Undergraduates

Influence of Morphological Awareness on the Reading Comprehension of Students at the Tertiary Education Level in Ebonyi State (Published)

This paper examined the influence of morphological awareness on the reading comprehension of students at the tertiary education level in Ebonyi State.   The study utilized the descriptive survey research design. Three objectives and three research questions were posed to guide the study. The target population comprised 22000 undergraduates from the south east part of Nigeria. A sample size of 220 respondents was selected using the simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Data were analyzed using the statistical tools of mean and standard deviation. Findings showed that morphological awareness had a positive impact on student’ reading comprehension. Result of the study also revealed that students’ knowledge of inflectional morphemes improved their reading comprehension. Result also showed that awareness of the differences between inflectional and derivational morphemes enhanced students’ reading comprehension. Based on these findings, one of the recommendations was that curriculum planners should make Morphology a compulsory course to be taught at all levels of education in the university to enhance morphological awareness among undergraduate students and improve their ability to spell words, read words and understand sentences.

Keywords: Morphology, Reading Comprehension, Undergraduates, morphological awareness

Perception and Acceptance of Medical Chatbot Among Undergraduates in Ekiti State University, Nigeria (Published)

This study explores the perceptions and acceptance of medical chatbots among undergraduate students at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. A medical chatbot is an artificially intelligent conversational agent that simulates human-like communication, catering to user inquiries and generating logical responses. These chatbots leverage natural language processing and machine learning to engage in dynamic interactions, retrieve relevant information, and adapt to new data. This research investigates two primary aspects: the perception of undergraduate students towards the use of medical chatbots and the level of acceptance of these chatbots among the same demographic. The study employs a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, involving a sample size of 300 undergraduate students, determined using Taro Yamane’s method. The data collection process includes a semi-structured questionnaire, validated by experts in Tests and Measurement and Public Health. The collected data are analyzed using SPSS version 28. The findings reveal an equitable gender distribution among participants, with a slightly higher representation of females. Additionally, a substantial proportion of respondents fall within the 18-25 age bracket, with a significant presence of undergraduates below 18 years old. The study indicates positive perceptions of medical chatbots among undergraduate students, suggesting a favorable view towards their adoption. While the majority of participants exhibit acceptance of medical chatbots, there is skepticism about the precision and reliability of healthcare suggestions provided by these platforms. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the positive perceptions and acceptance of medical chatbots among undergraduate students in Ekiti State University. The findings suggest a potential for integrating this technology into healthcare, education, and research endeavors, while acknowledging the need for further investigation into the underlying factors influencing these perceptions. As the healthcare landscape evolves, chatbots can potentially offer valuable contributions to enhancing health services, especially in scenarios where in-person visits are unnecessary. However, continuous research is essential to ensure their accuracy, trustworthiness, and effectiveness across diverse demographic groups

Keywords: Acceptance, Perception, Undergraduates, medical chatbot

Dating and Academic Performance: An Empirical Analysis among Babcock University’s Undergraduate Students in Ogun State (Published)

This study examined the predictive power of dating on undergraduates’ academic performance at Babcock University, Ilishan-remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was employed while two hundred and eighty-nine participants were selected through the multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. A self-developed questionnaire tagged Undergraduates’ Dating Scale (UDS) was used for data collection, while Students’ academic performance was measured the Students’ CGPA. The data collected was analyzed using statistical analysis of simple percentage, correlation coefficient, Z-test, t-test, and multiple regression analysis. The results revealed a significant difference do exist between male and female undergraduates’ dating behaviour (t-cal = 11.309 > t-crit. = 1.96, < 0.05); and a statistical difference do exist between the academic performance of those involved in dating and those who do not (z-cal = 3.543 > z-crit. = 1.96, < 0.05). The study further revealed a positive significant relationship between undergraduates’ dating behaviour and academic performance (r = .671; p>.05); while dating behaviour accounted for 27.1% of the variability in the undergraduates’ academic achievement (R = .538; R² = .289; Adj. R² = .271; F_(1,287) = 21.501; p <.05). Based on the findings, it was therefore recommended that among other things, sexual and reproductive health education is necessary, which should be channeled from different angles of human interactional opportunities: home, school, play grounds, churches, etc.

Keywords: : Academic Performance, Dating Behaviour, Ogun State., Undergraduates

Effects of Collaborative Learning and Emotional Intelligence Techniques in Enhancing Managerial Accounting Competence among Accounting Undergraduates in South-East Nigeria (Published)

This study investigated effects of collaborative learning and emotional intelligence techniques in enhancing managerial accounting competence among accounting undergraduates in south-east Nigeria. The study adopted pre-test-post-test, control group quasi-experimental design with a 3×2 factorial matrix design. Purposive sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty (120) Accounting undergraduates from three tertiary institutions in South-East Nigeria. The participants were randomly assigned to groups. Participants in the two treatment groups were exposed to eight weeks of collaborative learning techniques and emotional intelligence training. Self-constructed instrument was used and three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance and t-test. There was significant treatment effects in enhancing managerial accounting competence among undergraduates in the experimental and control groups (F(3,116) = 3.055, P < .05). The Pair Wise Comparison of the Adjusted Y=Means on the Treatment Effects revealed that the control group had the lowest adjusted post-test mean score g ( =69.03), followed by emotional intelligence group ( =91.79) and collaborative learning technique ( =93.05). The result of the study also showed that there was no significant difference in the treatment effect experienced among participants between male and female undergraduates exposed to treatment in collaborative learning technique group. Furthermore, the study revealed that there was no significant difference in the treatment effect experienced among participants between male and female undergraduates exposed to treatment in emotional intelligence training group. School authorities school give students good orientation on the need to seek professional counselling support service to enable them adjust to the reality of their academic demands and real life situation(s).

Keywords: Collaborative Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Managerial Accounting Competence, Undergraduates, and South-East.