Academic use of Social Media among students of University

of the Punjab, Lahore

Muahammad Zahid Raza1
Senior Librarian, Department of Social Work,
University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Dr. Shahid Soroya2
Chief Librarian, IT University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Shakeel Ahmad Babar3
Senior Librarian, School of Biological Sciences,
University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

Abstract

With the invention of the social media, the whole community

of the world has integrated into a globalized virtual
community. This virtual community is also increasing in
Pakistan. The present study has been conducted for the
objectives to examine the academic use of social media by
the students, to find out the opinions of students on using
social media for academic activities and to explore the
problems faced by the students in using social media for
academic purposes. The study was quantitative in nature and
was delimited to undergraduate and post graduate students of
12 faculties of University of the Punjab, Lahore. Survey
research method was used to collect data through
questionnaire which was adopted with minor modifications.
Stratified random sampling with equal allocation technique
was used to collect data. Fifty students from each faculty
were selected through self administered survey. The present
study concluded that 100% students of University of the
Punjab have access to internet and their favorite social media
is Facebook. The results of the present study were very
encouraging that majority of the students 81.4% were using
social media for academic purposes. Majority of the students
were using social media for viewing course schedule,
accessing course notes, communicating with course students,
using online discussion tools and using social media quizzes.
The present study concluded that majority of the students
88.7% had an opinion that social media usage can be useful
in their courses and were of the view that social media usage
can improve communication between students and teachers.
The present study concluded that majority of the students
89.5% were feeling that shortfall of electricity was a big
problem in using social media. Non availability of UPS,
lack of advanced IT skills, lack of security and privacy,
unwanted attention from others, slow speed of internet were
major problems mentioned by the students of University of
the Punjab, Lahore while using social media. Researcher has
recommended that proper facilities like IT skills, training
workshops, Wi-Fi facilities, Laptops, desktops etc. should be
provided to students so that they can use social media
applications in more proper way in this age of globalization.
With the help of this study the researcher can extract better
outcomes regarding educational use of social media.
Educationists and Information technology professionals can
also have better understandings to make academic use of
social media more convenient and effective.
Keywords: Social networking sites, Internet, Web 2
Technology, Face Book, globalization, Virtual community.

1- Introduction
“The present study” will explore the facts about the
academic usage of social media among the students of
University of the Punjab, Lahore. The study will also find
the opinions of the students about social media as an
academic tool and their problems while using it. The current
study will be helpful for information technology
professionals as well as researchers to know that what are the
engagements of their clients in social media. The researcher
will be able to know that what type of social media
applications are being used by the students for academic
2
purposes. What type of problems are being faced by the
students while using social media for educational purposes?
This study will also focus on the opinions of the students
regarding social media usage for academic purposes.
With the help of this study the researcher can extract better
outcomes regarding educational use of social media.
Educationists and Information technology professionals can
also have better understandings to make academic use of
social media more convenient and effective.
1.1-Social Media
Kerpen1 defined “Social media is online text,
pictures, videos and links, shared amongst people and
organizations”.
1.2- Social Media use in Pakistan
Although internet access and use has expanded
throughout the world but situation in Pakistan is different.
Majority of the Pakistani population don’t use internet. Only
11% of people use internet but the trend to use it has
increased for the last two years. It is new development in
Pakistan that business organization are developing their
websites and are using online marketing systems and
software to promote their products. With the addition of
mobile need the future of internet and use of social media is
very bright in Pakistan.2
In Pakistan youth likes and use following social
media platforms excessively as like Facebook, Twitter,
MySpace, YouTube and etc. Social media usage have
impacts on students in the shape of learning and educational
knowledge sharing etc. The present society has no
importance without the presence of social media as it is the
age of globalization and integration of the societies because
of internet . Students have opportunities to interact and share
information in the forms of messages, videos, ideas,
photographs, articles etc.3

