Effects of cellphone use of freshmen students

People are now in a technology-dependent generations were everything is just a click away. Technology enables them to do things that they could not do then. These advance technologies such as computers, laptops, and cell phone are tools which give them many opportunities in acquisition of knowledge, competencies and skills relevant to the demand of the modern world. Cell phone is now indispensable; students and youngsters are the leading users of these viral gadgets, in such these gadgets is neither good nor bad but depends upon the use to which it was put to.

Cellular phones is a device that can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link while moving around a wide geographic area and due to the fast-developing technology today, cell phones are upgraded making it more dynamic. Cell phones are not only used to communicate but now a handy source of entertainment and a means of socialization. It enables individuals to send short message services (SMS), make out-going calls, play games, listen to music, and watch videos even to programs and surf the internet anytime, anywhere.

However, like any other great inventions, cell phones are twinned with its drawbacks too. According to Saud (2013) that cell phone is the main cause of distraction in class. It has been compared to pacifiers for students. It’s the first thing they see in the morning and the last at night. Others can afford to enter classes bringing their papers and pen but never forgets their phones. Students use cell phones in class, despite knowing that its adversity affects their concentration and brings distraction of all kinds. They spend less time in other activities such as studying lessons, doing home works, reading books, playing sports and socializing with family and friends. This gadget becomes threat to student’s study habits and school performance.

From the stated views, the writers are motivated to study in finding out what are the effects of cell phone use to the study habits of freshmen and junior education students of BISU CLARIN. Freshmen are new to the tertiary level thus, they are new to the environment and are fresh from their high school years were everything is done through spoon-feeding while Juniors are in their crucial level of their course were internships are done and rigid academic compliance are needed. The writers anticipate that this study could give recommendation and awareness to students regarding their use of cell phones as it affects their study habits.

Literature Background

This study is legally based on Article XIV, Section 10 of the 1987 New Constitution of the Philippines which stated that Science and Technology are essential for National Development invention, innovation, and their utilization in order to support indigenous, appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities to the application of country’s productive system and national life.

This study is also anchored on Republic Act No. 7687, an Act instituting a Science and Technology Scholarship Program and for other purpose. Section 2 which declares the policy of the state to promote the development of the country’s Science and Technology manpower in line with economics development and to provide the capability required in the area of research and development and innovation as well as their utilization.

Technology has transformed the lifestyle of the youths today. Students are widely exposed to advance technologies such as computers, laptops and most especially cellular phones. These gadgets are useful in gathering information, communicating people and making work easier and faster.

Cellular phone is a circuit-driven gadget loaded with either prepaid or postpaid airtime value (Derosahento, 2007). It is one of the major necessities for communication today. In fact, even a little child knows how to use this gadget and even a poor man can afford to buy one (Anuta et al., 2013). Furthermore, as according to Castillo (2011), it is the most high-speed digital voice transmitter that can send text messages, pictures, graphics, sounds, music, email, and that is internet ready.

As technology improves, so as cell phones evolves. With all the great deals of its uses, many are hooked with this gadget. According to a report by the Business Monitor International (BMI), the number of mobile subscribers in the Philippines is expected to reach 117 million by the end of 2016 (Garcia, 2012). Added by Derosahento (2007), it conquered all generations from a 6-year old kid who hardly enunciate words to a 60-year old woman who wears her eyeglasses.

Study habits are important towards success in school, it foster feelings of competence, develops positive attitudes and helps students realize that they can control how well they do in school and in life (Patoc et al., 2008). It is the mean that link interest and enthusiasm to knowledge and understanding on the learning process (Acain et al., 2011). However, as these new technology is introduce, students are driven away from their study. They also become enslaved by the cell phone-idol that when this little God demands their attention, sleep is disturbed, grades are affected and intimate moments are interrupted (Serra, 2012).

In Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory, every student have this multiple intelligence. Therefore, every student has different way to acquire knowledge (Corpuz, 2007). In such every students has their own way of learning, thus, every student needs different learning styles.

Psychologists who studied cell phone used reported that it leads to anxiety, behavioral problems and distraction in school; teens think that they are addicted to cell phone and get depressed when they can’t use it (Gittleman, 2011).

According to Gagne’s Condition of Learning, there are several types or levels of learning. He named five categories, one is Attitude; this refers to the personal actions based on internal states of understanding in feeling. It is a persons’ likes and dislikes (Corpuz, 2007). The significant or worst implication of using cell phone depends upon the student’s attitude (Anuta et at., 2013). It is up to the students if such gadget will affect their study habits. It is their own intention whether to use cell phone in a positive or negative way with regards to their study habits. Cell phones are tools; as such they are neither good nor bad (Cater,2012).

Kurt Lewin’s field theory basic premise is that every object exist in a “field of forces” that move to change it, define it, or give it a degree of stability and substance (Bustos, 1996). In Lewin’s view, the ideas, expectations, feelings, attitudes and needs of the individual constitutes the internal forces; while everything in the physical world including other human beings, with which the internal forces interact at a given moment constitute the external forces. Changes of these forces are likely to result chances of behavior (Bustos, 1996).

In Educational Act of 1982, the Duties and Responsibilities of students is emphasized. This states that the duties and responsibilities of students includes holding the academic integrity of the school, achieving and abiding by the responsibilities and moral integrity. It means that the students must do their best to make their Alma Mater and society proud of them; gaining good grades, personality and reputation.

In a study by Chuck Martin (2010), it was revealed that in 384 females and 323 males; 89% of females use their phones for texting and 91% for calling while 85% of males use their phone in texting and 90% in calling.

In the same study, 116 freshmen and 150 junior students; it was found out that 87% of freshmen use their phones for texting and 93% for calling while 83% of juniors use it for texting and 92% for calling.

