NEW ERA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING IN NEW ERA UNIVERSITY

Proponent: Ruth Mojico Pawaan

CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

As todays generation goes through very swift phase changes, the youth become more demanding in obtaining technologies that will attend to their needs, especially in when it is concerned with their studies. Without a doubt the access to the Internet or the World Wide Web is so easy nowadays and many benefits can be gained from it. The use of this accessibility is applied mostly on the professionals such as tycoons, medical practitioners, and even government officials. The objective of their utilization of the Internet is different in terms of their needs and various marketers apply their expertise on it. However, it seems to be a fact that the growing numbers of users are members of different social networking sites and most of them are students. So networking sites are commonly the references of the netizens in the cyber world who use these sites for news, blogging or video blogging, video streaming, chatting, research, and live conferences. The sites that the netizens usually visit first when entering a computer shop or either using laptops or desktops are the social networking sites.

In this technological era, the social networking industry is fast growing and being used at almost all times as it is widely sweeping the globe, basically most of the people around the world starts their working day with these sites in the World Wide Web, but the majority of the population in the cyber world are the students that doesnt only use their time in researching or studying but also in these sites that consume most of their time.

Statement of the Problem Most if not all of the students today spend most of their time socializing on the internet than focusing on studies. Every now and then when entering the computer shops it can be seen that it is completely filled up with students logging into their Face book accounts, Yahoo accounts, and MySpace accounts among many others. It does not sink into their heads that valuable and precious time is wasted on their endeavors on the internet. The matters in question here are:

1.

What are the academic performances of Civil Engineering students toward their Family, Friends, Teachers, and Others?

2.

What is the profile of the students in terms of year level, age, gender?

3.

What is the profile of the students in terms of preferred SNS, frequency of SNS usage, purpose of using SNS and number of SNS friends?

4. How many hours do the Civil Engineering students use SNS? 5. How do social networking sites affect their studies?

Assumptions of the Study The assumptions of this research are that since technology plays a major part in todays society it has to have an effect on the students in their studies, whether good or bad. Therefore, the aim is to find out whether they are either motivated in their studies or slacking off in their studies when they use the social networking sites.

Conceptual Framework Social networking sites such as Face book offer users a convenient method for maintaining a large number of weak ties. While maintenance of strong ties typically requires significant commitments of time and energy, weak ties may be managed solely through the connections that link Face book friends. Face book allows users to stay up-to-date on their weak ties lives simply by viewing the information available in those friends profiles and by connecting through actions such as pokes, private messages, wall postings and photo comments. By offering multiple methods of interaction, Face book saves users significant time, thus enabling them to create and maintain a massive social network, although one predominantly composed of weak connections between users. For example, a recent survey found that the average user had 180 friends on the website, which is far more friends than the average person would say they have in the real world (Golder et al., 2006).

In cases where factors such as distance change a faceto-face relationship into a primarily online relationship, strong ties are maintained and even strengthened further. Social networking sites is a tool for person to keep in touch with his distant friends by following their updates, sending a message or posting commentsusers have a quick and easy way to stay connected thus keep the student healthy when they are too busy to commit more time to face-to-face interaction (Vitak, 2008).

Scope and Delimitation of the Study The coverage of this research is focused on only the Civil Engineer students of New Era University. The aim is to find out how effectively social networking sites have affected their ways of studying over their two years stay at New Era University and how it continues to do so. The reason of choosing to research on the 2nd year students of New Era University was that the research needed to be focused on students who had just

started their journey in university but had at least an experience of university life.

Significance of the Study This study is concerned to learn the effects of social networking sites on the students, to understand how the users motives, attitudes and behavior in order to know why such time is wasted socializing on the internet. Through this, the study is conducted and expected to have results based on the surveys and the proponents research with the students who are always in the computer surfing the internet and socializing in it. For non students, this study is also for those who are in need of references regarding the focus of the study, especially the students and professionals, to understand the effects of socializing in the cyber world because it is what is common in this era of the World Wide Web.

Definition of Terms Blogging are frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links. Cyber World Facebook is the leading social networking site in the World Wide Web Internet is a global system connected to all sites accessed in the World Wide Web. Myspace is a social networking site focusing in music and social networking. Netizens are the citizens ion the internet Online Chatting is usually, this "talking" is the exchange of typed-in messages requiring one site as the repository for the messages (or "chat site") and a group of users who take part from anywhere on the Internet.

Social Networking is socializing online in the World Wide Web. Social Networking Sites are the sites where social networkers spend their online socializing. Surfing is online networking and browsing. Video Blogging posting videos online video publication in the internet. Video Streaming is online video watching and updating via video streaming. Web Conference is like a meeting in person but in this conference it is done online in the internet. World Wide Web a system interconnected around the internet and interlinked http documents uploaded in the net. Yahoo is a one of the biggest search engine in the internet.

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND RELATED STUDIES

This chapter contains the review of related literature of the study and the justification of the conceptual and research literature gathered from books, journals, researches and online sources. Literature According to Vitak (2008), there are some reasons why Civil Engineering students use a social networking site. The first reason is for them to meet strangers and become friends with them. This type of relationship is what we call a weak interpersonal relationship. The majority of respondents of her research paper (57%) said they were initially introduced to those friends through mutual friends, which increases the likelihood of such relationships developing into strong ties. On the other hand, responses to a separate question

overwhelmingly support the hypothesis. While a significant portion or respondents said they have at least a few onlineonline friends, 85% said they do not communicate with the majority of their online-only friends, and just one respondent

said that he/she considered those friends as a strong tie. Through social networking sites like face book, the user tends to maintain his weak interpersonal relationship with his online friends because of an easy communication. He can use private messaging, chat rooms, and other method of communicating provided by the website. On the other hand, a strong interpersonal relationship with his offline friends needs time and effort to be maintained. Social networking sites have added entirely new

meanings to interpersonal interaction and community. It is the interplay between internet and real life communication and its subsequent effect on interpersonal relationships. Popular social networking websites such as Face book have bundled many of the internet communication standards such as e-mail, forums, and instant messaging into one resource. However, its usage has become a staple activity in a young adults life. While it varies slightly among gender and race groups, overall, young adults (college aged) who have internet access use Face book regularly for some type of social contact. With this mass assimilation into daily life, it has already begun to change the

way in which interpersonal civil engineering students are defined. It is one of the, if not the top medium for young adults to scope out and research potential partners. With Face book playing a large role in many romantic relationships; its important to see how this will continue to shape interpersonal communication in the future. The importance of this research proposal is to look at how Face book is an extension of real life.

Studies This related studies and concepts helped in determining the influence of social networking sites on the interpersonal relationship of Civil Engineering students in New Era University. This supported and validated or reversed the ideas of Matsuba and Golder (2006), and Vitak (2008). There were some studies conducted that dealt with social networking and its effects towards teenagers in different aspects. Interpersonal

relationship, particularly that of Civil Engineering students in New Era University, isn't one of those aspects, although some

of the aforementioned studies have tackled somewhat similar aspects to that of the one being studied on by the researchers.

CHAPTER 3 METHOD OF RESEARCH

This chapter contains Research Design, Sampling Technique, Research Instrument, Data Gathering Procedure and Statistical Treatment of Data.

Research Design This study used descriptive research design. It involves the description, recording, analysis, and interpretation of the present nature, composition, or processes of phenomena. It focuses on prevailing conditions or how a person, group, or thing behaves or functions in the present. It often involves some type of comparison or contrast. The researchers used the survey technique which is under descriptive research design. Survey technique, requires gathering of facts that requires sufficient and accurate interpretation. This technique is used to collect demographic

data about respondents behavior, beliefs, opinions, interests and the like and then the gathered data are analyzed, organized, and interpreted.

