INFLUENCE OF CABLE TELEVISION (DSTV) ON ADOLESCENT’S CREATIVITY, SOCIALIZATION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Television is thought to be uniquely effective due to its “audio-visual” capability over other types of mass media channels. Television, according to Onwuegbu (2001), is an electrical and audio-visual device that allows users to view recorded and live broadcast programs. While watching television allows for the exchange of information, some of its contents, such as movies, have influenced the socialization of adolescents. The term “adolescence” is derived from the Latin word adolescere, which means “to mature”. It spans childhood and adulthood, from the ages of 12 to the early twenties. According to Unachukwu and Ebenebe (2007), the common denominator in all adolescent experiences, regardless of cultural differences, is biological changes from childhood.
mature adults capable of reproducing. It is also a time of enormous physiological changes, as well as changes in behavior and expectations. It is regarded as a prelude to and preparation for adulthood, a transitional period of life between immaturity and maturity as well as having to deal with the question “who am I”. The adolescent must also consider the question, “Who will I be?” (Gross and Mc Illveen, 1998). This is still going on in Nigeria today; most Nigerian adolescents’ lives have changed dramatically. Some of these changes are the result of friends, peer groups, and the media, particularly cable television (DSTV).
Cable television (DSTV) has an impact on a child’s development. From adolescence to adulthood, the noticeable effect of cable television (DSTV) can be seen in academic performance, socialization, and creativity among Nigerian adolescents (Maduewesi, E. J. (2005). Because of the combination of sound and vision, television has had a tremendous impact on the lives of secondary school students. It informs, educates, entertains, and persuades. As a result, it is a powerful force in determining students’ socio-emotional and academic adjustments. Regardless of how important television is, its negative effects on students’ socioeconomic and academic lives cannot be overstated. Students watch violent movies/films on television without considering whether the benefits outweigh the negative effects on their lives. the general public (Bushman & Cantor, 2003). According to Anaekwe (2002), poor academic performance among students can be attributed to overindulgence by students who spend long hours watching violence programs on television, which ultimately tilts them negatively in terms of emotional disposition. The most pronounced effect is seen in adolescent academic performance and socialization in Nigeria. Children have been exposed to foreign programs as a result of the proliferation of the DSTV television channel and other television channels. This has transformed the world into a global village in which what is seen on television in developed countries is also seen in developing countries, resulting in the spread of negative effects such as poor pre-school performance, aggressive behavior, and English, Mother tongue language impediment, among others (Zevenbergen, 2004).
Parents or guidance can help mitigate the negative effects of cable television (DSTV) on adolescents in Nigeria by exposing them to right and wrong at an early stage of development; this, in turn, will shape children’s mindsets from the early stages of development to the adult stage. The study’s goal is to look into the impact of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent creativity, academic performance, and socialization.
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Since its inception, television has had an undeniable impact on people’s lives. The influence of television on people’s lives stems from more than its three functions as a medium of information, education, and entertainment. Many academics have also sought refuge in television and its programs.
a type of recreation, disengagement, goal setting, and sociability (Ugwunna 2012, Hycient 2015). Although cable television (DSTV) is considered the most entertaining among other forms of media, it has some drawbacks; some of these drawbacks can be seen in the level of adolescent creativity, academic performance, and socialization among adolescent in Nigeria.
However, most adolescents are easily influenced by the violent cable television (DSTV) channels, which leads to behavioral changes both at home and in their learning environment; the effect of the violent cable television (DSTV) channels leads to truancy, deviant behavior displayed by most students in junior and secondary schools. On
Uche (2013), on the other hand, believes that if adolescents are appropriately directed by their parents and guidance, the effect will be manageable. Television viewing, according to Austin (1992), may have a positive influence on adolescents if it is adequately supervised by parents and guardians. Nganda (2007), on the other hand, believes that television viewing as a social learning process can either improve general learning or school children’s academic achievement.
Importantly, while several studies have been conducted on the impact of television viewership on academic performance, little has been done on its impact on adolescent creativity, socialization, and academic achievement, leaving a gap in the literature. Against this backdrop, this study seeks to investigate the impact of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent creativity.
Socialization and academic performance are linked.
1.3 STUDY OBJECTIVES
The overarching goal of this study is to investigate the impact of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent creativity, socialization, and academic performance.
Other specific study objectives include:
i. Determine whether watching cable television affects a student’s level of creativity.
ii. To see if adolescents’ viewing of cable television influences their morality and socialization patterns.
iii. Determine whether adolescents’ viewing of cable television leads to truancy and other deviant behaviors.
iv. To determine whether watching cable television has a significant impact on adolescent academic achievement.
1.4 QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH
The study developed research questions in order to determine the study’s stated objectives. The
The following are the study’s research questions:
i. Does watching cable television affect the level of creativity in secondary school students?
ii. Does adolescent cable television viewing influence their morality and socialization patterns?
Is it true that adolescents who watch cable television are more likely to engage in truancy and deviant behavior?
iv. Does watching cable television have a significant impact on adolescent academic achievement?
1.5 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
The study’s findings on the impact of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent creativity, academic performance, and socialization will be extremely beneficial to the following:
The society: The study’s findings will educate the society on the benefits of socialization and the well-being of adolescents.
Adolescents: research findings
The study will teach the adolescent how to better themselves in order to become more relevant in society.
The federal government of Nigeria will benefit from the study’s findings in seminar preparations for secondary school students, as well as in monitoring truancy and deviant behavior among secondary school students.
Researchers: the study will be extremely useful to other research students who wish to conduct similar research on the aforementioned project work.
Literature: The study will add to the body of knowledge on the impact of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent creativity, academic performance, and socialization.
1.6 STUDY OBJECTIVES
The study looked at how cable television (DSTV) affected adolescent creativity, academic performance, and socialization. The research will look into the effects of cable.
television (DSTV) on student academic performance, the roles of parents, teachers, and guidance in limiting adolescents’ access to violent movies or programs shown on cable television (DSTV). The study, however, is limited to a few private secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
1.7 THE STUDY’S LIMITATIONS
The researchers encountered minor constraints while conducting the study, as with any human endeavor. The significant constraint was the scarcity of literature on the subject due to the fact that it is a new discourse, so the researcher incurred more financial expenses and spent more time sourcing for relevant materials, literature, or information and in the data collection process, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited sample size covering
Abuja is home to the only private secondary school in the Federal Capital Territory. As a result, the findings of this study cannot be generalized to other private secondary schools in other Nigerian states. Furthermore, the researcher’s involvement in this study while also working on other academic projects will impede maximum dedication to the research. Nonetheless, despite the constraints encountered during the research, all factors were minimized in order to provide the best results and make the research a success.
1.8 TERM DEFINITION
ADOLESCENT: the process by which a child grows into an adult.
SOCIALIZATION: the activity of socializing with others.
CREATIVITY: the ability to create something using one’s imagination or original ideas; inventiveness.
TRUANCY: the act of missing school for no apparent reason; absenteeism.
DEVIANT: departing from usual or accepted standards, particularly in social or sexual behavior.
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