Abstract:
Social media, which refers to an online environment used for the purposes of mass collaborative
communication, where participants can create, post, rate, consume and share content without a
direct intermediary, have been shaping and redefining the academic space. Previous studies have
shown the impact of social media on students‘ academic performance, but very little has been
said about specific attitudes towards the use of social media platforms in the Nigerian academia.
Therefore, this study examined the attitude of academics and postgraduate students in federal
universities in Southwestern Nigeria to social media use. This was with a view to determining
the significance of social media platforms for academic purposes.
Katz et al.‘s Uses and Gratifications Theory was adopted as explanatory framework. Survey
research design, adjusted to the qualitative approach, was applied. University of Ibadan (UI) and
Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), were purposively selected. Quantitative data
were collected using questionnaire randomly administered on 317 students from UI, 379 from
FUTA, 209 academics from UI and 163 from FUTA. In-depth interviews were conducted with
five each of academics and postgraduate students from the two universities. Two research social
media platforms, namely, Academia.edu and ResearchGate were used. Data were analysed using
simple percentages and qualitative discussion of interview themes.
The respondents exhibited three main attitudes towards the two research social media platforms:
positive, negative and indifferent. A few (22.4%) of UI students and 20.8% of FUTA agreed that
Academia.edu is of beneficial use, while 13.8% of UI and 16% of FUTA students were
undecided. Some UI (13.8%) and FUTA (13.1%) students disagreed on the usefulness of the
platform. As for academics, 8.3% of UI and 9.6% of FUTA agreed, while 15.6% of UI and
14.4% of FUTA were undecided. Of UI and FUTA academics, 26.2% and 25.9% respectively
disagreed. Regarding the benefits of using ResearchGate, 6.8% of UI students and 9.2% of
FUTA agreed, while 28% (UI) and 26.7% (FUTA) disagreed. For UI and FUTA students, 16.2%
and 13%, respectively were undecided and 2.5% of UI academics as well as 3.3% of FUTA
agreed that ResearchGate is of beneficial use, while 35.9% UI academics and 40.1% of FUTA
disagreed. A total of 8.8% of UI academics and 9.3% of FUTA were undecided. Overall
frequency of use of Academia.edu among UI and FUTA students were 36% (always), 32%
(sometimes), and 32% (never), while that of UI and FUTA academics were 17% (always), 31%
(sometimes), and 52% (never). Overall frequencies of use of ResearchGate among UI and FUTA
students were 9% (always), 23% (sometime), and 68% (never). While that of UI and FUTA
academics were 4% (always), 21% (sometimes), and 75% (never). Cognitive needs were the
most advanced reasons indicated by respondents for the use of both platforms. This was followed
by social integrative needs.
There is a poor attitude towards research social media use among postgraduate students and
academics at the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Technology, Akure. The use
of research social media platforms should be encouraged.
