VALUE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN IMPROVING SOCIALIZATION AMONG SOCIAL STUDIES STUDENTS IN ACADEMIES OF EDUCATION IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study investigated the Efficacy of Social Media in enhancing Socialization among Social Studies Students in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State. Three objectives, three research questions and three Null-hypotheses were raised for the study. The research design for this study was survey research method. The population of the study was two thousand three hundred and fifty students (2350) undergoing the NCE Social Studies Programme in two Colleges of Education. Proportionate random sample technique was used to select the three hundred and thirty three (333) students of the study as determined by Research Advisors Table (2006). The Students Socialization through Social Media Questionnaire (SSSMQ) was the instrument used to collect data. The instrument was validated by supervisors and experts. The reliability of the instrument was established through a pilot test and confirmed by the use of Cronbach Alpha to give a reliability index of 0.80. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions respectively, while t-test independent sample was used to test all null hypotheses at a significant level of 0.05. The result indicated that the three hypotheses raised were retained. The result indicated that Social Media has significant influence on Social Studies Students in enhancing socialization from the analyzed data of the respondents. The study recommended that, Government, school administrators, teachers and parents have to employ a collaborative effort in helping student on how to use Social Media properly in enhancing socialization.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The world is today celebrating the improvements in communication technology which has broadened the scope of communication through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Modern Technology in communication no doubt has turned the entire world into a “Global village”. But as it is, technology like two sides of a coin, bring with it both negative and positive sides. It helps people to be better informed, enlightened, and keeping abreast with developments in the world. (Asemah and Edegoh, 2012). Technology exposes mankind to a better way of doing things. Social networking sites like: Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, Facebook Messenger, Blackberry Messenger (BBM), Whatsapp messenger, 2go messenger, Youtube, Instagram, Badoo, Google talk, and Google Messenger are contributors to the socialization process. These networking sites are used by most people to interact with old and new friends, physical or internet friends (Asemah and Edegoh, 2012).
The world has been changed rapidly by the evolution in technology, and has resulted into the use of technology as the best medium to explore the wide area of knowledge. The evolution of internet technology has led to its use as the best medium for communication. Whereby, two-third of the world‟s internet population visits social networking or blogging sites, thus serving as a communication and connection tool. Social Networking Sites (SNSs) are online Communities of Internet users who want to communicate with other users about areas of mutual interest, whether from a personal, business or academic perspective (William, Boyd, Densten, Chin, Diamond & Morgenthaler 2009). The millions of social networking sites have transformed the thought of global village into a reality whereby billions of people communicate through social networking sites. Numerous benefits have been obtained through distant communication through the use of social networking sites. With so many social networking sites displayed on the internet, students are tempted to abandon their homework and reading times in preference for chatting online with friends. Many students are now addicted to the online rave of the moment, with Facebook, Twitter etc. Today most youths and students possess Facebook accounts. The reason most of them perform badly in school might not be far- fetched. While many minds might be quick to blame the poor quality of teachers, they might have to think even harder, if they have not heard of the Facebook frenzy
(Oche & Aminu .2010). Olubiyi (2012) noted that these days‟ students are so engrossed in the social media that they are almost 24 hours online.
Even in the classrooms and lecture theatres, it has been observed that some students are always busy pinging, 2going or Facebooking, while lectures are on. Times that ought be channeled towards learning, academic research and innovating have been crushed by the passion for meeting new friends online, and most times busy discussing trivial issues.
Hence, most students suffer setbacks as a result of distraction from the social media. As it was observed by Obi, Bulus, Adamu and Sala‟at (2012), the use of these sites, also, affects students‟ use of English and grammar. The students are used to short forms of writing words in their chat rooms; they forget and use the same in the classrooms. They use things like „4‟ in place of „for‟, „U‟ in place of „You‟ „D‟ in place of „the‟ and many others. This could affect their class assessment. Social networking sites, although, has been recognized as an important resource for education today, studies, however, shows, that students use social networking sites, such as, Facebook for fun, to kill time, to meet existing friends or to make new ones (Ellison, Steinfield, and Lampe 2011). Although it has been put forward that students spends much time on participating in social networking activities, with many students blaming the various social networking sites for their steady decrease in grade point averages (Kimberly,
Jeong and Lee, 2009).
According to Kuppuswamy and Shankar (2010), social network websites grab attention of the students and then diverts them towards non-educational and inappropriate actions including useless chatting. Whereas, on the other hand, (Liccardi, Ounnas, Massey, Kinnunen, Midy, & Sakar. 2007) reviewed that the students are socially connected with each other for sharing their daily learning experiences and do conversation, on several topics. Tinto (1997) argued that extracurricular activities and academic activities are not enough to satisfy some students those who are suffered by social networking isolation. This shows that social networks are beneficial for the students as they contribute in their learning experiences as well as in their academic life. However, the survival and progress of any nation depend largely on the way of life of the individual members of the society.
Over the years, Nigerian society has increasingly lost its sense of values due to socialization problems. Thus, more people, especially the youth, are found engaged in anti social behaviour acts like greediness, brutality, sexual immorality, cultism, corruption, armed robbery, alcoholism, tribalism, drug abuse and addiction, examination malpractices, high rate of indiscipline among students, adaptation of foreign cultures in the name of civilization, unacceptable behaviour, immoralities, criminal and violent films produced by mass media, disrespect for constituted authorities which culminatively yield a society of neither African nor western in nature and several others which negatively affect the socialization process of students thereby resulting into mass failure in examinations as well as poor academic performance. There are many factors that cause these problems, but above all, the missing gap or ineffectiveness in the socialization process of the growing generation especially at the angle of primary agent of socialization is the fundamental cause.
