Parker

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Bailey Parker
Professor Emilia Grant
UWRT 1103-046
9 October 2014
Inquiry Project Proposal
Many researchers have recently been studying the effects of social media on the English
language, communication, and students grades. For this research paper, the topic will cover
social medias effects on college students grades. There seems to be a linkage between the
amount of time one spends on social network sites and ones grade point average shown in
research. However, it could be that there is more behind the issue of low grades than just social
media. This paper will explore a few questions including: How many hours of social media
usage does it take for a students grades to experience change? Is social media the main source
that is hindering student success? and Has the number of students failing in school increased
since the beginning of social media?
In the paper, research will be done to see if there is evidence that social media affects
college students grade point averages. In addition, research will be conducted to see if a lack of
determination goes along with the trend. Many people think that social media causes bad grades,
but there is more to it than just social media. Some students use social media sites quite
frequently and never make less than an A in any of their classes. On the other hand, there are
students who rarely use social media and make poor grades. Students who are not determined to
make good grades tend to use social media or other forms of distraction instead of studying or
paying attention in class when they need to. This, in turn, can cause them to make lower grades
than the students who desire to make good grades.
Parker

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Inquiry Project Outline
I. Social Media
A. History
B. Pros to using social media
C. Cons to using social media
II. Factors that affect college students grades
A. Lack of determination or motivation/ the cause of it
B. Social media usage
1. Types of media used
2. Time spent daily on social media vs. studying
3. Time spent on social media while in class
C. Lack of time spent studying

Potential Sources
Junco, R., G. Heiberger, and E. Loken. "The Effect of Twitter on College Engagement and
Grades." Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 27.2 (2010): 119-32. Web. 06 October
2014.
Stollak, Matthew, Amy Vandenberg, Andie Burklund, and Stephanie Weiss. "Getting Social:
The Impact of Social Networking Usage on Grades Among College Students."
Proceedings from ASBBS Annual Conference 18.1 (2011): 859-65. Web. 06 October
2014.
***Other sources will be found using Google Scholar or the UNCC Library