AN INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF ICT ON THE STUDY HABIT AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Everyone is thought to have a particular study habit, thus it's crucial to figure out your own preferred method of studying. Study habits have the potential to have a significant impact on a student's academic achievement. However, studying with peers has a long way to go in student’s study habits, it has a positive effect in that they discuss what they've read together, but it also has a negative impact in that they might not read but end up talking instead throughout the allotted reading period, which amounts to time wasted. According to Hills (2021), a very good and conducive learning environment encourages students study habit and might have positive impact on their academic performances but students reading in an unfavorable environment might find it difficult to study which may affect their academic achievements.

Similarly, students with financial constraints might also find it difficult to perform excellently well in their academics. However, students do not attend classes, do not take down notes, do not do their assignments, do not read their books or make use of the library tends to perform poorly academically as these attitudes may negatively affect their academic performances. On the other hand,  Fieden (2019) states that good study habit help the student in critical reflection skill outcomes such as selecting, analyzing critiquing, synthesizing. Also, Nneji (2022), asserts that study habits are learning tendency that enable student work privately. Additionally, Azikewe (2018), described study habit as the way and manner a student plans his or her reading outside lecture hour in other to master a particular subject or topic. Study habit help student master their area of specialization.

Conceptually, ICT is an acronym for “information communications technology”. It refers to the combination of manufacturing and services industries that capture, transmit and display data and information electronically. The impact of ICT on learning is currently in relation to use of digital media, primarily computers and internet to facilitate teaching and learning. ICTs are the technologies used in conveying, manipulation and storage of data by electronic means, they provide an array of powerful tools that may help in transforming the present isolated teacher-centered and text-bound classrooms into rich, student-focused, interactive knowledge environments. To meet these challenges, learning institutions must embrace the new technologies and appropriate ICT tools for learning. Moreover, Bousiou (2015) asserts that the  direct link between ICT use and students’ study habit and academic performance has been the focus of extensive literature during the last two decades. Some of them help students with their learning by improving the communication between them and the instructors . also, Leuven et al. (2022) stated that there is no evidence for a relationship between increased educational use of ICT and students’ performance. In fact, they find a consistently negative and marginally significant relationship between ICT use and some student achievement measures. In support to these, some students may use ICT to increase their leisure time and have less time to study. Online gaming and increased communication channels do not necessarily mean increased achievement.

Additionally, Twizell (2018), states that ICT has the potential to transform the nature of education: Where and how learning takes place and the roles of students and teachers in the learning process. Hassan (2016) noted the exponential growth in digital information, which changes the way students perceive study and reading and in how printed materials are used to facilitate study. Study habits of students play a vital role in reflecting the standard of education and the students’ academic performance according to Hills (2021), students cannot be expected to learn everything needed about the subject from their teachers in the classroom alone, it is the combination of both the classroom learning and out of classroom learning that make up students study habits. The need for effective counselling services among students cannot be overemphasized in order to achieve good academic performances. The students need to be counselled on the use of ICT to develop good study habits that will enhance a good academic performance.

Further more,  Chukwu (2018) also revealed that effective counselling services on the use of ICT will help to promote students adjustment in school and enhance good academic performance. Also, Onwuegbuzie (2018) in his study suggested that guidance services are needed on student study attitude and study habit for a better academic performance. Sorenson (2021), while listing the good basic study habits stated that one must study with the primary aim of understanding. This requires one not to be in a hurry of getting through, rather sustained concentration is necessary.

In line with the above, Crow and Crow (2022) stated that effective study habits include plan/place, a definite time table and taking brief of well-organized notes. Many studies have been carried out by researchers like Adeyemo (2005) and Gbore (2016) on effective study habits. They argue that study habits have strong relationship with the academic performance of students. A student who cultivates certain study habit will perform differently from a student who has another set of study habit. It is believed that student who lacks effective and efficient means of studying would be building on shaking foundation and consequently have weak foundation. The teachers teach all the students collectively but all the students do not have the same grades, here we see underachievers and high achievers in mathematics. With these the teachers get puzzled with the sight of such situations and then try or push too much (Riaz, Asma& Niaz, 2022). There may be a number of reasons like different levels of intelligence, lack of good infrastructural facilities, and lack of good libraries and so on. But one of the reasons is that students fail to make good an effort to learn what their teachers taught them in the school and also do not study at home because they fail to recognize the importance of study habits to their academic achievement.

Based on the extended usage of ICTs in education the need appeared to unravel the myth that surrounds the use of information and communication technology (ICT) as an aid to teaching and learning, and the impact it has on students’ study habits and academic performance. Therefore, a survey will be conducted in order to investigate the impact of ICT on the study habit and academic performance of undergraduate students in Lagos State University.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) in Nigeria is a positive development, and using the internet for educational purposes has numerous advantages, particularly in terms of staying current and relevant. The major problem that is facing study habit of student in Lagos State University is that the student’s performance and interest in reading need as to be improved, in this process of improvement students concentrate more on information and communication technology (ICT). For student to excel technologically in their study habit there is need for popularization of information and communication technology (ICT) among students. Mean while one of major problem is based on the extended usage of information and communication technology ICTs in education the need appeared to unravel the myth that surrounds the use of information and communication technology (ICT) as an aid to teaching and learning, and the impact it has on student study habits. It is in the light of these that the study seeks to investigate the impact of ICT on the study habit and academic performance of undergraduate students in Lagos state university.

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of ICT on the study habit and academic performance of undergraduate students in Lagos State University. Specifically, the study will;

1.        Identify ICTs tools used by students to support their studies.

2.        Determine whether there is a significant relationship between ICT usage and students’ study habits.

3.        Investigate  the impact of  ICT on students’ academic performance.

4.        Ascertain the factors affecting the use of ICT among undergraduate students.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

1.        What are ICTs tools  used by students to support their studies?

2.        Is  there a significant relationship between ICT usage and students’ study habits? 

3.        Does ICT usage have impact on students’  academic performance?

4.        What are the factors affecting the use of ICT among undergraduate students?

1.5  Significant of the Study

The impact of ICT on the study habit and academic performance of undergraduate students will be revealed to the government at various levels, stakeholders involved in education policies, teachers, school management, media houses and  students in this study. It will additionally enlighten students on the impact and use of ICT,  and also provide a basis for the inclusion of new knowledge.

Furthermore, this research will be useful to media house for proper dissemination of  information to  a large population and will also reveal the extent to which the information and communication technology (ICT) will inculcate the required, skills, attitude towards study should assist the University authority especially the library and computer department to look into service matters pertaining to accommodating the reading and study habits of students..

Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to the impact of ICT on the study habit and academic performance of undergraduate students in Lagos State University.

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on the impact of ICT on the study habit and academic performance of undergraduate students in Lagos State University. Theoretically, this study will discuss ICTs tools  used by students to support their studies, determine whether there is a significant relationship between ICT usage and students’ study habits, impact of ICT usage  on students’  academic performance and  the factors affecting the use of ICT among undergraduate students. Geographically, the study will be delimited to undergraduate students in Lagos State University, Nigeria.

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed.

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

1.8 Definition of Terms

ICT:  is an acronym for “information communications technology”. It refers to the combination of manufacturing and services industries that capture, transmit and display data and information electronically.

Study Habits: an action such as reading,taking notes, holding study groups which the students perform regularly and habitually in order to accomplish the task of learning

Academic Performance: is defined as the performance of’ students in academic endeavor, which could be good or bad.

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