1. The Influence of Social Media Use on Grade Point Average
Ashlyn Ingram
Amanda Barthell
Jinnifer Jenkins
Jennifer Pearson
Maria Reeves
Sociology 2301
Fall 2014

2. THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON GRADE POINT AVERAGE
Introduction
Social networks have evolved immensely over the past decade. Communication through
technological methods has served to increase networking initiatives, but can be very time
consuming. In regards to social media and education, studies have suggested that there are
adverse effects between social media use and the impact on grade point averages. Students
attempt to multi-task while studying which results in lower academic performance. Sites such as:
Twitter, Facebook, Vine, Snapchat and Instagram are now being used as primary sites to attain
information and are readily accessible through mobile devices that are popular throughout
undergraduate students. With these devices being accessible within academic environments they
also serve as distractions towards student involvement.
Dr. Alexander Astin proposed the developmental theory for college students focusing on
the concept of involvement, which he renamed engagement. Engagement focuses on the
interaction with peers and faculty as well as the investment of academic experience within a
student’s collegiate career. Although there are positive implications of social media within other
industries, there is a striking impact within education that proves to hinder student’s growth
within the classroom.
The purpose of this qualitative research is to find the correlation between social media
and its effects on grade point averages on Kennesaw State University’s student population. Does
the use of personal social media sites have a negative effect on academic achievement? Also,
what intervening variables supplement the use of social media within education and are they
positive or negative? Time management among college students plays an integral part within
study habits and academic achievement reducing multi-tasking. This particular research serves to
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3. THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON GRADE POINT AVERAGE
prove that a greater sense of time management rather than active participation and engagement in
social media leads to an increase in academic achievement.
Literature Review
In recent years, social media has become a big part of our everyday lives. A large
proportion of our population, especially young adults, is active on social media sites. According
to an article written by Amanda Lenhant, Kristen Purcell, Aaron Smith, and Kathryn Zickuhr,
young adults, individuals aged 18 to 31, are the most common users in the social media
community. Of the large number of participants, seventy-five percent of adult internet users
under age 25 have a profile on at least one social media network (Lenhard et al. 2010). Young
adults typically use social media as a way to stay connected with others and retrieve information.
However, social media has the ability to consume a significant amount of an individual’s time.
As many young adults are enrolled in some sort of higher education, pending this time on social
media can potentially take away from academic achievement.
Junco Reynol conducted a study regarding the relationship between a student’s use of
Facebook and their grade point average (GPA). In this study, data were collected by surveying
United States residents living in the northeastern part of the country. All participants were
students enrolled in a public university. A total of 1839 electronic surveys were completed.
Students were asked to approximate the amount of time a day they spent on Facebook and how
frequently they checked it by using a pull-down menu on their mobile devices. Participants were
asked to approximate the number of hours and minutes for these questions. Reynol received
permission from the participants to access their academic records and obtain their overall GPA.
Grade point averages were measured on a 4.0 scale.
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4. THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON GRADE POINT AVERAGE
The results from the survey concluded that the use of social media has a negative relation
regarding overall GPA. Heavy Facebook users spend less time preparing for class which leads to
a lower GPA than a student who uses Facebook less frequently.
Wade Jacobson also conducted a study regarding academic outcome and social media use
among university students. The sample was made up of 1,026 first year university students with
the average age of the sample being 19. In this study, the average student GPA was 3.28 based
on a 4.0 scale. However, the academic achievement was measured by self-reported GPA. Sixty-
two percent of participants reported using a form of non-academic social media while in class,
studying, or doing homework. From this information, it is safe to say that social media is a huge
distraction regarding academics. Results from this study show that students spend (daily) about
52 minutes using Facebook, over half an hour e-mailing, about 10 minutes online chatting and
about 45 minutes text messaging.
In regards to this study, Jacobson states (2011), "Supportive of our hypothesis and
consistent with prior research, our findings indicate that electronic media use is negatively
associated with grades." However, a limitation regarding this study was the amount of
undeliverable e-mails containing the 3-day log, therefore, the response rate was relatively low.
As we can see, social networking continues to grow and is becoming more and more
popular among college students. There are many reasons, easier access to networks, for this
increase. One of these tools include smartphones. Smartphones are now able to access the
internet which allows students to participate in social networking very easily, even throughout
class time.
