Utilization of the Social Media in Decision Making and Communication in Secondary Schools in Delta State of Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the utilization of the social media, in decision making
and communication, in secondary schools, in Delta State of Nigeria.
Two (2) research questions and 2 hypotheses were answered and tested
in the study, respectively. The design of the study was the analytic
descriptive survey, with the population as the 447 public secondary
schools in Delta State, with a corresponding number of 447 principals,
who served as participants. From the 447 principals, 358 were selected
as the sample, for the study, using the proportionate stratified random
sampling technique. The subjects of the study responded to a validated
23-item instrument titled ‘Social Media Utilization in Secondary School
Decision Making and Communication Scale’ (SMUSSDMCS 1) designed
by the researchers in the modified 4-point Likert scale model, with a
reliability index of 0.77, determined using the Cronbach Alpha statistics.
Mean and standard deviation were used in answering the research
questions while z. test was used in testing the hypotheses at 5% level of significance. The results of the study show that, to a high extent and
very high extent, the social media are utilized in secondary school decision
making and communication, respectively apart from establishing no
significant differences between the mean ratings of male and female
principals on one hand and less experienced and experienced principals,
on the extent, the social media are utilized in decision making and school
communication in secondary schools in Delta State. It was therefore
concluded that the social media are viable instrumentalities for secondary
school decision making and communication. Recommendations are that
school administrators and other stakeholders should continue to use
the social media in their decision making and communication, while also
embracing the use of other Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) oriented applications and making sure that newly appointed
principals are exposed to the demands of ICT.