Understanding Trends in Health Communication and Appropriate Design for Outstanding Research Outcome in Nigeria (Published)
This study evaluated the frequency of health communication issues published in Journal of Communication and Media Research (JCMR) as a percentage of the total publications, the dominant themes on health communication in the JCMR and the dominant research designs used in the studies on health communication in the JCMR. A qualitative research design was employed in this study with survey of literature in the JCMR. The study found that the average coverage of health communication by health communication scholars in JCMR. was the predominant thematic area of health communication covered by JCMR. It established that the theme of assessment and evaluation of health interventions and campaigns and the theme of Doctor-Patient Communication is the lowest area of attention. This can be justified by the fact that it is relatively a new area of health communication research in Nigeria. It was discovered that majority of researchers did not specify the research design employed in the various articles in JCMR while case study research was the dominant design that scholars used in JCMR.
Keywords: Evaluation, Frequency, Research design, health communication, publication, validity
Evaluation of Research Skills Application among Colleges of Education Lecturers in Kaduna State (Published)
The study focused on evaluation of research skills application among lecturers of Colleges of Education in Kaduna State. The descriptive survey design of causal comparative type was adopted in the study with a population of 206 academic staff in colleges of education in Kaduna State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted for the study using the researcher’s developed instrument entitled “Evaluation of Research Skills Opinion Questionnaire” (ERSOQ). To ensure appropriate validity and reliability of the ERSOQ, it was given to three experts, two in Measurement and Evaluation and one in English Language, to ensure face and content validity of the instrument. The instrument was pilot tested using Cronbach Alpha reliability method and the index ranged from .71 to .85. The stated null hypotheses were tested using population and independent sample t-test and the result of the data analysis revealed that research skills application among lecturers of Colleges of Education is low. It was also revealed that research skills application among lecturers of Colleges of Education is high in terms of literature review and data collection. The study also pinpoints the implication of research skills acquisition as a tool for functional education and quality research delivery. It was recommended that there should be adequate training for academic staff to equip them with the necessary training to plan and implement research activities.
Keywords: Evaluation, Kaduna State, Research skills application
Evaluation of General Studies Computer Based Tests in Universities in South West Nigeria (Published)
There are perceived short – comings such as server and power failure, denials of right choice of types of examination, limited CBT centres, problem of state of the students’ computer literacy and accessibility, inadequate computers and internet facilities in some universities. The study evaluated the general studies computer based tests in Universities in South West Nigeria. The purpose was to ascertain the extent to which the objectives of General Studies programme had been implemented using computer – based test. The research design for this study was a descriptive research of the survey type. The population for the study comprises 60,000 100 level undergraduate students of 2016/2017 academic session and 330 lecturers in GST in both private and public universities. The sample for the study consisted of 1890 respondents made up of 1800 students and 90 lecturers selected through Multistage Sampling Procedure. Three self designed instruments which are used as General Studies Achievement Test (GSTAT), Questionnaire on General Studies Interest Scale (QGSTIS) and Questionnaire for Lecturers on General Studies (QGSTL) were used. Face, Content and Construct validity of the instruments were ensured and the reliability of the instruments was ensured using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis. The reliability coefficients of 0.65, 0.70 and 0.72 were found for GSTAT, QGSTIS and QLGST respectively. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages. All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study concluded that the students’ attitude to Computer Based Test for General Studies examination was positive and the objectives of general studies using computer based test were achieved and effectively implemented. In view of the findings of this study, it was recommended that both the Public and Private universities should emphasize the use of CBT for General Studies examination since there was positive attitude of students on the use of CBT for GST. Multiple choice tests should be used for setting General Studies examination when Computer Based Tests have been adopted because multiple choice tests are very effective for measuring students’ performance.
Keywords: Computer Based Test, Evaluation, general studies
Evaluation of Research Skills Application among Colleges of Education Lecturers in Kaduna State (Published)
The study focused on evaluation of research skills application among lecturers of Colleges of Education in Kaduna State. The descriptive survey design of causal comparative type was adopted in the study with a population of 206 academic staff in colleges of education in Kaduna State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted for the study using the researcher’s developed instrument entitled “Evaluation of Research Skills Opinion Questionnaire” (ERSOQ). To ensure appropriate validity and reliability of the ERSOQ, it was given to three experts, two in Measurement and Evaluation and one in English Language, to ensure face and content validity of the instrument. The instrument was pilot tested using Cronbach Alpha reliability method and the index ranged from .71 to .85. The stated null hypotheses were tested using population and independent sample t-test and the result of the data analysis revealed that research skills application among lecturers of Colleges of Education is low. It was also revealed that research skills application among lecturers of Colleges of Education is high in terms of literature review and data collection. The study also pinpoints the implication of research skills acquisition as a tool for functional education and quality research delivery. It was recommended that there should be adequate training for academic staff to equip them with the necessary training to plan and implement research activities.
Keywords: Evaluation, Kaduna State, Research skills application