i

WATTPAD USAGE AMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

A Quantitative Research Presented to the

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY

Sagayen National High School

Sagayen, Asuncion, Davao del Norte

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Subject
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2

ROSELL S. REPONTE

February 2022
 ii

APPROVAL SHEET
This thesis entitled “Wattpad Use and Reading Comprehension Skills of
Senior High School Students of Sagayen National High School” prepared
and submitted by Rosell S. Reponte, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of
the subject Practical Research 2, has been examined and hereby recommended
for approval and acceptance.

SIDNEY B. DARAY, Ed.D

Adviser
______________________________________________________________
PANEL OF EXAMINERS

APPROVED by the Panel of Examiners on Oral Examination with a grade of

PASSED.

SHIELA L. SUAREZ, MAED SIDNEY B. DARAY, Ed.D

Chairman Member
_______________________________________________________________

ACCEPTED in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the subject Practical

Research II.

EVELYN P. LUCAS, Ed.D

School Head

February 2022
 iii

ABSTRACT

This research is entitled “Wattpad Usage Among Senior High School Students”.

The focus of this research is to find out the extent of Wattpad usage among

Senior High School. This research used a descriptive quantitative method. The

data for this study were collected in one source only, namely a questionnaire

administered for selected 253 at Senior High School students of Sagayen

National High School .

Keywords: Wattpad
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, praises and thanks to the God, the Almighty, for His

showers of blessings Throughout my research work to complete the research

successfully.

I would like to express my deep and sincere gratitude to my research

teacher, Sir Sidney B. Daray, Ed.D, for giving me the opportunity to do research

and providing me invaluable guidance throughout this research. His dynamism,

vision, sincerity, and motivation have deeply inspired me. He has taught us the

methodology to carry out the research and present the research works as clearly

as possible. It was a great privilege and honor to work and study under his

guidance. I am extremely grateful for what he has offered me. I would also like to

thank him for his friendship and empathy. I am extending my heartfelt thanks to

the panel Ma’am Shiela L. Suarez, MAED, for her acceptance and patience

during the discussion I had with her on research work, and to my adviser Ma’am

Salambai Mama for guiding me and giving me advice regarding the study.

I am extremely grateful to my parents Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Reponte for

their love, prayers, caring and sacrifices for educating and preparing me for my

future. I am very thankful to my friends for their love, understanding, prayer, and

continuing support to complete this research work. Also I express my thanks to

my brother, aunt, and classmates for their help, support and motivation.

Rosell S. Reponte
Researcher
 v

DEDICATION

This work is a fruit of countless and arduous sacrifices. Through the

researchers’ effort, this work is heartily and proudly dedicated to the people who

serve as an inspiration. From parents and guardians, to classmates and circle of

friends whom extended their help in the midst of problems while doing this work.

To the faculty and stuff of Sagayen National High School, Asuncion,

Davao Del Norte. Above all, to our God Almighty who showered us His blessings

in our everyday lives, especially for the strength, courage, patience, wisdom,

time, and guidance in realization of this work.

Rosell S. Reponte
Researcher
 vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE i

APPROVAL SHEET ii

ABSTRACT iii

ACKNOLEDGEMENT iv

DEDICATION v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF TABLES vii

Chapter 1 PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction 10

Statement of The Problem 12

Review of Related Literatures 12

Theoretical Framework 14

Conceptual Paradigm 16

Significance of the Study 16

 vii

Definition of Terms 17

Chapter 2 METHODOLOGY

Research Design 18

Population and Sample 19

Distribution of Respondents 19

Research Locale 20

Research Instruments 22

Data Gathering Procedures 22

Statistical Tool 23

Chapter 3 RESULT AND DISCUSION

Level of Wattpad Use 23

Significance on Wattpad Usage Among Senior High Students 25

Chapter 4

Summary of Findings 27

Conclusion 27

Recommendation 27
 viii

Back Page

REFERENCES 29

QUESTIONNAIRE 32

CURRICULUM VITAE 36

LIST OF TABLE

Table 1. Distribution of Respondents 18

Table 2. Level of Wattpad Use 23

Table 3. Significance on Wattpad Usage Among Senior High Students 25

 ix

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Conceptual Paradigm of the Study 16

