CXC
SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT
SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT
YEAR 2023
NAME OF CANDIDATE: JAQUIZA CHASE
SCHOOL: MARIAN ACADEMY
CENTRE#:
CANDIDATE#: 0900870125
TEACHER: Ms. Somerset
TITLE: An examination on how the use of social media impacts the
performance of students within Marian Academy
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ........................................................................................... 3
REASON FOR RESEARCH ........................................................................................................ 3
METHOD OF INVESTIGATION ............................................................................................... 4
INSTRUMENT USED COLLECT DATA .................................................................................. 5
PROCEDURES USED TO COLLECT DATA ......................................................................... 10
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA.................................................................. 16
1
Introduction
INTRODUCTION
2
Statement of the Problem and Reason for Research
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
How does the use of social media influence the academic performance of the students
within Marian Academy?
The aims of this assignment are:

to determine the reasons for using social media

the effect of social media content on children of certain age groups

whether social media has a negative impact

how to resolve ‘conflicts’ caused by social media’s influence.
REASON FOR RESEARCH
In the researcher’s school, there have been many negative remarks and claimed facts on
the academic effect of social media on youth. The intent of this research is to determine
the most common causes, consequences and possible solutions for use/overuse of social
media. The writer chose to investigate this topic due to their rising curiosity to settle this
debate, as well as to sooth their intrigue from their own usage and data.
3
Method of Investigation
METHOD OF INVESTIGATION
In order to collect data for this SBA, the researcher chose to use thirty (30) printed
questionnaires, and distributed them to 3 students chosen at Random. The three (3) copies
were shared per form in the secondary department.
This method of investigation would be ideal in gathering information as it is:

Time efficient in completion and recollection of data from several students
simultaneously.

It guarantees full confidentiality maintenance.
4
Procedures used to collect data
INSTRUMENT USED COLLECT DATA
QUESTIONNAIRE ON SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCES AND EFFECTS WITHIN
MARIAN ACADEMY
Dear Respondent,
My name is Jaquiza Chase and I will be conducting this questionnaire to evaluate the
influence of social media on the academic performance of students within my school,
for the Social Studies CSEC School Based Assessment. The information collected
using this questionnaire will be strictly confidential, hence the exclusion of name
requirements and the need for biased responses. Please answer the following
questions honestly and thank you for taking time to complete this survey. Have a great
day!
1. What is your sex?
☐Female
☐ Male
2. What age category would you fall under?
☐ 11 – 13
☐ 14 – 16
☐17 - 21
3. What form are you in?
☐ Forms 1 – 2
☐ Forms 3 – 4
☐Forms 5 – 6
4. What age did you receive your first device?
☐ Age 10 or earlier
☐ Age 11 – 13
☐ Age 16 and over
5
☐ Age 14 – 15
Procedures used to collect data
5. What was the type of device you received?
☐ PC
☐ Desktop Computer
☐ Smartphone
☐ Smart watch
☐ Tablet/
Ipad
6. How many hours do you spend on social media per day?
☐ 1 – 3 hours
☐ 4 – 6 hours
☐ 7 – 10 hours
☐ 11+ hours
7. Which social media platform are you active on?
☐ TikTok
☐ Instagram
☐ Snapchat
☐ WhatsApp
☐ Discord
☐Twitter
☐ YouTube
☐ Pinterest
☐ Reddit
☐ Other: _____________
8. Do you think that social media has changed your attitude towards academics/
school work?
☐ Yes
☐ No
9. What factors contribute to the increased use of social media by school aged
children?
☐ Covid 19
☐ Increased leisure time
☐ Online Classes
☐ Lack of supervision
☐ Research
☐ Curiosity
☐ Other: ___________________________
6
Procedures used to collect data
10. Have you experienced any negative consequences from using social media?
List the negative consequences?
☐ No
☐Yes:
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
11. Do you feel a constant need to check your device?
☐ Yes
☐ No
12. Does this affect your concentration when doing school related tasks?
☐ Moderately, but I can regain focus
☐ Severely, I end up getting distracted and begin to do other things in addition to
what I originally planned to
☐ Not really, I regain self-control and focus on my work
13. Do you think that using social media has more of a positive effect on your
academics or a negative effect? Explain your reason
☐Positive
__________________________________________________________________
7
Procedures used to collect data
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
☐Negative
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
14. What are some positive and negative effects of using social media based on
your personal experiences?
Positive:
☐ Awareness of worldwide issues
☐ Boost in self esteem
☐ Gained friendships
☐ Gained motivation for academics
Negative
☐ Developing FOMO (Fear of Missing out)
☐ Decline in Self Esteem
☐ Becoming antisocial/ self-isolating
☐ Disinterest for school
15. What was your average academic performance before being introduced to
social media?
☐ 65% and lower
☐ 66% - 75%
☐ 76% - 89%
8
☐90% - 100%
Procedures used to collect data
16. What is your average academic performance presently, after being introduced
to social media?
☐ 65% and lower
☐ 66% - 75%
☐ 76% - 89%
☐90% - 100%
17. What can be done to reduce the use of social media among young people?
☐Limited/controlled use of devices
☐ Spending more time with
friends
☐ Using traditional forms of communication
☐ Reading
☐ Joining clubs and being more physically active
18. What recommendations will you make to decrease the use of social media among
young people?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
9
Presentation and Explanation of Data
PROCEDURES USED TO COLLECT DATA
To conduct this SBA, a total of 30 questionnaires were printed and distributed to the
entire secondary department of Marian Academy using random sampling. Within the 11
classes of the secondary department, 3 copies were handed out to each to be completed
and recollected the following day. Among these classes, data was gathered amidst the
characteristics of an age group of 11 – 17 year olds, sexes of male and female, and the
common attendance at The Marian Academy.
10
Presentation and Explanation of Data
PRESENTATION AND EXPLANATION OF DATA
11
Presentation and Explanation of Data
12
Presentation and Explanation of Data
Number of Responses
Q.9 What factors contribute to the increased use
of social media by school aged children?
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
18
18
15
15
13
10
2
Covid 19
Increased
Leisure
Time
Online
Classes
Lack of
Reading
Supervision
Curiosity
Other
Contributing Factors
Figure 1 – Causes of social media use
Q.14 What are some positive and negative
effects of using social media based on your
personal experiences?
15
Awareness of worldwide
issues
24
Gained friendships
11
10
Boost in self esteem
20
12
12
10
Gained motivation for
academics
Figure 2 – Consequences of social media use
13
Presentation and Explanation of Data
Q.10 Have you experienced any
negative consequences from using
social media?
14; 47%
16; 53%
Yes
No
Figure 3 – Pie Chart showing those negatively affected by social media
Q.12 Does checking your device
constantly affect your concentration when
doing school related tasks?
Options
Not really, I regain self-control and focus
on my work
7
Severely, I end up getting distracted and
begin to do other things in addition to…
6
17
Moderately, but I can regain focus
0
5
10
15
20
Number of Responses
Figure 4 – Stacked Bar showing the those which concentration is affected by using social media
14
Presentation and Explanation of Data
Q17. What can be done to reduce the use of
social media among young people?
Number of Responses
Other
5
Reading
27
Spending more times with friends
35
Joining clubs and being more physcially…
Using traditional forms of communication
44
5
Limited/Controlled use of devices
12
0
10
20
30
Solutions
Figure 5 - olutions for excessive social media use
15
40
50
Analysis and Interpretation of Data
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Demographics. This study seeks to examine the impact of the use of social media on
students at Marian Academy. The sample consists of 30 students; 15 males and 15
females, which had an age range of 11 – 21 years.
Determining reasons for use of social media. From the study carried out,Throughout
the examination, the most common reason for social media use, is due to the quarantine
period during the covid 19 pandemic and the increased leisure time that accompanied it.
Despite those being the most common option with 39.6% of approval, curiosity and
online classes with 33% respectively, were close tied, research, lack of supervision and
other remained with 11%, 14.3% and 2.1% respectively. Ultimately the analysis of Figure
1 shows that elongated periods of downtime contribute mainly to the use of social media
among all ages.
the effect of social media content on children of certain age groups
When it came to the consequences, social media positively affected 53.3% of
students leaving the 46.7% who claim to be negatively affected. In terms of academic
performance there is seen to be a great decrease in positive attitude, leading to a similar
decrease in academic performance. Before the introduction of social media, the percent
rate of 76% – 89% was attained by the majority, however, after social media’s
introduction the leading percentage was reduced to 66% - 75%, having 40% of votes
within the secondary department. After further analysis, this steady reduction was caused
16
Analysis and Interpretation of Data
by lack of concentration due to the influence on children’s urges to constantly check their
devices.
whether social media has a negative impact
During the analysis of the data collected, it can be seen that social media has affected
53.3% of persons positively, and the remaining 46.7% negatively. As further explanation,
it was found that social media was advantageous in spreading awareness of worldwide
issues, gaining friendships, boosting self-esteem and gaining motivation for student’s
academics for 21.1%, 17.5%, 8.8% and 10.5% respectively and contradicting was
developing FOMO, self-esteem decline, self-isolation and disinterest for school affecting
10.5%, 8.8%, 9.6% and 13.2% persons each.
how to resolve ‘conflicts’ caused by social media’s influence. This study has shown
that social media is predominantly advantageous among secondary students at Marian
Academy. Though the rational has a close percentage to the statement being false,
students have indicated that increased physical activity and quality time with loved ones
will ultimately reduce the negative effects and dependency of social media among youth.
In addition to this, a popular opinion of ____________ was given as a contribution to
solving the conflict of negative social media effects among students
Conclusion.
17