ABSTRACT
This study, conducted at Binulho Elementary School, Javier, Leyte investigated the effects of smartphone use on the academic performance of intermediate pupils. Using descriptive and correlational methods, data were gathered from 30 respondents through surveys and statistical analysis.
Smartphones have become a ubiquitous tool in the modern world, successfully replacing desktop computers for several activities due to their portability and computing abilities (Haleem et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to understand how these devices affect pupils' academic performance. While existing literature has extensively explored this relationship in university settings, there is a recognized research gap concerning the specific impact on elementary school students. This study therefore aimed to filling this gap by focusing on the intermediate level.
Results revealed that smartphone use had a moderate impact across various factors, including parental supervision, socioeconomic status, access to learning resources, study habits, and purpose of use. While smartphones supported learning and organization, they also posed distractions, especially when used for non-academic activities. The average academic performance of the pupils remained high, with a mean grade of 89.13. Correlation analysis showed moderately positive relationships with age and sex, and a moderately negative relationship with grade level, though none were statistically significant. The findings highlight the need for structured interventions to guide responsible smartphone use and support academic success.
Keywords: smartphone use, academic performance, parental supervision, socioeconomic status, study habits, digital literacy
INTRODUCTION
Smartphones are the new generation of mobile phones; they have emerged over the last few years and already have conquered the market. Smartphones with their mini keyboards are not just phones, but have computer functions as email, calendar and address book, and office programs for reading and editing (Kohler, 2023). The multimedia phone features such as camera, video, sound recordings or podcasting is advanced and can compete with specialized equipment. Smartphones can be customized with new software, and the variety of these programs is increasing (TECNO, 2020; Nuhel, 2021). The social communication platforms (like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.), GPS functions and games are especially popular.
The aim of this study is to know how using smartphones affects pupils’ academic performance. In these advancements, a smartphone is a device, similar to a computer operating system, having computing abilities and connectivity options. These were released in 2000, and from that period they became some popular and desirable gadgets for everyone (Haleem et al., 2022). Smartphones have successfully replaced desktop computers for a number of activities because it’s a small smart device that everyone can easily keep inside a pocket (Limniou, 2021). It has become an integral part of today's generation in every aspect of life especially for students and youngsters who are the major users or consumers of smartphones (Hossain, 2019).
As defined by Obadofin et al. (2020), performance as the obvious expression or demonstration of sympathetic, ideas, skills and knowledge of a person and planned grade clearly indicate the performance of a student. So, student’s academic performance is given more emphasis and keeping in view all the factors adversely or positively impact on their academic performance.
CONTACT US FOR THE FULL COPY.
