TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page
Approval page
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Abstract
Table of content
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of problem
1.3 Objective of the study
1.4 Research Hypotheses
1.5 Significance of the study
1.6 Scope and limitation of the study
1.7 Definition of terms
1.8 Organization of the study
CHAPETR TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPETR THREE
3.0 Research methodology
3.1 sources of data collection
3.3 Population of the study
3.4 Sampling and sampling distribution
3.5 Validation of research instrument
3.6 Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Introductions
4.2 Data analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendation
Appendix
Abstract
This study investigates the utilization of digital technologies among Mass Communication students in Kogi state university. At the dawn of a new era, vast expansion of human communication is profoundly influencing culture everywhere. Revolutionary technological changes are only part of what is happening. Which is unifying humanity and turning it into what is known as a global village. But it is changed in the concept of global room. Because recent decades also have witnessed remarkable developments in the technology of communicating. These includes both the rapid evolution of previously existing technologies and the emergence of new telecommunications and technologies, satellites, cable television, fiber optics, video cassettes, compacts disks, computerized image making and other computer and digital technology and much more else. Obliviously this is the age of information technology that information technology brought a revolution in the field of media industry also.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
The Information Society or Information Age is a new phenomenon since 1950 which brings with it new challenges as we seek to integrate an expanding universe of print and multimedia sources into our daily lives. The two terms often are used to describe a cybernetic society in which there is a great dependence on the use of computers and data transmission linkages to generate and transmit information. By contrast, our familiar reference frame of an industrial society relied on machines to augment human physical labor to produce goods and services. Now, through a process of continual change, geographic barriers are being dissolved, businesses are more interconnected, and relationships between workers and workplace are changing more rapidly. In the twentieth century there has been a radical transformation in the role of information in society as well as in the technology used in its production and dissemination. The swift progress in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has led to changes that are affecting all aspects of our societies and increasingly becoming important in our daily lives. The impact is in the transformation it has brought in support of the human day-to-day activities. This has had an impact on real human cognition and has affected the way we think and in some respects altered the way we think (Yushau, Mji & Wessels, 2005). Education is one sector that has benefited most from these advancements. Now, time and space are no longer barriers to education. In what is now popularly known as distributed learning, people use a wide range of computing and communications technology to provide learning opportunities beyond the time and place constraints of the traditional classroom. As a matter of fact, the concept of distance learning has been revolutionized to what is now known as e-learning, blended learning or web-based learning programs. These technologies have made available different training methods that have hitherto been difficult for human instructors to use. However, as Papert (1990) rightly notes “technology is not the cause of anything either positive or negative, but rather should be thought of as a tool that society can use to shape the environment” (in Edwards, 2001). However, the real challenge is how to best utilize these technologies to achieve our educational objectives. The rationale for internet utilization for academic and research purposes stems from the benefits derived, such as free access to online journals, magazines and other information resources. It has been theorized (i.e. Technology acceptance model) that the perceived usefulness or perceived utility is the major rationale for the acceptance of technological devices such as the internet. The perceived usefulness (PU) is described as the extent to which a person perceived that utilizing a particular technological device will improve a given job performance. Whilst perceived ease of use (PEOU) is the extent a person feels that utilizing a particular technological device would require less effort, or how well a technological device can fasten a work without necessarily putting much effort (Tezer and Soykan, 2017; Davis, 1989). In this regard, Sahin et al. (2010) pointed out that the use of internet in the educational setting has enabled easy access to many resources and information sharing. This conforms with Audu’s (2006) claim that the internet is beneficial in several ways in the academic settings in terms of providing access to global sources of information and permitting researchers to discuss and share experiences. Bashir et al. (2008) noted that educators who advocated for technology integration into the learning process had the impression that it will improve learning and prepare students to effectively participate in the twenty-first-century workplace.
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Therefore, information and communication technologies are critical needs of every member of the society, organizations and governments that must function effectively in accordance with the dictates of needs of their diverse publics, customers and stakeholders in an information-driven age. Among those in dire need of effective appreciation and application of these technological innovations are, undoubtedly, students of mass communication. This notwithstanding the level of literacy among mass communication students in Kogi state, the extent to which these student utilized these digital technology for academic purposes is questionable. This is why this study is pertinent.
- OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The study has one main objective, which is divided into general and specific objective; the general objective is to examine the utilization of digital technologies among mass communication student, the specific objective are;
- To examine the impact of utilization of digital technologies on the academic performance of mass communication students in Kogi state university
- To ascertain if there is any significant relationship between utilization of digital technologies and academic performance of mass communication student
- To examine the role of ICT on the academic performance of mass communication students in Kogi state university
- To proffer suggested solutions to the identified problem
- RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;
- Is there any there is any significant relationship between utilization of digital technologies and academic performance of mass communication student?
- Does utilization of digital technologies have any impact on the academic performance of mass communication students in Kogi state university?
- Does ICT play any role on the academic performance of mass communication students in Kogi state university?
- RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;
H0: utilization of digital technologies does not have any impact on the academic performance of mass communication students in Kogi state university
H1: utilization of digital technologies does have an impact on the academic performance of mass communication students in Kogi state university
H0: There is no significant relationship between utilization of digital technologies and academic performance of mass communication student
H2: There is a significant relationship between utilization of digital technologies and academic performance of mass communication student
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of importance to the student of mass communication as the study seek to explore the merit of digital technologies utilization on the academic performance of mass communication students in Kogi state university, the study will also be useful to the management of Kogi state university as the study seek to explore the importance of the availability of digital technologies in institution of higher learning, as this will directly influence students’ knowledge and utilization of these gadget. The study will also be of importance to researchers who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the findings will serve as a pathfinder to further research. Finally, the study will be useful to students, teachers, academia’s and the general public as the study will contribute to the pool of existing literature on the subject matter and also add to knowledge.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study covers the utilization of digital technologies among mass communication students in Kogi state university. Kogi State University, located at Anyigba, is the state-owned university of Kogi, Nigeria. It was established in 1999 by Prince Abubakar Audu, the former governor of the state. At the time of its establishment, it was known as Kogi State University, It was later named Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) in 2002, after the then sitting governor of Kogi State, who heralded its establishment, and later renamed Kogi State University (KSU) in 2003. Professor S.K. Okwute (Professor of Chemistry) was the pioneer Vice Chancellor (2000-2005) and currently back to University of Abuja. Professor F.S. Idachaba (OFR), Professor of Agric-Economics, took over between 2005 and 2008 and then retired to work in his foundation (F.S. Idachaba Foundation for Research and Scholarship) before his death. Professor I. Isah (Professor of Chemical Pathology), from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, took over in October 2008. The incumbent Vice Chancellor is Professor M. Abdulkadir. In 2017 the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) KSU chapter was locked in an industrial crisis with the state government over nonpayment of salaries for several months. The state government accused the lecturers of politicizing the industrial dispute and ordered their immediate return to class room or would their positions declared vacant for fresh applications. After several days of refusal to return to the class, Governor Bello who is Visitor to the school announced the proscription of ASUU and its withdrawal from the national ASUU. But in the course of the study, there are some factors that limit the scope of the study;
AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.
- OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
ICT
Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications and computers, as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audiovisual systems, that enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information
Digital technologies
The branch of scientific or engineering knowledge that deals with the creation and practical use of digital or computerized devices, methods, systems, etc.
Mass communication
Mass communication is the process of imparting and exchanging information through mass media to large segments of the population
Students
A student is a person who goes to school and is learning something. Students can be children, teenagers, or adults who are going to school, but it may also be other people who are learning, such as in college or university.
1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows
Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.
