Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Document Type
Article
Abstract
This paper is on the impact of the Internet on the research effort of academics at Abia State University Uturu. The Internet has become an invaluable tool for teaching, learning and research. The benefits are so enormous that there is no sphere of life without the Internet application. This is certainly true for tertiary institutions. Premised on this consciousness, the descriptive survey research method was adopted in carrying out the study, with the questionnaire as the sole instrument for data collection. The study was guided by six objectives. The findings of the study revealed that there is no felt need for the use of the Internet in research, Internet laboratories exist within and around the campus, and the non-accessibility of Internet laboratories to lecturers. Other findings are that the lecturers rarely go to cyber-cafe in town to seek information, the Internet has no impact on the research effort of lecturers, and the use of the Internet is inhibited by a lot of problems. The study recommends that the lecturers should develop personal interest in the use of the Internet, Internet laboratories on campus should be scheduled and made accessible to lecturers and they should avail themselves of available Internet services and train themselves on computer and Internet literacy. The study further recommends that lecturers should regularly go to cybercafés for ICT services and refresh newly acquired ICT knowledge, and the integration of ICT in teaching, learning and research. Furthermore all other inhibitors to the use of the Internet should be eliminated. The study contends that the strategic and holistic implementation of the recommendations would bring about the desired impact and contributions of the Internet to the quality of research of ABSU lecturers studied and those of them in other institutions with similar problematic features.