Impact Of Internet On Postgraduate Research

(A Case Study Of Futo And Imsu Owerri)

4 Chapters
|
50 Pages
|
6,451 Words

The impact of the internet on postgraduate research is profound and far-reaching. The advent of digital connectivity has revolutionized the way scholars conduct, access, and disseminate research findings. Researchers now have unprecedented access to vast repositories of scholarly articles, databases, and online journals, enabling them to explore diverse perspectives, validate hypotheses, and synthesize information efficiently. Moreover, the internet facilitates collaboration among researchers across geographic boundaries, fostering interdisciplinary dialogues and enhancing the quality of research outcomes. Through online platforms, postgraduate students can engage in virtual conferences, share insights, and receive feedback from peers and experts in real-time, enriching their scholarly endeavors. Additionally, digital tools and resources empower researchers to employ advanced methodologies, such as data mining and computational analysis, to address complex research questions and derive meaningful insights. The internet’s influence on postgraduate research extends beyond access to information; it nurtures a dynamic scholarly community driven by innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, thereby shaping the future landscape of academic inquiry.

ABSTRACT

On the impact on the internet on postgraduate research: it is a HND project research carried out in requirement for the award of higher national diploma (HND) in library and information science. The project is made up of five (5) chapters. Chapter one which is all about introduction to the value of internet background of the study, objectives of study, research question, significance of study, scope and limitation, definition of term and reference.
Chapter two is
Literature review, and it treat others work by different another related to internet and it benefits.
Chapter three brings to light the research methodology, research design, population and sample size, research instrument for data collection, questionnaire and method for data analysis.
Chapter four presents data and its analysis after proper gathering and analysis to generate results. While chapter five which is the last chapter brings proper presentation of summary of data and result to conclude for recommendation and improvement on areas that needs for the research.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table Of Contents

 

CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of The Study
1.2 Background Information Of Imo-State University
1.3 Objective Of The Study
1.4 Research Question
1.5 Signification Of Study
1.6 Scope And Limitations
1.7 Definition Of Term
1.8 Reference

CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 The Nature, Concept Of Internet
2.2 Important Of Internet To Research
2.3 Use Of Internet By Tertiary Institution In Nigeria

CHAPTER THREE
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population And Sample Size
3.3 Research Instrument For Data Collection
3.4 Method Of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Analyses Of Research Questions

CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY OF FINDING, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Summary Of Finding
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
Bibliography
Appendix
Questionnaire