3
1.3 Academic use of Social Media
Social media have magnificent implications on
educational learning of students because it provides the
electronic learning environment using social media. Virtual
community is created by the students and they share their
knowledge freely. Students share their assignment, learning
experiences, research findings and academic problems.
Many reasons justify it that students use social media for
educational purposes. They use their expertise to share study
related knowledge and focus to solve their problems which
they face during their presence at their academic
institutions.4
Social media is the communication facilitator in this
digital era and facilitates in the integration of the societies
and knowledge, the students using it will wish to use this
technology for classrooms works and for higher education
purposes as well. The technology of the social media can
bridge the gap between electronic students and electronic
immigrants teachers as well.4

2-Research Objectives

This study will meet the following objectives.

 To examine the academic use of social media by the

students.
 To find out the opinions of students regarding social
media as an academic tool.
 To explore the problems faced by the students in
using social media for academic purposes.

4
3-Literature Review

Although many studies on the academic use of social

media are emerging but we will discuss here the studies
which are the latest and updated.

Selwyn5 explored that undergraduate students of UK

higher education institutions used internet for academic
purposes. Their academic activities were analyzed. The
study explored wider internet use of the students, access and
expertise of the students, gender, age, ethnic and education
level of the students, their year of study. After data analysis
it was revealed that academic use of internet is related to
gender and subject. The study therefore suggested that how
these differences could be minimized to make better
environment for ICT based learning facilities for all
undergraduate students.
Hung6 explored that how social networking
technology can enhance the learning and teaching
environment in higher education. Learner and teachers are
face to face to communicate knowledge. The 67 students of
two public sector Taiwan University were the main
population of this study who were enrolled in face to face
courses. Data analysis revealed that majority of the students
were have positive feeling towards e learning in environment
and e community tools. In this study the difficulties of the
learners and instructors have discussed and
recommendations have given for future studies.
Bosch7 identified that e learning has made much
easier the process of learning to the students and every
reading material and course notes could be downloaded at
single click. Study revealed that Facebook, wikis, You tube,
delicious, podcasts, wikis have Web 2 technology and have
5
much potential for e learning and teaching. It has been
concluded in the study that present e generation called digital
genres or net natives are reluctant to gain their education
through conventional methods of learnings. Lecturer
engagement with students has been practiced using
Facebook at University of Cap town. Qualitative interviews
and virtual ethnography methods have been used in this
study. Results of the study concluded that there are many
benefits of usage of Facebook in learning and teaching, you
can develop small educational communities for e learning
and sharing, to cope with certain challenges, ICT literacy,
access matters etc.
Madhusudhan8 explored the usage of Social
Networking Sites by research scholars of University of
Delhi for research purposes. In this quantitative study he
designed questionnaire and completed his research through
self administered survey. Results of the study concluded that
majority of the research scholars used social media sites for
enjoyment purpose but few also used for promoting each
others research. Most of the researchers responded that
Facebook and Research gate were best for academic
purposes. Study revealed that contemporary learning and
sharing was the main advantage of SNSs. Results of the
study found that some specialized academic SNSs were also
being used by majority of the research scholars for their
research.
Zabed and Jahan9 explored in his quantitative study
that student have positive approach towards academic use of
SNSs. Study concluded that on academic applications of
SNSs, there are some differences between students, all
students don’t use it for academic purpose because its usage
is not well defined. Study revealed that 97% students use
internet and out of which 95% student use SNSs. They use
SNSs to communicate with their friends as well as academic
sharing and learning experiences as well. SNSs usage
6
capable the students to develop their learning activities in
the world of globalization beyond the environment of class
rooms. Study revealed that many students were interested to
use SNSs for their educational purposes as well.
Bashir, Mahmood & Shafique10 explored the internet
use behavior of the students of University of the Punjab,
Lahore through survey. The results of the study concluded
that students use internet for course and research related
activities as well. They use internet at home and libraries and
did not avail any training or workshops facility regarding
internet use. Yahoo for e mail servicing and Google as
search engines were being used by the students.
Shafique, Anwar and Bushra 11 identified the trends
of social media among students of Islamiya University of
Bahawalpur through survey. The results of the study showed
that many social media sites ( Twitter, Blogger, Cite u like,
Wikis etc. ) were being used by the students for online
learning, research work, making social relations etc. It was
found that they had expertise in IT skills to use social media
applications, they had no any problem. Results of the study
provided the situation of students use of social media in
Pakistan and would be useful for future studies.
Hussain, Gulrez & Tahirkheli12 described in his
quantitative study that students have trend to use social
media for educational purposes. Students of Faculty of
Education, Islamiya University Bahawalpur were selected to
collect data through questionnaire. The study concluded that
majority (90%) of the social media users used face book.
The study concluded that students use social media for
developing academic relationships with their companions.
Learning experiences were being shared between students.
Study concluded that students use social media for getting
amusement, building new friends, course related knowledge
exchange, class room events, making educational groups and
enjoying their leisure time.
7
4-Research Methodology