Figure 2. Location of Sagayen National High School 20

 10

CHAPTER 1
PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

The youth take steps to create their own literature on these grounds. One of

these steps and the most popular one is the Wattpad application today. It can be

said that this application is popular not only in Turkey, but also anywhere abroad,

and the youth describe Wattpad as a positive environment. However, this cannot

be generally regarded as positive by especially experts, educators, authors. In

the body of literature, the underlying reasons for the negative evaluations of

adults on the use of Wattpad by youth were cited by teachers and experts as

uncontrolled application, the lack of literary quality in the texts created and

problems with education-al principles. It’s because the texts of youth include

images such as swearing, slang, sexuality, violence, virtual world, drugs that are

not desired for the children of that age to face educationally. It can be said that

there is a conflict and a difference of opinion between adults and youth. The

study is focused and structured on this study question. (Uslu, 2016)

Everything has its own good side and bad side according to Jaguit & Jee-Ar,

(2015). Wattpad is the world’s largest community for discovering and sharing

stories. Its a new form of entertainment connecting readers and writers through

storytelling, and best of all, its entirely free. With thousands of new stories added

everyday, an incredibly active community of readers and the ability to read on

your computer and the like. Wattpad is the only place that offers a truly social

and entirely mobile reading experience.

 11

Teenagers demonstrate two main uses of Wattpad. On one hand, they

search for well-known stories that are often recommended by their friends. These

stories – often written by “hybrid authors”: authors who have been published due

to their popularity on Wattpad, Bold,(2016) – represent an important common

ground for sharing generational values, lifestyles and worlds of symbols and

meanings.

This research paper focuses on the students’ level of usage of Wattpad

application. It described the extent of students’ Wattpad use.

This research study was done to understand how and why people engage

themselves in reading on wattpad. The study also sought to identify the reasons

why Wattpad readers tend to be addicted in a story. Moreover, it looked into the

factors that triggered the readers to start reading as well as the factors that

motivated them to continue reading on the site.

Statement of The Problem

1) What is the extent of Wattpad use among Senior High School Students?

Review of Related Literatures

Wattpad Use

On a survey about the top ten things students do on their tablets conducted

by Pe Benito (2013), it was found out that aside from browsing through Social

Networking Sites (SNS) such as Facebook and Twitter, students also use their

tablets for the purpose of reading, which landed on the sixth spot of the survey.
 12

The results made mention of Kindle and Wattpad, e-book reader and site, where

over a million books were published and can be accessed for free.

Hemus (2013) wrote that Wattpad has found its niche in the online reading

setting. According to its official website, www.wattpad.com, Wattpad is the

―world‘s largest community for discovering and sharing stories. It is a site where

authors and readers can write, read, and interact with one another for free.

Wattpad manages to continuously attract and get readers, having 16.9 million

visitors all over the world per month and recording an average of 30 minutes

spent in reading per visit. Tagged as the "YouTube for Writers", it provides a way

for authors to share their stories with the world and that particular title really fits

the interactive nature of the said online platform.

Wattpad is the largest community for readers and authors, and to the

disappointment of traditional publishing entirely free. To those who are readers,

reading is a past time same as what the authors writing stories. This platform lets

readers and writers contribute their interest in different stories. With this

technology, teenagers are sneaking the mobile phones especially in schools just

to read and write their favorable stories Timoner, (2013).

Teenagers especially students, are the most commonly readers and writers

in Wattpad. The people are reading and writing less, but making sure reading

and writing can adapt the current culture. With attention, spans becoming shorter

and growing desire to follow stories as they unfold, Wattpad is ideally making

long form content bite size is more digestible in today’s culture (Lau et.al, 2015).
 13

Based on (Michael, 2016), Wattpad is a system that allows virtually anyone to

publish almost every genre of work for free. Although Wattpad does not paid its

authors like publishing house does, there were still vast range of benefits in

Wattpad for new writers. There was no trouble if the authors were not getting

paid because of Wattpad can offer opportunities and benefits.

