CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The education sector was among those that first embraced the use of Internet, and it has continued to
broaden the breadth and depth of opportunities within institutions of higher learning worldwide. The
Internet serves as a useful tool in support of the various educational activities that ranged from
research to teaching. Anderson and Reed (2018) noted that the Internet technology and computers
has made it possible for students to be active learners and allowed instructors to be facilitators.
Jackson, et al. (2011) remarked that the Internet will level the educational playing field due to its
availability to everyone, everywhere, and any time, irrespective of gender, race/ethnicity, income or
other socio-demographic characteristics. Thus, the Internet is a vital tool that will propel University
education to greater heights as the world move further into the knowledge-based economy.

Institutions worldwide now invest a lot on internet access because it reduces the time between the
production and utilization of knowledge; improves co-operation and exchange of ideas with fellow
researchers in other institutions, regions or countries, furthers the sharing of information; and
promotes multidisciplinary research. Bon (2017) states that the Internet can substitute for expensive
hard copy libraries, by availing students’ access to scholarly information resources. Today, survival
in academics without the Internet is hardly imaginable. The Internet has found useful applications in
online data repositories, library catalogues, journals, news services, student and financial
administration systems, online supported or solely online conducted teaching, as well as in digital
communication with fellow students and lecturers. Other contemporary uses of Internet by students
include purchasing, entertainment, and even dating. The investigation of how the Internet fits into the
daily life of staff and students at educational institutions is worthwhile when one considers the
ubiquitous and all pervasive communications tool features of the Internet. Consequently, studies
have been carried out in many places to understand how University students use the Internet, the
purposes for which the students use the Internet, the search engines used, their Internet skills as well
as problems that hinder efficient Internet use.

The Internet is very useful to university students and staff in Nigeria because it enables them to
have access to timely, accurate and relevant information that cannot be obtained from library shelves.
Chanand Fu (2011) noted that Internet searching helps university students to boost their intellectual
development and job preparation. Due to the endless nature of information resources on the Internet,
libraries are increasingly investing in provision of Internet services and resources to enable their
clients have better access to the information.

Lyon (2018) states that Internet connections now constitute a highly visible service in every library
and that the librarians and their clients have embraced it in their daily work. Academic libraries now
run information literacy courses to educate faculty members and students on skills to access, retrieve
and evaluate information resources from the Internet. Qunqing (2014) referred to the Internet as ‘a
large encyclopedia’ or ‘a library without walls’ for its abundant information.

The research intends to assess the utilization of internet services among students of federal institution
in Adamawa state.

1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The problem confronting this research is to provide an assessment of the utilization of internet
services among students in federal institution in Adamawa State. In view of the growing significance
of internet services for academic research and learning, it is important to appraise the level of
awareness and patronage of students of higher institution of the usage of internet services. The study
focuses on the students of federal institution in Adamawa State.

Internet resources are the recent development in technology and are among the most tools ever
invented in human history which are becoming more and more important for academic community.
With the advent of internet and library materials such as CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only
Memory), databases, OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) and other printed library materials,
information can be stored in one place and be made simultaneously available to all for usage. It is
worth of note that internet services are of great importance to the academic and research needs of
students in federal institutions in Adamawa state since they are available in various formats in
libraries.

Could it be that they are not aware of the availability of these resources and if they are aware
why is it that usage is hindered? Also, studies have indicated that factors such as unawareness and
skills are the determining factors that may hinder users’ decision to the use of internet and library
materials. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to assess the impact of utilization of
internet services of students in federal institutions in Adamawa State.

1.3. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

This study seeks to assess the Utilization of Internet services among students in federal
institutions in Adamawa State. Specifically, the study sought to:

i. To determine the types of internet services used by students of Federal polytechnic mubi,
Federal college of education Yola and Modibbo Adama University Yola
ii. Find out the level of satisfaction derived from the usage of internet and library services by
students of Federal polytechnic mubi, Federal college of education Yola and Modibbo
Adama University Yola
iii. To determine the challenges in internet services usage among students of Federal
polytechnic mubi, Federal college of education Yola and Modibbo Adama University Yola
iv. Suggest strategies that could be adopted to overcome the challenges of internet usage of
students in . Federal polytechnic mubi, Federal college of education Yola and Modibbo
Adama University Yola

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i. What are the types of internet services used by students of Federal polytechnic mubi, Federal college of
education Yola and Modibbo Adama University Yola?
ii. What are the level of satisfaction derived from the usage of internet and library services by students of Federal
polytechnic mubi, Federal college of education Yola and Modibbo Adama University Yola?
iii. Are there challenges in internet services usage among students of federal institutions in Federal polytechnic
mubi, Federal college of education Yola and Modibbo Adama University Yola?
iv. Are there strategies that could be adopted to overcome the challenges of internet usage of students in Federal
polytechnic mubi, Federal college of education Yola and Modibbo Adama University Yola?

1.5  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

 The findings of the study would benefit the Federal institutions in Adamawa state and
beyond, also the Students and the General University Community.
The institution Management board and the lecturers will know the problems associated with
low students’ academic performance, that is whether the students are adequately utilizing internet
services for academic purposes or not. This will enable them to know whether the internet resources
available are in good in quality as well as whether the information sources are current and up to date
or not. They will also know the problems that constituted students poor performances. They
management will also know whether the funds they have been approving for the procurement of
internet facilities are adequate or not.
The management will also benefit from this study. They will be in a position to know
whether students have easy access to information sources and if not reexamine their classification
and cataloguing systems and the internet search engines and software packages.
They will know whether or not students benefit maximally from the internet services
instruction programme. They will know whether or not internet providers staff effectively serves
students by enabling them have easy access to information sources. The study will reveal feeling of
students regarding the appropriateness of information service delivery to enable the management in
providing what is appropriate. The study will also reveal the problems hindering effective utilization
of internet services by students in the faculties and university at large.
The students themselves will benefit from this study. The internet resources which they
indicated are not available may be acquired. The recommendations of students on how they can
effectively use the internet may be implemented for their good. The study will serve as a guide to
other researchers who would want to conduct similar research. In the same vein, it will serve as a
guide to other students who may be interested in carrying out similar research on ‘an assessment of
the impact of utilization of library and internet on students’ academic performance’’ in other
academic institutions.
The study will also add to the existing literature in the field of internetship especially in the
area of assessing the impact of utilization of library and internet, and be educative to them when
writing and studying similar problems in school.

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY 

          The study will provide an assessment of the utilization of internet services among students of
federal Institution  in Adamawa State.

1.7      DEFINITION OF TERMS

DEFINITION OF INTERNET

Bane and Milhemi(1995) described the Internet as the premier networks, everyone connected or as
unmanaged web ofcomputer plasma. Technically and functionally, Hargittai (1999) defined the
Internet as a worldwide network of computers, and a network of people using computers that make
vast amounts of information available. Amichai-Hamburger and Hayat (2010) described the Internet
as the creation of a continuous stream of computers linked together to form one grid, which enables
interaction among hundreds of millions of people browsing the net.

Academic Performance: Is the extents a students, teacher or institution has achieved their short or

long term educational goal.

Student: As used in the in this research work refer a person who is studying in the university or any

higher institutions of learning.