University of the Immaculate Conception

College of Pharmacy and Chemistry

Fr. Selga Street, Davao City, Philippines

RELEVANCE OF USING SMARTPHONES IN THE

COGNITIVE PROCESS OF THE STUDENTS

A research paper
presented to Mr. Angel Constantine Bajana
Faculty of College of Pharmacy and Chemistry

In partial fulfilment of the requirements in the

subject Mathematics in the Modern World

by

ALVAREZ, VINZ CHRISTIAN M.

APILLANES, RITHCEL JOY O.
MADROÑO, CAMILA CORINNE L.
PANDIAN, NYLIECA
PINEDA, NOVEA GRACE M.

October 2019
 University of the Immaculate Conception
College of Pharmacy and Chemistry
Fr. Selga Street, Davao City, Philippines

RELEVANCE OF USING SMARTPHONES IN THE

COGNITIVE PROCESS OF THE STUDENTS
Vinz Christian M. Alvarez, Rithcel Joy O. Apillanes, Camila Corinne L. Madroño,
Nylieca Pandian, Novea Grace M. Pineda

Abstract
This study aims to investigate the relevance of using smartphones in the cognitive process
of students. A survey was conducted by distributing a structured questionnaire among selected
first-year Pharmacy Students in the College of Pharmacy and Chemistry at the University of
Immaculate Conception. Results show that most of the students use their phones for academic use
such as research projects, watch educational videos, reviewing their studies and taking down notes
with a score of 26%. Results also show that smartphones are effective in their cognitive process
with a score of 27%. These findings lend empirical evidence that Smartphones are relevant in the
cognitive process of students improving the full range of higher quality education.

Introduction smartphone users worldwide is projected to

Smartphones are the type of mobile
phones with multipurpose computing with
many features like high hardware and
operating system, Software, Internet and
Multimedia functionality with basic phone
functions and many more up-gradation. This
hand-sized product is needed for every
category of people like teenagers, adults,
students, old people, and even children also.
By using smartphones, our works are much
easier and more possible.
According to Statistica Research
Department on “Mobile phone internet user
penetration worldwide from 2014 to 2019”—
in 2015, 52.7 percent of the global mobile
phone population accessed the internet from
their mobile phone. This figure is expected to
grow to 61.2 percent in 2018. As of February
2017, mobile devices excluding tablets
accounted for 49.73 percent of web page
views worldwide. In 2020, the number of
reach 2.87 billion, up from 2.1 billion in
2016.
Smartphones are a necessity to people
nowadays especially to students who need
quick access to information. Students can do
a quick search of a certain topic to satisfy
their academic needs and encounter more
knowledge that piques the interest of the
students.
Research Methodology
To investigate the relevance of
smartphones in the cognitive process of
students, the following questions were raised:
RQ1: For what kind of purposes do they use
smartphones?
RQ2: What is the impact of smartphone in
the cognitive process of learning?
 University of the Immaculate Conception
College of Pharmacy and Chemistry
Fr. Selga Street, Davao City, Philippines
A. Participants of the Study Likert Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5
A total of 50 selected first year 5 28 30 26 23 27
Pharmacy Students were involved in the 4 10 16 14 9 12
study. 3 1 3 5 11 9
2 6 0 3 4 1
B. Research Setting 1 5 1 2 3 1
In this research, data were collected at Table 2. Agreement
the University of Immaculate Conception.
This is also due to the accessibility of Then after tallying the results, we
classrooms. proceed to the actual formulation.

C. Research Method and Design 30%

This study was a survey research 25%
design because it served to answer the 26%
20%
questions and the purposes of the study.
Likert scale was also employed. 15%

