INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Information is a critical economic resource when utilized is capable of increasing the

knowledge state of an individual in decision making. Information is a processed data that

assists individuals and managers in taking the right decisions to enhance and improve job

productivity amidst the above listed information products and service (Popoola, 2009).

Radio has capacity to break illiteracy barriers, penetrate into the remote areas of our

rural communities with clear signals to inform, educate and entertain its audience (Edegoh,

Asemah and Nwammuo, 2013). The indispensability of radio for achieving development in

society has never been in doubt. Radio as a medium of communication is utilized to air

development issues to listeners in the form of various programmes and individuals are

exposed to happenings in and around their society, through listening to these programmes

(Asemah, Anum and Edegoh, 2013).

This explains why Nwabueze (2007, p. 65), cited in Edegoh, Asemah and Nwammuo

(2013) avers that radio is believed to be the most effective, popular and credible medium for

reaching a large and heterogeneous audience. Radio programmes inform, entertain and

educate the audience on several issues in the society. For example, issues bordering on

business, politics, education, current affairs, etc., are aired to create awareness. This study

thus, becomes imperative for it seeks to assess the utilization of radio educational

programmes by Mass Communication students of Taraba State University, Jalingo.

Statement of the Problem

Radio over the years has suffered a lot of setbacks due to advancement in technology,

invention of the new media and the conventional media. This advancement in information
and communication technology has brought other means of information dissemination such

as television, internet, and mobile phones, among other. The question is, with these mirages

of means of disseminating information; how relevant is radio to students and what are the

most preferred means of information dissemination among the students of Mass

Communication and the cost of accessing information by the students. This study thus seek to

unveil the various educational programmes utilized by mass communication students and also

determine the factor affecting radio educational programmes utilization by the students.

Objectives of the Study

The objective of the study is thus: -

i. Identify the types of radio educational programmes utilized by the respondents;

ii. Ascertain the level of utilization of radio educational programme by students of Mass

Communication Taraba State University, Jalingo;

iii. Examine the gratification derived from utilizing these programmes
iv. Identify the factors affecting the utilization of radio educational programmes by

students of Mass Communication, Taraba State University Jalingo

Research Questions

The research will seek to answer the following questions: -

i. What are the types of radio educational programmes utilized by the respondents?
ii. What is the level of utilization of radio educational programme by students of Mass

Communication Taraba State University, Jalingo?

iii. What gratification do students of mass communication, TSUJ derived from utilizing

radio educational programmes?

iv. What are the factors affecting the utilization of radio educational programmes by

students of Mass Communication, Taraba State University Jalingo?

Significance of the Study

Scope and Limitation of the Study

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

METHODOLOGY

This research will be based on the use of primary and secondary sources of data. The study

will adopt a survey research method employing descriptive research design of the survey

type. The researcher will make use of copies of questionnaire which will be administered and

on a purposive sample representing the research population. Fifty (50) students will be

purposively selected in each class of the Mass Communication Department Taraba State

University Jalingo making a total of two hundred (200). Purposive sampling will be adopted

to ensure that those selected were within the required age category and that they listen to

radio programmes. The questionnaire will be well structured in line with the objectives of the

study and the research questions, descriptive statistics such as frequency, bar chart, tables,

simple percentage, mean and standard deviation will be used for data analysis.

References