The Relationship Between Internet Usage and Academic Achievement of Social Studies Secondary Students
Chapter One
Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is to Examine the use of internet services and how it affects student’s performance. Specifically, the aims of the study are to
- Examine the frequency of internet use.
- Examine the most preferred location of internet use.
- Examine the purposes for browsing the internet.
- Examine the most used internet service.
- Examine the influence of internet use on academic performance.
- Examine the problems faced by students during internet use.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
This chapter comprises the detailed explanation of the concept ‘internet’ by other researchers who have conducted research on this topic or related topic in the past. It goes further to investigate the frequency of internet use, the most frequently preferred location of internet usage, the purpose for browsing the internet, use of internet service, internet access and students’ academic performances. Finally the challenges encountered in the use of internet by undergraduate students.
Concept of Internet
The internet according to Wells (2000) is a computer mediated communication tool, providing the individual with access to a broad spectrum of information and unique communication technologies. The internet is a global system for interconnected computer networks that use the standard internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks that consist of millions of private, public, academic, business and government network of local to global scope that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. The internet carries a vast range of information resources and services such as the inter-linked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the infrastructure to support electronic mail.
The origin of the internet reaches back to research of the 1960 commissioned by the United States government in collaboration with private commercial interests to build robust, fault tolerant and distributed networks. The finding of a new U.S backbone by the National Science Foundation (N.S.F) in the 1980’s as well as private funding for other commercial backbones lead to worldwide participation in the development of new network technologies and the merger of many networks. The commercialization of what was by the 1960’s an international network resulted in its popularisation and incorporation into virtually every aspect of modern human life.
As of 2009, an estimated one-quarter of earth’s population uses the services of the internet. The internet has no centralized governance in either technological implementation or policies for access and usage, each constituent network sets its own standard, only the over-reaching definitions of the two principal name spaces in the internet, the internet protocol address, space and the domain name system, are directed by a maintainer organization i.e. the internet co-operation for assigned names and numbers (ICAN).
The technical underpinning and standardization or the core protocol (IPV4) and (IPV6) is an activity of the internet engineering task force (IETF), a non-profit organization of loosely affiliated international participation that anyone may associate with by contributing technical expertise. Kumar and kaur (2006) and Igun (2005) also asserted that academic institutions and undergraduate students cannot do without internet services especially in this era of information globalization, explosion super-high way. Internet enhances teaching, studying, resource sharing, research publishing and communication (Adaomi, Omodeko and Otolo 2004, Ojedokun and Owolabi, 2003).
According to Onwuazo (2005) Internet is designed to allow an arbitrarily large number of networks to be interconnected and to be operated independently. These networks are connected by end switched circuits that remain in place until the communication has ended message switching. The package switching systems then sends units of information (packets, messages) that behave in many respects like electronic postcards. These postcards are originated from computer, addressing it to a destination computer in the network. According to Ogunsola, (2004) the use of internet has revolutionized access to information for the business world, libraries, education and individuals. A few of the most popular ones include e-mail, www (World Wide Web), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), Usenet and Telnet. He further stated that internet and its technology continues to have a profound effect in promoting the sharing of information especially in academic world.
There are various ways and means to access the internet. With the advancement of technology, people can now access internet services through their cell phones, play stations and various gadgets. There are large numbers of internet services providers and with the development and the wide spread application of internet electronic mail, people from all across the globe come together and communication has become much easier than ever before. Messages in the form of emails could be sent in any corner of the world within fractions of seconds.
According to Ani (2005), the internet is a network of linked computers which are located at different points all over the world that provides easy communication between persons and organizations no matter where they are located. The internet is used mostly in obtaining information. Nwafor and Ezejiofor (2004) quoting Sadler (1993) observed that the internet is not a single network of computers but a network that connects many smaller networks to one another. Just as the printing press of Gutenberg in the 15th century changed the history of the world tremendously, so has the invention of the internet and the World Wide Web in 1989. The internet is the new technological way to disseminate information to a larger population of people in a more speedy and accurate way.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter deals with the methodology or steps taken during the course of this study for the purpose of establishing the desired objectives issues like the type of design taken during the course of the study are stated. Research instruments, method of data administration as well as method of data analysis.
