Believability Of Internet Sources: An Assessment Of University Undergraduate Communication Students’ Use And Perception

International Journal of Communication and Media Science

© 2020 by SSRG - IJCMS Journal

Volume 7 Issue 1

Year of Publication : 2020

Authors : Gloria Nneka Ono, Adaobi Olivia Okeke, Chiazor Anthonia Chiaghana

10.14445/2349641X/IJCMS-V7I1P101

How to Cite?

Gloria Nneka Ono, Adaobi Olivia Okeke, Chiazor Anthonia Chiaghana, "Believability Of Internet Sources: An Assessment Of University Undergraduate Communication Students’ Use And Perception," SSRG International Journal of Communication and Media Science, vol. 7,  no. 1, pp. 1-7, 2020. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/2349641X/IJCMS-V7I1P101

Abstract:

The study examined university regular undergraduate communication students’ use and perception of the internet as information sources. The main objective of the study was to find out whether the students use and perceive internet information sources as credible. The study was inspired by the researchers’ classroom interaction experience with undergraduate communication students on internet credibility and the seemed unending global debate about the credibility of the internet as information sources. The study was designed as a survey. Data were collected from 580 regular undergraduate communication students of three sampled universities in Anambra State through a structured survey. Results of the survey revealed high use of internet sources of information among the students. Result also revealed that the students perceived the internet as credible information sources. The perception was borne out of the students’ belief that internet sources have authors’ details, henceo their regular use of the sources for academic purposes. This implies that students believe in the credibility of the internet as information sources and therefore utilize them in their academic researches and projects. It is recommended that lecturers should expose and guide students more on the use of internet and in particular the most credible websites for academic interactions.

Keywords:

believability, internet source, perception and credibility

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