A quantitative study using survey research method

has been used in this study. A questionnaire was used to
collect data. The questionnaire for the study was adopted
with minor modifications with the consent of the author S. M
Zabed, Professor , of Library and Information Science,
Dhaka University, Bangladesh . The instrument employs a
five-point Likert response scale. The population of this study
was the post graduate and undergraduate students of
University of the Punjab, Lahore. The target population was
post graduate and undergraduate students studying in
different departments / faculties of University of the Punjab,
Quaid-e-Azam campus and Allama Iqbal Campus Lahore.
One department was selected at random from each faculty.
From the selected departments 50 students (25 Post graduate
and 25 undergraduate students) were selected at random for
the purpose of obtaining data. Sample size was 600
postgraduate and undergraduate students of University of the
Punjab, Lahore. Stratified random sampling with equal
allocation technique has been used in this study. The
researcher adopted self-administered survey method to
collect data through questionnaire.

8
5-Data Analysis

(SPSS) Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Software

Version 20.0. was used to analyze the data. Every effort was
made to make data error free and then at the end it was
analyzed.

Table 1

Frequency and percentage results of students according to

gender and age groups

Gender f %

Male 192 39.1

Female 299 60.9

Age Groups

17-20 180 36.7

21-24 266 54.2

25-29 39 7.9

Table 1 concluded that 192(39.1%) male students of

all twelve Faculties of University of the Punjab were using
social media, 299(60.9%) female students were using,
180(36.7%) students of age group 17-20 were using social
media,266(54.2%) students of age group of 21-24 were using
social media and 39(7.9%) students of age group 25-29 were
using social media

9
Table 2

Responses of university students about using social media

for course related activities

Sr Statements MOR OFTE Occasion Rar Nev

# E N ally e er
OFTE (%) (%) (% (%)
N )
(%)
35 Accessing 46 35.4 11.2 5 2.4
course notes
36 Viewing 24.3 42.3 20.4 7.9 5
course
schedule
37 Communica 11.9 30.3 23.5 19. 14.7
ting with 6
course
teachers
38 Communica 22.8 41.8 16.6 12 6.8
ting course
students
39 Online tools 13.8 24.3 23 22. 16.2
with 8
teachers and
students
40 Online tools 14.2 30.9 21.7 18. 14.4
without 8
teachers
41 Social 16.2 29.2 23.5 17. 13.4
media 8
quizzes
42 SM games 13.6 21 23.6 20. 21.7

10
 related to 1
course
43 Joining SM 19.5 32.4 20.6 13. 14.4
group for 1
courses

