Impact of Internet on Reading and Research Habits of Mass Communication Students
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the Study
The general purpose of this study is to ascertain student’s perceptions of the contributions of internet towards the reading culture of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic Students.
The specific objectives are;
- To ascertain the effect of internet on reading and research habit of mass communication student
- To find out whether mass communication student spend time on internet during school ours
- To find out the advantage of internet on reading and research of mass communication students
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
The internet serves billions of individuals worldwide and is an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world (Merriam-Webster). The internet has the capability of bringing millions of individuals both locally, internationally, those in private, public, through an array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. This technological advancement and revolution have greatly transformed and influenced the manner at which people from all walks of life communicate and disseminate information with each other. Social media are a collection of internet websites, services, and practices that support collaboration, community building, participation, and sharing” (Junco et al 2010). Furthermore, in recent times, social media use has tremendously increased and has gained more prevalence especially among Nigerian undergraduates. Most undergraduates perceive and understand social media as an easy way to connect, reconnect, chat, date, network, obtain information and gratify themselves. Such online environments like Facebook, Twitter, What Sapp, and YouTube to mention a few are seen as hubs and platforms that many people rely on for their day to day interactions in terms of business, education, politics, sociology, religion and host of other affairs (Suleiman, 2014). Their presence on social media platforms makes them feel belonged and accepted to and by a community and the society at large; and they refer to this as ‘social networking’. However, social media’s prevalence among students recently raised concerns over how the reading habits of Nigerian undergraduates could be affected as a result of their obsession and addictions to social media. To this effect, several studies have been conducted by different researchers and scholars to appraise the impacts of the use of social media on undergraduates reading habits. Shambare, et al. (2012) reported that social media most commonly used by young students have multiple effects on their life. A study conducted by Owusu-Acheaw (2015) investigated the use of social media by some polytechnic students and its impacts on their reading habits and found out that 92.72% of respondents visit social media sites every day and spent between 30minutes to three hours, while 66.78% respondents revealed that their reading habits were affected by their exposure to social media. The study went further to recommend that students should be encouraged to spend less time on social media sites rather they should be encouraged to engage more in academic activities. In addition, the American Educational Research Association conducted a research and declared at its annual conference in San Diego California (2009), that social media users study less and generate lower grade (Abaleta et al, 2014). In the same vein, a study by Englander et al., (2010), revealed that the academic performance of students are negatively affected by their exposure to and use of social media and added that it is a lot more momentous than its advantages. Another related literature a study conducted by Owusu-Acheaw and Larson to assess the “use of social media and its effects on academic performance of tertiary institutions ‘students in Ghana revealed that the use of social media sites had negatively affected the academic performances of students. The scholars recommended that students with mobile phones who have access to internet facilities should be encouraged to use it to supplement their research rather than just chatting with friends. A thorough review of these related literature revealed that the use of social media by students has negative influences on their academic performances ranging from distractions to spending countless times involving in non-academic related activities. Choney, (2010), MehMood & Taswir, (2013), Kist (2008), Jacobsen & Forste, (2011), are of the opinion that the use of technology such as internet is one of the most important factors that can greatly influence educational performance of students positively or negatively.
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 impact of internet on reading and research habits of mass communication students
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 to impact of internet on reading and research habits of mass communication students. 200 students of mass communication from selected higher institution in Akwa Ibom state 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.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain impact of internet on reading and research habits of mass communication student
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 on reading and research habits of mass communication student
Summary
This study was on impact of internet on reading and research habits of mass communication student. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the effect of internet on reading and research habit of mass communication student, to find out whether mass communication student spend time on internet during school hours and to find out the advantage of internet on reading and research of mass communication students. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 student of selected higher institution in Akwa Ibom state. 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 up final year students, year 4 students, year 3 student and year 2 student were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The study was conducted to appraise the impact of internet on the reading habits of Nigerian undergraduates and how these engagements affect their academic performances. The study realized that majority of student undergraduates prefer using Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp social media websites; and engage more on social media activities that are not academic related as opposed to reading academic contents that help improve them intellectually and academically. This, however, has negatively affected their reading habits and has caused a negative decline in their academic performances
Recommendation
The study recommends that Nigerian undergraduates should spend less time engaging in non-academic activities on social media platforms, but should dedicate more time in reading academic materials utilizing social media websites that will help improve their reading habits and to also share, comment and tweet on academic matters. Nigerian universities as part of their activities and responsibilities should dedicate more time, energy, and resources in sensitizing these students on the need to balance the time spent on reading and engaging in social media activities. They can achieve this using all channels of communication including mass media, interpersonal communication, and social media platforms.
References
- Abaleta, A. B, Centaza, S.M, & Calimlim, M. E. (2004). Impact of Social Networking on the Academic Performance of College Students in Anellano University-(Unpublished Dissertation) pp. 1-19
- Acheaw, M. O. (2016). Social media usage and its impact on reading habits: a study of Koforidua Polytechnic students. International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments, 4(3), 211. doi: 10.1504/ijsmile.2016.079493
- Ahmed, I. & Qazi, T. (2011). A look out for academic impacts of social networking sites (SNSs): A student based perspective. African Journal of Business Management, 5(12), pp. 5022-5031.
- Asur, S. &. Huberman, B.A. (2010) Predicting the Future with Social Media. Social Computing Lab: HP Labs, Palo Alto, California. pp 1- 8.
- Choney, S. (2010) Facebook Use Can Lower Grades by 20 Percent, Study Says. http://www.msnbc.com/id/39038581/ns.technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/.Retrieved 14/08/13
