UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST

COLLEGE OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF I.C.T AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

COURSE TITLE: RESEARCH METHODS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN

EDUCATION

COURSE CODE: EIT399

LECTURER: PROF. KOFI AYEBI-ARTHUR

NAME AND INDEX NUMBERS

OWUSU FRANK - ET/INT/22/0049

OWUSU BALLACK - ET/INT/22/0056

ALHASSAN FATAW - ET/INT/22/0100

TITLE: PROPOSAL FOR AN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT

TOPIC: THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON STUDENT

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

i. Background to the Study

ii. Statement of the Problem

iii. Purpose of the Study

iv. Research Objectives/Questions

v. Research Hypothesis

vi. Significance of the Study

vii. Delimitations

viii. Organisation of the Study

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS

i. Research Design

ii. Study Area

iii. Population

iv. Sampling Procedure

v. Data Collection Instruments

vi. Data Processing and Analysis

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The development of Information Technology (IT) has had an impact on training by

converting how students acquire knowledge. A selection of assets like online courses have

reshaped gaining knowledge making schooling more interactive (Alabi 2021). Universities

have embraced generation instilled learning settings as they acknowledge the influence of

technology on enhancing students’ academic achievements.

In University Cape Coast (UCC), Information Technology (IT) has been included into their

processes to improve teaching and learning. These days, students depend upon sources and

digital classrooms to resource their studies. Although, Information Technology (IT) brings

advantages, it also provides barriers like the need for digital skills and restricted internet

connectivity (Owusu Acheaw & Larson 2017). Considering increasing integration of

technology in universities today, it is crucial to assess the effect of IT on students’ educational

achievements and recognize the elements which can both raise or hinder its efficacy.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The merging of IT into education has proven to enhance academic involvement, also

simplifying approaches and increasing access to information sources. However, it would not

definitely affect students’ educational performance, it may also cause distractions leading to

decreased focus. (Johnson, R. C. 2019). Instances of academic misconduct among students

skills among students could hinder the advantages of IT implementation in education.

At UCC, Students use IT assets like Moodle LMS, however there exists a lack of records

concerning the impact of these equipment on academic fulfillment. Certain students

effectively leverage technology for purposes while others face problems due to distractions or

inadequate IT skills. This studies goals to discover how the usage of IT correlates with

performance, considering the benefits and barriers connected to IT integrating in schooling.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of IT on students’ academic performance

in UCC. Especially, the study aims to determine the extent of IT usage amongst students.

Likewise, become aware of the demanding situations they face and evaluate how it affects

them. The findings may offer insights for educators, policymakers, and students on how to

optimize IT use in better education. (Glasgow, R. E., Harden, S. M., Gaglio, B., Borsika

Adrienn Rabin, Ory, M. G., Matthew Lee Smith, & Estabrooks, P. A. (2021).

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The study aims to:

1. Observe the volume of IT utilization among students in tertiary institutions.

2. Analyze the connection among IT integration and students’ academic overall

performance.
 3. Pick out the challenges students face in the usage of IT for educational purposes.

4. Provide pointers for improving IT utilization in better education.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. To what extent do students use IT for academic purposes?

2. How does IT usage affect students’ academic performance?

3. What challenges do students encounter when using IT for studying?

4. What measures can be implemented to optimize IT usage in tertiary education?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

This research may test the following hypotheses:

1. H0 (Null Hypothesis): There is no significant relationship between information

technology (IT) usage and student academic performance in tertiary institutions.

H1 (Alternative Hypothesis): There is a significant relationship between information

technology (IT) usage and student academic performance in tertiary institutions.

2. H0: The level of IT access does not significantly affect student academic performance.

H1: The level of IT access significantly affects student academic performance.

3. H0: Challenges related to IT access and usage (such as poor internet connectivity and

digital literacy) do not significantly impact student academic performance.

H1: Challenges related to IT access and usage (such as poor internet connectivity and

digital literacy) significantly impact student academic performance

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study may provide valuable insights into the role of IT in tertiary education. The

findings may benefit learners by identifying best practices for leveraging technology to
enhance their studies. Educators and policymakers may also use study’s recommendations to

improve digital learning strategies, infrastructure and training programs. Additionally, the

study may contribute to existing literature on IT and education, serving as a reference for

future research.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The studies may also focus on UCC undergraduate students, examining their use of IT tools

including e-learning platforms and digital collaboration tools. The study may analyze how IT

affects their academic performance and limitations they encounter in deploying these

resources successfully.

