Participants were recruited through voluntary sampling and were invited via university email. The study involved a sample of 120 undergraduate students from four different faculties at a mid-sized public university, ensuring a diverse representation of study programs .

The main objective of the study was to explore the relationship between daily social media usage and students' academic performance over a semester. This involved assessing how average daily time spent on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter/X related to changes in GPA scores and study habits throughout a 12-week academic term .

The variables, such as average daily time on social media, GPA scores, and study habits, interrelate to provide a comprehensive picture of academic performance by illustrating how different aspects of student life and behavior could potentially influence academic outcomes. For instance, high social media usage might correlate with lower GPA scores if it detracts from study time, whereas effective study habits might mitigate any negative impacts. Analyzing these interactions helps in understanding the nuanced effects of social media on students' academic journeys .

SPSS was likely chosen for data analysis due to its strength and versatility in handling quantitative data and performing sophisticated statistical analyses. Given the study's aim to explore correlations and trends in large datasets involving multiple variables (like time on social media and GPA), SPSS offers the necessary tools for performing descriptive statistics and more complex analyses, which align well with the research objectives .

Recruiting participants via university email might bias the sample towards students who are more actively engaged with their university's digital communications and potentially more technologically savvy. This could influence the study's outcomes by over-representing students who may have differing patterns of social media use and academic performance compared to those who are less engaged with university communications or less frequently check emails .

Data collection was carried out using a structured Google Forms survey administered weekly. This method was likely chosen for its efficiency and ease of distribution among participants. It allowed for consistent tracking of variables such as average daily time on social media, GPA scores, and study habits across the study's timeline. The self-reported nature of the survey might have been selected to enable participants to reflect accurately on their behaviors and academic outcomes .

The study's 12-week duration and weekly frequency of data collection contributed to its validity by allowing for observation of patterns and trends over an entire academic semester. Regular data collection helped in capturing developments and assessing changes in social media use and academic performance dynamically, providing robust and timely insights .

Potential limitations of using self-reported online surveys include issues of accuracy and bias, as participants might misreport their social media usage or GPA due to forgetfulness, social desirability, or misunderstanding questions. These factors could affect the reliability of data, leading to skewed results or inaccurate representations of the relationship between social media usage and academic performance .

Quantitative data analysis was performed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, and frequency distributions, were calculated to summarize trends in daily social media usage and GPA. These analyses helped in identifying patterns and correlations that exist between the time spent on social media and changes in academic performance, thereby facilitating a comprehensive understanding of their relationship .

Ethical considerations were meticulously observed, including obtaining informed consent from participants before their involvement in the study. This ensured that participants were fully aware of the study's nature, purpose, and any potential impact of their participation, thereby protecting their autonomy and data privacy .