INSTITUTION’S PROPRIETORSHIP (FEDERAL OR STATE OWNED) AND BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS’ INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) UTILIZATION IN CROSS RIVER STATE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

The comparative study examines the relationship between institutional ownership type (federal versus state-owned) and students' information and communication technology (ICT) utilization in tertiary institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of the study, two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated. Survey research design was employed. Three hundred and eight (308) out of seven hundred and seventy-one (771) final year business education students were selected as sample through proportional and accidental sampling techniques. Instrument for data collection was a questionnaire validated by three experts. A trial test was carried out on 20 business education students. Data collected were subjected to Cronbach Alpha reliability method which yielded reliability estimates ranging from 0.77 to 0.85. Data was analysed using independent t-test statistical tools. The result revealed that there was significant difference between the mean responses of universities and colleges of education students on their level of ICT utilization and there was significant difference between the mean responses of students in federal and state owned institution on their level of ICT utilization. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that increase funding for ICT infrastructure development in state universities to address the existing disparity with federal institutions.