CHAPTER ONE

There is an already reorganized fact that the need for educational experience is rapidly growing and that development of technology is rapidly changing the pace of education to ‘which teaching, research and learning are taking new dimensions. the internet provides several oppurnities for the postgraduate scholar. It is a mechanism for information dissemination and a medium of collaborative interactive between individual and their computer without regard for geographic limitation of space. A wealth of resource and techniques now exist which serve as source of exciting examples ]of new teaching practices as well; as easily accessible methods for adoption into various format of teaching, research and learning internet technology allows postgraduate students to keep up with the latest research information.
Internet information researches are fast sweeping into the consciousness of Nigerian postgraduate students alongside with traditional academic resources in core research assignment. Postgraduate, like the lectures, incorporate the internet through such techniques as posting course syllabus and reading on the web, using interactive course design pack sage such as web CT and first class, and using communication tool. The eagerness .with which many instructors approach integrating web research tools and technology into their course provide a significant opportunity for collaboration and interaction with teachers, lectures, student postgraduate and research as well. The internet is a global network of computers
Linked together over large distance. It was .created by the American military as a means of communication and has been in existence since the 1960’s up from the mid to late eighties commercial organizations and educational institution were the only user of the internet this was due to high cost. The rapid development of technology has seen improvement in communication links and a lowering of costs. The now more widely available to many people.
The internet is a valuable source of information for postgraduate searching for material for their research works. With over 50 million websites on the net, the chances are any information however obscure can be found. The only tools required to find this information would be some patience and a decent tool for postgraduate research in helping to
Prepare or obtain information on the research work
As there are number of sites especially
In America, dedicated to ‘providing education and research material. Although there may be many advantages to be general from using the internet as an educational tool or research tool. There are also many drawbacks for first time users like some postgraduate students. For such student the internet can be a very unfriendly environment but users like the postgraduates, research can get familiar with pretty quickly.
Furthermore, because of the attractive characteristics of the internet, the postgraduate are trying to use the web to assist in interactive research in recent years. The use of the web for interactive research is relatively recent. The first material appeared in the early 90s. The impact, however can postgraduate has been considerable, mainly because the technology has advantages over the previous generations of interactive learning inventions. The internet will make a hunge contribution to postgraduate in the education system and research work. It will help both the postgraduates and research develop and exploit their own imagination and intellectual capabilities. In this way, it can aid continuing self-education. It will Make it ensure and more efficient for postgraduate college authorities to request information from collegues in and outside Nigeria. It will facilitate collaboration and interaction. Among postgraduates. These collaborative efforts promote information sharing, gunde research, and help
To integrate research experience. To sum up the application of the internet in research will facilities the followings.
– Submitting research papers, ]proposal and reports and coordinating research for staffs on study leave overseas.
– Making library contacts and discussing issues pertinent to these institutions with regard to provision and services.
– Providing access to e-mail & fites.
– Publishing educational institution to order to seek funds for projects and research.
– Applying for further studies overseas and ordering equipment from supplier outside the country.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE TWO SCHOOLS: BACKG-ROUND INFORMATION ON FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OWERRI (FUTO) LIBRARY.
The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) library was initially sited at Lake Nwaebere campus at a temporary site while the permanent site was under construction at Ihiagwa. The preparatory work for the library began in June 1981 with Mr. J.C. Anugude as the pioneer university librarian. A class room block was selected and converted into a make shift library. It was filled with shelves for ten thousand volumes of library materials. Other members of the library professional staff joined in October to prepare for the opening on the 19th November 19081. At the time of the opening, approximately 2,500 volume were on the shelves. However, the important of journals to the science and technology oriented university community was reorganized at an early stage and a list of about too title were ordered for. In the library reached six thousand to students. After two years of operating in a classroom block, the university library was moved to a permanent building in the first week of September 1983. The building which was originally designed as a library for federal government girls’ college, owerri was modified to meet the requirement of a growing university library. On 17th may 1983, the library moved along with the university to its permanent site. ‘on arrival, the pilot plant house of the school was immediately converted to a library in no time it was realized that the building was to small to accommodate the ever increasing stock, staff and library users. As such, the library moved partly to the library place iv in 1995, thereby making available two library buildings for use: Pilot plant and phase iv library building. The pilot plant library was lefe with serials section, the technical section for cataloguing and classification, the acquisition section, the information technology unit and the document and archive section the pilot plant library [is regarded as a “reference library” as no borrowing is done there. It seats a little over 100 readers.
The library phase IV which was originally intended to be a reading room is centrally situated at a convenient distance form the hostels, lecture halls / laboratories in a relatively noiseless zone of the campus. The organ gram of the library materials is situated at the entrance to the library there is bookshop at the south wing of the library has a seating capacity of about 500.

1.2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON IMO STATE UNIVERSITY
The Imo state university, Owerri (IMSU) library is as old as its institution which was established in 1981, ‘following passed
Can the 13th on April 1981 by the Imo state house of assembly during the MBAKWE’S administration. The school was officially opened at two campuses, i.e. Aba and Eketi in October 16th, 1982. The school was later moved to Okigwe by the military administrator, major general Ike Nwachukwu (RTD) but was relocated to Owerri from Okigwe in 1992 as contained in the law establishing the institution. Imo state university was opened in 1993 at Lake Nwaebere campus before admission of students and Dr. Ononogbo becomes the first acting librarian of the university library. Since the stock had been increasing and it is of note ]that the library stock has recovered gifts both in cash and in materials from individual and the European union and all the activities of the library geared towards the realization of the goal of its parents institution. As stated in the Imo State university library fact sheet, the library systems of the school consist of ten libraries as follows:
i. the main library
ii. the law library
iii. the college of machine ]library
iv. the library of the faculty of business administration
v. the department of the architectural library
vi. social science library
vii. humanities library
viii. department of education library
ix. quantity surveying library
x. the agricultural library
The activities of all the libraries are coordinated from the main library. This is to enable the library provide efficient and effective service to its chenteles in various faculties and colleges of the institution.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The manifest aim of this study was ostensibly to:
1. study the impact ]of the internet for research in institution of higher learning
2. Asses the usefulness of the internet as a tool for interactive research on postgraduate studies.
3. determine the benefit of the internet in advancing research abilities and techniques of postgraduate students,
4. Find out the achievements and the level of its impact on postgraduates.
5. Evaluate the postgraduate wiliness and readiness to use the internet as a research tools.
6. Find out the level of use of interest among postgraduate.