Wattpad doesn’t exactly met the criteria of usual literature. It was accessed

on mobile phones; its community has almost global dimensions; it operates

according to the characteristics of social media. It represents the concepts of

transmedia, intermediality and convergence, which other authors proposed. It

developed a multichannel network through Wattpad studios and represents most

potential towards the traditional publishing industry, cinema and television,

respectively. However, all of these lies behind the human desire to tell and read

stories (Renata et.al, 2017).

According to Tirocchi( 2018), the Wattpad application is quite influential in

the world community. In fact, according to Mawardi,(2018), this application also

affects the Indonesian publishing industry where there are many novels labeled

Wattpad. Thus, many successful book writers started their careers from Wattpad.

Unlike the published book where readers mostly become the passive

individual who enjoys the story as it is, in this platform they can share their

thoughts of the chapter they read, they can question the authors on such events

written, and they can even share their hope for the future development of the

stories. (Talitha 2020)

Theoretical Framework
 14

This study is anchored on the concept of Rahman & Iwan (2019), which

states that the Wattpad platform is one of the digital technology media that can

be collaborated with learning. The Wattpad platform features digital stories with

various literary genres such as fanfiction, teenfiction, romance, action and

other genres without having innate heavy books to enjoy the story. The

student can simply open the Wattpad platform to access it anytime and

anywhere. Wattpad platform can help students to develop not only reading skills

but also writing, grammar, vocabulary and speaking skills which make them

excellent.

This is also underpinned in the concept of Sa'diyah et al. (2019), which

explains that there are at least four factors which influence people to read

through Wattpad those are, 1) The proximity of the story with the daily life of

some readers could gain the interests of the people to reads the creation, 2)

Social factors like the recommendations of friends and or the social media, 3) To

fill the free time, 4) Wattpad has fiction stories or for exact kind is fanfiction, this

genre is a kind of fiction that tells about the daily life of a celebrity. Like their fans,

of course, we have interests related to that person we idolized. From these

factors, we know that interest in using the Wattpad can affect the duration of time

a person spends reading to improve literacy.

 15

Conceptual Framework

In this study, the researcher will find out the level of Wattpad usage

among Senior High School students. Specifically, the researcher would be

needing senior high school pupils that are readers of Wattpad stories. The

researcher can identify these people who are involved in the study through

conducting a survey. Once the number of senior high school pupils that are

reading Wattpad is identified, the researchers will start giving away

questionnaires. This particular study is intended to determine the extent

of wattpad usage of the selected senior high school students.

As Wattpad became a large community in online platform, it is not

surprising to continue become bigger each day. This could be some of the

reasons why students use Wattpad application; 1) Recommendations of friends

from Wattpad application users, 2) Easy-to-use app features, 3) It has a high and

friendly user base, 4) Wattpad has a variety of interesting story genre that suit

the interest of millennial generation, 5) Learn English through reading stories by

foriegn authors, 6) Reduces stress, overthinking and boredom, and 7) Increase

literacy interest.

Conceptual Paradigm

•Level of Wattpad Usage among

Senior High School Students

Figure 1. Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

 16

Significance of the Study

The researcher of this study hopes this study can give contributions

theoretically and practically. Theoretically, this study is expected to enhance the

horizon in reading studies and provide more information about the students’

attitude in reading Wattpad. Practically, the writer hopes the result of this study

benefits for the writer herself and the readers especially for the selected Senior

High School students or even those who are not, of Sagayen National High

School. Furthermore, this research is expected to be a reference and a guide for

further studies concerning to literacy skills and reading habit.

Definition of Terms

Extent -The amount to which something is or is believed to be the case.

Literacy -In its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and
doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or
expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context
of use.
SNS -A Social Networking Service is an online vehicle for creating relation-
ships with other people who share an interest, background, or real
relationship.
Virtual -Existing, seen, or happening online or on a computer screen, rather
than in person or in the physical world.
Wattpad -Wattpad is an online social reading platform intended for users to
read and write original stories.
 17

CHAPTER 2

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The researcher utilized the descriptive method using quantitative

approach in gathering information about the present condition. Krathwohl (2009),

defined descriptive research as a purposive process of gathering, analyzing,

classifying, and tabulating data about prevailing condition, practices, beliefs,

processes, trends, and cause-effect relationships and then making adequate and

accurate interpretation about such data with or without the aid of statistical

methods.

