Factors influencing the adoption of smartphones by undergraduate students at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria

Abstract

Literature in Nigeria ha ve thus far c oncentrated on the adoption of mobile technologies especially
feature phones, hence, this paper deployed Rogers’ innovation adoption theory to explain the factors
that influence the adoption of smartphones among undergraduate students in Nigeria’s first s tateowned
university, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma . It was guided by a sample survey design. The researchers adopted the proportionate to size sampling technique after six faculties out of the eleven faculties were randomly selected. . Out of the 250 c opies of the questionnaire distributed, 243 copies were completed and returned. 17 copies of the returned questionnaire were considered unusable, a total of 226 students were used for analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess the unde rlying structure of the 20 perceived characteristics of smartphones The findings of this study reveal that, relative advantage and complexity were the only technological characteristics that explained adoption. Contrary to Rogers’ theory, trialability, obs ervability and compatibility with life style could not adequately predict adoption. In addition, socio -demographic characteristics could not sufficiently predict undergraduate students’ smartphones adoption. For communication factors, except for interperso nal communication, mass media use did not have a significant relationship with adoption of the technology. Apart from providing policy information to the university who may also want to explore the implementation of mobile learning systems, the results may provide useful information to companies who design, produce and market smartphones on how to target the student communities in designing their products and services. Furthermore, it could be beneficial to mobile application developers who design applicati ons for students.

Key Words: Smartphones, Innovations, Undergraduates. Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria