CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The use of the Internet in the society has increased dramatically in the recent years.
Whereas the academic use of the Internet is primarily intended for learning and research, it has
also become an important part of student life, especially among teenagers . Likewise , it is
undeniable that today the Internet has been termed as the most powerful tool in the world, as
it made people's life a lot easier by making information and connections more accessible to all.
The Internet being a collection of various services and resources has made almost everything
possible through the usage of technology. Due to the easier access to computers, the
modernization of countries around the world and an increased utilization of smart phones have
given people the opportunity to use the internet more frequently and with more convenience.
Indeed, it is no wonder why it has also led a lot of people to center their lives in the computer
or cellphone, thus leading to online dependency.

Online dependency refers to the excessive use of the internet and digital devices, which can have

a profound impact on an individual's attitudes and behaviors (Shaw & Black, 2008). Plagiarizing

from online sources is defined by the University of Oxford as the act of presenting someone else’s

work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by incorporating it into your work

(University of Oxford, 2021). The act of plagiarizing from online sources has become normalized,

especially during the pandemic when the method of learning was either online or modular, which

made cheating and copying very easy to do. Online dependency refers to the overreliance on the

internet and digital devices for daily activities and information access. This excessive use can have

a significant impact on an individual's attitudes and behaviors. Studies have shown that excessive

internet use can lead to negative outcomes such as decreased face-to-face communication skills,

increased feelings of loneliness and isolation, and decreased overall well-being (Andreassen et
al., 2016). This research seeks to understand the extent to which excessive internet use and

plagiarizing from online sources affects the students' academic performance and attitudes

towards actually learning.

In this study, the researcher aims to investigate the impact of online dependency,

specifically plagiarizing answers from various online on the attitudes of grade 11 learners in Notre

Dame of Parang, Inc. The results of this study will also provide valuable information for the

development of programs and interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects of online

dependency and promoting healthy technology use among students (Turkle, 2011).

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between online dependency and the

attitude of Grade 11 students towards learning. Specifically, this study seeks to:

1. Determine the demographic profile of the participants, including their age and gender.

2. Assess the following factors related to the students' attitude towards learning:

a. The Extent of their Reliance on Online Sources.

b. The Impact of Online Dependency on their Academic Performance, whether Positive

or Negative.

c. The Level of Satisfaction of the Learners with their Academic Performance.

To the Learners, it will educate them about online dependency, its consequences, and the

importance of having the right attitude towards learning. It will help them understand the impact

of online dependency on their academic performance, as well as its impact on their professional

and personal lives.

To the Teachers, it will provide them with a deeper understanding of the causes of online

dependency and help them educate students about its impact. It will help them guide students in

developing the appropriate mindset and attitude towards learning, which will benefit their

academic performance.

To the Parents, it will help them understand their children's behavior when it comes to

their academic performance and provide them with the knowledge to guide their children towards

a healthy learning environment.

To the Future Researchers, this study will serve as a reference and validation for future

studies, providing valuable information and data about online dependency and its impact on

student attitudes. It will also help expand the knowledge base in this area and inform future

research efforts.
SCOPES AND LIMITATIONS

The scope of this study will be limited to the examination of the impact of online

dependency on the attitudes of 150 randomly selected Grade 11 students of Notre Dame

of Parang, Inc. during the school year of 2022-2023. The data will be collected through

the use of survey questionnaires, which will only be distributed to the selected

participants. The results of this study will not be generalized to other schools or student

populations and will only be applicable to the Grade 11 students of Notre Dame of

Parang, Inc. This study does not intend to investigate the impact of other factors, such

as socio-economic status or family background, that may influence the attitudes of

students towards learning.

In order for the readers to have a clear understanding of the study the terms are

defined operationally as used in the study.

Academic Performance – refers to the extent to which the student a student has

attained their short-term or long-term educational goals. It can be measured objectively

by assessments conducted in the school.

Notre Dame of Parang, Inc. (NDP) – refers to the institution where the

researchers and the participants of the study can be found. It is located in Mabolo

Street, Población, Parang, Maguindanao.

Online Dependency – defined as the extent to which students rely on online

sources to complete their academic tasks, such as assignments, research projects, and

exams.

Plagiarism – refers to the act of presenting someone else's work or ideas as your

own, with or without their consent, by incorporating it into your work without full

acknowledgement.
 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents the various views, ideas, and perceptions of both local and

foreign authors who have conducted researches related to this study. This includes

related studies, related literature, and legal bases which have a direct bearing or relation

to the current study.

THE RISE OF CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM DURING PANDEMIC AND

ITS CORRELATION TO THE EDUCATIONAL CRISIS

Plagiarism among students rose by 10 percent after the pandemic, precisely when

classes went online (Copyleaks, 2022). This anonymized data was analyzed from

51,000 students worldwide at both high school and college level. This bump was driven

by the actions of high school students, where the average rate of plagiarism detected

rose from 33 percent pre-COVID-19 to 46 percent post-COVID-19 (TheJournal, 2021).

