INFLUENCE OF INTERNET ON THE ACQUISITION OF RESEARCH SKILL AMONG OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN KWARA STATE

Abstract This study examined the influence of the internet on the acquisition of research skills among Office Technology and Management (OTM) students in Tertiary Institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria. The research was guided by three objectives, questions, and hypotheses focusing on problem-solving, critical thinking, and report writing skills. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and the entire population of 244 HND I students from Federal Polytechnic, Offa, and Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, was studied. Data collected via a structured questionnaire were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and independent samples t-test. The findings revealed that the internet has a high extent of influence on the acquisition of problem-solving (mean=3.10), critical thinking (mean=3.08), and report writing skills (mean=3.15). Furthermore, significant differences were found between the mean ratings of male and female respondents across all three skill domains. The study concludes that the internet is a vital tool for enhancing research skills among OTM students. It recommends that seminars and sensitization programs be organized to guide students in leveraging the internet effectively for academic research, and that lecturers should encourage the use of internet resources for project work over recreational activities. Keywords: Internet, Research Skills, Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking, Report Writing, Office Technology and Management.