Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Social Media Utilization in Reading Comprehension among Undergraduates: A Case Study of Ebonyi State University

Abstract

This study examined the issue of information and communication technology (ICT) and social media utilization in reading comprehension of textual materials among undergraduates in Ebonyi State University. Four research questions were posed to guide the study.  The population of the study comprised all the 100 level English language students from the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Arts in Ebonyi State University. The target population was 300 students. Due the smallness of the population, the whole 300 respondents constituted the sample size for the study. A structured questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts in the English department and Science department in the university. The instrument was also subjected to a reliability test which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.84 through the use of Cronbach Alpha. The statistical tool of simple percentages was used for analysis of data. Findings showed that majority of the students, (83.33%) use their mobile phones to access social media. The study also showed that majority of the students, 120 students, (40%) spend an average of 6-8 hours daily accessing social media while only 35, (11.66%) students spend less than an hour. Also, the study showed that most of the students, 95 constituting (31.66%) sample size use social media because it facilitates reading comprehension while the least 25 students, (8.33%) use it for entertainment purposes. Result also showed that the social media platform used by majority of the students, 150 students, (50%) was Whatsapp, followed by Facebook with 100 students, (33.33%), the least platform being Twitter and Telegram which only 5 students, (1.66%) use. Based on the findings, one of the recommendations was that the government should collaborate with the university community to organize constant training and workshops in computer and social media use for students so as to equip them to meet the demands of the computer age.

Keywords: Whatsapp, Facebook, Social media, Utilization, Undergraduates, Reading, Comprehension

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-24-02

Publication date:August 31^st 2023