Social Media Utilization and Academic Research Quality among Vocational and Technical Education Graduating Students in the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS)

Abstract

Abstract

The study determined the influence of social media utilization on academic research quality among vocational and technical education graduating students in the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS). To achieve the purpose, two research questions were asked and two null hypotheses were formulated. The study adopted a predictive correlation research design. Purposive sampling technique and census approach were used to select 226 vocational and technical education graduating students comprising 35 and 191 graduating (Year 4) students in Technical and Business Education in the University of Cross River State in the 2023/2024 academic sessions. A validated questionnaire titled “Social Media Utilization and Conduct of Research Questionnaire” (SMUCRQ) was the instrument used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated by three experts. A reliability index of 0.77 was obtained for the questionnaire using Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient after a trial testing. 220 copies of the questionnaire were successfully retrieved after distribution. Research questions were answered and hypotheses were tested using simple linear regression analysis at .05 significance level. From the answers to the research questions, Research Gate and X (Twitter-Grok) utilization influence academic research quality among vocational and technical education graduating students in the UNICROSS. Test of hypotheses revealed that Research Gate and X (Twitter-Grok) utilization significantly influence academic research quality among vocational and technical education graduating students in the UNICROSS. Based on the findings, it was recommended amongst others that students are encouraged to access Research Gate for relevant academic articles written by scholars, which would assist them during the literature review in the course of writing their project.