EFFECT OF SOCIAL NETWORKING ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF PHYSICS IN MKPAT ENIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

The study investigated the effects of social networking on secondary school students’ academic performance in Physics in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Three research questions and corresponding hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The area of the study was Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A pretest posttest quasi-experimental research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 1942 Senior Secondary one (SS1) Physics students in 16 public secondary schools 2022/2023 session in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A sample of 88 Secondary School One Students was selected as sample for the study. In each of the selected schools, one SS1 intact class was used to draw sample for the study. Since the research made use of Co-educational Schools gender representation was ensured in each of the intact class used. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the two schools used for the study. The Instrument used for data collection was Physics Social Networking Test (PSNT). The instrument was validated by a Physics lecturer in the Department of Physics and a lecturer in the Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education. The scores obtained were analyzed using Kuder- Richardson 20 formula and a reliability coefficient of 0.85 was obtained. The data obtained from the instrument for data collection were analysed using mean, standard deviation and independent t-test statistical tools. The result revealed that there is a significant difference in the mean scores of students’ academic performance in Physics when taught using Facebook social networking as compared to those taught using Whatsapp social networking in favour of facebook group. The result also revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean scores of male and female students’ academic performance in physics when taught using Facebook social networking. The result further revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean scores of male and female students’ academic performance in physics when taught using Whatsapp social networking. It was concluded that secondary school students performed well when taught the concept of wave using Facebook and Whatsapp social networking sites but performed more using Facebook social networking site. It was therefore recommended among that Physics teachers should be encouraged to use Facebook networking site in teaching in Senior Secondary Schools since Facebook networking site was found to improves students’ academic performance than Whatsapp social networking site.