Journals Information
Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 1(2), pp. 65 - 71
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2013.010204
Reprint (PDF) (228Kb)
Internet Usage and the Development of Social Skills Among Youths In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Dr. Ibia E. Ibia, Mrs.Imoh B.Ekott*
Department of Educational Foundations, Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The study was carried out to investigate Internet Usage and the Development of Social Skills among youths in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Gender and age differences, differences in the degree of social involvement, social tolerance, patterns of behaviour between internet users and non-users and the relationship between internet usage and social skills development was investigated. Six research questions turned into hypotheses guided the study. The survey research design was adopted. From a population of 9,343 regular year two undergraduates, 500 samples were drawn through stratified random sampling technique at equal gender basis from 5 out of 11 faculties of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A validated Instrument, Internet Usage and Social Skills Development Questionnaire (IUSSDO) with reliability coefficient of .73 was used to gather data for the study. The t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson鈥檚 Product Moment Correlation were used to analyze data at .05 level of significance. Results indicated significant gender and age differences in internet usage; significant differences in social skills development, social tolerance and pattern of behaviour between internet users and non-users while a strong relationship was established between internet usage and social skills development. It was concluded that internet usage negatively affected social skills development of youths. It was recommended among other things that parents, guardians, teachers, school counsellors and non-governmental organizations should encourage youths to be self-disciplined and relates to people in the real world in acceptable manners.
KEYWORDS
Internet Usage, Development of Social Skills, Social Tolerance, Pattern of Behaviour, Youth
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Dr. Ibia E. Ibia , Mrs.Imoh B.Ekott , "Internet Usage and the Development of Social Skills Among Youths In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 65 - 71, 2013. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2013.010204.
(b). APA Format:
Dr. Ibia E. Ibia , Mrs.Imoh B.Ekott (2013). Internet Usage and the Development of Social Skills Among Youths In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Sociology and Anthropology, 1(2), 65 - 71. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2013.010204.