IMPACT OF ONLINE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF GRADE 12 HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE STUDENTS AT IMMACULADA CONCEPCION COLLEGE

Abstract

Online information retrieval refers to the process of searching for, accessing, and obtaining data from various internet sources, particularly for educational purposes. Students frequently use online resources to complete assignments, conduct research, and deepen their understanding of topics covered in class. This study aims to examine the impact of online information retrieval on the academic performance of Grade 12 Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) students at Immaculada Concepcion College. The study employed a quantitative research method with a descriptive research design. Stratified random sampling was used to select the participants, resulting in a total of 238 respondents from HUMSS sections 1 to 16, excluding HUMSS 11. Findings revealed that the majority of students (39%) achieved a general weighted average of 87 to 93 during the first semester, indicating that online information retrieval contributed to their academic success. The computed correlation coefficient (r = 0.6353) suggests a significant positive relationship between online information retrieval and students’ academic performance. Consequently, the null hypothesis of this study was rejected. Students use online resources to enhance their understanding of specific topics. However, the vast amount of available information can sometimes hinder originality and creativity, and may lead to misinformation, especially for students who struggle to distinguish accurate and reliable sources. To address this, the researchers recommend that students critically interpret the information they find, express it in their own words, and avoid copy-pasting and plagiarism.