THE INFLUENCE OF THE INTERNET ON INFORMATION ACQUISITION AMONG STUDENTS

Abstract

The use of the Internet in education is gradually gaining prominence in our higher educational institutions. As students are active users of the Internet, it is believed that they utilize the Internet for their academic pursuit. This study explores and investigates the Influence of the Internet on Information Acquisition among Students of Bayero University, Kano during the 2012-2013 Academic Session. However, as the Internet is seen to be a somewhat troublesome media, Social Cognitive Theory underpinned this study giving prominence in understanding how students can self-regulate the use of new media especially the Internet and perform a particular cause of action at a time. Furthermore, the study investigated the extent to which the Internet influences the students of Bayero University, Kano and what use the information from the Internet is put to. The qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in gathering data and conclusions for this study based on frequencies and their equivalent percentages

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background of the study

There is growing concern about the potential effect of Internet use on students. Studies on Internet use and reading variables among students are not commonplace. The rapid growth of the Internet over the years has emerged as the foremost source of disseminating information quickly to a large audience, transcending the limitation of time and space. Basically, one could logically argue that the Internet offers two main benefits: Communication and Information. Information disseminated via the Internet has implications for how it is used in education. Since students are among the popular users of information from the Internet, the development of the Internet would be meaningless if it is not used appropriately in tertiary institutions. However, in spite of the benefits of the Internet for education and learning, there is a growing concern as to whether the increasing number of hours spent by students who surf the Internet, limits the amount of time and effort devoted to the actual reading and studying of the materials obtained from or outside the Internet. Communication is today more sophisticated and efficient with the advancement of technological support in the world. Pierce (1972) opines that communication is not the only essence of being human but also a vital property of life: Meanwhile, Fleming (2014) defines Communication as the act of conveying information for the purpose of creating a shared understanding. The word communication comes from the Latin word communis, meaning to share, and it includes verbal, non-verbal and electronic means of human interaction. Humans convey information through a variety of methods: speaking, telephones, email, blogs, Television, art, hand gestures, facial expressions, body language and even social contexts. Communication can occur instantaneously in closed, intimate settings or over great periods of time in large public forums, like the Internet. Now the student select information according to their interest and needs and believe in which they can contribute into content and share their opinions. Therefore, the technology convergence helped dying news sources and alive them again through news media like e-versions of newspapers, radio podcasts, online TV etc. Similarly the role of state fourth pillar is being undermined by new media. On this background the researcher wants to investigate the influence of internet on information acquisition among student

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Various studies had found excessive use of internet among students. Initially internet was found a vehicle for socialization and communication. But later internet drastically dominated news domain. The gradual use of internet for information acquisition is growing, particularly after using the internet for political mobilization. Youth and university students were found heavier user of internet, therefore, this study aimed to explore preference of internet on information acquisition among student

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1.   To ascertain the influence of internet on academic performance of student

2.   To ascertain how much time student spend on internet for information

3.   To ascertain the situation in which need for information acquisition increase at internet

4.   To ascertain what make internet information so important for student to prefer it

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H0:   there is no influence of internet on academic performance of student

H1: there is an influence of internet on academic performance of student

H02: student do not spend time on internet for information than reading books

H2: student spend time on internet for information than reading books

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will give clear insight on the influence of internet on information acquisition among student. The study will be beneficial to students, lecturers and the general public. The study will give insight on how important is internet to students and the negative influence of it. The study will also serve as reference to other researchers that will embark on this topic

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers influence of internet on information acquisition among student. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

b) 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.

c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

INTERNET: The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to link devices worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of private, public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope, linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless

INFORMATION: Information is any entity or form that resolves uncertainty or provides the answer to a question of some kind. It is thus related to data and knowledge, as data represents values attributed to parameters, and knowledge signifies understanding of real things or abstract concepts.

ACQUISITION:   An acquisition is a corporate action in which a company buys most, if not all, of another firm’s ownership stakes to assume control of it. An acquisition occurs when a buying company obtains more than 50% ownership in a target company

1.8 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), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is 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.

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