THE EFFECT OF MOBILE PHONES ON STUDENTS

THE EFFECT OF MOBILE PHONES ON STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

A mobile phone is a device that can basically make and receive calls over a radio link while moving around a wide geographic area. (Pew Research center, 2010). It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile phone operator, allowing access to the public telephone network. The ancient types of Mobile phones support limited services and examples were shown in Fig. 1.1. Such as, calling, sending messages and very few for taking pictures. However, the modern phones support very wide range variety of other services apart from making and receive calls and examples were shown in Fig. 1.2. These include; text messaging, MMS, e-mail, internet access, short range wireless communications [(Infrared, Bluetooth, File Transfer Protocol, (FTP)], business applications, gaming and photography.
Mobile phone is one of the most rapidly growing new technologies in the world (Rebello, 2010). In 2001, cell phone users were less than a billion worldwide with the majority of the users from the developed countries. By the end of 2010, however, mobile phone users had reached five billion worldwide with subscriptions from developing countries outnumbering that of the developed countries (Kelly, 2009; Rebello, 2010). Obviously, this increase includes a sharp increase in the number of cell  phones used by the younger generations. This area of interest was chosen because of the unregulated usage and over dependent attitude on these devices especially among our secondary school students. Interestingly, this is obviously imperative as Geser & Junco (2006); and Merson & Salter  (2010)  had  observed  that  the  youth  have  consistently  displayed  higher  level  of attachment to their mobile phones which could serve as distractions to them because of the time channeled to the phones.
However, in recent years, different types of mobile phones have been produced by different phone manufacturers. Each comes with different features for different/ specific function(s). We have different variety of mobile phones as named by their manufacturers, they include, Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sagem, Sendo, Siemens,T-mobile, Thuraya, Vodafone, Sony ericsson, Bluebird, alcatel,  Blackberry, and so on. We now have those that can make video calling, ping, take clearer pictures/photographs, surf the internet and lots more. They are also built/ installed in/ with different capacities, mode of operation and features/applications. For example, 17mega Pixel phones normally will produce clearer pictures/photographs, Skype is an application for video calling, Blackberry and other android enabled devices can ping. Some are android enabled; examples are, HTC, Tecno, and so on which are basically the latest of all kinds of mobile phones widely used by both young and old, especially among students (Olanrewaju, 2015). This study therefore, attempts to find out the impact of mobile phones use among students in both private and public schools on their academic performance. Also, to check whether or not there will be significant difference in the performance of students using mobile phones in Public and Private Schools.
1.2       Statement of the Problem           
 In the past one decade, Mobile phone was not as rampant among users compared to how it is now being used; especially among secondary Schools’ students. Recently, mobile phone which comes in different types/models each for specific tasks/functions is one of the basic essential gadgets possessed by an average school student which relatively might certainly influence such students’ academic performance. This study therefore, seeks to address the impact of mobile phones on student performance in secondary Schools.
1.3       Objectives of the Study            
 The general objective of this study is to assess the impact of mobile phones on student performance in secondary Schools. The specific objectives are to:
1.      ascertain the extent to which mobile phones are being utilized in secondary Schools among the students.
2.      find out the extent to which the use of mobile phones will affect students’ performance in secondary School.
3.      comparison of student performance in Public and Private Schools using mobile phones.
1.4       Research Hypotheses
1.      There is no significant difference in the number of secondary Schools’ students using mobile phones and those who do not.
2.      There is no significant relationship in the extent to which the use of mobile phone affects students’ performance in secondary School.
3.      There is no significant difference in the academic performance of students using mobile phones in Public and Private Schools.
1.5       Significance of the Study                    
This study is meant to reveal the impact of mobile phones on student performance in secondary Schools. It would expose the students to the implications of spending too much time on their mobile phones. Also, can serve as precautionary measures towards achieving  good academic result for students.
1.6       Operational Definition of Terms
-          Impact: The effect of something on another thing
-          Mobile: Anything that can be carried from one place to another
-          Phone: Electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds.