Effects of Internet Connectivity on Use of Electronic Resources: University of Jos Experience
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the impact of the Internet on the academic performance of students at the University of Jos
- To ascertain the impact of the Internet on the educational system at the University of Jos
- To ascertain the challenges of the internet at the University of Jos
- To know if the students are aware of Internet connectivity in the library
- To assess the purposes for which they use the Internet at the University of Jos
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
The Internet, which is also referred to as the ‘net’, is a collection of computers and computer Networks located all over the world, all of which share information established upon Internet protocols. Therefore, it is an information highway using different computer networks. Adegoke (2009) affirms that, “Indeed, the Internet is also a virtual library which is seen as virtual space containing a vast amount of information and documents including books, pictures, video, graphs and musical sounds that can be consulted.” Thus, the Internet provides a way of accessing information of all types. Reddick and King (2001) agree that ‘Clearly, there is a lot of information out there – too much to catalogue. In fact, nobody knows exactly what is available online and where it is. The growth represents both an opportunity and a hazard…. The opportunity is that, sitting at your desk, you can access information that you may not have known been existing [sic]’ (p.74). The risk is that you waste a lot of time looking at information that is not relevant to the projects on which you are working.
The Internet is fast changing the methods for accessing and using information among various groups of students. Accessing information in the library through the use of catalogue cards is a daunting task. In some cases the information may be available but, due to certain constraints, inaccessible. The Internet has introduced new concepts of literature searching and is recasting the roles played by students in the educational process (Omotayo, 2010). Still, while many undergraduates use the Internet, there are many who may not. Supporting this view, Aguolu and Aguolu (2002) averred that information in a library may be available and yet not accessible. This could be due to the student’s ignorance of the library’s Internet connectivity and proper access channels.
Students’ ignorance and lack of proper access channels could be due to failure of the university’s management to provide adequate education and facilities. There are many surveys on access to the Internet, and nearly all found out that Internet access is a huge problem among many students. Such access problems include below average computer literacy of the students, accessibility to the Internet, slow connectivity and downloading, and severe network failure(Udende & Azeez 2010; Fasae & Aladeniyi 2012; Otunla 2013). Indeed, access to current literature is still a problem in Africa, as university libraries continue to contend with problems of poor funding, and student unrest.
The use of the Internet can be of prime benefit to students. It is very useful by allowing students to access different types of information and also to process this information and communicate it to their peers across the globe (Eyitayo, 2008); Eyitayo further asserts that the Internet has become the most popular way of locating and retrieving information. The Internet has become a very useful tool in the library for simplifying information location, retrieval, use, and communication. Abubakar and Bada (2005) observe that it provides facilities and capabilities to browse through a list of subject headings to get an idea of what is available in other places through the network. Internet connectivity can facilitate the work of reference librarians to answer queries on areas in which they lack prior knowledge, and such information is often very current and up to date.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to effects of internet connectivity on use of electronic resources: university of jos experience
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items; things the researcher is interested in getting information on Effects of internet connectivity on use of electronic resources: university of jos experience. 200 students of University of jos was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was Effects of internet connectivity on use of electronic resources: university of jos experience. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of internet connectivity on use of electronic resources
Summary
This study was on Effects of internet connectivity on use of electronic resources: university of jos experience. Five objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the impact of internet in academic performance of student in University of jos, to ascertain the impact of internet on educational system in University of jos, to ascertain the challenges of internet in university of jos, to know if the students are aware of Internet connectivity in the library, to assess the purposes for which they use the Internet in University of jos. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 students of University of Jos. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made final year students, year 4 students, year 3 students and year 2 students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
It is the conclusion of this research that Internet connectivity was provided in the University of Jos students to access and use in their academic pursuit. The study showed that only a few of the final year students use the library’s Internet facility when visiting the library. This means usage of Internet when visiting the library among the faculty students was extremely low. Despite this, there exists a significant relationship between their visit and usage of the Internet in downloading articles pertinent to their study.
Recommendation
It is therefore recommended that the librarians in conjunction with faculty staff should sensitise and train students on accessing and using the Internet for better academic performance and life-long learning, as usage of the Internet by respondents was limited only to two purposes.
References
- Abubakar, D. & Bada, B. A. (2005). Application of Internet facilities for research and teaching: University of Jos academic experience. Lagos Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies (LaJIS) 3, 157-172.
- Academic Planning Unit of University of Jos (2012). Retrieved 23 Sept. 2015 from http://www.unijos.edu.ng/academic_planning_and_management/
- Adegoke, L. (2009). Introduction to public relations: Principles, media and methods. Amsterdam: Homelab Multiventures.
- Adika, G. (2003). Internet use among faculty members of universities in Ghana. Library Review. 52 (1), 22-37. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00242530310456997
- Aguolu, C. C. & Aguolu, I. E. (2002). Libraries and information management in Nigeria: Seminal essays on theses and problems. Maiduguri: Ed-Linform Services.
- Ani, O. E. (2010). Internet access and use: A study of undergraduate students in three Nigerian universities. The Electronic Library 28(4), 555-567. Retrieved 23 Nov. 2014 from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/el
- Applegate, R. (2008). Whose decline? Which academic libraries are “deserted” in terms of reference transactions? Reference and User Services Quarterly 48(2), 176–189. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5860/rusq.48n2.176
- Association of research libraries (ARL): Empowering the research library community. (2011). ARL statistics 2011-2012. Retrieved 1 Nov. 2015 from http://publications,arl.org.ARL-statistics
- Awoleye, M. O., Siyanbola, W. O. & Oladipupo, O. F. (2008). Adoption assessment of Internet usage amongst undergraduates in Nigeria universities- A case study approach. Journal of Technology Management and Innovation, 3(1). Retrieved 14 May 2013 from http://www.jotmi.org