Research Design
To ensure the desired goals and objectives, a descriptive type of research was carried out because the study is concerned with the collection of data for the purpose of describing and interpreting existing conditions, prevailing practises and attitudes among other things.
Population of the Study
A population is any group of individuals that has one or more characteristics in common and that is of interest to the researcher. In other words it is a group of individuals with at least one common characteristic which distinguishes that group from other individuals (Best and Kahn, 2006, p.13). The population for this research is the entire students offering social studies in Akoko South-West Ondo state Secondary schools.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Introduction
This chapter contains a detailed and precise analysis of the demographic data of respondents by virtue of the questionnaire distributed during the course of research. A total of 375 questionnaires were distributed and 200 representing 53% were collected back well responded to on which the analyses were based.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
This chapter contains the summary, recommendations and conclusions of the research.
Summary
The study examined the issue of internet use and its implication on the academic performance of the students of the Secondary school of Akoko South-West Ondo state, Nigeria. The research went further to identify the frequency of internet use, most preferred location of internet usage, purpose for browsing the internet, the most used internet service and the challenges facing the effective use of the internet. The literature review of the work also had a detailed review of the concept of internet based on past research of other scholars. The results have so far demonstrated that the use of internet contributes immensely to the academic performances of students.
Finally to ensure that equal opportunity was given to the students, the research was conducted using a survey kind of research which gives room for effective studying of the populations. Samples were taken from the various classes. Simple frequency and percentage was used for analysing data. The major findings include slow functioning of internet servers, lack of computer skills among students and problem of paying for online services.
Recommendations
- There is a need for extensive training programmes organised at regular intervals so that all categories of users can improve their efficiency in the use of the internet.
- To solve the problem of slow functioning of internet connectivity, the secondary school body should acquire high speed internet connection with maximum bandwidth.
- The cost of browsing should be reviewed downward so that student’s access to internet can increase. Students should be informed of possible resource websites via website guides which could be pasted on the notice boards at strategic places on campus and cyber-cafe to enable students know the websites that will fetch them relevant academic materials. This will reduce fruitless exercise experienced by students who claim not to get relevant materials when browsing and it can also help improve academic performance as a result of adequate research.
- Government should as a matter of necessity improve on the present state of power in the country. Internet can only be accessed when there is power to start up servers and computers. If there is constant power supply in the country, it will help boost student’s research by access to internet from personal homes.
- Despite the short comings of the internet, its role as distinct from the use of textbooks and lecture notes should be emphasized by academic staff to help motivate students do research and increase and broaden their knowledge.
- Printing facility should be provided so that users can get print out of their study materials and other important documents.
Conclusion
The fact that internet and its services play an important role on the student’s academic performance cannot be over emphasized. This it does through constant exposure of students to up-to-date information and relevant information in their various fields of study. The number of hours spent on the internet will have an effect on the student’s academic performance. The study shows that the use of internet for study purpose and academic achievements are directly proportional to each other. It was revealed that majority of respondents access the internet every day.
Even though the access to internet services has been grossly affected by the class of poverty and degree of exposure amongst other factors, the reduction in rates charged at internet and computer education centres could go a long way to enabling students have more access to latest and useful academic materials. If this suggestion and other recommendations in this study are taken it consideration, it is assumed that the future of the internet use and its academic influence on students is bright.
Suggestions for further Studies
Further areas of research could include determining the variations of internet usage by students from disciplines, determining the nature and extent of relationships between internet usage and academic performance, impact of internet at the Secondary school of Akoko South-West Ondo state in two years to come since it is increasingly used for learning. Also a further study should look into the role of power in effective utilization of internet facilities.
References
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