Table 2 revealed that 81.4% students are agree or

strongly agree to use social media for accessing course notes
and other materials and 7.4% students are disagree or
strongly disagree to use social medial for accessing course
notes and other materials.66.6% students are agree or
strongly agree to use social media for viewing course
schedule and 12.9% students are disagree or strongly
disagree to use social media for viewing course
schedule.42.2% students are agree or strongly agree to
participate in social media to communicate with course
teachers and 34.3% students are disagree or strongly
disagree to participate in social media to communicate with
course teachers. 64.6% students are agree or strongly agree
to participate in social media to communicate with course
students and 18.8% are disagree or strongly disagree to
participate in social media to communicate with course
students. 38.1% students are agree or strongly agree to use
online discussion tools with teachers and students and 39%
are disagree or strongly disagree to use online discussion
with students and teachers. 45.1% students are agree or
strongly agree to use online discussion tools with our
teachers and 33.2% students are disagree or strongly
disagree to use online discussion tools without teachers.
45.4% students are agree or strongly agree to use course
related social media quizzes and 31.2% students are disagree
or strongly disagree to use course related social media
quizzes.34.6% students are agree or strongly agree to use
social media games related to course material and 41.8%
11
students are disagree or strongly disagree to use social media
games related to course.51.9% students are agree or strongly
agree to joining social media group for courses and 27.5
students disagree or strongly disagree to joining social media
group for courses.

Table 3

Responses of university students about opinions of students

regarding social media as an academic tool.

Sr Statements Strong Agr Neutr Disagr Strong

# ly ee al ee ly
Agree (%) (%) (%) Disagr
(%) ee
(%)
44 SM useful 44.9 43.8 7.7 2.8 9
for courses
45 Improve 33.9 49.9 12.9 2.6 .7
communicat
ion teacher
& students
46 Improve 36.1 48.6 12 2.2 1.1
communicat
ion among
course
students
47 SM 35.4 42.2 16.8 4.4 1.1
collaborate
higher
education
courses
48 Don’t want 7 12.7 18.6 38.1 23.6
use SM for
my courses

12
49 SM helpful 35.4 40.9 17.5 4.4 1.8
for higher
education
courses
50 Create 19.9 32.4 27.4 14.9 5.5
separate
account SM

Table 3 identified that 88.7% students are agree or

strongly agree that social media usage can be useful in their
courses and 11.8% students are disagree or strongly disagree
that social media usage can be useful in their courses.83.8%
students are agree or strongly agree that social media usage
can improve interaction and communication between
students and teachers and 3.3% students are disagree or
strongly disagree that social media usage can improve
communication between students and teachers. 84.7%
students are agree or strongly agree that social media can
improve interaction among students in a course and 3.3%
students are disagree or strongly disagree that social media
can improve interaction among students in a course. 77%
students are agree or strongly agree that social media can be
used to help students in collaboration higher education
courses and 5.5% are disagree or strongly disagree that
social media can be used to help students in collaboration
higher education courses. 19.7% students are agree or
strongly agree that that they don’t want to use social media
for their courses and 61.7% students are disagree or strongly
disagree that they don’t want to use social media for their
courses. 76.3% students are agree or strongly agree that
social media would be helpful in higher education courses
and 20.4% students are disagree or strongly disagree that
social media would be helpful in higher education courses.
52.3% students are agree or strongly agree that they would
13
create separate account in social media for use in their
courses and 20.4% students are disagree or strongly disagree
that the would create separate account for use in their
courses.

Table 4

Respondents of university students about problems faced

using social media.

Sr Statemen Strongl Agre Neutr Disagr Strongl

# ts y e al ee y
Agree (%) (%) (%) Disagr
(%) ee
(%)
51 Shortfall 53.6 35.9 5.9 3.9 .7
electricit
y
52 No UPS 23.6 45.5 17.7 9.4 3.7
53 Non 16.4 25.2 17.7 28.4 12.3
availabili
ty of
Internet
54 Wastage 15.5 27.4 27.1 24.7 5.3
of time
55 Lack of 13.8 35.4 24.7 19.5 6.6
IT Skills
56 Privacy 15.1 37.4 23.6 19.9 3.9
concerns
57 Teachers 16.2 28.2 27.8 24.1 3.7
don’t
socialize
wd
students
58 Teachers 14.4 28.7 26 25.8 5

