The work seeks to examine the influence of the Internet on communication research by measuring how extensively communications researchers have adopted the use of Internet sources in their research works.  Content analysis of 133 research papers was undertaken using journals published between 1999 and 2007. It was found that only 24.8% of the research papers contained indications of use of Internet sources while 4.1% of the 1878 references were Internet sources. The conclusion is that there is awareness and gradual adoption of the innovation.  However, this is slow when compared with computer ownership density and access.  Going by the assumptions of the theoretical framework – Technological determinism – adoption of the innovation is at the early stage, implying that influence is minimal.

^JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 1, No. 2, October 2009,  71 – 80. 

About the author

Emmanuel Ifeduba is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Redeemer’s University, Ogun State, Nigeria.

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Article Citation

Ifeduba, E. (2009): Use and citation of internet sources in Nigerian research and scholarly papers. Journal of Communication and Media Research 1(2): 71 – 80.