ONLINE BANDWAGONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT OF

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN STRATFORD INTERNATIONAL

A Quantitative Research
Presented to the Faculty of Integrated Basic Education Department
Stratford International School

In Partial Fulfilment
Of The Requirements for Practical Research II

By

Basquiñez, Karl
Loyola, Volodymyr P.
Paldo, John Laurence B.
Tamayo, Michael A.
Tawan, Mark Anghelo
Vivero, Irvine Z.
Flores, Precious R.
Islao, Eleona T.
Lucay Lucay, Kristel D.

NOVEMBER 2024
 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM

Background of the Study

Online bandwagons that reach students and young people can cause

significant problems, as their thinking may be altered by incorrect information.

Students and young people are particularly susceptible to fake news and viral

posts because they often lack the maturity and critical thinking skills

necessary to distinguish between credible and false information (Lou et al.,

2021). This exposure can negatively impact their learning culture and overall

development.

Baker and Green (2014) define social media as the future of all

communications. In the past, people communicated through telegrams,

letters, and mails. However, as the 21st century began, technology became

more prominent, and social media emerged from this technological shift.

Consequently, traditional forms of communication, such as paper and pen,

became digitalized. According to Saaris (2015), the advantages and

disadvantages of social media are currently under intense debate among

professionals. Social media can be used to reconnect with long-lost friends or

family abroad. However, it can also reduce one’s awareness of the real world,

leading to an over-reliance on the digital world. Additionally, the possibilities of

being bullied through social media are undeniably high.

The bandwagon effect is defined as the phenomenon where the

release of opinion polls benefits the candidate with the most support. This

effect has recently gained significant attention in the empirical literature on the
influence of opinion polls on election outcomes. In lab trials, a higher turnout

rate among the majority compared to the minority led to this outcome. The

crucial voter model, the dominant theoretical model of electoral participation in

public choice, predicts that supporters of underdog candidates will engage at

a higher rate due to the higher possibility of casting a critical vote. This

evidence, however, is in striking contradiction to this paradigm (Grillo, 2017).

In line with this issue, the researchers will identify the impact of

bandwagon effects and social media engagement on senior high school

students at Stratford International School.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to explore the impacts of bandwagons and social

media on Senior High School students at Stratford International School,

examining both positive and negative effects

1. Which social media networking sites do students frequently use?

1.1 Facebook

1.2 Twitter; and

1.3 Instagram?

2. How is the social media engagement of the students influenced by

online bandwagon factors?

2.1 Social influence,

2.2 Consumer behavior; and

2.3. Decision-Making influences?

the social media engagement metrics of Senior High School students?

3.1 Social influence,

3.2 Consumer behavior; and

3.3. Decision-Making influences?

Significance of the Study

Students. They will benefit from this study by becoming more aware of

trending topics on social media that may influence their engagement,

behavior, and overall well-being.

Teachers. They will gain insights into the effects of social media on

students and will become more informed about current trends, helping them

better guide their students toward responsible and productive use of social

media.

School Administrators. They can use the findings to develop

strategies for promoting healthy social media engagement among students

and fostering a supportive online environment.

Social Media Users. All social media users can benefit from this study

as it highlights key trends, allowing them to become more critical consumers

of content and more aware of how online behavior is influenced by these

trends.
 Parents. They will gain a better understanding of how online trends

affect their children's behavior and engagement on social media, helping them

guide their children's online activities responsibly.

Future Researchers. All future researchers can benefit from our study.

It allows them to know the outcomes of our research, ensuring that they will

find another variable that is not indicated from our study.

Scope and Delimitation

This study examines the impact of online bandwagons on social media

engagement among Senior High School students at Stratford International

School. It aims to quantitatively assess how participation in popular online

trends influences students' behaviors on major social media platforms,

specifically Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Focusing exclusively on this demographic, the research does not

extend to other age groups, educational levels, or institutions. By analyzing

engagement patterns related to trending content, this study seeks to reveal

significant correlations between trend participation and measurable

engagement levels, specifically examining the roles of social influence,

consumer behavior, and decision-making influences.