The Role of Information Gathering in the Rapid Social-Economic Transformation of Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to examine information gathering strategies in the rapid social economic transformation in Nigeria. The specific purposes of this study are to:
- examine the relationship between information gathering strategies and rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
- investigate the roles of information storage strategies on rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
- examine the influence of information dissemination strategies on rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
Review of Related Literature
Introduction
This chapter presents the review related literature on information gathering strategies and rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. The review of the related literature would be discussed under the following sub-headings:
- Concept of Information
- Concept of Rapid social economic transformation
- Information gathering Strategies and rapid social economic transformation
- Information Storage Strategies and rapid social economic transformation
- Information dissemination strategies and rapid social economic transformation
- Empirical Studies on Information gathering Strategies and rapid social economic transformation
- Appraisal of Literature Reviewed.
Concept of Information
Information is an essential part of all facets of life. It is such an important raw-material, that its acquisition and understanding is germane in decision making, policy formation as well as implementation for growth and survival. Information is difficult to define. Opara (2003) sees information as capable of provoking action or inaction in a recipient. Information is also seen as an input which reduces the level of uncertainty in an individual or organization in decision process (Onasoke, 2005). Uttor (1999) as cited by Josiah & Adeyinka (2007) defined information as data value in planning, decision making and evaluation of any programme. He goes further to say that it is a data that have been subjected to some processing functions capable of answering user’s query be it recorded, summarized, or simply collected that would help decision making. It is well understood in terms of books, journals, magazines, public and private sector documents of all kinds, whether published for mass circulation or unpublished and restricted or confidential in nature, results of research efforts which are made available to colleagues in form of reports, books articles and non-printed materials. From all these definitions, it is apparent that information is crucial to man’s survival.
In the cognitive viewpoint of information science (Belkin 1977 cited by Josiah & Adeyinka 2007) defined information as associated with a text which is the generator’s modified by (purpose, intent, knowledge of recipient’s state of knowledge) conceptual structure which underlines the surface structure (e.g. language) of that text. Information is an important raw-material that enhances achievement of organizational goals and objectives. Without adequate information not much can be achieved especially when it concerns decision making or acquisition of knowledge. Ajayi (2007) opined that information is vital to decision makers at all level in all circumstances. However, there is always a need for individuals to obtain relevant information as Meyer (2003) submitted; information helps in reducing the degree of uncertainty in the day-to-day running of any organization.
McCreadie and Rice (1999) cited by Andrew (2000) review concepts of information proposed over the last fifty years. A summary of the concepts they consider is given below.
- Information as a representation of knowledge: Information is stored knowledge. Traditionally the storage medium has been books, but increasingly electronic media are becoming important.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter presents the method that was employed by the researcher in carrying out the study. It was discussed under the following sub-headings:
- Research Design
- Sources of data
- Population, Sample and sampling technique(s)
- Validity
- Reliability
- Procedure for Data Collection.
- Method of Data Analysis.
- Ethical consideration
Research Design
The research design that was adopted for this study is a descriptive design of correlational type. Daramola (2012) viewed descriptive survey as a systematic attempt to describe the characteristics of a given population or areas of interest factually. In the same view, Oke (2005) stated that descriptive survey attempts to describe and interpret condition, relationship that exist or the attitude of people or events, the attitude of people toward event and ideas, the trends that are developing. Using this approach various situations relating to the information gathering strategies and rapid social economic transformation were described and analyzed in a manner that would allow respondents to present their views on items of questionnaire as they perceived it, in order to provide a far fetching solution to the research problem. Therefore, the data obtained were examined to determine the extent to which variables like: information gathering, storage, and dissemination influence the rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Sources of Data
The data for this study were generated from two main sources; Primary sources and secondary sources. The primary sources include questionnaire, interviews and observation. The secondary sources include journals, bulletins, textbooks and the internet.
Population, Sample and Sampling Techniques
The target population of this study is made up of Administrative personnel of The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Preliminary investigation shows that the institution has about 547 administrative personnel which comprises of 305 senior staff cadre and 242 junior staff cadre. Table 1 below reveals the analysis of the two broad categories of the administrative staff in the polytechnic.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Data analysis
The study focused on Information gathering Strategies and Rapid social economic transformation in Nigeria, using the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State as case study. One main and three operational hypotheses were discussed as follows in this chapter. Pearson product-moment correlation statistics was used to test all the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance as a standard region of decision of the hypotheses.
Hypothesis Testing
There are one main and three operational hypotheses set to guide the study. Pearson product-moment correlation statistic was used to test all the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.
Main Hypothesis
Ho: There is no significant relationship between information gathering strategies and rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
This chapter presents summary and conclusion drawn from the research carried out on information gathering strategies and rapid social economic transformation in Nigeria, using the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State as case study. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the study.
Summary
This study was carried out to determine the relationship between information gathering strategies and rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State. Information gathering strategies were examined in terms of information gathering strategy, information storage strategy, and information dissemination strategy of the administrative personnel of the institution while the rapid social economic transformation were examined using the administrative time management skill, conflict management skill and decision making skill. Related literature on the variables of the study was reviewed. One main and three operational hypotheses were formulated and tested using inferential statistics of Pearson product moment correlation statistic at 0.05 level of significant. 164 administrative personnel comprise of both junior and senior cadre were sampled for the study.
The summary of the findings are as follows:
- There was significant relationship between information gathering strategies and rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan Oyo State.
- There was significant relationship between information gathering strategy and rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.
- There was significant relationship between information storage strategy and rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.
- There was significant relationship between information dissemination strategy and rapid social economic transformation of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Conclusion
The results of the study have shown that information gathering strategy, information storage strategy and information dissemination strategy of the polytechnic Ibadan administrative personnel have significant impact on their effectiveness. It also shows that, the administrative personnel of the polytechnic Ibadan acquires their needed information through harmonious relationship with both student and other staff member of the school, careful observation of the institution surroundings and suggestion box. The study also reveals that information gathered by the administrators were being stored using files and cabinet, computer devices, external storage devices and cloud storage while they disseminate information using school website in the case of disseminating to the general public, school notice board, suggestion box and circulars and memo in case of disseminating with in the school, say to student and other staff.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made;
- The administrators of the school should introduce bulletin as a method of passing information to all sundry (school and general public).
- The polytechnic administrative personnel should be subjected to in-service training on information technology usage so as to keep them in-line with the skills required by technological innovation.
- The key administrative personnel office(s) in the polytechnic should also be automated to enhance personnel effectiveness.
Suggestion for Further Studies
This study suggested that further studies should be made on a larger population such as university level and even on a national level.
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