THE ROLE OF THE INTERNET IN RESEARCH AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AMONG STUDENT

 Abstract

This study is on the role of the internet in research and information dissemination among student. The total population for the study is 200 students of University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made final year students, year 4 students, year 3 students and year 2 students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

The rapid growth of the internet and the advantage of the medium over traditional communication format in terms of flexibility, ease-of-access, speed and reach, makes it an obvious route for research. At the end of 1998, it was estimated that the total number of internet users were about 150 million and by year 2000, it had reached a total of 500 million users, this figure have doubled over the years indicating that people have been turning more to the internet as time advances. The advantages of the internet over traditional media are numerous. In this new electronic environment, flat, paper-based research articles can become multi-layered, cross-referenced, live resources with integral audio and visual material and links. Users can, from a single entry point, explore and capture numerous additional bundles of information from organizations and individuals across the world. Though a growing number of e-mail news groups and discussions forums online, researchers can communicate, share ideas and collaborate with networks of people, professionals and interest groups. It is this speed and flexibility of information exchange that represents probably the single most important benefit of the internet. Indeed, communication is in a flux of a break-neck change and the rules are changing rapidly. In fact one unique aspect of the mass media is their reliance on changing technology.

Senam, Ntiene, Okorie (2012, p.99) captures the situation: “Just the medieval period was dominated by religion; the contemporary era is technology-driven. Information and Communication Technologies constitute the extended Information Technology.” However, these innovative beginnings have set a stage for unresolved difficulties. The Internet comprises computer network attached to one another via pathway that facilitates the exchange of information, data and files. The revolutionary elements of the Internet, as a pacifier to the hegemony of the traditional media are recognized worldwide. Indeed the Internet delivers a lot and promises good and bad. The Net promises a flexible delivery of information from newspapers, radio television, and in a seemingly endless scope that “tempt, entertain and tantalize” (Curan and Gurevitch, 2005, p.381). In any case, the Internet has accelerated digital convergence with a range of players: newspapers, magazines, radio, television, film, books. But the marriage of the traditional media to the Web may not have brought a financial success. One important feature of a typical Web user is the desire to operate at no fee at all. “In fact the newspaper industry recognizes that it must accept economic losses while it is building online reader’s trust, acceptance and, above all regular and frequent use” (Baran, 2002, p. 163).

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

For about three decades, the turbulence in technology has resulted in times of media abundance and renaissance. Thanks to persistently emerging technologies, the mass media are operating in an atmosphere of change. Consequently, the paradigms continue to shift, the media continue to acquire new roles, and the relationship between the media and the people deepens. In this era, communication technologies have made complex, what used to be a simple understanding of a communication process. The aforementioned scenario has posed a challenge, and in view of this situation, there is persistent need to continue to conduct studies that would help create a better understanding of the new media.