Apr 14, 2009 11:12 am US/Eastern
Study Finds Facebook Usage May Yield Lower Grades
(CBS4)
Facebook started out primarily as a tool amongst college students. But, a new study from Ohio State University have found that college students who use Facebook, spend less time studying and have lower grade point averages than students who do not use the social networking site.
The study found Faceook users in the study had grade point averages between 3.0 and 3.5, while those who didn't use Facebook had GPA's between 3.5 and 4.0. The study also showed users averaged one to five hours a week studying, while non-users studied between 11 and 15 hours per week.
More than three-quarters of the students who are Facebook users claimed that their use of the website did not interfere with their studies.
"There's a disconnect between students' claim that Facebook use doesn't impact their studies, and our finding showing they had lower grades and spent less time studying," Aryn Karpinski, co-author of the study said in a prepared statement.
Overall the study found that 85 percent of undergraduates used Facebook, but only 52 percent of graduate students had accounts. Students who worked at paid jobs were less likely to use Facebook than students majoring in humanities and social sciences.
There were no differences in Facebook use between different members of racial and ethnic groups that were part ofthe study, or between men and women.
Karpinski said that while the results showed a correlation between Facebook usage and lower grades, that doesn't necessarily mean there is a causation. "There may be other factors involved, such as personality traits, that link Facebook use and lower grades,"she said.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Super Bowl Ad: Snickers & Betty White
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments