 |
|
New look at Facebook and grades
May 08, 2009News last month of an unpublished study suggesting that Facebook use is related to lower college academic achievement probably sent more than a few parents reeling. Now a new study may allay those concerns.
Attempts by researchers to replicate the results of the widely publicized preliminary Ohio State University study failed to find a robust relationship between use of the popular social networking site and diminished grades.
"We found no evidence that Facebook use correlates with lower academic achievement," said Eszter Hargittai, associate professor of communication studies at Northwestern University and a fellow this year at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Hargittai is co-author of "Facebook and Academic Performance: Reconciling a Media Sensation with Data" with Josh Pasek, a doctoral student at Stanford University, and eian more of the University of Pennsylvania's Adolescent Risk Communication Institute. The study appears in the online journal First Monday.
The researchers used relevant information from three existing data sets -- a sample of more than 1,000 undergraduates from the University of Illinois, Chicago; a nationally representative cross sectional sample of 14- to 22-year-olds; and a nationally representative longitudinal panel of American youth aged 14- to 23. They were unable to detect a significant negative relationship between grade point averages and Facebook use.
"I suspect that basic Facebook use -- what these studies measure -- simply doesn't have generalizable consequences for grades," said Hargittai, whose research explores the social and policy implications of the Web. According to the study, the doubts about the use of social networking sites vis-à-vis students are reminiscent of those cast on earlier new media, including TV and motion pictures, and their effect on children.
"The Internet and social networking sites in particular can be used in many ways, some of which may be beneficial to the user and others less so. More important than whether people use these sites is what they do on them," said Hargittai. "Cultivating relationships, for example, can lead to positive outcomes."
That is not to say that Facebook use can never have deleterious effects on academic performance.
"If students are spending excessive time on Facebook at the expense of studying, their academic performance may suffer, just as it might by spending excessive time on another activity," Hargittai said. " We need more research with more nuanced data to better understand how social networking site usage may relate to academic performance."
Northwestern University
Hargittai is co-author of "Facebook and Academic Performance: Reconciling a Media Sensation with Data" with Josh Pasek, a doctoral student at Stanford University, and eian more of the University of Pennsylvania's Adolescent Risk Communication Institute. The study appears in the online journal First Monday.
The researchers used relevant information from three existing data sets -- a sample of more than 1,000 undergraduates from the University of Illinois, Chicago; a nationally representative cross sectional sample of 14- to 22-year-olds; and a nationally representative longitudinal panel of American youth aged 14- to 23. They were unable to detect a significant negative relationship between grade point averages and Facebook use.
"I suspect that basic Facebook use -- what these studies measure -- simply doesn't have generalizable consequences for grades," said Hargittai, whose research explores the social and policy implications of the Web. According to the study, the doubts about the use of social networking sites vis-à-vis students are reminiscent of those cast on earlier new media, including TV and motion pictures, and their effect on children.
"The Internet and social networking sites in particular can be used in many ways, some of which may be beneficial to the user and others less so. More important than whether people use these sites is what they do on them," said Hargittai. "Cultivating relationships, for example, can lead to positive outcomes."
That is not to say that Facebook use can never have deleterious effects on academic performance.
"If students are spending excessive time on Facebook at the expense of studying, their academic performance may suffer, just as it might by spending excessive time on another activity," Hargittai said. " We need more research with more nuanced data to better understand how social networking site usage may relate to academic performance."
Northwestern University
Academic Performance Current Events and Academic Performance News RSSPhysical education key to improving health in low-income adolescents
School-based physical education plays a key role in curbing obesity and improving fitness among adolescents from low-income communities, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Berkeley.
Science study: Teacher participation in Columbia program improves student achievement in science
The notion that training teachers in the rigors of hands-on science will directly improve their students' academic performance now has real data behind it: Research assembled over the last decade - now published in the Oct. 16 issue of Science - shows that high school students' pass rate on New York State standardized tests, called Regents examinations, can be significantly improved if they are among the lucky few to study under a teacher trained in Columbia University's Summer Research Program for Science Teachers.
Undergrad academic performance linked to neural signals
Students will have to use their brains to get good grades at school this year, according to new University of Toronto research that relates brain activity to undergraduate academic performance.
Greening university classrooms
In today's frenetic world, many urban dwellers spend more than 80% of the day indoors. Bringing nature in to living spaces by enhancing homes and offices with ornamental plants has become another popular facet of the move to "green" our lives.
UB education expert urges schools to help their students feel more involved
New research from a University at Buffalo expert on classroom education has identified six factors that affect whether elementary, middle and high school students will engage in the activities of their schools or feel alienated.
A child's IQ can be affected by mother's exposure to urban air pollutants
A mother's exposure to urban air pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can adversely affect a child's intelligence quotient or IQ, a study reports.
Children's IQ can be affected by mother's exposure to urban air pollutants
Prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can adversely affect a child's intelligence quotient or IQ, according to new research by the the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) at the Mailman School of Public Health.
Students with depression twice as likely to drop out of college
College students with depression are twice as likely as their classmates to drop out of school, new research shows.