DELIMITATION

This study is limited to UCC undergraduate students and does not include postgraduate

students or students from different universities. Additionally, the study may focus only on

academic-related IT usage, excluding social or recreational aspects of technology use. The

findings may not be generalizable to all tertiary institutions but may offer relevant insights

for similar academic settings.

ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY

This study may be structured into five main chapters. The first chapter is the introduction of

the study. Chapter one describes the background to the study, statement of the problem and

purpose of the study. This chapter additionally units out four research questions the study

may be expected to answer, significance of the study, delimitation of the study. It similarly
explains phrases as may be used in the study which readers would possibly discover difficult

to apprehend, in addition to company of the study.

Chapter two may contain an in-depth overview of related literature on the topic. The chapter

ends with a summary of the literature.

Chapter three may describe the methods utilized in conducting this research. It

incorporates the research design, study area, population and sampling procedure, data

collection instrument and data processing and analysis procedure.

The analyses of the results and findings from the examine may discussed in chapter four.

Chapter five may consist of summary, summary of the main findings, conclusions drawn

from the findings, recommendations of the study and suggestions for further research.

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH DESIGN

This study may adopt a descriptive survey to discover the relationship between IT usage and

academic performance among UCC students. The survey method is appropriate as it allows

for the collection of information from a big sample, providing a comprehensive

understanding of students’ experiences with IT.

STUDY AREA

The study will be conducted at UCC in the Central Region of Ghana. UCC is known for its

academic excellence and strong emphasis on teacher education, research and technological
advancement. The university has a well-established digital learning environment, including

the use of Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) and other IT-based totally

educational tools. With a diverse student body and a growing integration of IT in academic

activities, UCC provides a suitable setting to examine the effect of IT on student academic

performance.

POPULATION

The target population for this study comprises undergraduate students at the University of

Cape Coast. This includes students from different, faculties, departments, and academic

levels. The study may focus on undergraduate students because they represent a diverse

group in terms of IT exposure, academic workload, and digital literacy levels.

SAMPLING PROCEDURES

A classified random sampling technique will be used to select participants. The population

may be divided into different subgroups based on faculty and level of study to ensure fair

representation. After groupings, a random sampling procedure may be employed to select

participants from each subgroup. This approach may ensure that students from various

academic background and IT exposure levels are included in the study.

A sample size of approximately 250 students may be selected, ensuring an adequate

representation of the student population. The sample size may be determined using Krejcie

and Morgan’s (1970) sample size determination table to ensure statistical accuracy.

DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS

gather quantitative data based on the research objectives and research questions. The primary

data may be collected using structured questionnaires, which will include both closed and

open-ended questions. The questionnaire may be divided into sections covering demographic

information, IT usage patterns, academic performance, and challenges faced.

Likewise, semi-structured interviews may be conducted with students from different faculty

to gain qualitative insights into the impacts and challenges students encounter with the usage

of IT tools for academic purposes.

DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS

The accrued statistics can be analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Descriptive records consisting of frequencies, percentages, and suggest ratings can be used to

summarize the data. Inferential information, consisting of correlation analysis, may be hired

to determine the relationship among IT usage and academic performance. Records evaluation

may be carried out the use of Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

References

 Alabi, A. (2021). technology in better education: trends and challenges. instructional

studies overview, 36(2), 45-63.

Matthew Lee Smith, & Estabrooks, P. A. (2021). Use of the RE-purpose Framework:

Translating studies to practice with Novel programs and emerging guidelines.

Frontiers Media SA.

 Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining Sample Size for Research

Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607-610.

 Gopal Singh Latwal, Sudhir Kumar Sharma, Mahajan, P., & Piet Kommers. (2020).

position of ICT in better education. CRC Press. national. (2015). advent to computer

systems and facts technology. Prentice corridor.

 Johnson, R. C. (2019). kids of the Dream. basic Books.

 Owusu-Acheaw, M., & Larson, A. G. (2017). net usage and academic overall

performance amongst university students in Ghana. journal of education and practice,

8(2), 1-7.