It is obvious that, the right norms, beliefs, values, attitudes and mores which suppose to be instilled in the children since from early age is lacking. This existing gap prompts the researcher to conduct a study on efficacy of Social Media in enhancing Socialization among NCE Social Studies Students in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
In the light of the above, socialization as opined by Eteng (1980) can only take place through certain established agencies in the society which include family, peer group, school, religious institutions, mass media and so on. The influence is the personal variables, availability of the gadget etc.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The world today is a global market in which the internet is the most important source of information. Online social networking sites allow students to feel more comfortable in expressing themselves and interacting with peers and lectures. This is said because when students frequently communicate among different people with non-identical background and experience, they tend to gain more familiarity about these people, thus leading to a better understanding level. As a result, these students gain more confidence in themselves because they are equipped with good knowledge about their surroundings.
In addition, Facebook and other social network sites offer an opportunity to promote Socialization to the college environment and help students learn about their peers and colleges (DeAndrea et al., 2012). Since the advent of social media sites in the 1990s, it is assumed in some quarters that the socialization of students is facing a lot of neglect and challenges. The educational system in Nigeria is faced with so many challenges which have certainly brought about a rapidly decline in the quality of education. It is observed that students devote more attention to social media than they do to their studies. Instead of students reading their books, they spend their time chatting and making friends via the social media and this might definitely have influence on their academic performance. It is a common sight to see a student chatting in sensitive and highly organized places like church, mosque and lecture venues. Some are so carried away that even as they are walking along the high way, they keep chatting. It is lamenting that students were found of using abbreviated words when writing examinations spell words wrongly as they hear them contrary to prescription of the dictionary. This revealed that the use of facebook and other social media platforms impact, negatively on the grammar and values of the students as they interact with one another. Thus, the problem of this study hinges on the determination to investigate into the efficacy of social media in enhancing socialization among social studies students in
Colleges of Education in Kaduna State.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The major objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of social media in Enhancing Socialization among Social Studies Students in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State more specifically the research intends to achieve the following objectives to:
- Find out the availability of Social Media for enhancing Socialization among Social
Studies Students in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State.
- Find out if the different Social Media enhance Socialization among Social Studies
Students in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State.
- Find out the influence of personal variables on the efficacy of Social Media in
enhancing Socialization among Social Studies Students in Colleges of Education in
Kaduna State.
1.4 Research Questions
The following are research questions set to be answered by the present research;
- What Social Media are available for enhancing Socialization among Social Studies
Students in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State, Nigeria?
- What is the efficacy of Social Media in enhancing Socialization among NCE II and III
Social Studies Students in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State, Nigeria?
- What are the influences of personal variables on the Social Media in enhancing
Socialization in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State, Nigeria?
1.5 Null Hypotheses
The following hypotheses were formulated and tested at P ≤ 0.05. Level of
significance;
- There is no significant difference between the views of Male and Female Social Studies Students on the Efficacy of Social Media in enhancing Socialization in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
- There is no significant difference between the views of NCE II and III Social Studies Students on the Efficacy of Social Media in enhancing Socialization in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
- There is no significant difference between the views of FCE Zaria and KSCOE GidanWaya Social Studies Students on the Efficacy of Social Media in enhancing
Socialization in Kaduna State Nigeria.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study is significant to teachers, students, parents, researchers, school administrators and government.
This study will help the teachers of the school to know the relevance of Social Media has on their students, so as to assist them to enlighten and create awareness to the students on the possible influence it has on them.
The study is of significant to parents in the sense that they will know the possible effects these social media usage has on their children, so as to serve as watch-dog to their children on the usage of the social networking sites such as facebook, whatsapp, instagram, 2go, twitter, BBM chart, messenger etc.
It will be relevant in assisting students in understanding the diversity of social media; it will provide relevance material for students and other researchers undertaking similar research.
The study will help researchers with more information on the Influence of social media on student‟s socialization.
It is hope that the findings of the of the study will help the school system in formulating policies which will serve as prescription for the control of delinquents behaviours due to the negative influence of Social Media among students in high institutions in Nigeria.
The finding from the study will also help the government and general public with vital information on how students benefits from the use of social media for effective teaching and learning process as well as socialization through various agents of socialization process.
The findings from the study will assist the parents, guardians and councilors with the device means of helping students who find it difficult to fit into the society due to the negative side of social media tools, thereby changing their attitude for the better.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This study investigated the efficacy of Social Media in enhancing socialization among NCE Social Studies Students in Colleges of Education in Kaduna State Nigeria; such as (Federal College of Education Zaria) and (College of Education Gidan-Waya
Kafanchan). The research obtained its information from male and female of NCE II & III Social Studies Students who fall within the population from the two colleges of education. Furthermore, the following are some of the social networking sites use by social studies students to enhance socialization such as, facebook, whatsapp, 2go, instagram twitter, BBM chart etc.
VALUE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN IMPROVING SOCIALIZATION AMONG SOCIAL STUDIES STUDENTS IN ACADEMIES OF EDUCATION IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA