Effects of Social Media Platforms on the Academic Motivation, Research Skills and Academic Performance of University Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/tk/2k25d.44104Keywords:
Social Media Platforms, Academic Motivation, Research Skills, Academic PerformanceAbstract
The social media platforms playing a vital role in leisure, entertainment and learning. In this study, the effects of social media platforms (SMPs) on students’ academic motivation, research skills and academic performance were investigated through descriptive and correctional research approach. The population of the existing study were the students at general universities of Punjab Province of Pakistan. Through simple random sampling technique, a sample size of 504 students was selected for data collection. On the basis of previous literature, a structured questionnaire based on five-point Likert scale was developed and the same was used for data collection after confirming its reliability and validity. The researcher collected data through online method (Google Form) and personally from the sampled universities. After it, the data were analyzed by using SPSS. The descriptive and inferential statistics were performed to explore answers of the research objectives. Results discovered a moderate positive relationship among social media platforms and students’ academic motivation. Results revealed a high positive relationship among social media platforms and students’ research skills and academic performance. It is recommended that in order to enhance students’ learning, teachers should encourage students to utilize social media platforms for academic purposes beside entertainment.
References
Aiyende, O., & Omojola, O. (2021). Influence of social media on the academic performance of students: A study of University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Samaru Journal of Information Studies, 21(1), 13-23. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/sjis/article/view/217868
Barton, B. A., Adams, K. S., Browne, B. L., & Arrastia-Chisholm, M. C. (2018). The effects of social media usage on attention, motivation, and academic performance. Active Learning in Higher Education, 22(1), 11-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787418782817
Błachnio, A., Przepiórka, A., Cudo, A., & Elphinston, R. (2024). Assessing problematic Facebook use: Psychometric properties of the Polish version of Facebook intrusion questionnaire. European Review of Applied Psychology, 74(1), 100939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2023.100939
Chao, M., Sun, W., Liu, J., Ding, J., & Zhu, Y. (2024). Exploring the bright and dark sides of social media use on academic performance: Contrasting effects on actual vs. perceived performance. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 41(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.13111
Christian, F. (2017). Social media: a critical introduction (2nd ed.). Los Angeles London New Delhi Singapore Washington DC Melbourne: SAGE.
Gallardo-López, J. A., & López-Noguero, F. (2020). Twitter as a methodological resource in higher education: An educational experience with social work students. Alteridad, 15(2), 174. https://doi.org/10.17163/alt.v15n2.2020.03
Hamadi, M., El-Den, J., Azam, S., & Sriratanaviriyakul, N. (2022). Integrating social media as cooperative learning tool in higher education classrooms: An empirical study. Journal of King Saud University - Computer and Information Sciences, 34(6-B), 3722–3731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksuci.2020.12.007
Hussain, M., Kubravi, S. U., & Loan, F. A. (2022). Do social networking sites enhance the research traits of college students? Information Discovery and Delivery, 51(1), 26-34. https://doi.org/10.1108/idd-09-2021-0096
Maweu, G., & Yudah, O. A. (2020). Utilization of social media platforms among information science students at University of Kabianga. Open Access Library Journal, 7(3), 1-11.
Kemp, S. (2021). Digital 2021: The Latest Insights into the ‘State of Digital’. Hootsuite. https://wearesocial.com/uk/blog/2021/01/digital-2021-the-latest-insights-into-the-state-of-digital/
Kind, T., & Evans, Y. (2015). Social media for lifelong learning. International Review of Psychiatry, 27(2), 124-132. https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2014.990421
Lopez-Carril, S., Alguacil, M., & Anagnostopoulos, C. (2022). LinkedIn in sport management education: Developing the students’ professional profile boosting the teaching-learning process. International Journal of Management in Education, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2022.100611.
Malay, E. D. (2019). Instagram use and first-year college students' social adjustment. Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi MIND SET, 10(01), 25-35. https://doi.org/10.35814/mindset.v10i01.736
Malik, M. J., Ahmad, M., Kamran, M. R., Aliza, K., & Elahi, M. Z. (2020). Student use of social media, academic performance, and creativity: The mediating role of intrinsic motivation. Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 17(4), 403-415. https://doi.org/10.1108/itse-01-2020-0005
Mufassirin, M. M., Ahamed, M. R., Hisam, M. M., & Mohamed Fazil, M. (2023). Impact of social media usage on students' academic performance before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 74(3-4), 1007-1027. https://doi.org/10.1108/gkmc-01-2023-0028
Obar, J. A., & Wildman, S. (2015). Social media definition and the governance challenge: An introduction to the special issue. Telecommunications Policy, 39(9), 745-750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2015.07.014
Ojukwu, N. N. C., Mutula, S., & Saliu, S. A. (2021). Social Media Usage for Academic Purpose: A Systematic Literature Review 2010 to 2020.: social media use for academic purpose. The Journal of Social Media for Learning, 2(1), 017-029. https://doi.org/10.24377/LJMU.jsml.vol2article501
Orús, C., Barlés, M. J., Belanche, D., Casaló, L., Fraj, E., & Gurrea, R. (2016). The effects of learner-generated videos for YouTube on learning outcomes and satisfaction. Computers & Education, 95, 254-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2016.01.007
Ramzan, M., Javaid, Z. K., & Fatima, M. (2023). Empowering ESL Students: Harnessing the Potential of Social Media to Enhance Academic Motivation in Higher Education. Global Digital & Print Media Review, VI(II), 224-237. https://doi.org/10.31703/gdpmr.2023(VI-II).15.
Saini, C., & Abraham, J. (2019). Implementing Facebook-based instructional approach in pre-service teacher education: An empirical investigation. Computers & Education, 128, 243-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2018.09.025
Santoveña Casal, S. (2019). The impact of social media participation on academic performance in undergraduate and postgraduate students. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v20i1.3751
Statista. (2024). Distribution of Instagram Users Worldwide as of April 2024, by Age Group. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/325587/instagram-global-age-group/.
Tahir, U., Shahzad, S., & Irshadullah, H. M. (2024). Role of Social Media in the Development of Research Skills in Students at the University Level. Regional Lens, 3(1), 95-103. https://doi.org/10.62997/rl.2024.31043.
Ullah, N., Rehman, T., Mengal, S., Ullah, S., Khan, M. M., & Kakar, A. U. (2025). Impacts of social media on the academic performance of university students in Pakistan. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(1), 3426-3437. https://doi.org/10.59075/22essj49
Vishranti, R. and Prafulla, P. (2016) Use of Social Media in Education: Positive and Negative Impact on the Students. International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication, 4, 281-285.
