INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NETWORK ON ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENT OF IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Electronic communication has become an integral part of our global society. Presently, information is at the doormat of everybody because the world is in the era of information technology. This cannot be compared to few decades back when it takes weeks for one to communicate through letter writing to a beloved one within in or outside the country. In this technological era, information is no longer left for only a few privileged people who can afford the use of landline telephone in offices and homes. Even the people in the remotest village in Nigeria and elsewhere can access information through the cell phone, available internet and social networking sites.Social networking is a means of communication through which tools like wall posts, status updates, activity feeds, thumbs ups and profiles are used and perhaps characterized online communications namely face book, Myspace Metlog,flicker and twitter (Akaneme, Ibenegbu &Nwosu, 2013). Also, Mashable (2015)opined that social networking service is an online platform or site that focuses on facilitating the social relations among people who, for example, share interests,activities, backgrounds or real life.In the opinion of Ferguson (2007), social networking is online destination which focuses on connecting people they already know and those they do not know. Similarly, Abd-Rahman (2013) described social networking as the use of online sites (social networking sites) for people to get to know new people, share their profiles, trace their old friends, share pictures, videos, publish upcoming events of their societies, and counties.
In operational terms, social networking is a platform through which individuals’ interest, profiles, pictures, activities, events or news and academic issues are shared and communicated so as to maintain and adopt substantial balance between their academic requirement and individual interest. Social networking as advent of era of information is the use of dedicated websites which enable social interaction and applications to interact with other users or find people with similar interest to their own.

Presently, social networking as a new development has been described as a stage for facilitation and development of adolescents’ social adaptation(Subrahmanyam & Green-Field, 2008; Zhao, Grasmuck & Martin, 2008). Also,people use social networking to share their feeling and disposition toindividualsof their networking (Young, 2011). It is a platform through which people communicate and disclose their personal thoughts, feelings and life events (Zhao,Grasmuck & Martin, 2008). Operationally, social networking, therefore, implyplat form or online media where individual privately unleash their identities,problems and views to life for others in the same network to comment. Social network platform includes 2go, facebook, whatsapp, twitter, instagram, google, tomention a few.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Social networking as advent of era of information is the use of dedicated websites whichenable social interaction and applications to interact with other users or findpeople with similar interest to their own.
Presently, social networking as a new development has been described as astage for facilitation and development of adolescents’ social adaptation(Subrahmanyam & Green-Field, 2008; Zhao, Grasmuck & Martin, 2008). Also,people use social networking to share their feeling and disposition toindividualsof their networking (Young, 2011). It is on this background the researcher wants to investigate the influence of social network on academic adjustment of in school adolescent

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1. To ascertain whether Social network effect academic performance of student

2. To ascertain the relationship between social network and academic performance of students

3. To ascertain whether only social network is the cause of poor academic performance of students

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H0: Social network does not affect academic performance of student

H1: Social network affect academic performance of student

H02: There is no relationship between social network and academic performance of students

H2: There is relationship between social network and academic performance of students

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be of significance to students of different higher of learning as it would enlighten them and the entire nation. Finally, this study will also help to serve as literature (reference source) to the public, individuals and corporate bodies into what to carry out on further research on social network on academic adjustment of in school adolescent among Nigeria’s university students.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers influence of social network on academic adjustment of in school adolescent. study;

a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

INFLUENCE: The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

SOCIAL NETWORK: A social network is a social structure made up of a set of social actors, sets of dyadic ties, and other social interactions between actors.

ACADEMIC: Academic achievement or (academic) performance is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study