Sampling Technique The researchers used purposive sampling. This sampling method included respondents that fall under the purpose of the study and others that are not useful for the study are positively excluded. The study focused on the effects of SNS to the Civil Engineering students thus a survey is conducted to the Civil Engineering students of New Era University that are using social networking sites every day.

Research Instrument The researchers used questionnaires and survey forms as research instruments. The survey form asked if the respondents are using social networking sites and their frequency of using the sites. After determining those who use

social networking sites everyday, the questionnaire asked for the profile of the respondents and the status of their academic performances.

Statistical Treatment of Data The researchers used the following formulas to analyze the results of the survey: Frequency is the number, proportion, or percentage of items in a particular category in a set of data, while percentage is the proportion or share in relation to a whole. This technique is used to determine the percentage of our respondents out of total population in terms of frequency of using Social Networking Sites. Through this, the researchers also

determined the percentage of the respondents who are affected by the influence of social networking sites. The formula for frequency and percentage is: f P =------- x 100 % N

Where:

P is percentage f is number of respondents falling under a particular category N is total number of population

CHAPTER 4 PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

In this chapter, the data gathered by the researchers has been tabulated, analyzed and interpreted to get a meaningful conclusion about the data.

CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY OF THE STUDY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary of Findings The research was conducted for the purpose of finding out the effect of social networking sites to the academic performance in Civil Engineering in New Era University. The descriptive method of research was used and the descriptive survey technique was used by the researchers in gathering data. The researchers made use of questionnaires for the gathering of data. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling technique. The researchers used 20 respondents for this research.

After analyzing the data gathered by the researchers, they arrived with the following conclusions: 1.) Using social networking sites helped the respondents to develop a strong interpersonal relationship with their family, friends, teachers, and with others. 2.) Most of the respondents are using Face book just to have fun and entertainment because of its available features for the users. 3.) The respondents are cautious with the strangers that they

meet in SNS's because of having a limited friends added to their account that they know. 4.) The respondents intend to open-up more with their friends in social networking sites than with others. 5.) Most of the respondents use social networking sites for only 1-2 hours in a day.

Recommendations

Based on the conclusions that the researches made, they have formulated the following recommendations: 1.) Parents, school administrators, teachers, and guidance counselors must encourage the students to use SNS since it promotes good interpersonal relationships. 2.) Students must properly use social networking sites and not just for fun and entertainment but for communication with their family, friends and teachers. 3.) Social networking site developers and companies must improve the security and privacy that they are giving to its users

to promote a safe environment especially for children and teenagers. 4.) Students must also encourage their classmates to use SNS frequently since it promotes good communication with their teachers regarding school works and related activities. 5.) Students must also encourage their friends to use SNS since it promotes good relationship making friendship ties grow stronger.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 2008. Social networking the safe way. Bato balani for science & technology, 28, 4-5. Boyd, D. and N. Ellison. Social networking sites: definition, history, and scholarship.http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html, September 1, 2009. Boyd, D. and N. Ellison. Social networking sites: definition, history, and scholarship.http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html, September 1, 2009. Dwyer, C. Digital relationship in the myspace generation: results from a quantitative study.http://w w w .cdw yer@pace.edu.com, September 12, 2009. Harris, K. 2008. The internet and social

relationships.http://www.donah.org/ archieve3s.htm, September 12, 2009. Harris, K. 2008. Using social networking sites as student engagement tools. http://donah.org/snstudents.htm, September 9, 2009.

Lenhart,

A.

Social

networking

websites

and

teens.http://www.peinternet.org?pDF?n? 198?report_display.asp, September 12, 2009. Nauert, R. Social network may foster

jealousy.http://psychcentral.com/news/ 2009/08/07/social-network-may-foster-jealousy/7616.html, September 26, 2009. Santos, M. 2009. Everyones connected.C rossroads, 5, 4-5.