INTERNET USE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ READING HABITS: CASE STUDY OF AJAYI CROWTHER UNIVERSITY, OYO, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

AYOKU Akanni OJEDOKUN, Ph.D(1), GRACE T ADEYANJU(2),


(1) Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo
(2) Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo
Corresponding Author

Abstract


This study investigated the effect of the use of the Internet on students' reading habits. It employed descriptive survey methodology, with a questionnaire to gather data from 338 undergraduate students of Ajayi Crowther University through random sampling technique. It used the descriptive statistical techniques of frequency count, mean, and standard deviation to statistically analyse the data using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The findings showed that the respondents used the internet mainly to source educational materials to add to class notes (87.6%) and to develop their reading habits (87.3%). They spent a lot of time connected to the internet using 10 to 40 hours per week (75.8% - 81.7% of respondents) and maintained good reading habits in spite of long hours spent online. The study concluded that students can only cultivate good reading habits if the Internet is used mainly for educational/instructional purposes. It was therefore recommended: that institutions’ information literacy/user education programme should focus on the benefits of Internet use to enhance reading habits; promotion of Internet use for educational/instructional purposes among students; that parents and guardians instil good reading habits in their children/wards from home and that institutions should support students to develop better reading habits through improved library collection and organising programmes such as storytelling, reading together, readership promotion campaigns, and formation of reading clubs.

Keywords


Internet use, Reading, Reading habit, Reading interest, Reading culture, Undergraduate students.

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