1.1 Introduction
Internet is a network of linked computers, which are located at different points all over the world that provide easy communication between persons and organizations no matter where they are located. The Internet is used mostly in obtaining information. Internet has many benefits in academic cycle as it provides access to global sources of information. It also gives researchers the ability to discuss and share experience with colleagues, (Ojedekun, 2001 as cited in Audu, 2006).
The Internet has a role to play in libraries, which is the hub of research activities in universities. Internet resources have significant impact on library services. It can be consulted and used like any other reference tool, it is more dynamic and far reaching than any other resource used in a library setting. It provides a medium of communication that has extended the potential of undergraduate students’ Interaction beyond the physical library to users.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Internet resources are the recent development in technology and are among the most tools ever invented in human history which are becoming more and more important for academic community. The internet which represents a strong fusion of computing and communication technologies, has recorded an outstanding growth in the past few years of its existence. While this may be attributed to the recent advance in both technologies, the main driving force seems however to be the general demand for better and faster information management system. This singular factor has steered computing to its height presently in the area of communication.
Researchers carry out various studies using information sources of libraries. In the present dispensation, information is needed even faster than ever. Since there are many other sources from which information is acquired other than libraries, it becomes necessary that the library should do everything possible to ensure that its relevance is felt among its clients who value its usefulness on the basis of available information sources found in it (Atsugh and Gwaza, 2012).
Internet service provision has become a critical factor for undergraduate student’s research activities especially in developing countries including Nigeria where the problem of limited access to current and reliable information resources has not been adequately addressed. According to the World Almanac and Book of Facts (2004), there is no aspect of the contemporary world that is more influenced by the Internet than the educational system. Supporting this, Selcher (2005) observed that the Internet is a veritable tool for academic research work especially at higher education level.
Adegboji and Toyo (2006) observed that Internet contributed significantly to the ease of research through downloading materials. It is believed that researchers and students are having the challenges of inadequate and out of date materials. The only way to resolve these challenges is through the use of Internet resources that are comprehensive and current information (Kamba, 2008).
Lubans (2000) stated that Internet has effects on undergraduate students’ academic work. He observed that internet had positive influence on the number of found and quality of students’ written work. He further noted that with the indiscriminate use of internet, students are lured by easy access and often do not question the value or quality of material found on the web. The internet is a chaotic library because it displays no discernible orderly classification or categorization. It therefore poses a challenge on the students’ ability to distinguish between information from refereed scholarly journals available digitally and the digital equivalent of vanity press publications. Ugbah (2010) identified some of the problems of undergraduate students’ use of internet resources as slow Internet speed, Internet facilities are not up and running at all times to meet the varied time students prefer to browse the Internet.
Eze and Obiozor (2005) stressed that the Internet helps researchers in their research work by enabling them to communicate freely with colleagues scattered all over the world. They can exchange knowledge and even the research findings from different locations in the world. They further explained that the presence of the file transfer protocol and the World Wide Web makes it possible to exchange visual information in readable and useable formats.
In addition, Usun (2003) observed that the Internet can be used as a supplement to traditional instructional materials. Despite the numerous benefits Internet resources provide, it can be seen that most of the students experience difficulty of exploration, innovation and creativity when conducting research. The students express these difficulties through their inability to choose topics, write the background of their research topics, review literature of their research work and analyze their data (Nichols and Mellinger, 2007).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Use of Internet as Information Resources in University.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that according to Adegboji and Toyo (2006), Internet contributed significantly to the ease of research through downloading materials. It is believed that researchers and students are having the challenges of inadequate and out of date materials. The only way to resolve these challenges is through the use of Internet resources that are comprehensive and current information, (Kamba, 2008).
Despite the level of internet awareness in Nigeria, the country still limps on the slow lane in terms of usage of the internet. This has been a major problem in the Nigerian society. According to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the growth of the internet as enormous with the number of users reaching 103 million in May, 2018; this was an impressive growth from 28 million internet users recorded in 2012.
Lubans (2000) stated that Internet has effects on undergraduate students’ academic work. He observed that internet had positive influence on the number of found and quality of students’ written work. He further noted that with the indiscriminate use of internet, students are lured by easy access and often do not question the value or quality of material found on the web.
The internet is a chaotic library because it displays no discernible orderly classification or categorization. It therefore poses a challenge on the students’ ability to distinguish between information from refereed scholarly journals available digitally and the digital equivalent of vanity press publications.
The inability of undergraduate students to use the available Internet resources and the difficulties undergraduate students in universities in the South-South Nigeria go through when writing research project as affirmed by researchers is worrisome and if not checked, the consequences in the future may be inconceivable. Therefore, the study investigated whether undergraduate students use Internet resources in Nigerian University using UNIBEN as a reference point.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Use of Internet as Information Resources in a Nigerian University. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain the basic Internet skills possessed by undergraduate students for utilization of Internet resources;
- To determine the extent of use of Internet resources by undergraduate students;
- To find out the availability of internet resources in Nigerian University;
- To investigate the challenges hindering undergraduate students from using the Internet resources; and
- To suggest possible ways of improving internet services in Nigerian University.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there challenges hindering undergraduate students from using the Internet resources?
- To what extent is Internet resources used by undergraduate students?
- What are the internet resources available in Nigerian University?
- What are the possible ways of improving internet services in Nigerian University?
- What are the basic Internet skills possessed by undergraduate students for utilization of Internet resources?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: The internet resources are insufficient in Nigerian University.
- H1: The internet resources are sufficient in Nigerian University.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: The internet usage in Nigerian University is not okay.
- H1: The internet usage in Nigerian University is okay.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: There are no significant factors affecting internet services in Nigerian University.
- H1: There are significant factors affecting internet services in Nigerian University.
Hypothesis Four
- H0: Internet resource services in Nigerian University cannot be improved.
- H1: Internet resource services in Nigerian University can be improved.
1.7 Significance of Study
This study is expected to be of benefit to undergraduate students, librarians, researchers and the university management in the following ways.
- The study will make the undergraduate students aware of the use of Internet resources for their assignments, term papers and research projects by effective user education that the study has recommended. They will use Internet resources for educating themselves for even other things as well as exploring deeper into their study areas. Knowledge acquired through such exploration will enable them to be more innovative and creative. With the knowledge of Internet resources, the students will be able to access and use adequate and current literature that will enhance quality project writing.
- Consequently, the study will benefit the librarians by helping them to see the need of encouraging the university management of the mother institutions of their libraries to provide and preserve Internet resources for information dissemination to all library users. Therefore, the librarians will identify the necessary Internet resources need and make requisition for their provision. The librarians will now be better equipped with knowledge capacities to serve their community better as they will endeavor to have sufficient Internet resources available for undergraduate student’s research projects.
- In addition, the study will benefit the university management by making the management aware of the necessary Internet resources that they could provide funds for its provision. With the provision of adequate Internet resources, it will enhance the quality of research projects of undergraduate students and their general academic performance.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Use of Internet as Information Resources in a Nigerian University. The study will only cover the bona-fide Students of University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Edo State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Lack of Initial Cooperation from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.10 Definition of Terms
In the process of conducting and finding presentation of this study, there are some technical words that needed to be defined for better understanding.
Internet:
It is a computer system that allows millions of users around the world to exchange information.
Evaluation:
To judge how good, useful, or successful something is.
Role:
It means the function that a period or what a thing typically have or is expected to have.
