Path Model on Facebook Usage, Personality and Mathematics Performance of Students: Basis in Learning Material Development

Abstract

This study formulated a path model on the use of Facebook, personality, and mathematics performance of students which served as the basis in the development of a learning material. It utilized the descriptive-developmental research design and was conducted in three state universities and colleges (SUCs) of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. The data were gathered using the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Data on personality were analyzed and evaluated online through the Personality Assessor site while the other data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS. There were 210 student-respondents to answer the survey questionnaires and tests. Findings revealed that students spent 1-2 hours accessing their Facebook account for more than three times a day using their smartphones mostly at home, classroom, and library. They are engaged in Facebook activities like chatting, group discussion with friends and posting photos during their vacant time and before sleeping at night. Findings revealed that majority of the students are extravert and agreeable people while a great number of them are highly neurotic, but are open and conscientious. Developed path models revealed that the Facebook use of the students positively correlates to their openness to experience, extraversion and agreeableness personality while it negatively correlates to their conscientiousness and neuroticism personality. Open and conscientious students perform better in Mathematics while agreeable and neurotic students have lower mathematics performance. The content of the developed learning material in Mathematics enhanced the personality of the students. It positively affected their Mathematics performance, through their Facebook activities.