1.4 research question
1. does the internet has any impact on post graduate in the institution of higher learning
2. is the internet of any use as a tool fro interactive research I Nigeria postgraduate
3. does nor interact has any impact on the advancing research ability and techniques of the postgraduate
4. does not have any quality or gains to the level of penetration among postgraduate
5. does postgraduate develop any willingness and readiness to use the internet as a research tools
6. Does postgraduate make use of the internet at all?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The recent commercialization of the internet in Nigeria has revolutionaries our information flows and system. The internet is now being used in a variety of ways to promote productivity, communication, business, advertisement and marketing in Nigeria. Internet usage for education is just receiving recognition because of the need by most [institution to operate distance learning programs and the need to connect academic staff to global resource for improved teaching and research. Postgraduate firm the major population in higher institution of learning as researchers and the introduction and success of any new technology within the educational and research framework should consider them. Provision of internet access to postgraduate will create a large revenue base for the maintenance and sustenance of the internet facilities. This, this experimental studies seek to provide information on the impact of the internet as a knowledge acquisition tool for postgraduate and its effects on postgraduate research work. If the internet is seen to impact enough research ideas on the postgraduate, most researchers would be encourage to investment in the technology.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
The research work is on the “impact of the internet on postgraduate research”. Therefore the research will focus on the internet usage and the impact of the internet on research works of the postgraduate with special reference to federal university of technology Owerri and Imo State University because the researcher will explore the topic with particular reference to the two institutions under study both in Owerri. However, in the course of trying to any [out meaningful researcher encountered difficulties as a result of time frame which invariably hinder effective generation of data and financial constraints which was an impediment to generation of enough data for this work.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERM
The operational definition of terms.
1. INTENET: as the word already suggests the internet is
a system in which computers are networked i.e. (connected) together, so that they can share information. Thus creating a untual areas called cyberspace. Information is anything you can send over electronic communication lines. Such lines include e-mail sound (music or voile), graphics (pictures) and document e.g. books magazines and articles. Just about anything can be sent across the internet. Internet is a connection of networks through out the world. Academic military, governmental and commercial networks all combines to create the internet. In Nigeria, internet access is provided by companies know as internet service provider (ISP). It is these ISPs who provide access to the various cybercafé who in term provide you with services this book is about the most useful internet tool the e-mail.
2. POSTGRADUATE: according to oxford termed dictionary
Postgraduate are those who already holds a first degree and who is doing advance study or research. Postgraduate can be someone who is studying at university to get degree .or PHD. New information. Research can also be an activity to study a subject in detail so you can discover new information about it. (Oxford learned dictionary).

