CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The television is believed to be uniquely effective due to the advantage of the “audio-visual” capacity it has over other types of mass media channels. According to Onwuegbu (2001), television is an electrical and audio-visual gadget that allows users to watch recorded and live broadcast programs.While watching of television provides an avenue for shared information, some of its contents such as movies have shaped the socialization process of adolescents. The word “Adolescence” comes from the Latin word adolescere meaning “to grow into maturity”. It ranges between childhood and adulthood, it covers the period from age 12 till the early 20. According to Unachukwu and Ebenebe (2007) stated that the common denominator in all adolescent experiences irrespective of cultural variations is the biological changes from childhood into mature adults’ status capable of reproduction. It is also a time of enormous physiological changes; adolescence is also marked by changes in behaviour 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 deal with the question “who will I be” (Gross and Mc Illveen, 1998). This is ongoing in Nigeria today; there have been significant changes in the lives of most adolescents in Nigeria. Some of these changes are as a result of the friends, peer group, and media especially cable television (DSTV).

Cable television (DSTV) plays a role in the development of a child from the period of adolescent to adult; the noticeable effect of cable television (DSTV) can be reflected in the academic performance, the level of socialization and creativity among adolescents in Nigeria (Maduewesi, E. J. (2005). The combination of sound and vision has made television exert tremendous influence in shaping the lives of students in secondary schools. It is informing, educating, entertaining and persuasive. As a result of this, it is a powerful force in determining the socio-emotional and academic adjustments of students. Despite the importance of television, its harmful effects cannot be overemphasized as it shapes the students’ socio-economic and academic aspects of life. Students watch violent movies/films on television screen without considering if its advantages out weight the harmful effects on their lives and the society at large (Bushman & Cantor, 2003). Anaekwe, (2002) argues that poor academic performance experienced among students can be attributable to over indulgence by students who spend long hours watching violence programmes on television, which at the end tilt them negatively in terms of emotional disposition.  The most pronounced effect is seen on the level of academic performance and socialization among adolescent in Nigeria. The spread of DSTV television channel and other television channels have exposed children to foreign programs. This has made the world a global village where what is watched on television in the developed countries is equally watched in developing countries hence the proliferation of negative effects like poor pre-school performance, aggressive behavior, and English, Mother tongue languages impediment among others (Zevenbergen, 2007). The parents or guidance can help curb the negative effect of cable television (DSTV) on adolescents in Nigeria by exposing them to right and wrong at the early stage of development; this by default will shape the mindset of children from the early stage of development to adult stage. The study in this regard wishes to examine the influence of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent creativity, academic performance and socialization.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The immense effect of television on people's lives since its birth has become not just undeniable.  The impact of television on people's life originates from more than just its three responsibilities as a medium of information, education, and entertainment. Many  scholars  have also found refuge in television and its programs as a form of relaxation, recreation, disengagement, goal setting, and sociability (Ugwunna 2012, Hycient 2015). Although the cable television (DSTV) is considered the most entertaining among other forms of media; however, inasmuch as it provides an avenue for relaxation, 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.

Conversely, some cable television (DSTV) channels are educative, while others are violent; 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 the other hand, Uche (2013) opined that if adolescents are appropriately directed by their parents and guidance, the effect will be manageable. According to Austin (1992), television viewing may have a good influence on adolescents provided it is adequately supervised by parents and guardians. Howbeit Nganda, (2007) opined that television viewing as a social learning process may either adversely or favorably improve general learning as well as school children's academic achievement.

Importantly, several studies has been conducted on the impact of television viewership on academic performance, only little has covered it impact on adolescent’s creativity, socialization and academic achievement thus creating a gap in literature. Therefore is against this background that this study seeks to examine the influence of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent's creativity, socialization and  academic performance.

1.3  OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The broad objective of this study is  to examine the influence of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent's creativity, socialization and  academic performance.Other specific objectives of the study include:

i.          To ascertain whether viewing of cable television affects student’s level of creativity.

ii.        To determine whether adolescents viewing of cable television affects their morality and socialization pattern.

iii.      To ascertain whether adolescents viewing of cable television would lead to their involvement in truancy and deviant behaviors.

iv.      To investigate whether  viewing of cable television will have any significant effect on adolescent’s academic achievement.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives of the study. The research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

i.          Does viewing of cable television affects secondary school student’s level of creativity?

ii.        Does  adolescents viewership of cable television affects their morality and socialization pattern?

iii.      Does  adolescents viewership  of cable television  lead to their involvement in truancy and deviant behaviors?

iv.      Would viewing of cable television have any significant effect on adolescent’s academic achievement?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The findings from the study on the influence of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent creativity, academic performance and socialization will be of immense benefit to the following:

The society: to the society, the findings from the study will educate the society on the benefit of socialization and well being of adolescents.

Adolescents: the findings from the study will educate the adolescent on how to improve themselves to become relevant to the society

The government: the findings from the study will help the federal government of Nigeria in seminar preparations for secondary schools students, to monitor truancy and deviant behavior among secondary school students

Researchers: the study will be of immense benefit to other research students that wishes to carry out similar research on the above project work

Literature: the study will contribute to the body of the existing literature onthe influence of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent creativity, academic performance and socialization

1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY

The study on the influence of cable television (DSTV) on adolescent creativity, academic performance and socialization. The study will cover the impact of cable television (DSTV) on the academic performance of students, the roles of parents, teachers and guidance in the restriction of adolescents to violent movies or programs shown on the cable television (DSTV). The study is however delimited to selected private secondary school in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scanty literature on the subject owing that it is a new discourse thus the researcher incurred more financial expenses and much time was required in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size covering only  private secondary school in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Thus findings of this study cannot be used for generalization for other  private secondary schools in other  states within Nigeria. Additionally, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work will impede maximum devotion to the research. Howbeit, despite the constraint encountered during the  research, all factors were downplayed in other to give the best and make the research successful.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

ADOLESCENT: the process of developing from a child into an adult.

SOCIALIZATION: the activity of mixing socially with others.

CREATIVITY: the use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness.

TRUANCY: the action of staying away from school without good reason; absenteeism.

DEVIANT: departing from usual or accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behaviour.