Anxiety's hidden cost
The effect of anxiety on academic performance is not always obvious but new research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council suggests that there may be hidden costs.
Better sleep is associated with improved academic success
Getting more high-quality sleep is associated with better academic performance. The positive relationship is especially relevant to performance in math.
More Academic Performance Current Events and Academic Performance News Articles
 |
Cognitive Strategy Instruction That Really Improves Children's Academic Performance: Second Edition (Cognitive Strategy Training Series) by Michael Pressley (Author) Cognitive strategy instruction consists of teaching students procedures that may take some time to master but are worth acquiring because they reflect the processes that people who are good at academic tasks routinely employ. It is highly appropriate for normal learners, especially inner city and minority children. Cognitive strategy instruction is definitely not a "quick fix" for students with academic learning problems. Nor is it an add-on, taught alone. Strategies are most powerful when used in the context of content teaching, coordinated with a well-developed knowledge base, and routinely included in the ongoing instruction. This completely rewritten and updated second edition presents the strategies empirically shown to improve competence in the academic skill and... |
 |
BMV Quantum Subliminal CD Student Success: School Performance and Academics (Ultrasonic Subliminal Series) Program your subconscious mind for success as a student, improve study habits, increase memory, accelerate learning and boost academic performance. Create amazing results using state-of-the-art subliminal and brainwave entrainment technologies. Tune your brainwaves to specific frequencies by listening to this CD! Program your subconscious mind for positive lasting results, created by a Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). Silent affirmations, inaudible hypnotic suggestions and thousands of powerful subliminal messages program your subconscious mind for positive results. The first 3 tracks have an ocean background. The Silent Ultrasonic Track 4 is completely silent with no sound at all! BMV exclusive Quantum Subliminal Matrix Technology sets a new... |
 |
KIROV STARS: Shakespeare Dance Trilogy Starring: Kirov Ballet Company, Alexander Semenchukov, Svetlana Semenova, Nikita Garallis, Nikita Dolgushin Directed By: V.I.E.W. Video Three of William Shakespeare s immortal dramas are powerfully interpreted in this trilogy of one-act ballets, danced by the stars of the Kirov Ballet Company, in this riveting DVD entitled Kirov Stars: Shakespeare Dance Trilogy. These performances are truly majestic in their artistic and dramatic scope. Shakespeare s tale of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet, is told with passionate conviction. Electrifying performances, danced to Tchaikovsky s fantasy-overture, bring this gripping interpretation of Hamlet to life. Lastly, this stylish account of Othello is the most important work of the illustrious Mexican-American dancer/choreographer Jose Limon and is danced with grace and power. Filmed on location at a spectacular medieval castle overlooking the sea, this special DVD features a... |
 |
A Performance of "The Fluteplayer" in the "Roman" House of Prince Napoleon III (1808-73) Art Styles Giclee Poster Print by Gustave Clarence Rodolphe Boulanger, 40x30 by Art.com Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your... |
 |
The Season Also With: Warner Bros. (Producer) |
 |
BORLAND JBUILDER 8 PERFORMANCE by Borland International |
 |
College Survival Tips: What Your Mother Might Not Tell You About Making The Grade by Ceil Hall (Author) A survival kit in one concise book, College Survival Tips helps students succeed in college by offering practical, specific advice about coping with a heavy workload, managing relationships with professors, and getting the most out of college life so that students can excel in school and prepare for a career. Written in a relaxed, conversational style, this book is helpful, fun and a quick read. Tips include: changing "high school thinking" to "college thinking," setting priorities for a heavy workload, establishing effective study routines, achieving personal and career goals, leveraging extra-curricular activities, and leading a well rounded, balanced life that includes plenty of time for fun. |
 |
High Performance 2010 Wall Calendar 12" X 12" by ClassicVariety |
|
Differentiating Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities, 2nd Ed. by None By William N. Bender. General and special education teachers alike will find this Joint Publication from the Council for Exceptional Children an invaluable resource for differentiating instruction in any classroom. With tips, strategies and ideas for every classroom, this guide offers practical applications for raising the academic performance of students with learning difficulties. These instructor-friendly, standards-based techniques are effective, brain-compatible methods supporting a variety of learning needs. Includes updated information on current research, IDEA compliance issues, RTI and universal design strategies. 224 pages, paperback. | |
 |
The Broken Cisterns of African American Education: Academic Performance and Achievement in the Post-Brown Era (PB) (Research on African American Education) by II, M Christopher Brown (Editor), RoSusan D Bartee (Editor) A volume in Research on African American Education Series Editors: Carol Camp Yeakey, Washington University in St. Louis and Ronald D. Henderson, National Education Association The failure of American education to achieve racial diversity has resulted from the inability of educational researchers, policy makers, and judicial officials to disentangle the complex definitions that have emerged in a post-segregated society. Broken Cisterns provides snapshots of educational occurrences that have shaped current phenomena in schools and the larger society. Theoretical and empirical discussions related to segregation, desegregation, and integration provides a contextual framework for understanding their resulting effects. In response, the book examines the historic and community contexts of... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |