Students who participated were asked to estimate the time they took when using the internet for academic purposes per day. Participants indicated that time spent on the internet will differ on a daily basis and also depending the kind of work there are doing on a given time. Some of the participants indicated that they use approximately spend six hours on the internet doing academic work, including preparing for tests and/or
19%
17%
21%
36%
7%
0%
FIGURE 6.3: LEVEL OF STUDY OF THE PARTICIPANTS
First level Second level Third level Honours level Masters level Doctoral level
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when they face challenges on what they are have been taught in class. This is how some of the participants they expressed their views:
“Yeah, I use approximately six hours per day for academic purposes, because I use internet particularly when I study, so when I encounter any difficulties I go to the internet” (Respondent C3)
“Apparently normally during the day, I can estimate that I use it for six hours because, sometimes I can log in fox thirty minutes when I’m doing my research, but normally I’m quite sure that it can make six hours per day” (Respondent C4)
Participants also indicated that they sometimes intend to spend many hours on the internet doing academic work, however, they easily deviate from doing academic work to entertainment and social media. In most cases, they indicate that they spend one hour doing academic work and spend close to four hours downloading movies and music, and also engaging on social networking sites. This is how some of the students conveyed their views:
“I spend more than five hours, four hours for entertainment and one hour for studying. This because I like watching music videos on YouTube and music”
(Respondent A3)
“Sometimes I would intend to spend five hours at computer lab, but then I’ll end up using it less than an hour because I get distracted easily, I will be watching videos on YouTube every time” (Respondent B5)
“I use it to gather information for my research and assignments, to download movies and songs, so I spend about two to three hours on the internet”
(Respondent A4)
“I use it to gather information for my research, and also use social media to collect data for my research so I it collaborates, so I spend like roughly two to three hours a day” (Respondent F6)
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Students also noted that the kind of work they performed at a given time normally dictates how much time they spent on the internet for academic purposes. Participants indicated that they take much time on the internet when conducting research for assignments and research projects, and they will spend less time when preparing for tests or exams. The following extracts from the participants support the above discussion:
“It depends on what kind of work I’m doing, if I’m preparing for tests, I can spend about two hours and it’s not every day, but if it’s an assignment I can spend like four hours because it demands that you engage with lot of information, and during exams I spend like two hours” (Respondent D3)
“Mmm, close to five hours, when I’m doing research, I can log in for two hours in the morning, and when I don’t get what I want, I’ll log in for another two hours, and before I sleep I’ll use it for another two hours” (Respondent C5)
“I do not have the exact time, it depends. If I’m doing research, that’s where I take most time, it could be five or six hours, for assignment I can take about an hour” (Respondent A5)
“I spend like two hours on the internet especially when I’m doing my research, I’m trying to find previous studies which goes along with my topic, and sometimes when I do my assignments” (Respondent A2)
“I spend three hours per day because I’ll be busy with my research finding information, and also when I have an assignment, I use internet especially things like Google Scholar to find information” (Respondent A1)
On the other hand, participants also indicated that they use the internet not only to download information, but also to watch YouTube videos to supplement what they were taught in class. This assists them to get clarity on any difficult subject they might be working on. This is how one participant expressed one’s view:
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“I spend roughly two hours, mostly after the lecture I still go to the internet or YouTube to check on anything related to what transpired at the lecture session to see if I can get something” (Respondent F2)
The participants also indicated that there are students who spend less than an hour on the internet for academic purposes. These students normally use the internet for learning management system such as Blackboard to download lecture notes and to check announcements by lecturers concerning their modules. Some of the participants expressed their views as follows:
“It also depends on what I’m doing, if I’m simply downloading notes on Blackboard it will be less than thirty minutes, but if I’m researching something concerning my assignment, it will be more than thirty minutes” (Respondent E4)
“Well, I would say I can use thirty minutes on the internet for academic purposes. I usually use it when I want to download notes from Blackboard”
(Respondent E3)
“Let’s just say five minutes, because my lecturers can teach, thus I don’t have to get worried and end up opting for internet in most of the times” (Respondent B8)
Participants also indicated that they normally do not use the internet for academic purposes unless they have an assignment to write. Participants highlighted that most of undergraduate students would wait until they are given an assignment or a project to do before they can use the internet for academic purpose. This is because undergraduate students have not embarked on research projects like postgraduate students. Thus, they do not see the need to use the internet constantly for academic purposes. This is how one participant articulated one’s opinion:
“I cannot really say I have exact time. I only use internet for academic purposes when I have an assignment or research, if not, then I do not use the internet for academic purposes” (Respondent A6).
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The findings revealed that students spend different times on the internet for academic purposes, have different motivations for spending specific time on the internet. Some students use the internet for academic reasons only when they have assignments, research projects and tests to prepare. Most of the students get swayed away from using the internet for academic purposes into entertainment including downloading music and movies, and also for social media.