10%
Results 5%
The mean is the average of the data, 8% 7% 3% 6%
0%
which is the sum of all the observations Always Often Sometimes Rarely Never

divided by the number of observations. Table 3. Results in Frequency

1+2+3+4+5 In table 3, the data showed that 26%

𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 = (26.2%) of the population answered
5
"Always" on the survey questionnaire, which
Where: 1+2+3+4+5=Sum of all data means that most of the students frequently
5=Number of questions use their smartphones for academic purposes
Sample size= 50 such as research projects, watch educational
videos, reviewing their studies and taking
Before proceeding to the actual down notes . Followed by Often with 8%
formulation, the researchers come up first by (7.6%), Sometimes with 7% (7.2%), Never
tallying how many students were able to with 6% (6.2%) and Rarely with 3% (2.8%).
answer the best of their choice. In similar research done by Md. Emran
Hossain, S.M. Zabed et al. (2016, August 1),
Likert Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 she and her team found out that on average,
5 36 34 20 21 20 students had a positive perception and usage
4 5 16 4 5 8 of smartphones in their academic lives.
3 2 0 6 18 10
2 0 0 9 3 2
1 7 0 11 3 10
Table 1. Frequency
 University of the Immaculate Conception
College of Pharmacy and Chemistry
Fr. Selga Street, Davao City, Philippines
30%
25%
27%
20%
15%
10%
12%
5%
6% 3%
0%
Strongly Agree Neither Strongly
Agree Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Table 4. Results in Agreement
In table 4, the data showed that 27%
(26.8%) of the population strongly agreed
that smartphones had a positive impact on
their academic endeavors. This is followed
by Agree with 12% (12.2%), Neither Agree
or Disagree with 6% (5.8%), Strongly
Disagree with 3% (2.8%) and Disagree with
2% (2.4%). In a similar study conducted by
Yu Zhonggen, et al. (2017, April 19), their
team proved that there was a significant
increase in learning outcomes from the
students and there was a decrease in cognitive
load of the students resulting in a decrease of
stress levels.
Implication
Smartphones for students helps them
to prepare for their future by enhancing their
learning process. One can solve their
doubt just by a click. Smartphones can make
learning easy as one can search helpful
content and can learn from educational
videos.The implication from the given data is
that smartphones allow the students to grab
more knowledge in their academic lives.
Smartphones are a powerful tool that the
student can use in order to enhance cognitive
thinking and improve knowledge aquisition.
References
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“Advantages of Smartphone in Education”
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 University of the Immaculate Conception
College of Pharmacy and Chemistry
Fr. Selga Street, Davao City, Philippines
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/do
i/10.1108/EL-07-2015-0112/full/html
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AUTHORS
Vinz Christian M. Alvarez 19 years of age,
born and raised in Bislig, Surigao del Sur on
May 14, 2000. First born son of Analiza M.
Alvarez and Alvin Rey M. Alvarez. He spent
his elementary education up to his Senior
High School education in De La Salle John
Bosco College where he graduated last
March 2019 and now currently taking up
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the
University of Immaculate Conception.
Rithcel Joy O. Apillanes 19 years old, born
on April 21, 2000 at Diatagon, Lianga,
Surigao del Sur. Daughter of Rogelio C.
Apillanes Jr. and Marocel O. Apillanes. She
studied her Primary Education at Diatagon
Catholic High School and Senior High
School at Bayugan National Comprehensive
High School. She’s currently taking up
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the
University of Immaculate Conception.
Camila Corinne L. Madroño 18 years old,
was born in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis
Oriental, Philippines on May 14, 2001.
Daughter of Carmelyn L. Madroño and
Clitos Edgar B. Madroño. She finished her
Primary Education at Bayabas Central
Elementary School and her Secondary
Education at Solomon P. Lozada National
High School, Bayabas, Surigao del Sur. She’s
currently taking up Bachelor of Science in
Pharmacy at the University of Immaculate
Conception.
Nylieca M. Pandian 18 years old; born on
January 25, 2001; raised in Sta. Cruz Davao
del Sur. Daugther of Mr./Mrs. Jimmy S.
Pandian and Jackielyn M. Pandian. She spent
her elementary education at Sta. Cruz
Elementary School; secondary education at
Sta. Cruz National High School last April 7,
2019 and is currently taking up Bachelor of
Science in Pharmacy at the University of
Immaculate Conception.
Novea Grace M. Pineda 18 years of age,
born on November 24, 2000 at Wao, Lanao
Del Sur and currently living at Banisilan,
North Cotabato. Daughter of Louie Pineda
and Judes Pineda. She finished her Primary
Education at Wonderland Adventist
Elementary School, Her Junior High School
at Banisilan National High School and Senior
High School at University of Mindanao,
Matina Campus. She’s currently taking up
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the
University of Immaculate Conception.