| dc.description.abstract | A synthesis of the uses and gratifications and uses and effects paradigms made this survey critical. The study sought to determine uses and gratifications of Internet among university students in Kenya by carrying a survey study of Mt. Kenya University and Gresta University in Thika municipality. The objective of this research was to find out why the youth uses the Internet and what needs they are out to satisfy. Two Universities namely MT. Kenya University and Gretsa University were randomly selected in Thika municipality. This research problem was studied through the use of a descriptive survey.
According to Orodho (2003), a study concerned with obtaining information by interviewing or administering a questionnaire to a sample of respondents is a descriptive survey. The study focused on the Internet uses and motives among students of Mt Kenya University and Gretsa University. The sample included 100 University students. The students selected for this study consisted of those pursuing undergraduate courses. This study selected University students because they are heavy users of the Internet compared to the general population and that the use of the Internet among them is a daily routine, and the Internet has always been a part of their world.
The researcher and her research assistants personally distributed the questionnaire copies to the students Data was collected over a two days period so as to be able to cover all scheduled classes targeted for data collection. The respondents were given time (10-30 minutes) while in the computer laboratories to complete the questionnaires. From the findings, the study concluded university students use Internet to communicate with their friends partner(s) for example boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse, find information that is not available in their library and to access online class materials such as class notes, assignments, study manuals and time-tables from their lecturer(s)/college at least on a daily basis as well as exchange computer files,search for employment, gather academic/educational materials for the course they were pursuing.
The study concluded that the costs of Internet communications were less expensive than for telephone or fax, making the Internet an inexpensive and convenient tool to use. In addition to communication, there were opportunities influenced by the World Wide Web, which allowed access to variety information and entertainment. The study also concludes that other factors influencing usage and gratification of Internet by the university students were motivation to access more information, interactions and learning of new innovations in the use of technologies.
The study concluded that other sources of information competing with Internet surfmg were usage of books, journals and the library as the source of information that the students also access to. The study concluded that Internet users at the university faced many challenges which were indicated as difficulties in finding relevant information from the Internet such as lack of adequate Internet use skills and low Internet connection, inadequate computers with Internet access, insufficient awareness on the educational electronic resources available to university library users and overload of information on the Internet as well as lack of encouragement from their lecturers to use Internet .
The study also concluded that there was need to fund computer support in university and enhanced training to motivate student using Internet to access useful information. The study further concluded that there was a need for both parent and the school administration and all the stakeholders to ensure student were well trained to be in a position to use Internet efficiently. Since Internet offers a broad range of possibilities for learning at all academic levels. The study concluded that there was need in developing ways of incorporating technologies into the curriculum so that faculty members and students may reach their full potential as far as learning and teaching opportunity is concerned. | en_US |
