The relationship between smartphone applications usage and students’ academic performance

Since 2008, smartphone application distribution rate has increased and there are hundreds of applications available today for users’ consumption. While some apps are used for entertainment and socializing purposes, others are used for reading current health information and making online purchases. However, a review of literature indicates that there are limited studies on the impact of smartphone application usage on students’ grades and this motivated the conducting of this research so as to examine the role of smartphone applications usage on students’ academic performance. A quantitative research approach was used and questionnaire was used to survey a sample of 200 respondents who were selected randomly. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. On analyzing the data, all the hypotheses were supported indicating that there is a significant relationship between students’ application usage and academic performance. This indicates that the type of smartphone applications and how they use it determine their level of knowledge and overall grade achievement. However, the impact is mediated by the amount of time spent using such as applications. This indicates that when more time is spent on using educational applications, there are more chances of enhancing level of knowledge and classroom achievement since it is used as a learning tool to search for information needed for assignments and test or examinations. However, when more time is spent on social applications, the academic competence and classroom achievement will reduce although the student may be good in social trend. The implication of this finding is that both parents and school authorities should regulate the students’ use of smartphones and ensure that it is used for the right purpose so as to enhance the level of academic achievement.