MOBILE PHONE USAGE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF

STUDENTS OF LILA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Galleros, Camille P.

Baguinaon, Sunny Jr. A.

Banac, Jevin C.

Cerada, Jenesa O.

Dahiroc, Reyjane R.

Gamorot, Mikee Samantha G.

Maturan, Karen B.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

LILA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Municipality of Lila

October, 2019
MOBILE PHONE USAGE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF

STUDENTS OF LILA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

A Thesis Presented to
the Principal and Faculty
Senior High School
Lila National High School

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirement for the Subject
Practical Research 2

by
THE RESEARCHERS
October, 2019
Background of the Study

Mobile phones have become the most used and popular mean of

communication and almost an essential part of our daily life. They have been

continuously spreading in every part of the world. They are everywhere.

Everyday we encounter people carrying these devices from children to adults.

These devices have been a useful tool for everyone in their workplaces, school

and home. A large number of people nowadays especially students can be seen

handling mobile phones on school campuses. Mobile phones enable students

to make calls and send messages, viewing school-related materials, information

gathering and for entertainment.

The usage of mobile phones is one of the most quickly growing new

technologies of the world (Rebello, 2010). According to the recent research of

the GSMA real-time intelligence data implied by UN digital analyst estimate,

people use mobile phones in an average of 2 hours and 51 minutes per day.

There are 8.97 billion mobile connections around the world which surpasses the

current world’s population of 7.71 billion as of 2019. In addition to this, 66.53%

of the world’s population owns cellphones (bankmycell.com).

In the Philippines, almost all Filipinos use mobile phones for their

everyday life. According to the Annual Global Mobile Market Report of Newzoo,

Philippines have been ranked 12th among the top countries with the highest

numbers of smartphones users. Almost 48 million Filipinos are smartphone

users and 44.9% penetrate smartphones. Mobile phones here in the Philippines

gives better information and helps access everything (Look Upgrade, 2018).

According to Bull & Mc Cormik (2012); Tao & Yeh(2013) as cited by Lepp,

Barkley & Karpinski (2015) in their study “The Relationship Between

Cellphone Use and Academic Performance in a Sample of U.S. College

Students”, as cellphone technology continues its rapid development, the

device appears capable of contributing to the students learning and improve

academic performance. Also, these modern “smartphones” provides students

with immediate, easy access to many of the same education enhancing

capabilities such as online information retrieval, file sharing, and interacting with

fellow students. On the other hand, Frimpong, Asare & Otoo-Arthur (2016)

opposed that the major concern of many teachers is the potential destruction

brought to students by mobile device usage to play games, text, check social

media sites and engage in other activities available to them.

Mobile phone affects every student in different ways, these had brought

convenience to them and became one of the easiest tool used to access and

get information that is helpful in their studies. In Lila National High School,

mobile phone usage among students is very evident. Students tend forget other

things but not their mobile phones. They use mobile phones during class hours

even if the teacher is discussing. They play games, watch videos online, browse

the web and play music. All their eyes are facing down on their mobile phones.

The school is concerned that these will affect their concentration and focus on
lesson. That is why just this school, the school had imposed the DO 83, S. 2003-

REITERATION TO DECS ORDERS NOS. 70, S. 1999 AND 26, S. 2000 that

prohibit students from using cellular phones during class hours.

The purpose of this study entitled “Mobile Phone Usage and Academic

Performance of Students of Lila National High School” is to determine and

analyze student’s perceptions on the effects of mobile phone usage in academic

performance. The researchers of this study have chosen this topic because the

advancement of technology is rapidly changing from time to time. New

inventions brought by these which include smartphone or the more improved

mobile phone. The issue of allowing or banning mobile phones at school was

recently debated by many. This topic is very relevant especially in Lila National

High School which had now banned the use of mobile phones as per the DepEd

order. The researchers saw this topic very relevant to students who are into

using mobile phones. The researchers want to determine if mobile phone usage

affects the academic performance of students. The results of the study will be

the basis for the school to continue the ban implementation. On the other hand,

the results of this study will help them devise ways in utilizing mobile phones in

students’ academic improvement.

Theoretical Background

Theories

George Siemens and Stephen Downes’ Connectivism Theory. The

Connectivism Theory by George Siemens and Stephen Downes is a learning

theory that explains how people connect online. How internet technologies have

created new opportunities for people to learn and share information. It also

allows us to learn much across peer networks that take place online.

Jerome Bruner’s Constructivism Theory. According to this theory,

learning is an active, constructive process. Learners actively construct or create

their own subjective representations of objective reality. New information is

linked to prior knowledge. Bruner's theory on constructivism encompasses the

idea of learning as an active process wherein those learning are able to form

new ideas based on what their current knowledge is as well as their past

knowledge. A cognitive structure is defined as the mental processes which offer

the learner the ability to organize experiences and derive meaning from them.