14
 not
responds
59 Unwante 18.8 34.1 28.7 15.8 2.6
d
attention
60 Students 37.1 17.1 17.1 22.9 5.7
discoura
ge course
discussio
n
61 Speed of 31.9 31.7 18.4 13.1 4.8
internet
is slow

Table 4.10 indicated that 89.5% students are agree

or strongly agree that shortfall of electricity is a big problem
using social media and 4.6% students are disagree or
strongly disagree that shortfall of electricity is a problem.
69.1% students are agree or strongly agree that non
availability of UPS is a problem and 13.1% students are
disagree or strongly disagree that non availability of UPS is a
problem.41.6% students are agree or strongly agree that non
availability of internet is a problem and 40.7% are disagree
or strongly disagree that non availability of internet is a
problem.40.9% students are agree or strongly agree that
social media usage is a wastage of time and 30% students are
disagree or strongly disagree that social medial usage is a
wastage of time.48.2% students are agree or strongly agree
that lack of advanced IT skills is a problem and 26.1% are
disagree or strongly disagree that lack of advanced IT skills
is a problem. 52.5% students are agree or strongly agree that
lack of security and privacy concern is a problem using
social media and 23.8% are disagree or strongly disagree that
lack of security and privacy concern is a problem using
15
social media.44.4% students are agree or strongly agree that
teachers don’t socialize with the students and 27.8% students
are disagree or strongly disagree that teachers don’t socialize
with the students. 43.1% students are agree or strongly agree
that course related questions are not responded well by the
teachers and 30.8% students are disagree or strongly
disagree that course related questions are not responded well
by the teachers. 52.9% students are agree or strongly agree
that unwanted attention from others is a problem using social
media and 18.4% students are disagree or strongly disagree
that unwanted attention from others is a problem using social
media. 54.2% students are agree or strongly agree that
students discourage course related conversation and 17.9%
are disagree or strongly disagree that students discourage
course related conversation. 63.6% students are agree or
strongly agree that speed of internet is slow and 17.9%
students are disagree or strongly disagree that speed of
internet is slow.

6-Conclusions and Recommendations of the Study

The results of the present study were very

encouraging that majority of the students 81.4% were using
social media for academic purposes and were sharing course
notes with their friends and classmates. Majority of the
students were using social media for viewing course
schedule and were engaged with their classmates for
academic purposes. However majority of the students were
not completely involve to communicate with course teachers.
Majority of the students were using online discussion tools
and social media quizzes for academic purposes.

The present study concluded that majority of the

students 88.7% had an opinion that social media usage can
be useful in their courses, majority of the students 83.8%

16
were understanding that social media usage can improve
communication between students and teachers. It was also
concluded in the study that majority of the students had
opinions that social media can improve communication
among students in a course. Majority of the students revealed
that social media can be used to help students in
collaboration higher education courses and they would create
separate account in social media for academic purposes.

The present study concluded that majority of the

students 89.5% were agreed that shortfall of electricity was a
big problem in using social media. Majority of the students
mentioned that non availability of UPS was also a problem.
Lack of advanced IT skills, lack of security and privacy,
unwanted attention from others, slow speed of internet were
major problems mentioned by the students of University of
the Punjab, Lahore. It was also concluded that majority of
the students mentioned that course related conversation is
discouraged by the students.

On the basis of the study findings it is recommended that IT

skills of the students should be enhanced through different
programs and workshops. It is also recommended that
facilities of internet including Wi-Fi should be made
available in the departments for the students. Government
should continue Laptop scheme for the new generations so
that they could also avail the facility of internet in this age of
globalization. Different training programs should be
introduced for the students to teach social media applications
for academic purposes. Faculty members should also be
motivated to socialize with the students in response to
educational or academic queries of the students. UPS/
generator facility for the users of the social media should be
made available on priority basis so that any interruption
could not disturb the information seekers.
17
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