Abstract

Most studies on the relationship of screen time and academic performance have research designs that are descriptive-correlational quantitative, but few focus particularly on the perspectives, specifically senior high school students, on this relationship. Hence, this study explored the perspectives of senior high school students on screen time and academic performance. The research aimed to understand how students perceive screen time's positive and negative effects on their academic challenges, focus, productivity, and study habits. Employing a basic qualitative research design, the study utilized a purposive sampling technique to select five senior high school students from a private high school in Bacolod City. Data was primarily collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The collected data was then transcribed and analyzed using qualitative data analysis methods, involving coding, categorizing, conceptualizing and identifying themes. The findings revealed parallels among the respondents' views on how screen time in today's technology-driven world is a pressing issue impacting academic performance. The study concluded that (1) The effect of screen time on academic performance is dependent on how one uses it, (2) On weekdays, screen time is more for academic purposes, while on weekends, screen time is more for non-academic purposes, (3) Discipline and self-control are vital in utilizing and managing screen time usage for the betterment of academic performance and personal development, (4) Overall, screen time is beneficial for academic performance because it has more positive effects than negative ones, and (5) Screen time and technology are necessities in the current world. The study provided insights for students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and school administrators to create strategies for managing the effects of excessive screen time.

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