These cognitive structures allow the learner to push past the given information

in constructing their new concepts.

Mobile Learning Theory. This theory of Mike Sharples, Josie Taylor &

Giasemi Vavoula states that mobile learning is essential when thinking of

mobility and communication in learning environments. In mobile learning,

students learn across both space and time move from topic to topic. Like a
blended environment, learners move in and out of engagement with technology.

A key point in mobile learning theory is that it is the learner that is mobile, not

the technology. Control of mobile learning environment environments can be

distributed, and context is constructed by learners through their interaction with

devices and with each other. They acknowledge that mobile learning can both

complement and conflict with format education, and it raises issues both of

privacy and ownership.

Legal Bases

Republic Act of the 1987 Philippine Constitution Article XIV

“Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports.” Section 5

states that, “Academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all institutions of higher

learning.”

1987 Philippine Constitution Article XIV “Education, Science and

Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports.” Section 2 states that, “The State shall

establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system

of education relevant to the needs of the people and society.”

Republic Act of the 1987 Philippine Constitution Article XIV

“Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports.” Section 12

states that, the state shall regulate the transfer and promote adaption of

technology from all sources for the national benefit.

DO 83, S. 2003- REITERATION TO DECS ORDERS NOS. 70, S. 1999

AND 26, S. 2000 “Prohibiting Students of Elementary and Secondary Schools

from Using Cellular Phones and Pagers During Class Hours” states that

cellphones ban should be imposed strictly during class hours and that teachers

should plan ways to educate students on the responsible use of cell phones.
Review of Related Literature

We are now living in the world of advanced technology where mobile

phones have been an integral part of every person’s life. As defined by Borth

(2019), mobile telephone also called mobile phone, is a portable device used to

send and receive data and information from videos, voice messages through

connecting in telecommunication network.

A mobile phone is a phone that can make and receive telephone calls

over a radio link while moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by

connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile phone operator, allowing

access to the public telephone network. (Pew Research Center, 2010)

We can’t hide the fact that almost all people relies heavily on mobile

phones. The use of digital technologies had increased rapidly in the past decade

and became part of the developing world (Pew Research Center, 2019).

According to the website of Victoria State Government, digital technologies are

electronic tools, devices and resources that stores data, an example of these

are social media, multimedia and mobile phones (www.education.vic.gov.au).

According to a news report, smartphones and other gadgets give people

opportunities to air their thoughts, engage in digital trade, and communicate

instantly (Albert,2019). In the news report of Roa (2012), it was mentioned that

the use of mobile phones in the Philippines has brought better information
access for farmers, traffic information for taxi drivers, according to a new World

Bank report.

But all things have bad and good impact to human. We just don’t think

and look to some of it. Same as for mobile phones it has its positives and

negatives (Suryanarayana, 2015). Here are some impacts of mobile phones:

 Impact to Education

Aside from books and school supplies, students go to school with

their smartphones. Mobile phones connect to students to various

educational and academic resources. Smartphones are equipped with the

latest operating systems that include some educational apps particularly

Google search which they can get information they need

(www.addictiontips.net). Whatever information it is that you need, whether

it is general information or information related to your subject, mobile

devices makes it faster (Adeboye, 2016).

In a blog, a research found out that 92% of the students say that it

is easier to use mobile device to improve their access to information

(fedena.com). The blog also mentioned some of the effects of the mobile

device on student learning. These include improved understanding of

students, equity in access to mobile learning, empowering more proactive

learning, improved conversational skills, and greater academic

achievements. Mobile phones can be a helpful academic tool, or a source

of destruction for students depending on the student’s attitude towards

mobile phone usage (Schreiner, 2018).

 Impact to Communication

Mobile phones had greatly affected the means of communication

of people in a positive and negative way. In the article of Suryanarayana

(2015) which entitled “Positive and Negative Effects of Mobile Phone

on Students Career”, it was pointed out that mobile phones have enabled

life of students easier and faster mean of communication. Students

nowadays can easily interact and connect with their family, friends and

others instantly (www.addictiontips.net). With just few clicks, you can

connect to people anywhere you want. This was supported by McCarthy

(2015) that students with owning phones allow them to connect other

student around the world, allowing them a wider scope for learning.

On the other hand, according to an article the usage of cellphones

affect how people communicate with others. People now prefer texting

over talking. People using cellphones lack personal communication. Thus

this result to less social interaction.

 Impact to Health

According to Kannankara (2019), long-term cell phone use linked

to an increased risk of brain concern, memory and learning deficits, among

other health problems. In addition, Pandey (2019) revealed that spending

 too much time on smartphones is pushing someone to obesity which most

the youth today is experiencing. It was also mentioned that usage of

smartphone from 3-4 hours is healthier and reduces risk of obese by

approximately 63%.