A descriptive type of research according to Best (1993), involves the

collection of data to answer questions concerning the current status of the

subjects in the study. It is designed to gather information or conditions existing at

a particular period of time. The focus of the whole process is on the discovery of

theory on comparison or contrast of the findings.

Population and Sample

In this study, the researcher chose to select as participants the Senior

High School students in Sagayen National High School. There are 693

populations at Senior High School Department and 253 is the sample size. This

253 students were given a questionnaire through Google form.

 18

Distribution of Respondents

Table 1. Population of Senior High School Department

Section (Grade 12) Population Sample Size

Duterte 35 13

Aquino 28 10

Magsaysay 27 11

Osmeña 44 15

Quirino 43 16

Marcos 48 18

Quezon 50 19

Ramos 24 9

Laurel 24 9

Del Pilar 49 18

Bonifacio 22 8

Aguinaldo 51 19

Rizal 32 11

Mabini 57 21

Luna 59 20

Jacinto 39 13

Lopez Jaena 33 12

Silang 28 11

TOTAL 693 253

 19

Research Locale
The study was held at Sagayen National High School, which was chosen

after learning that many students were using the application. This study was

conducted on Senior High School students at Sagayen National High School.

Figure 2. Location of Sagayen National High School

 20

Research Instruments

In this study, the questionnaire was used as instrument. In this case,

humans were needed as respondent because they can respond to changing

circumstances. To changes in the environment, the questionnaire was the most

important tool. The questionnaire should be supported. These research tool was

supposed to be helpful. This study's issues are addressed by the researcher.

The questionnaire was made through Google form and is distributed

through online. The questions in this questionnaire were all closed-ended. The

degree of agreement, such as strongly agree, agree, moderate, and disagree,

will be available as options. Each of the respondents' responses will be analyzed

using a coding procedure in which each response will be converted to numerical

data. According to Dornyei (2003), the coding frame is used to provide a

numerical score for each possible answer to an item. Question's code e. g.,

‘disagree'= 1,’moderate’ = 2, ‘agree’ = 3, ‘strongly agree’= 4.

Data Gathering Procedures

The researcher will seek permission from the School Principal to conduct the

study before it begins. Following approval for the study's conduct, the researcher

will administer the questionnaire-checklist virtually as face-to-face aren't allowed

due to pandemic, which excludes the respondents' personal information.

The data collection procedure will begin in the first week of January 2022.

Furthermore, before the respondents are given the research instrument, the

researchers will explain the purpose of the study and each respondent will be

assured of confidentiality, privacy, and anonymity.

 21

They have the option of declining to participate in the survey. The

instruments will be distributed to the respondents, who will be given enough time

to answer all of the questions. The researcher will collect all completed

questionnaire checklists personally. The responses of the respondents will be

organized.

Statistical Tool
Statistical treatment of data is essential to make use of the data in the right

form. Raw data collection is only one aspect of any experiment. The organization

of data is equally important so that appropriate confusions can be drawn. (Kalla,

2009)

The statistical tool use for the data analysis was Microsoft Excel, where the

mean, regression and correlation data is solved.

 22

Chapter 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

In this chapter, the researcher presents, analyzes and interprets the data

gathered in textual and tabular forms.

In Table 2, Section 1 got the total mean of 2 with an interpretation of low,

this means that the level of Wattpad usage is low. The Section 2 got a mean of

2.68 with an interpretation of moderate. The Section 3 got the total mean of 1.40

with an interpretation of very low.

The overall mean 2.03 indicates that Wattpad usage was moderately

observed . This implies that Wattpad Wattpad usage does not higly likely spend

too much time using the application.

Table 2

Level of Wattpad Use

INDICATORS MEAN INTERPRETATION

Section 1 2 Low

Section 2 2.68 Moderate

Section 3 1.40 Very low

Grand Mean 2.03 Moderate

Level of Wattpad Usage
 23

This implies that Wattpad application has only been a past time for the users.

