IMPACT OF NEW DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES ON LECTURERS RESEARCH INVESTIGATION IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN SOUTH-SOUTH GEO-POLITICAL ZONE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Digital infrastructures advancements on lecturers’ research investigation offer great opportunities for further development in research work not only on lecturers’ research investigations but on all researchers. These digital infrastructures are critical for effective research particularly in Colleges of Education. The impact of these digital infrastructures on lecturers’ research investigation is very vital in all areas of knowledge. They accelerate the research process and guarantee more reliable results. However, notwithstanding the importance and necessity of these digital infrastructures, most lecturers for some reasons are reluctant to adopt them in their research work. This study assessed the impact of new digital infrastructure on lecturers’ research investigation in federal colleges of education in south-south geo-political zone, Nigeria despite this apathy by some lecturers. The study employed a descriptive research design. Four research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The population of the study comprised five hundred and forty-six (546) academic staff from three federal colleges of education in south-south Geo- political zone ( Asaba- 211, Omoku- 217 and Obudu 118, Source: National Commission for Colleges of Education Abuja). The study sampled 150 lecturers from 5 departments across the three federal colleges of education in south – south geo-political zone of Nigeria using simple random sampling techniques.An instrument titled ‘‘New Digital Infrastructure on Lecturers Research Investigation (NDILRI)” was used for the study.The instrument was analysed using a four point Likert-type of response scale. It was face and content validated by two experts from department of psychology, Alvan Ikokwu federal university of education, Owerri, Imo State. They were requested to examine the instrument to ensure that the content and language of the instrument relate to the purpose of the study, research questions and hypotheses. Data collected were analysed using Cronbach Alpha to find the internal consistency of the instrument. The internal consistency estimate for the instrument was .84. The value was judged high enough to give confidence to the reliability of the instrument. In getting the questionnaire across to the respondents, the researchers employed the face to face method. The researchers and three research assistants that were trained and briefed visited the sampled schools and administered the questionnaire to the students. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).  Descriptive statistics of Means and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions.  The findings of the study indicated that that new digital infrastructures impacts lecturers’ research investigation in colleges of education in south-south geo-political zone, Nigeria. It was therefore recommended among others that federal colleges of education should organize regular workshops, seminars, and hands-on training programmes to enhance lecturers’ digital literacy and competence in using emerging research tools, including AI, cloud computing, and data analysis platforms.