THE USE OF MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES BY POSTGRADUATE ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The research studied the use of mobile applications on research activities by postgraduate engineering students in federal university of technology Libraries in Nigeria. The research centred on two (2) objectives. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 1,695 postgraduate engineering students. The sample for the study was determined using Taro-Yammen sample formula. The sample size was 318 postgraduate engineering students. Questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive analysis was used. The findings showed that level of postgraduate engineering students’ research activities is high. The findings also revealed mobile applications such as WhatsApp, Zoom, Telegram, Skype, Facebook, Websites, Google, Blogs and YouTube as the mobile applications that enhances the use of electronic information resources of postgraduate engineering students. The research concluded that embracing mobile applications effectively, postgraduate engineering students can leverage technology to advance their research endeavors and contribute to the knowledge and innovation in their respective fields. Therefore, improving network infrastructure and connectivity on campus, promoting awareness and training programs on the effective use of mobile applications, and fostering collaborations between developers and researchers to create tailored mobile applications that address specific research needs are germane.