For this reason, the reading comprehension skills of the respondents were not

really affected.

Reflected in in table 3 is the significance on the relationship between the

Wattpad and reading comprehension skills of students. The r-value of 0.52

means that the linear relationship between Wattpad and reading comprehension

skills of students is moderately high positive correlation. The coefficient of

determination (r2) signifies that 26.83% of the variation in the development of

reading comprehension skills of students could be attributed to the variation in

Wattpad. The remaining 73.17% are the other factors that affects the reading

comprehension skills of the learners.

The null hypothesis is rejected since the computed p-value of 0.00 is less

than 0.05 level of significance. This would mean that there is a significant

relationship between Wattpad and reading comprehension skills of students. This

implies that the utilization of Wattoad is more likely to increase the reading

comprehension skills of students.

 24

Table 3
Significance on the level of Wattpad Usage Among Students

Conclusion
p-Value Decision
Variables r- Value Interpretation on
α=0.05 on Ho
Relationship

Wattpad

Reading
Comprehension
Skills
Moderately
High
0.52 0.00 Rejected Significant
Positive
Correlation

Coefficient of Determination (r2) 0.2683

Significance on Wattpad Usage Among Senior High Students

Wattpad. Wattpad gains from readers such as money for subscription and

being known worldwide, while users gain knowledge and improve their literacy

skills as they spend their time using the application.

Chapter 4
 25

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This final chapter presents a concise picture of the findings of the study

through the summary of the findings, the drawn conclusions and the

recommendations.

Summary of Findings
Based on the data gathered, the following findings were presented.

1. The Wattpad usage of Students among Senior High School students in

Sagayen National High School has an overall mean of 2.03 with a descriptive

equivalent of moderately observed.

Conclusion
Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusion are made.

1. After conducting research, it is found that the respondents were spending their

time using the Wattpad application, it is also shown that the level of Wattpad

usage among students was moderately high which means they really take their

time when using the app.

Recommendation
Following the completion of this research, it has been determined that

reading Wattpad is a beneficial activity but also takes time. Before using the

application, be responsible for your duties and chores first as this application will

make you forget time and become unaware of things sorround you.
 26

As the researcher, I highly recommend to manage your time if you are

planning to use this application. You have to prepare yourself mentally as you

may encounter stories that includes violence and sexual harassment and other

R18 genres.

As violence may affect your mental health, I recommend to stay away

from those kind of genre when using the application and read only lightweighted

stories that suits your taste and age.

REFERENCES
 27

Brown, H. (2001). Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach To

Language. Pedadogy: San Francisco State University.

Dornyei, Z. (2003). Questionnaires in Second Language Research:

Construction, Administration, and Processing. Lawrence Erlbaum

Associations, Mahwah.

Farzaneh, N., & Nejadansari, D. (2014). Students' Attitude Towards Using

Cooperative Learning for Teaching Reading Comprehension.

Grabe, W. (2009). Reading in a Second Language: Moving from Theory to

Practice. New York: NY: Cambridge University Press.

Harmer, J. (2004). The Practice of English Language Teaching. England:

Pearson Education Limited.

Harrison, C. (2004). Understanding Reading Development.

Hemus, B. (2013). 6 Things Every Author Needs To Know About Wattpad.

Standoutbooks.

Jaguit, M., & Jee-Ar, A. (2015). Advantage and Disadvantages of Wattpad.

Kalla, S. (2009). In Statistical Treatmeant of Data.

Krathwohl, D. R. (2009). The Effects of Wide-Reading to the Vocabulary and

Comprehension Level of the Third. Pangasinan State University.

Lau et.al. (2015). Wattpad Addiction.

 28

Mawardi, M. (2018). Merancang Model Dan Media Pambelajaran. Scholaria:

Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Kebudayan, 8(1), 26-40.

Michael. (2016). Advantage and Disadvantages of Wattpad.

Pe Benito, M. V. (2013). 10 Things Student Do With Their Tablets. Manila

Bulletin.

