MOST PREFERRED SOCIAL MEDIA SITE

AMONG THIRD YEAR UC CAS

STUDENTS

A research paper presented to the

College of Arts and Sciences
Submitted as a partial fulfilment for the requirements in
Elementary Statistics
By:
Benter, Angela
Bucalan, Vhia
Francisco, Joeleanne Cameile
Humiwat, Roejenn Rizz
Monzon, Candice Marie
Rico, Mark Jason
Submitted to:
Engr. Roldan F. Judan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content

I.

I.

TITLE

II.

STATEMENT OF THE PROLEM/ HYPOTHESIS

III.

POPULATION

IV.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

V.

PARADIGM OF THE STUDY

VI.

STATISTICAL GRAPHS

VII.

COLLECTION OF DATA

VIII.

STATISTICAL TABLES

IX.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

X.

APPENDIX

Title:
Most preferred social media site among third year College of Arts
and Sciences students from the University of the Cordilleras

I.1. Background of the Study:

According to a survey that was conducted by Whitmore School of

Business and Economics and by the University of New Hampshire,
they interviewed 1,127 college students and the results show that a
total of 81% of college students use social sites (oclc.org).
These statistics seem to show that many college students often use
social networks or social medias, or most of them use social sites.
(Whitmore School of Business and Economics, University of New
Hampshire).
Researchers at University of Minnesota also conducted a study and
found that, of the students observed, 94 percent used the Internet,
82 percent go online at home and 77 percent had a profile on a
social networking site. (University of Minnesota, 2008) Students
report that one of the most common topics of conversation on the
social networking scene is education. Almost 60 percent of students
who use social networking talk about education topics online and,
surprisingly, more than 50 percent talk specifically about
schoolwork. (National School Boards Association, 2007, 1)
According to a Nielsen Media Research study, in June 2010, almost
25 percent of students time on the Internet is now spent on social
networking websites (Jacobsen, & Forste, 2011).
Social network site has its advantages to people, especially to
students. The use of social media or networking sites help students
communicate easily and or keep in contact with their professors and
classmates. We can also easily seek for any information that we
need in the internet. As we know, the Internet carries an extensive
range of information resources. People especially students can
further explore topics that theyre interested in through online social
networking.

II.

Due to the ability of social media to enhance connections by making

them easily accessible, social media can yield many benefits for the
young, including providing a virtual space for them to explore their
interests or problems with similar individuals, academic support,
while strengthening online communication skills and knowledge.
Statement of the problem and Hypothesis
This study was carried out to investigate the use of social networking
sites among third year students from the College of Arts and Sciences
in the University of the Cordilleras. The objectives of the study is to
ascertain the various categories of social networking sites used by

third year UC CAS students to acquire information, to interact or

communicate with other people, to post photos or videos and any
other updates. To determine which social media sites they find helpful
or distractive when it comes to their studies and to discover which
networking sites they consider easiest when it comes to access and
protective when it comes to their privacy.
For the purpose of this study, social media was defined as Facebook,
YouTube, Google, Yahoo and Instagram. This research aims to reveal
which one of these social media or networking sites third year students
from the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of the
Cordilleras rely on as a learning tool, or utilize the most for academic
assistance and support.
III.

Population
The area of the study is in the University of the Cordilleras. The choice
of the area was for proximity and to ensure effective distribution and
collection of data through the use of a questionnaire. The population of
this study comprises the entire population of third year College of Arts
and Sciences students from the University of the Cordilleras.
The population figure of third year CAS students within the campus is
two hundred twenty two (222). The population was derived from
various faculties.
The sample size is 35 representing a percentage of 15.77% of the total
population third year CAS students.

IV.

Sampling techniques

MARGIN OF ERROR- 10%

POPULATION 222
(CAS DEPARTMENTS)
MASSCOMM = 55

 AB ENGLISH = 36
POL SCI = 37
PSYCH
= 94
.

SAMPLE SIZE
n=N/ (1+Ne2)
222/ (1+ (222)(0.1)2) = 69

The total sample size is 69, but due to entries deemed

invalid by the researchers in the returned questionnaires,
sample size is reduced to 35.

V.

Research paradigm

VI.

Statistical Graph (ff Angela)

Distribution
CL
12
10
8
6
4
2

F
3
2
2
1
2
0

Where:

or W(X) / W

Line Graph of the weighted mean of the totality of the tallied result

Population of 3rd year student in CAS department

Survey Result

VII.