Possible dangers of cell phones on health include blurred vision,

brain cancer risks, sleep disorders, neck and back pain (pumpic.com). This

was opposed by the Better Health channel of Victoria State government

that said, intensive international research has found no conclusive or

convincing evidence that mobile phones are damaging to health in the

short or long term. However, in May 2011, the World Health Organization

(WHO) classified RF radiation as ‘possibly carcinogenic for humans,

based on an increased risk for glioma, a type of brain cancer.

The impact of the mobile device on student learning is thus as

comprehensive and extensive as its use within the classroom or educational

institution (fedena.com). Though these mobile devices brought positive and

negative impacts, with the advance technology people can’t avoid to take part

in the inventions brought by this. It is up to the people using it. The control is on

them.
Review of Related Studies

Mobile Phones are useful gadgets in our everyday life. In our modern

society it seems like, every person has his/her own mobile phones. Going back

before, Mobile Phones were only used for communication, but at present they

are u8sed for various purposes. They help us in a number of ways in terms of

entertainment, educational purposes and in business. But despite the uses that

Mobile Phone serve to us, we must be aware of its disadvantages.

In the study of Hossain (2019), on “Impact of Mobile Phone Usage on

Academic Performance”, the results indicated that gender and relationship with

opposite sex has the significant positive effects on students’ Academic

Performance. However, it is also stated that spending time on Mobile Phone

while studying carry’s negative effect on Students Academic Performance.

The study of Rabiu et.al (2016) on “Impact of Mobile Phone Usage on

Academic Performance among secondary school in Taraba State, Nigeria.”

Their objective is to investigate the influence of Mobile Phone Usage on

Academic Performance. Their study revealed that Mobile Phone Usage

significantly influence students’ Academic Performance. Age differences, and

parent’s occupation is not the factor, and that the frequency of Mobile Phone

Usage does not significantly influence academic performance among the

secondary students.
 On the other hand, Samah et.al (2018) in their study “Impact of

Smartphones: A review on Positive and Negative Effects on students,” states

that students utilize smartphones for entertainment, social interaction and

education purposes. This means that Mobile Phones is really a helpful tool but

excessive use of it will lead Poor Academic Performance.

It is confirmed in the study of Lepp et.al (nd) entitled “The Relationship

Between Cellphone Use and Academic Performance in a sample of U.S College

Students”. They confirmed that increase cellphone use was associated with

decrease Academic Performance, this means that spending more time on

texting, checking Facebook accounts, Calls and any entertaining activities found

in Mobile Phone are some of the reasons why students Loss their Concentration

with their study and can affect their Academic Performance.

Thaden (nd) on her study “Student Reflective of High School Educational

Cell Phone Technology Usage”. It is revealed and stated that must administrator

and teacher regard Cellphone as a negative distraction to students learning

rather than a tool.

According to the study of Lawrence et.al (2017) on use of mobile devices

by students to support learning in universities, students use mobile phone

devices to access course materials, doing class work, send and receive emails,

taking and sharing of notes. Based on their study mobile phone bought positive

impacts on students. With the result, they recommend that mobile devices

should be allowed to use by students and lecturer to start virtual classroom,

discussion forums and using power point so that student can also benefit from

these functionalities.

Mendez et.al (2014) on their study “Mobile learning: How Students Use

Mobile Devices to Support Learning.” The result of their study reveal that

students are using mobile devices for both Academic and for support outside of

the classroom. They also found out that majority of the students utilize their

mobile devices as learning tool through the use of application or “apps”.

Students reported using Google Mail “app” to access their students e-mail in

order to receive and send communication to professors and classmates.

According to the study of Udoh (2015) entitled the “The role of mobile

phones in education and counselling”, the result of his study reveal that some

people may want to ban cellphones from classroom for good reasons. But as

some advocate of mobile learning would argue. They stated that they did not

ban pens and paper in school that student can write in school even though you

could poke someone in the eye. This means that mobile phone will be utilize to

enhance the students’ performance and to those practicing counsellor.

Research Flow
Theories Legal Bases

 Republic Act of the 1987

 George Siemens and Stephen
Downes’ Connectivism Theory.
Theories
 Jerome Bruner’s
Constructivism Theory.
 Mobile Learning Theory.
Philippine Constitution Article XIV
 Legal
1987 Philippine Bases
Constitution
Article XIV
 Republic Act of the 1987
Philippine Constitution Article XIV
 DO 83, S. 2003- REITERATION TO
DECS ORDERS NOS. 70, S. 1999

Input

 Perceptions of Students on Mobile Phone Usage

 Student’s Academic Performance

Process

 Descriptive Correlational Research Design

 Data Gathering
 Data Interpretation

Output

Proposed Action Plan

Figure1. Conceptual Framework

Statement of the Problem

The main thrust of this study is to analyze the academic performance and

mobile phone usage of students of Lila National High School, Lila, Bohol School

Year 2019-2020.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following sub-problems:

1. What are the student’s perceptions on the effects of mobile phone

usage in terms of:

1.1 Positive Effects

1.2 Negative Effects

2. What are/is the academic performance of students?

3. Is there a significant relationship between student’s academic

performance and mobile phone usage?

