Exploring the Effectiveness of Symbolic Modeling in Reducing Social Networking Site Addiction and Enhancing Intrinsic Academic Motivation among Primary School Female Students

Page: 22-28
Naela A. Alguzo (Jordanian Ministry of Education, Jordan)

The current study is designed to explore the effectiveness of symbolic modeling (SM) in reducing social networking site addiction and enhancing intrinsic academic motivation among primary school female students in Jordan. To evaluate the effectiveness of the technique, a social networking site addiction scale, a diagnostic interview, and an academic motivation scale were used. The study sample included 38 female participants in the 7th grade, chosen from a Jordanian primary school. According to their high networking site addiction scale scores, showing three or more symptoms of social networking site addiction based on DSM-5 and low academic motivation scale scores. The participants were randomly divided into two equal groups: one experimental group that got SM technique training and met twice a week for 90-minute sessions for four weeks, and one control group that did not get any technique. A one-way ANCOVA and a one-way MANCOVA were used to analyze the data. The results showed that SM was significantly more effective in reducing social networking site addiction and enhancing intrinsic academic motivation than no treatment. According to these results, students’ behavior in schools can be changed by displaying positive modeling that they can simulate and practice in their daily life.