: ST. STEPHEN’S COLLEGE

CENTRE NUMBER: 160076

YEAR OF EXAMINATION:

TEACHER:

SUBJECT:

TOPIC:

TERRITORY: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page Number

SECTION 1

Background……………………………………………………………………............ 3
Aims and Objectives of Study………………………………………………………... 4
Literature Review……………………………………………………………………… 5

SECTION 2

The Research Design……………………………………………………………………

The Sociological Perspective……………………………………………………………
The Sample………………………………………………………………………………
Data Collection Instruments……………………………………………………………..

SECTION 3

Presentation of Findings………………………………………………………………….
Analysis of Findings………………………………………………………………………

SECTION 4

Discussion of Findings and Conclusion…………………………………………………..

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………...
 BACKGROUND

In 1958, Bishops High School incorporated a private school started by Reverend Bindley Taylor,

leading to St Stephen’s College being established and then gaining recognition from the Ministry of

Education, evolving into a distinguished Anglican institution. The issue of COVID-19 necessitated a

shift to online learning, subsequently altering students’ social media habits and reliance. The Ministry

of Education has began to allow the use of and provide laptops to students in need as an attempt to

introduce technology into the classroom, as well as a greater availability of internet networks in order

to continue learning. The heightened reliance on digital platforms prompted concerns about its impact

on academic performance. The researchers aim to investigate social media’s impact on academic

performance at St. Stephen’s College.

\
 DEFINITION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

Research Problem- To what extent has the use of social media affected the academic

performance at the form 5 level of St. Stephen’s College?

Aim- To determine the impact of social media usage on students’ academic performance at

St. Stephen’s College

Objectives

1. To examine whether specific social media activities have any impact on academic

outcomes.

2. To determine the potential influence of social media use on academic performance.

3. To investigate whether social media serves as a potential distraction during classes or

study sessions.

4. To explore whether students' social media choices and study habits are influenced by
their peers, and how this influence may impact academic performance.
5. To recommend/suggest methods through which the administration can assist in

making students aware of the possible risks or benefits to social media use.

6. To ascertain what positive impact social media had on a student's academic

performance.
 LITERATURE REVIEW

This research aims to determine how social media use affects the academic

performance of students. Many different points of views on this were highlighted in the

reviewed articles.

An article by Lydia Schapiro (2021) discusses the addictive nature of social media and its

potential impact on academic performance. It highlights studies indicating that social media

addiction is linked to lower academic performance. However, it acknowledges that social

media isn't inherently harmful and can benefit academic performance when used for school-

related matters or collaborative learning.

In the study conducted by Lei Zhao in 2021, an in-depth exploration was undertaken to

understand the intricate relationship between social media addiction and its impact on

academic performance. The findings of the research underscored a significant connection

between social media addiction and academic outcomes, with stress emerging as a pivotal

mediating factor in this association. According to the article, the presence of social media

addiction was identified as a key stress-inducing element, thereby influencing academic

performance. The study suggests that the adverse effects on stress levels play a crucial role in

shaping the overall impact of social media addiction on students' academic performance.

Additionally, Yan Xu et al. (2022) state that boredom proneness during the lockdown period

caused the improper use of social media, which may have affected the psychological health

of individuals, especially those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s. They also state

that excessive use of social media can result in overload and classify it into three main types;

information overload, communication overload, and system feature overload. Furthermore,

 they state that the duration of usage of social media apps negatively affected students’

academic performance.

Furthermore, Sourabh Sharma et al. (2022) research investigates the impact of social media

on the academic performance of students, considering extraversion and introversion

personalities, education levels, and gender. The study, conducted in the Indian context,

involved 408 students. The research emphasizes the importance of personality traits,

education levels, and gender in understanding academic performance influenced by social

media. It provides insights into the role of social media in academics, including both

advantages and disadvantages. The study further delves into the personality traits of

extraversion and introversion, focusing on their significance in academic performance. The

research also highlights the prevalence of social media use among different age groups and its

impact on various aspects of student life.

In summary, the articles underscore the intricate relationship between social media use and

academic performance, collectively, these articles contribute to a nuanced understanding of

how social media engagement shapes the educational landscape, recognizing both positive

and negative implications for students.