A STUDY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE USE OF SMARTPHONES AMONG STUDENTS OF KADUNA POLYTECHNIC AND NUHU BAMALLI POLYTECHNIC

Abstract

The study investigated the adoption of the use of smartphones among students of Kaduna Polytechnic and Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic. Most research on smartphones use has often been concentrated on its use for academic purposes. However, this study specifically deals with adoption and use of smartphones among students in the polytechnics. Survey research method was employed with semi-structured questionnaire as the instrument which was administered to

325 Higher National Diploma (HND) students of Kaduna Polytechnic and Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling technique was adopted to draw samples for the study. The study adopted Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) as the framework for analysis. The findings show that majority of respondents own and fully utilize smartphones for different purposes. The study revealed that students devoted significant time using smartphones for academic activities. The findings also revealed that majority of the students used academic related applications like dictionary, visiting website pages, reading academic related document such as PDF files, word, et cetera. It was further discovered that accessing internet, availability of accessing many different information, portability of smartphone and others were identified as the factors that motivate usage of smartphone among students. The study concluded that Polytechnic students in Kaduna State adopted the use of smartphones for different purposes and devoted significant time using it for academics. The study recommends that students should be guided and counseled on the use of smartphone at the point of entry for their counseling unit, where they will be told how, when and why to use it. This approach will enhance their knowledge and understanding of smartphone use for academic purposes in a tertiary institution such as the polytechnic.