REFERENCE
1. AHIKWU, CHRIST .O. (1998) the role of Internet
Connectivity in Nigeria retrieved November 20, 2007 from web page. http:/www./scorning. Org. ng/conference papers/paper 17.htm.
2. Amaeshi, B.O, E.U. Anyanwu & D.C Oparaku (2006)
Characteristics of internet users in Nigeria the case of Owerri metropolises, Imo State. The research librarian journal of the Nigeria library association 1(i) may 2006 pp 33-47.
3. Awoleye, O.M. & W.O. Siyanbola (2006) examine the
Level of penetration and impact of internet usage among undergraduate in Nigeria universities. A case study approach current development in techno logy assisted education pp 1708-1713.
4. Emeagwali, P (2006) voting Nigeria into the
Information age the guardian. Sept 24, 2000.
5. Jagboro, K.F (2003) a study of internet usage in
Nigeria universities. A case study of Oba Femi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria.
6. Madu, E.C and T.N admiring (2005) information
Technology: uses and preservation of resource in libraries and information centers Ibadan. Eva Coleman.
7. Mari A.K. (2005) the internet as a tool for interactive
Learning, teaching and research. Nigeria experience available on line at http:/online. Journal. Org/1-yet / article / view / 109 / 76.
8. Osunade, O. (2003) an education of the impact of
Internet browsing on student’s academics performance at the tertiary level of education in Nigeria. Research financed by the educational research network for west central Africa (ERNWACA) available on-line at http: www. Rocare. Org small grant-Nigeria 2003 PDF.
9. Uxigho, R.J., G.U. Oroke G.O.Ekruyota (2006) the
impact of internet usage: a case study of delta state (Nigeria) tertiary institutions scientific research and essays. Vol no 2, November, 2006. pp 54-56 available can-line at: http http://www.academic journals.org / SRE.
10. philporadley (2002) internet power searching neal
schuman publisher; new york.
11. A circle book can the internet publisher if gv 2002 pp 2.

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Impact Of Internet On Postgraduate Research:

The internet has had a profound impact on postgraduate research in various ways, both positive and negative. Here are some of the key ways in which the internet has influenced postgraduate research:

  1. Access to Information:
    • Positive Impact: The internet has revolutionized access to information. Postgraduate researchers can access a vast repository of academic journals, books, research papers, and databases online, making it easier to find relevant literature and data for their research.
    • Negative Impact: The sheer volume of information available online can be overwhelming, making it essential for researchers to develop strong information literacy skills to evaluate sources for credibility and relevance.
  2. Collaboration and Communication:
    • Positive Impact: The internet enables collaboration and communication among researchers worldwide. Postgraduates can easily connect with experts in their field, share ideas, and collaborate on research projects through email, video conferencing, and online collaboration tools.
    • Negative Impact: The virtual nature of communication can sometimes lack the richness of face-to-face interactions, potentially hindering nuanced discussions and collaborations.
  3. Research Tools and Software:
    • Positive Impact: Online research tools, software, and platforms have made data collection, analysis, and organization more efficient. Researchers can use tools like statistical software, reference management software, and online survey platforms to streamline their work.
    • Negative Impact: Depending too heavily on digital tools can lead to technical challenges and data security concerns.
  4. Dissemination of Research:
    • Positive Impact: The internet has made it easier for researchers to disseminate their findings to a broader audience. Researchers can publish their work in online journals, share preprints, and use social media and academic networking platforms to reach a global audience.
    • Negative Impact: The ease of dissemination also means that misinformation and low-quality research can spread rapidly. Researchers must be cautious about the credibility of the platforms they use to share their work.
  5. Literature Review:
    • Positive Impact: Online databases and search engines make literature reviews more efficient and comprehensive. Researchers can quickly find relevant studies, articles, and reviews, which can significantly speed up the early stages of research.
    • Negative Impact: Relying solely on online sources can lead to a bias toward easily accessible information, potentially missing out on valuable offline resources.
  6. Ethical and Legal Considerations:
    • Positive Impact: The internet has facilitated discussions about research ethics and provided resources for understanding ethical guidelines and best practices.
    • Negative Impact: It has also introduced new ethical challenges, such as issues related to plagiarism, data security, and the responsible use of online resources.
  7. Data Collection and Analysis:
    • Positive Impact: The internet offers access to vast amounts of data, making it easier for researchers to collect and analyze data for their studies.
    • Negative Impact: Ensuring the quality and reliability of online data sources can be challenging, and ethical concerns related to data privacy and consent must be addressed.

In conclusion, the internet has fundamentally transformed postgraduate research by providing access to information, enabling collaboration, offering research tools, and changing the way research is disseminated. However, researchers must be mindful of the challenges and ethical considerations that come with the digital age. Adaptability and a critical approach to online resources are essential skills for postgraduate researchers in the internet era.