UTILIZATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study investigated utilization of social media and academic performance of student with special needs in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State. The study adopted the correlational research design. The study was guided by five research questions and five null hypotheses. The population of the study comprised of 302 special needs students in special and inclusive schools in Port Harcourt Metropolis. The sample size was 172 special needs students determined through Taro Yamane scientific method. The simple random sampling technique was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire, titled: “Social Media Utilization and Academic Performance Questionnaire’’ (SMUAP)”. The instrument was validated by the supervisor and experts in Guidance and Counselling. The reliability of the instrument was determined through test re-test method which yielded a reliability index of 0.80 for WhatsApp utilization subscale, 0.73 for Facebook utilization sub-scale, 0.79 for Instagram utilization sub-scale, 0.84 for Snapchat utilization sub-scale, 0.75 for TikTok utilization subscale and 0.82 for academic performance. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Statistics was used to answer the research questions and test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that there was a shows a negatively weak correlation between utilization of WhatsApp utilization of Facebook, utilization of Instagram, utilization of Snapchat, utilization of Tiktok and academic performance of student with special needs in Port Harcourt Metropolis. It further revealed that there was significant relationship between utilization of WhatsApp utilization of Facebook, utilization of Instagram, utilization of Snapchat, utilization of Tiktok and academic performance of student with special needs in Port Harcourt Metropolis, in Rivers State. It was recommended among others that; Parents and guardians should serve as a watchdog to their children on the usage of social networking sites since abusive usage of such sites have detrimental effect on academic performance.