Matthew Stollak conducted another study that looked at the differences in social media
use between students with smartphones and students without them. He found that students with
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5. THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON GRADE POINT AVERAGE
smart phones spent significantly more time engaging in social media than those who do not own
one. He also looked at the students’ academic achievement; there was no significant difference in
the use of social media pertaining to one's year in college. In terms of GPA, the only social
media site with a negative relationship between one's grades and social media use was Facebook.
However, because Facebook continues to be one of the most used social networks, this is not
surprising.
Though these studies mentioned above lead to similar conclusions, more research needs
to be done in the area, as we feel that there is not any research that includes specific details
regarding causes of social media use, how often participants are active, what networks are most
used, etc. Our proposed research will incorporate these questions.
Theory
In 1984, Alexander Astin proposed a developmental theory for college students that
focused on the concept of involvement, which he later renamed engagement. Astin defined
engagement as ‘the amount of physical and psychological energy that the student devotes to the
academic experience’ (Astin 1984).
Today, engagement is conceptualized as the time and effort students invest in educational
activities that are empirically linked to desired college outcomes. Engagement encompasses
various factors, including investment in the academic experience of college, interactions with
faculty, involvement in co-curricular activities, and interaction with peers.
Astin concluded that if a college student invests time into their academics, they will do
well. But by investing their time into other things, they will not do well (Astin 1984).
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Variables
Social media is the independent variable of the proposed research. It is an ordinal
variable, and can be defined in our study as a student’s perception of the usage of electronic
communication through online communities such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat,
and Vine. It is measured by how often the student is active on networks. The scale includes
never, almost never, 1-3 times a week, 4-6 times a week, 1-5 times a day, 6-9 times a day, and
more than 10 times a day.
Grade point average (GPA) is the dependent variable in the proposed research. This is an
ordinal variable, and refers to the actual Kennesaw State University grade point average of the
student. It ranges from a 4.0 to below a 2.0.
Classification is a control variable in the proposed research. This is a nominal variable,
and refers to the class ranking. Classification options include freshman, sophomore, junior,
senior, and graduate student.
How long the student has been using the internet is a control variable in the proposed
research. This is an ordinal variable, and ranges from never used it, less than six months, six to
eleven months, one to three years, four to six years, and seven or more years.
We are also including sex, age, and marital status as control variables.
Methods
We will be collecting the data from Kennesaw State University in March of 2015. By
conducting the research at this time, students will be comfortable in their classrooms, schedule,
and assignments. This will allow for accurate perceptions regarding social media use, time
management, and academic achievement.
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For the proposed research, we plan to be collect surveys through a random sample. To
ensure that the sample of students is random, we will request that the registrar’s office send out a
campus-wide email to every student with our survey attached. This will allow us to collect
responses from specific student groups that may or may not skew the data.
Our survey will consist of 22 questions. This questionnaire has been pretested on ten
subjects, and has been adjusted to provide clear, understandable questions.
Before beginning the survey students will be provided with a consent form that explains
that they are freely volunteering to participate in the proposed research, will remain anonymous,
and are free to stop the survey at any time if they wish. Students will be informed that by
proceeding with the completion and submission of the survey, they agree to all things listed on
the consent form.
Both, the survey and consent form are attached to this proposed research.
Although our sample will be well representative of Kennesaw State University’s student
population, our proposed research will not be representative of any other university. Another
ethical issue that we will face with the proposed research is that we are only selecting one time of
the year to complete the research, as social media use and academic achievement may vary
throughout the year. We intend on collecting more data with the same research techniques at
other times of the year in the future.
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Bibliography
Astin, Alexander W. 1984. "Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education."
Journal of college student personnel 25(4): 297-308.
Lenhart, Amanda, Kristen Purcell, Aaron Smith, and Kathryn Zickuhr. 2010. “Social Media and
Mobile Internet Use among Teens and Young Adults.” Pew Internet and American Life
Project, February 3, 2010 (http://www.pewinternet.org/2010/02/03/social-media-and-
young-adults/).
Jacobson, Wade and Renata Forste. 2011. “The Wired Generation: Academic and Social
Outcomes.” CYBERPSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 14(5):
225-280.
