Impact of Digital-Divide on Access and Use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Resources for Research Productivity among Students of Universities in South East Zone of Nigeria

The cross- sectional survey research design was adopted to access the impact of digital-divide on the access and use of information communication technology (ICT) resources for research productivity among students of universities in the south east zone of Nigeria. The research was guided by 3 research questions and a hypothesis. Frequency Table and Mean (x) were the statistical measures employed for data analysis. Thereafter, stratified random sampling technique was used to select two universities from the ten public universities in the South East zone of Nigeria. Three faculties (Education, Arts and social Sciences) were purposively selected from the universities. Multi stage sampling technique was then used to obtain a sample size of 366 respondents drawn from a total of 3662 students from the selected universities in the south east zone of Nigeria. The instruments for data collection were structured questionnaire and observation checklist. Cronbach Alpha statistics was used to establish the reliability of the instrument and this yielded a reliability index of 0.87 revealing high internal consistency. The findings of the study revealed that there are still disparities, among universities / students of universities in the south east zone of Nigeria, in terms of provision, integration and adoption of ICT facilities as well as usage skill gaps among students and this impedes their research productivity. Recommendations were made on the need for digital balance and equality and it is advocated among others that university managements in Nigeria and other stakeholders must work concertedly to tackle the menace of digital divide through appropriate ICT policy/strategies as a way of guaranteeing equitable provision and integration of ICT facilities in the universities to ensure equitable access to and use of e-resources by academics in research. Keywords: Digital Divide, Information Communication Technology, Computer, Digital Literacy, Internet, Electronic Resources, Electronic Information Environment

Accessibility and utilization of electronic information resources for research and its effect on productivity of academic staff in selected Nigerian universities between 2005 and 2012

The study investigated the effect of accessibility and utilization of electronic resources by academic staff on productivity at the University of Calabar and the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. In order to determine the effect of accessibility and utilization of e-resources on productivity of academic staff, a lone hypothesis was formulated thus: there is no significant correlation between accessibility and utilization of e-resources and productivity of academic staff in Nigerian universities. The study adopted quantitative approach as research paradigm; with survey and bibliometrics as research methods. Questionnaire was used as the primary instrument for data collection on accessibility and utilization of e-resources and productivity of academic staff in the study. The population of 2035 academic staff and sample size of 586 academic staff were used for the study, and a response rate of 55.29% was obtained for data analysis. The data for the study were analysed with SPSS. The finding of the study revealed that there is significant correlation between accessibility and utilization of e-resources and productivity of academic staff at the surveyed universities (r=0.135; p=0.004), especially at the level of international publication (r=0.158; p=0.004). The study concluded that there is a positive effect due to accessibility and utilization of e-resources on productivity at the surveyed universities. Further findings of the study revealed a low level of electronic information environment at the surveyed universities in relation to global practices; although, the University of Ibadan was found to have a better electronic information environment than the University of Calabar. The result from questionnaire survey revealed that the University of Calabar was more productive than the University of Ibadan; the converse was obtained with bibliometric analysis as the University of Ibadan was found to be more productive than the University of Calabar. From the findings of the study the influence of demographic variables (discipline, gender, age, education and professional rank) on accessibility and utilization of e-resources was not significant at the surveyed universities. The study recommended increased investment in ICT facilities at the surveyed universities to promote increase in accessibility and utilization of e-resources by academic staff in research.Information ScienceD. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science