Title: Social media usage and its impact on reading habits: a study of Koforidua Polytechnic students

Authors: Micheal Owusu-Acheaw

Addresses: Koforidua Polytechnic, P.O. Box KF 981, Ghana

Abstract: The study investigates the use of social media by students of Koforidua Polytechnic and its impact on their reading habits. Questionnaire was administered on a sample of the students to gather data and information. Out of a total of 1,050 questionnaires administered, 852 responses were retrieved representing 80.98%. The study revealed that 92.72/ of respondents visit social media sites every day and spent between 30 minutes to three hours, while 66.78% respondents indicated that the use of social media affected their reading habits. In addition, 81.92% of the respondents indicated they had not read novels or fiction within the last two semesters. The study revealed that there is a relationship between time spent on social media and reading habits and that constant use of social media leads to low reading habits. The study recommended that faculty staff should encourage students to spend less time on the social media sites and rather should be encouraged to channel more of their time and energies towards educational purposes.

Keywords: social networks; tertiary education; reading styles; reading interest; information literacy; social media usage; reading habits; Ghana.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMILE.2016.079493

International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments, 2016 Vol.4 No.3, pp.211 - 222

Received: 13 Jun 2015
Accepted: 27 Mar 2016
Published online: 29 Sep 2016 *

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