Reynol, Junco. 2012. “Too much face and not enough books: The relationship between multiple
indices.” Computers in Human Behavior 28(1): 187-198.
Stollak, Matthew, Amy Vandenberg, Andie Burklund, and Stephanie Weiss. 2011. “Getting
Social: The Impact of Social Networking Usage on Grades among College Students.”
ASBBS 18(1): 859-865.
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9. THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON GRADE POINT AVERAGE
The Relationship between the Use of Social Media and Student Grades
I consent to participating in the research project titled The Relationship between the Use of
Social Media and Student Grades, conducted by Amanda Barthell, Jinnifer Jenkins, Jennifer
Pearson, Maria Reeves, and Ashlyn Ingram, students at Kennesaw State University. My
participation is completely voluntary, I may request to withdraw my consent at any time and all
information retrieved will be discarded, removed, and returned to me.
I also understand the following:
1) The purpose for this study is to better examine the relationship between the use of social
media and grades. Using a distribution of quantitative surveys, the purpose of this study
is to better understand the effect of using social media networks, while also enrolled in
university, has on a student’s grade point average.
2) Throughout the survey, the participant will be asked numerous questions which pertain to
demographics (sex, age, university classification, etc) along with personal perception
based questions regarding social media usage and study habits. All questions asked are
designed to be simple with no required preparations. The researched asks that you answer
honestly and to the best of your ability.
3) There is no known risks to the participation of this research study.
4) Participation is entirely confidential. All persons that participate in the research study will
remain unidentifiable, and all information collected will be destroyed after the study is
complete.
5) The purpose of this research has been explained and my participation is entirely
voluntary. I have the right to stop participating in the study at any time without penalty. I
understand that the research entails no known risks. I also understand that my responses
are not being recorded in any individually identifiable form. By anonymously completing
this survey, I am agreeing to participate in this research study.
Questions or problems regarding this project should be addressed to:
Dr. Eliza Markley
Professor of Sociology
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Kennesaw State University
E-mail: emarkley@kennesaw.edu
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Survey
Please circle the selection that best represent your answers for questions 1-3.
1. To what degree is studying a priority for you?
Not a priority
Low priority
Medium priority
High priority
Essential
2. How often do you study on a daily basis?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Very Often
3. I have a strong sense of time-management.
Very untrue
Untrue
Neutral
True
Very true
Please check the boxes that best represent your answers for questions 4-7.
QUESTION Never Almost
Never
1-3
Times
a Week
4-6
Times
a
Week
1-5
Times a
Day
6-9
Times a
Day
More
than 10
times a
day
4. How often do you use campus
computers to check social media
networks?
5. How often do you check your
electronic device for social media
updates while on campus?
6. How often do you access at least one
social network?
7. How often do you access two or more
social networks?
Please check the boxes that best represent your answers for questions 8-13.
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11. THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON GRADE POINT AVERAGE
QUESTION Very
Unlikely
Unlikely Neutral Likely Very
Likely
8. How likely are you to log off of your social
network accounts before a class begins?
9. How likely are you to check Facebook
during class?
10. How likely are you to check Twitter during
class?
11. How likely are you to check Instagram
during class?
12. How likely are you to check Snapchat
during class?
13. How likely are you to check Vine during
class?
Please circle the selection that best represent your answers for questions 14-22.
14. How many student organizations are you involved in at Kennesaw State University?
None
1
2
3
4 or More
15. If you are involved in a student organization on campus, do you also obtain information
from the organization’s social media networks?
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12. THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON GRADE POINT AVERAGE
N/A
Yes
No
16. What is your GPA?
4.0-3.5
3.4-3.0
2.9-2.5
2.4-2.0
Below 2.0
17. What classification are you?
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Graduate Student
18. How long have you been using the internet?
Never used it
Less than 6 months
6 to 11 months
1 to 3 years
4 to 6 years
7 years or more
19. What is your age?
25 or younger
26-40
41-55
56 or older
20. What is your sex?
Male
Female
I do not wish to identify my sex
21. What is your marital status?
Married
Widowed
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Divorced
Single
22. Do you believe that your academic achievements are a reflection of your activity on social
media networks? Please explain your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_____
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