This rise in plagiarism and cheating in higher education have increased since the

introduction of the internet (Park, C. 2003) and it has been around since the dawn of the

internet, however this unexpected rise of plagiarism in our country mainly stems from

the fact that most people are now getting online in which there is an increase of 2.1
million internet users in the Philippines between 2021 and 2022 (Datareportal.com,

2022). This time frame exactly aligns with the start of the pandemic where the massive

growth of internet usage started. Another factor for the unprecedented growth in

cheating in our country stems from the ongoing educational crisis where the Philippines

is experiencing a 91% learning poverty rate and 90% learning deprivation rate (The

Strait Times, 2022). Learning poverty is defined as the inability to read and understand

age-appropriate text (Philstar.com, 2022). While learning deprivation is defined as the

number of children who read at below the minimum proficiency level (Global Alliance

to Monitor Learning, 2021). These are all very important concepts to factor in, as all of

these leads to the overall low educational standards we have in our country. This low

standard of education, makes it so that the students can get away with cheating, along

with the use of various paraphrasing tool made accessible online. Because of this,

students are developing a lazier and care-free attitude towards learning by just resorting

to plagiarism and using paraphrasing tools instead of pursuing knowledge.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF PLAGIARISM TO A STUDENT

Universities and other institutions impose serious consequences for plagiarism,

even if it’s accidental (Tetan George, 2022). Institutions impose such serious

consequences as plagiarism amounts to theft (Scribbr.com, 2022). Previous studies

stated that lack of knowledge about plagiarism, students’ tendency toward such

behavior and not understanding of seriousness that violations increase plagiarism

internet is the source of plagiarism. The consequences of plagiarism can be personal,

professional, ethical, and legal. In a case of a student, it will destroy a student’s

reputation, plagiarism allegation can cause a student to be suspended or expelled. Their

academic record can also reflect the student’s ethics, possibly causing the student to be

banned from entering other institutions (iThenticate.com 2020). A damaged academic

record will follow a student wherever they go whether it is gaining access to higher

education or entering gainful employment post study (Scanmyessay.com 2022).

Although these consequences are present in plagiarizing, most students still plagiarize

and cheat as their reasons is from the genuine lack of knowledge (Rit.edu 2020). When

all of these factors are taken into account along with the complacency of students and

the low educational standards in our country, the environment for our education

promotes laziness and a negative view in their attitudes towards learning.

EFFECTS OF PLAGIARISM TOWARDS STUDENTS IN LEARNING AND

HOW IT PLAYS IN THE LARGER SOCIETY

Plagiarism have a lot of effects toward students. Students may think that using

several sources, quotes, and citations is the primary goal of writing while their original

ideas are secondary (Salleh, 2012). They will be confused about the true nature of

writing essays and may not learn a single thing about their topic, further leading into

more plagiarism. This endless loop will leave no space for students to learn and change,
promoting more of this act. Submitting someone else’s work may be easy, but it

deprives student of actually learning the important skills in research and writing. Lack

of essential skills in writing might cost them opportunities, careers, and even grades

(Crimeexpert, 2019). This lack of interest and motivation in learning will impact how

likely a student will give up or push forward in the pursuit of learning. The deeper the

interest in learning is, the more likely that the student will not accept easy answers to

complex questions and resort to plagiarism (TheEducationHub.org, 2020). Chaurasia

(2016) also mentioned that some countries in Asia viewed plagiarism as a social issue

deep-rooted in their education system dogma, which encourages the reuse and

reproduction of textbook contents (information) and overpowering original creative

ideas and thinking. This environment that promotes the lack of unoriginality, hurts the

student’s opportunity to grow and learn, which subsequentially also hurts the growth

and development of young competent individuals that should have been the contributors

to lead and take actions to improve a given society to global competence and standards.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The theoretical framework for this study aims to explore the relationship between online

dependency and students' attitudes towards learning. In order to accomplish this goal,

this framework draws upon various theories related to attitudes and learning, as well as

the connection between online dependency and students' attitudes. One of the theories

relevant to this study is the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). According to SCT, a
person's attitudes and beliefs are influenced by their experiences, perceptions, and the

attitudes of others. In the context of online dependency and students' attitudes, SCT

suggests that students' attitudes towards learning are influenced by their experiences

with online sources and the attitudes of their peers and teachers.Another theory relevant

to this study is Self-Efficacy Theory. Self-efficacy refers to a person's belief in their

ability to perform a specific task successfully. According to Self-Efficacy Theory, a

person's self-efficacy affects their motivation, persistence, and achievement. In the

context of online dependency and students' attitudes, students' reliance on online

sources for answers may negatively impact their self-efficacy, leading to decreased

motivation and satisfaction in learning.

The study "Exploring the Effects of Technology Dependence on College Students'

Academic Performance" by T. R. Clark and A. G. Lucchetti provides valuable insights

into the relationship between online dependency and students' academic performance.

The authors found that students who are dependent on technology for answers and

solutions are more likely to plagiarize and experience a decline in their academic

performance. This study supports the argument that online dependency can have a

negative impact on students' attitudes towards learning and their academic

performance. The connection between online dependency and students' attitudes

towards learning will be explored, with the aim of better understanding the impact of

online dependency on students' academic performance. The findings of previous studies,

present research and highlight the significance of the current study.