Furthermore, it was found out that an average adult spends 65 minutes a day on their mobile phone while only 44 minutes with printed media-26 minutes with newspaper and 18 minutes with magazine.
According to Derosahento (2007), cell phone users become intoxicated which caused massive damage to morality; some created nude graphics, malicious chain message or outrageous ringing tone that dehumanize people. Furthermore, on a survey conducted by Time Mobility Poll with 5,000 respondents: nearly a quarter of males aging from 18 to 35 have sent a sexually provocative pictures and videos (Gibbs, 2012).

An internet survey entitled, Cell Phone in Class: Student Survey revealed that 99% of students today have cell phones; 97 of them bring their cell phones to class every day. 91% of them set their phones to vibrate and only 9% of them turn their phones off (Weigner, 2013). On another national poll, 35% of students admits that they use cell phones on cheating (Gibbs,2013). Some took pictures of test papers and send them to friends, while others have their cell phones during exams and classes. In fact, on the same survey by Weigner (2013), 92% said that they send and receive messages every day during classes.

Some students have the habit of keeping their phones with them inside libraries (Dalton, 2014). For Castillo (2001), cell phone is a monster that robbed students away from what they ought to do. Instead of paying attention on their books, they rather chose to play with their phones. According to the New York-based market research film, an average adult spends 65 minutes a day on their mobile phones and only 44 minutes on printed materials (Dalton, 2013). These results to students to spend less time on reading even on writing, as Dr. Allan Farnazo, Department of Education (DepEd)-Region 12 assistant regional director says, “jejemon excess because we allow youths today to use cell phone:. These will adversely affect students reading and writing skills as well as their study habit (Barriga, 2010).

Many places restrict the use of phones due to the destruction it brings. Using cell phone leads on cheating on test, harassing other people causing threats and facilitating gossips (Nolledo, 1997). As stated in BISU Student Manual III. School Policies,C. On the Campus, all students are required to (3.) avoid using cell phone during classes.

In November 2003, Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus issued a memorandum that bans the use of cell phone on class hours. It was imposed due to the increasing number of students caught cheating during examination. It noted that the use of cell phones often distracts teachers and students when a class goes on (Tandoc,2009).

Aside from cell phone, the Education Officials and some parents expressed worries regarding such gadgets that may pose distraction and behavioral problems. As Farnazo lamented, “it is quite expensive to make our children happy today” (Barriga,2010). He expressed his disappointment towards the loss of rich cultural values and traditions.

This study is based from the recommendation of Anuta et al.( 2013), in their study of the effects of cell phone used to the academic performance of BISU Clarin students. This study is to find out the effects of cell phone used to the study habits of BISU Clarin students.

THE PROBLEM

Statement of the problem

The primary objective of this study is to determine the effects of cellphone use to the study habits of the BEED-Generalist Freshmen and Junior. 1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of?

1.1. Age,
1.2. Sex,
1.3. Availability of Cell phone
2. How many hours in a day the respondents spends time in the following:
2.1. Using cellphone
2.2. Studying lesson
3. What are the effects of using cell phone to their study habits?
4. Is there a significant correlation between the effects of cellphone use to their study habits?

Hypothesis

The analysis of the data would lead to the acceptance or rejection of this hypothesis. There is no correlation between the use of cell phone of the BEED Freshmen and Junior students to their study habits.

Significance of the Study

This study will be valuable to the following:

Students. This will serve s their eye opener towards their overuse of cell phone that affects their study habits, health and lifestyle. This will also lead them to manage their time using cell phones when studying as well.

Parents. This will awaken their concern on health risks and study habits of their children which are then influenced by the uses of cell phone.

Teachers.This will help them administer steps and policies as remedy to the problem in overuse of cell phone. They may encourage their pupils to acquire study habits and in discriminate information on the proper use of cell phone.

Administration. This will help the administration, faculty and staff to find programs and designs plans to resolve the problems. This will also serve them as a challenge to be a model of the proper use of this gadgets.

Writer. This will serve as the basis to other writers of the same topic as they go through in conducting their study. The data gathered in this study is suitable frame of reference for further development of the study that can offer advantage to all.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Design

To achieve the purpose of the study, the writers will employ the descriptive survey method through the use of questionnaire as the main tool in gathering data to the study. The questionnaire is in checklist form where the respondents are made to reflect their personal level of judgment and intensity of feeling of the different items included in its aspects of the problem. The writers will interview and observed students to come up with a concrete and reliable results.

Adequate and accurate interpretation was made about such data with the aid of statistical treatment. The weighted mean will be used in order to determine the hours spent to the respondents in terms of using cell phone and studying lessons and the effects of using cell phone to their study habits. Chi-Square Test of Contingency will be used to determine the significant degree of correlation between the effects of using cell phone to their study habits.

Environment and Participants

The study will be conducted at Bohol Island State University, Poblacion Norte, Clarin, Bohol. It is one hundred meters away from the highway going to the seaport.

The writers select this institution to save expenses and also the students on the school are the most capable respondents that the researchers thought. This is also for them to easily access and trace some important data that they need in this research.

The respondents of this study will be the BEED freshmen and junior students of this University. The writer chose the school to conduct their study because they want to know whether the cell phone use of the students affect their study habits.

Instrument

The writer will use questionnaire as a tool in gathering the data. The questionnaire will be made in order to elicit information needed in the investigation.

Procedure

The questionnaire will be distributed to the respondents with the permission from the College Director then the writers themselves do the retrieval of the questionnaires in the data set by the respondents. Interviews will also be conducted to some respondents to supplement the data being gathered and to verify doubts that will be created if there are unanswered items which are overlooked by their respondents.

Statistical Treatment

To analyze the data, it willcorrelate and tabulated carefully for easy comprehension and interpretation.