Powell, S. (2005). Extensive Reading And Its Role In Japanes High School. The

Reading Matrix 5(2), 28-38.

Rahman,I.A., Iwan Iwan (2019). Blending Wattpad Platform and English Prose

Course in Industrial Revolution Era 4.0

Renata, & et.al, S. J. (2017). Advantage and Disadvanatges of Wattpad.

Sa’diyah, I., Ananda Kristi, R., & Tazkiyah, I. (2021). Seminar Nasional

Informatika Bela Negara (SANTIKA) Korelasi Antara Aplikasi Komiku dan

Wattpad dengan Minat Baca Masyarakat saat Pandemik. Seminar

Nasional Informatika Bela Negara (SANTIKA), 17–22.

Shen, M. (2008). EFL Learners' Responses to Extensive Reading. Survey And

Pedadogical Applications. The Reading Matrix.

Timoner. (2013). The Effects Of Reading Wattpad In Relation To The English

Academic Performance Among Junior High School Students at

Kapayapaan Integrated School.

 29

Tirocchi, S. (2018). Wattpad. In C.A. Scolari (Ed.), Teen Media and

Collaborative Culture. Barcelona: Universitat Pampeu Fabra, 93-97.

Uslu, U. (2016b). Wattpad in Youth Literature Based on the Experiences of

Turkish Teachers and Secondary School Students. In D. A. Basogul.

 30

QUESTIONNAIRE
Wattpad Usage Among Senior High School Students

Grade and Section (Optional): ______________________________

PARAMETER LIMIT DESCRIPTIVE DESCRIPTION

EQUIVALENT

4.50 - 5.00 Very High The item embodied is very

much observed.

3.50 – 4.49 High The item embodied is much

observed

2.50 – 3.49 Moderate The item embodied is

moderately observed

1.50 – 2.49 Low The item embodied is

rarely observed

1.00 - 1.49 Very low The item embodied is

never observed
 31

Write (✓) in the box under each numbers, (4) if you strongly agree, (3) if you
agree, (2) if moderate, and (1) if you disagree.

Section 1.

Questions 4 3 2 1

1. Wattpad has affected my reading

skills.

2. When you read, the language that

the author used is easy to understand.

3. When you read, you find the

meaning of the vocabulary you don’t

know before.

Section 2.

Questions 4 3 2 1

1. Reading Wattpad makes me happy.

2. Reading wattpad does not improve

my reading skills.

3. I feel relaxed when I’m reading

wattpad.
 32

4. Reading wattpad is useful for my

future.

5. Reading wattpad does not give fun.

6. I was able to broaden my mindset

because of reading wattpad.

7. I get tired easily when I read

wattpad.

8. The vocabulary the author used is

often difficult to understand.

9. I gained new knowledge by reading

wattpad.

10. Wattpad does not help to increase

my reading frequency.

Section 3.

Yes or No.

Questions YES NO

1. I have known Wattpad before I used it.

 33

2. I was influenced to used the application.

3. I used the application 3hours and above

daily.

4. I feel stress free while using the application.

5. I prefer book from Wattpad rather books

from library.

6. I also write stories.

7. I have been using the application for more

than a year now.

8. My parents and teachers think this

application isn’t appropriate for me.

9. I share to my friends what I read on

Wattpad.
 34

Appendix E

CURRICULUM VITAE
 35

ROSELL S. REPONTE

PUROK 4, CONCEPCION, ASUNCION, DAVAO DEL NORTE

Contact No. 09355384047

Civil Status: Single

Date of Birth: February 27, 2004
Place of Birth: Tagum Ciy
Age: 18
Sex: Female
Height: 4’11
Weight: 50 kg
Citizenship: Filipino
Religion: Catholic
Father’s Name: Eddie G. Reponte
Mother’ Name: Judith S. Reponte

EDUCATINAL ATTAINMENT
SECONDARY:
Junior High Student at Melale National Hional School (2015-2020)
Melale, Laak, Davao De Oro
Senior High Student at Sagayen National High School (2020-
2022)
Sagayen, Asunsion, Davao Del Norte
PRIMARY:
Melale Elementary School
Melale, Laak, Davao De Oro