RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF SULE LAMIDO UNIVERSITY KAFIN HAUSA, JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social media usage and academic performance of undergraduate students of Sule Lamido University Kafin Hausa. The study was guided by sixteen objectives with three research questions and thirteen hypotheses. The study adopted Social Learning Theory by Albert Bandura (1977) and Student Involvement Theory by Alexander W. Astin (1984). The study adopted correlation and survey research designs. The target population was 5,321 undergraduate students of Sule Lamido University, Damaturu. The sample size was 273 participants. Instrument used to collect data for this study was the Social Media Usage Questionnaire (SMUQ). The Questionnaire items was validated by seven validators. Expert judgment method was used to calculate the validity index and the validity index was found 0.7. Cronbach's Alpha was used to determine the reliability coefficient of the questionnaire and items was found to be reliable at 0.86. The data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, Pearson Product Moment Coefficient (PPMC) and independent samples t-test. Findings showed that: WhatsApp is the most commonly use social media site followed by Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Wikipedia. Level of students' usage to social media types was rarely. Undergraduate students of Sule Lamido University use to spend 0-1 hour in a day on social media sites. Some of the reasons for students' usage of social media sites are; learning purpose, communication and interaction, socialisation and leisure; business, politics and regious activities. There was a significant relationship between the use of Facebook, WhatsApp and academic performance of students. It was also revealed that there was no significant relationship between the use of Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Wikipedia and academic performance of students. There was a significant gender difference in the use of Facebook, WhatsApp and academic performance of students. There was no significant gender difference in the use of Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Wikipedia and academic performance of students. The study concludes that, the lecturers, school guidance counselor and parents in particular should collaborate and monitor the behaviour of students towards the use of social media sites. The study recommends the introduction of guidance and counselling specifically meant for social media affairs at the University to help in the mitigation of the social media issues that influence students learning.