UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER-BASED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES IN ENHANCING POSTGRADUATE BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS’ RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

Educational resources constitute the major strategic factor that fosters excellent academic achievement. Hence, the study investigated the utilization of computer-based educational resources in enhancing the research productivity of postgraduate business education students. The study had two specific purposes: research questions and null hypotheses. Relevant literatures were reviewed the research adopted a descriptive survey design. The primary instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire consisting of 19 items. The instrument was pilot-tested in Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. The questionnaire's reliability was confirmed through the Cronbach Alpha Reliability Test which yielded a reliability test score of 0.70. The demographic data was analyzed using frequency and percentages while the data collected for the research questions were analyzed using mean ratings and standard deviations. The null hypotheses were tested using independent samples t-test at 0.05 level of significance. The research findings indicated that utilization of word processing software in enhancing postgraduate business education students’ research productivity is to a very high extent (=3.53; SD = 0.56) and the hypotheses indicated that gender did not significantly affect utilization of word processing software (t72 = 14.9, P< 0.05). Equally, utilization of web-based resources in enhancing research productivity was to a high extent. Respondents from private and state universities differs significantly regarding the extent of utilization of web-based resources in enhancing postgraduate business education students’ research productivity (t72 = 12.1, P< 0.05). Therefore, the study concluded that postgraduate research in business education programme irrespective of gender and university-type can be enhanced through a proper utilization of word-processing software, web-based resources, Thus, it was recommended amongst others, that business education departments should organized a training programme for postgraduate business education students to enhance their proficiency in word processing and web-based resources ensuring that both male and female students receive gender-inclusive training.

Keywords: Research productivity, Business education, Students, Computer-based, Utilization