Collection of data

The researchers adopted the simple random sampling method which was
employed to derive responses from a sample size of 35 third year CAS
students of the Cordilleras who were selected via random sampling
techniques. Simple random sampling is a method of drawing a sample from
the population so that each member of the population is given an equal and
independent chance of being selected.
The area of the study is in the University of the Cordilleras. The choice of the
area was for proximity and to ensure effective distribution and collection of
data through the use of a questionnaire. The population of this study
comprises the entire population of third year College of Arts and Sciences
students from the University of the Cordilleras.
The population figure of third year CAS students within the campus is two
hundred twenty two (222). The population was derived from various
faculties.
The sample size is 35 representing a percentage of 15.77% of the total
population of third year CAS students.
The instrument for data collection was a self constructed questionnaire. It
was titled Preferred Social Media Sites among Third Year CAS Students. The
questionnaire consists of only one page which was divided into six columns.
Column 1 contains the questions which were formulated by the researchers
to guide the study. The remaining five columns are the various networking
sites used by the respondents to choose from basing on the questions
provided.
35 copies of the questionnaires were personally floated and collected by the
researchers to ensure an accurate return rate. The 35 respondents
completed and returned the questionnaire correctly representing 100%
response rate.
The researchers then gathered all the data and analyzed it. They used mean
scores (X) to analyze each item in the questionnaire and made use of a
frequency distribution table. A frequency distribution is a table that displays
the frequency of various outcomes in given sample. Each entry in the table
contains the frequency or count of the occurrences of values within a
particular group or interval and in this way the table summarizes the
distribution of values in the sample. The researchers calculated all the
answers and tallied one by one to know the results, and then made a table.
The researchers also used margin of error. The margin of error expresses the
maximum expected differences between the true population parameters and
a sample estimate of that parameter.

VIII. Statistical table (ff Vhia)

IX.

Conclusion/ Recommendation

Conclusion:
In this Chapter, the research findings were discussed in line with the research
questions that acknowledge the various categories of social networking sites
used by third year College of Arts and Sciences students from the University
of the Cordilleras. The results obtained from this study and the mean

response score representing the rate of agreement in the questionnaire

reveal that the most preferred social networking site used by the
respondents is Facebook. On this type of social networking website, users
can include their interests and locate members with similar interests or
preferences.
The response score on the extent of the usage of social networking sites by
CAS third year students of the University of the Cordilleras also favour
Youtube, Google and Yahoo while the least favoured based on the responses
is Instagram.
The findings here for research questions number two, three and four showed
that the third year CAS students use the social networking sites for
entertainment and communication purposes. With respect to research
questions number one and six, it was revealed that one of the benefits of
using social networking sites is that it helps in research and learning which
strengthens the premises that the use of social networking sites encourages
research and learning; strengthens interpersonal relationship; read and write
web skills, etc. This is in line with the view of some scholars that social
network help in the school and universities to leverage and complement
formal education learning outcomes. And that self-esteem, personal
validation and value are positively affected by the use of social media for
many uses especially those who have a low self worth. The study further
revealed that the main purposes of general social networking websites
among the respondents is to serve as a social platform where they can stay
informed and connected with current friends and even make new
acquaintances. In line with question number eight, it was revealed that some
of these sites have security issues. In order to avoid disclosing information to
an imposter, users should follow some prudent practices when
communicating on social networking sites. Primarily, users should exercise
basic caution when communicating and sharing information with online
friends.
Finally, from the results of the study the researchers see the reason why a
famous media scholar argued that technology can be used in ways beneficial
and otherwise. Technology is a double-edged sword. Its power for bad and
good resides in the users, Baran (2010). Based on this, it is instructive to
note that the relevant university authorities and other sponsors of the
students have to take good measures to ensure that they (student) are made
to be aware of how and why they use the social networking sites.
Recommendations:
Based on the findings drawn from this study, the researchers have made the
following recommendations to the university authorities and the students:

Recommendation to University Authorities

- Tertiary institutions should organize a seminar to enlighten students on
the advantageous and disadvantageous aspects of using social
networking sites as media of interaction. This can be done by exposing
students to the importance of face to face communication in the
creation of real communication or message sharing. Seminars would
also be helpful here.
- Provision of laws on the content of social media: There has to be laws
guiding the students use of the social networking sites and what they
disseminate through the media.
Recommendation to Students
- Students who are heavy users, should moderate the use of the sites to
avoid addiction and create a balance between their offline and online
lives while using the sites.
- One of the strategies which were proffered to ameliorate the privacy
threats of social networking is by not posting anything that might
embarrass you later or you dont want a stranger to know. Wikipedia
revealed that users should be cautious of what they post in social
media sites. This particular danger of social networking can be reduced
by being careful on the kind of information you share about yourself,
family and friends.

I.

Appendix

RESEARCH TOPIC: Preferred Social media Among Third year CAS Students

Name:

____________________

Gender:

____________________

Age:

____________________

Kindly indicate your response by marking a ( / ) mark on the corresponding column.

Questions
1. Which site do you prefer
to use when you want to
acquire information?
2. Which site do you depend
on when you want to
interact/communicate with
other people?
3. Which site do you prefer
to post your photos, videos,
etc?
4. What site do you enjoy
the most?
5. Which among the
following sites do you
consider easiest in terms
of access?
6. What could be the most
helpful tool when it comes to
your studies?
7. Which social media site
would you consider a
distraction from your
studies?
8. What social media site
gives the most protection
when it comes to your
privacy?
9. Which social media do
you use/visit the most when
you want to get to know
someone?
10. Choose three (3) sites
that you like the most?

Facebook

Instagram

Youtube

Yahoo

Google