Kigira, Yakubu Sa’adu Department of Educational Foundations, Nasarawa State University, Keffi Nasarawa State. Bode-Oke Olusala National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Abuja, Innocent Ikpa (Ph.D.) Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Academy Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Abstract.
This paper examines social networking sites use among fresh undergraduate students of Nasarawa State University Keffi as predictors of social adjustment to University environment. Arandomly selected 346 (male=173 and female=173) students participated in the study. Quantitative research design was employed to analyze the data. An adopted version student adaptation to college questionnaire (SACQ) developed by Baker and Sirkyk (1989) and a scale to measure the propensity for students to use social networking sites (SNS ) S for positive collaboration (Lampe, Wohn, Vitack, Ellison & Wash, 2011) were used for data collection. Each of them had five points Likert typed response. The instrument was validated by three experts in the Department of Educational Foundations, Nasarawa State University Keffi. Reliability of the instrument was determined by pilot study which yielded the Cronbbach’s alpha reliability of .84 and .87 respectively. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics( frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation), Pearson product moment correlation, standard multiple regression and t- test via Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The findingsrevealed thatstudents were more familiar with face book and least with instagram. There was a significant negative relationship between SNSs and student social adjustment to university environment. SNSs use did not significantly predict fresh undergraduate students to university environment. There was statistically significant sex difference in SNSs and social adjustment in favour of girls. Based on the findings, the study concluded that other variables not considered in the study played significant roles in contributing to fresh undergraduate students of Nasarawa State University Keffi. It was recommended among others that Universities should take some responsibilities for encouraging students to utilize the SNSs use to foster their social adjustment to university environment.
Keywords: Social networking sites, Social adjustment, Fresh under graduate Students.