Abstract:
Social media platforms have become an interesting part of student life as a result of
their features and mediums of usage. It is against this premise that this study sought to
investigate the effects of social media platforms on the performance of students in
Kumasi Girls Senior High School and Prempeh College. The study employed the
descriptive survey design with a sample size of 200 senior high school day students
from the two schools. The instrument used in data collection was the questionnaire.
The results were presented using percentages and frequencies in addition to means
and standard deviations. The study found that the majority of respondents used
Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Google + and Messenger. The
study again revealed that SHS students used social media platforms to a large extent.
In addition, many students were of the view that social media platforms had a
negative effect on their academic performance as they distracted them from their
studies since they became addicted to it. Lastly the study discovered that social media
platforms can be used to enhance students’ performance in diverse ways. Based on the
findings, it was recommended that there should be a strict enforcement of rules in
senior high schools with regard to the use of social media platforms and there should
be counseling for addicted students. Again, there should be the promotion of the
social media platforms usage by both teachers and students for academic purposes.
Description:
A dissertation in the Department of Information Technology Education,
Faculty of Applied Sciences and Mathematics Education, submitted to the
School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Science
(Information Technology Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba
MAY, 2021
