Effects of Social Media on Researchers’ Attitude to Work at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of social media on researchers’ work attitude at IITA, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Proportionate sampling technique was used to select 82 respondents for the study through the use of questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using percentage, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results showed that the frequently used media on a daily basis, were emails (87.7%), Facebook (76.6%) and WhatsApp (71.6%) while Skype (24.7%) and Twitter (21.0%) were used on weekly basis. Researchers used social media to source for journals (14.8%), collaborative research (38.2%) and connection with families and friends (41.9%) as well as for online dating (7.4%). Furthermore,  38.0% of the respondents accessed social media from their departmental office, personal office (29.7%) and their individual homes (13.6%).  Researchers agreed that social media were essential office tools (37.0%), retarded their work (3.7%) as well as wasted their time (1.2%). Chi-square  analysis showed that there was significant relationship between the usage of social media and religion (χ 2=8.336, p≤0.05), marital status (χ2=14.81, p≤0.05) and rank/cadre of respondents (χ 2 =23.03, p≤0.05) while PPMC analysis results showed a significant relationship between social media  usage and age (R = -0.245, p≤0.05) as well as work experience (R= -0.33, p≤0.005). Social media has both positive and negative effects on  researchers’ attitude to work. Social media usage should be controlled during working hours to improve the positive attitude of researchers  towards work at IITA.

Key Words: Social media, work attitude, researchers.