Influence of Social Media Usage on the Academic Performance of Students within the Colleges of Education in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the influence of social media usage on the academic performance of students within the Colleges of Education in the Central Region of Ghana. The study employed the descriptive survey design (cross-sectional) with a quantitative approach. The study targeted Colleges of Education students within the Central Region of Ghana who were in levels 200 and 300. A questionnaire on students’ usage of social media was used in the conduct of the study. Through a multi-stage sampling technique, the questionnaire was administered to 331 students. Out of the 331 questionnaires, 267 were completely responded to and returned. This led to a response rate of 81%. Hence all the analysis were based on the 267 respondents. Means and standard deviations, Pearson correlation coefficient as well as one samples t-test were used to analyse the data to answer the research questions. The findings of the study revealed that Colleges of Education students use social media sites for a number of purposes. Among some of these purposes include academic usage of social media, using social media sites for the purpose of socialisation, entertainment usage of social media as well as using social media for the purpose of reading headline news. The study further found a negatively weak correlation between extent of social media usage and students’ academic performance. The study also found a significant difference in the extent of social media usage among male and female students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that counsellors and tutors in the Colleges of Education should guide and educate students on the dangers of being addicted to social media usage, since too much time spent on social media sites could affect students’ academic performance.