4. What actions could be proposed in the basis of the findings?

Null Hypothesis

There is no significant relationship between student’s academic

performance and mobile phone usage.

Significance of the Study

The results of the study will be helpful to the following beneficiaries:

Students. This will help the students be aware of the positive and

negative effects of mobile phone usage. This will help improve their academic

performance. This may also help them realize the relationship of mobile phone

usage and academic performance.

School Administrators. The findings of this study will serve as basis of

the School Administrators to impose policies that enables students to use

mobile phones.

Teachers. This study will help teachers know the positive and negative

effects of mobile phone usage. This study will help teachers consider using

mobile phones as tool in teaching. This will also enable teachers to engage in

using mobile phone as a tool to help enhance and improve the students’

academic performance.

Parents. This will enable parents not to worry of their children using

mobile phones at school. This may also provide awareness of the effects of

mobile phone usage in their academic performance in school.

Future Researchers. This study will be useful to them as a reference

material. It may also serve as a basis of their own study.

Research Methodology

Design

The study uses the descriptive correlational research design of

quantitative research that aims to determine the significant relationship between

mobile phone usage and students’ academic performance. It uses the stratified

random sampling technique. It also aims to get the perceptions of students on

the effects of mobile phone usage in their academic performance.

Subject

The respondents of the study will be the selected students of Lila National

High School ranging from Grade 7 to Grade 12. The researchers choose the

respondents in every grade level to ensure that the result of the study will

represent the whole population of the students of Lila National High School.

Environment

The study will be conducted at Lila National High School, Poblacion, Lila,

Bohol, Philippines. The school has a total population of 1,438 students as of the

School Year 2019-2020. It is consists of 61 faculty and staffs. 1 principal, 56

teachers, 3 security guards and 1 utility worker.

Instrument

In conducting the research study, standardized survey questionnaires

will be distributed to the respondents by the researcher. The questionnaire is

consists of 15 questions which aims to determine the students perception on

the effects of mobile phones in their academic performance.

Data Gathering Procedure

Such procedures will be employed by the researchers in gathering data

relevant to the study:

Phase 1. Asking Permission

The researchers will send a letter to the principal asking

permission to conduct the study among the students of Lila National High

School. Enclosed in the letter is the purpose of the study and requests for

approval to conduct the study to its participants.

Phase 2. Conduct of the Survey

The researchers will distribute the standardized questionnaires.

Researchers will also provide an overview and explain to the respondents the

purpose of the study.

Phase 3. Data Gathering

The researchers will check and evaluate the responds of the

respondents to determine the student’s perceptions on the effects of mobile

phone usage on their academic performance.

Statistical Treatment
Operational Definition of Terms

Academic Performance. This refers to the 2nd Quarter General Average

of the students of Lila National High School during the School Year 2019-2020.

Mobile Phones. These are the mobile devices used by students. These

are the cellphones and smartphones.

Mobile Phone Usage. The students use of mobile devices like

cellphones and smartphones within the school campus.

Perception. It is the belief or how the students see and understand

something.
Name: ____________________________ Grade:_____________

Directions: Put a checkmark () on the box that corresponds your answer. Please

answer honestly.

I. This part is to get the students perceptions on the Positive effects of mobile

phone on learning achievement

Strongly Disagre Can’t Strongly Agree

Disagre e Say Agree

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

I can easily contact the

teachers for study purpose.

I can easily contact

classmates to get help in

studies.

My academic performance

has been increased due to

mobile technology.

The mobile phone has

helped to improve the level

of the quality of education.

The teacher uses mobile

phone in the classroom.

 Students use

dictionary/thesaurus/calcula

tor of mobile phone in class.

II. This part is to get the students perceptions on the Negative effects of mobile

phone on learning achievements.

Strongly Disagre Can’t Strongly Agree

Disagre e Say Agree

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

keep my mobile phone on

and the ringtone disturbs

the class

I purchased the mobile

phone without the

permission of the parents

I send missed calls to class

fellows to disturb the

classes

I waste my time

sending/writing SMS during

class work
The Mobile Phone has put

negative impact on the

students moral values

The Mobile Phone is a

waste of time for students

The students use Mobile

Phones in examination hall

as a source of unfair means

Students tease the fellow

mates by sending missed

calls through unknown

source

Mobile Phone is

responsible for my low

academic performance
SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR PROPOSAL HEARING

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