Environmental and Institutional Factors Influence on Internet Use by the Undergraduates in Selected Federal Universities in South West, Nigeri

Environmental and Institutional Factors Influence on Internet Use By the Undergraduates in Selected Federal Universities in South West, Nigeria

Ayoola Johnson AJAYI
National Library
Ilorin, Nigeria

And

Kolawole Akinjide ARAMIDE
Abadina Media Resource Centre
University of Ibadan
Nigeria
[e-mail]
2348138313183

Abstract This study investigated the influence of environmental and Institutional factors on Internet use by undergraduate students in selected universities in South West, Nigeria. The study used undergraduate students in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria. The copies of the questionnaire designed for the study was administered on 178 purposively selected students from the selected universities out of which only 110 were returned with useful responses making a response rate of 61.8%. The study further revealed reliable internet connection (Mean = 3.06), adequate infrastructural facilities (Mean = 2.62), Internet policy (Mean = 2.60), and ICT development policy (Mean = 2.54) as major environmental factors that influenced the use of internet among the students in the selected institutions. Also, the study established inadequate access points for internet use (Mean = 2.60), availability of adequate computer accessories (Mean = 2.55), high cost of internet use (Mean = 2.54), and adequate availability of computers connected to the Internet as major institutional factors that influenced the use of internet among the undergraduate students in the selected institutions. The study revealed that environmental factors significantly contribute positively to Internet use while institutional factors do not significantly influence internet use among undergraduate students in Nigerian universities.

Keywords: Environmental factors, Institutional factors, Internet use

Background to the study The revolution in Information and

References: Abolade, A.O. and Yusuf, M.O. 2005. Information and Communication Technology (ICT’s) and the Nigerian Teacher Education Programme. African Journal of Educational Studies 3.1: 1-19. Adeogun, M. 2002. The Digital divide and university education systems in sub-saharan Africa. African Journal of Library Archival and Information Studies 13.1: 11-20. Adogbji, B., and Akporhonor, A. B. (2005). The impact of ICTs (internet) on research and studies; The experience of Delta state university students in Abraka, Nigeria. Library HiTech News , 1 (10), 17-21. Alhaji, R. 2007. Are individual differences germane to the acceptance of new technologies? Decision science 30.2: 361-391. Al-heala, A.M. 2005. Gautong on Line (GOL) Educational plan implementation strategy supporting documentation. Unpublished supporting documentation. 12p Bagchi, K Choe, J. (2003). The effect of environmental uncertainty and strategic applications of IS on firms’ performance. Information and Management , 40 (4), 257-68. Kelceoglu, I. (2006). Understanding institutional factors affecting first-year Teachers’ utilization of technology. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 9 (1), 213-221 Lal Lee, G.G., Lin, H.F., and Pai, J.C. (2005). Influence of environmental and organizational factors on the success of internet-based interorganisational systems planning. Internet Research, 15 (5), 527-543. Lishan, D. (2004). The Internet in lifelong learning: liberation or alienation?. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 27 (2), 119. Molosi, K. (2001) Making the internet work for Africa. Computers in Africa, Oct/Nov 37-38 Nertha, K.N Standing, C. and Vasudavan, T. (2001). Diffusion of Internet Technologies in Travel Agencies in Australia. Retrived from http://scholar.google.com/ scholar?q = Diffusion + of +Internet + Technologies + in+ Travel + Agencies on 24/05/2012 Usum, T.R