Social Media Packages as Correlates of Academic Performance in Mathematics Among Students in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The effect of social media as a correlate of the performance of students in Mathematics is a crucial aspect this study sought to investigate. The study adopted a correlational research design. The study's population consisted of 19,456 students in 181 upper secondary schools in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The sample size had 901 respondents in 53 upper secondary schools using the multi-stage sampling procedure. Two instruments were used by the researcher for the study. The Social Media Packages and Mathematics Learning Questionnaire (SMPMLQ) with a reliability index of 0.76 using Cronbach Alpha and the Mathematics Performance Test (MPT) with a reliability index of 0.86 using Kuder Richardson's 20 Formula. Data was analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The findings of the study revealed that a higher number of students (519) (57.6%) do not struggle with the learning of Mathematics. Also, the study revealed that the use of Facebook and YouTube combined enhances the academic performance of students in Mathematics. Conclusively, social media packages like Facebook and YouTube can reduce Mathematics phobia and enhance students' performance in Mathematics. The study recommended, among others, that Mathematics teachers should frequently expose students to more social media packages to enhance the performance of students in Mathematics in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.