E-READINESS INDEX (ERI) AND POSTGRADUATE BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS' RESEARCH WRITING PROCESS IN UNIVERSITIES IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study determined how e-readiness index relates to research writing process of postgraduate Business Education students in Universities in Rivers State. Three specific objectives, research questions and hypotheses guided the study. Correlational design was adopted for the study and the population was 238 Postgraduate Business Education students in public Universities in Rivers state. The population was considered manageable hence used a census. The instruments used for the study were 2 self-structured questionnaire titled: E-Readiness Research Index Questionnaire (ERIQ) and Research Writing Process Questionnaire (RWPQ)”. The questionnaires were validated by three (3) experts in the Faculty of Education. Two Business Educators and one Measurement and Evaluation experst. The instruments were designed in a 4- point rating scale response options of Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. Pearson’s Product Moment Coefficient was used to establish the internal consistency and coefficient values of 0.81, and 0.89 respectively achieved. Research questions were answered using Pearson’s Product Moment Coefficient (r) and t-transformation used to test the hypotheses and to establish the relationship between the two variables at 0.05 levels of significance. Findings from the study shows that the relationship between digital literacy, digital research methodology and technological proficiency as components of e-readiness index and Business Education postgraduate students’ research writing process in universities in Rivers state were positively negligible. Based on the findings, conclusion was made that the relationship between e-readiness index and postgraduate Business Education students’ research writing process is not positively strong. It was recommended among others that Institutions as well as students ought to collaborate with librarians to integrate information literacy into writing curricula.