ABSTRACT
The purpose
of this study is to find out how students are affected by Magazine reading and
the various ways to encourage greater reading among students. This research is
based on reading habits of students in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra
state. This work will further feature the reactions and manner of students
towards reading magazines. In this research work, chapter two and three present
related literatures which have x-rayed what other scholars or theorists have
contributed to the study. We equally use this to present survey method. It is
used and it constitutes the presentation and analysis of data collected for
this study. The chapter four and five deal with the data presentation and
analysis. Also, the summary, conclusion and recommendations, where modest suggestions
are made on how to improve the reading habits of students in the higher level
of education are seen.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the problems
1.3 Purpose of the study
1.4 Significance of the study
1.5 Scope of the study
1.6 Research questions
1.7 Limitation
1.8 Definition of terms
CHAPTER
TWO
Literature Review
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Theoretical framework
2.2 Empirical Aspects
2.3 Summary of Literature Review
CHAPTER THREE
Research methodology
3.1
Research
design
3.2
Population of
the study
3.3
Sample and
Sampling techniques
3.4
Instrument for
data collection
3.5
Method of data Analysis and
presentation
3.6
Sources of data
3.7
Steps to ensure validity and
reliability
CHAPTER
FOUR
4.1
Data
Presentation and Analysis
4.2
Discussion of
findings
4.3
Summary of
findings
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary,
Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1
Summary,
Conclusion
5.2
Recommendation
References
Appendix
Questionnaires
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Magazine is a package of news events written in
analytical form. Because of the periodic nature of the magazine, information on
day to day events are not emphasized, instead it concentrates on giving
in0depth, focus, perspective, bearing explanation or interpretation of news,
since it has more time and considers pace to dig or investigate and also
research into issues and situations.
The magazine in any society occupies an
indispensable position. The magazine has been described as a daily historic document.
This is because it chronicles every significant issue or event happening within
society. The magazine serves to check such exercises its report, of issues of
the day. Thus, it is the most important source of reference for scholars,
historians, sociologists, politicians and so on.
Magazine is a big industry. It is capital intensive
and expensive. Its customer ship transverses its area of circulation, and it
often loyal. From its advertises who ensure heavy revenue to the buyer who does
same, it is all hopes of good income.
As a big industry, the magazine ensures employment
opportunities, fulfills its obligations to its employee by paying salaries and
Emoluments, helps in ensuring community development through provision of social
and welfare amenities.
The magazine has provided excellent facilities for
product promotion and advertisement. This is a most undeniable contribution ot
product development. Advertisements of goods and services give us information
on the merits and demerits of that product and help decide what is good for the
individual. Apart form this, adverts helps develop healthy rivalry between
manufacturers of similar goods.
Magazine has a vital importance in discovering
areas of societal structural decay, lack of amenities like potable water,
light, roads, medical and paramedical facilities. The magazine must then
address these issues accordingly with a purpose of ameliorating the situation.
One things that will be a recurring decimal is
that people have different views of reading magazines. That is to say, “what is
perceived is according to the perception of the perceiver” which is another way
of saying that people have reasons for choosing different media based on what
they want to get form those media.
As Awodiya (1974) points out that most people read
news magazines because of the durability of information gathered from them.
Magazine offers the opportunity to read, re-read, discuss and debate on the
information.
Macdugall (1984) believes that magazines are read
by some people because hey take the readers behind the events of the day’s
actions, relate the news to the readers, own frame work and experience, make
sense out of the facts; put factual news in perspective, add meaning to the
news and help point-out the significance of current events.
The above assumptions have made the researcher to
find-out the magazine reading habits of students in the tertiary institution.
This is the area of special interest in this project.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In ,
the very first magazine was the SPEAR
AND DRUM, but the very serious
attempt to publish a magazine started with publication of Nigerian Magazine in
1963.
One
major characteristic of magazine in at that time was the very
transience nature of their existence. For three years after Nigerian magazine
emerged, West African reared its head for a short span of 12 months
(January-December, 1966). A number of factors accoutered for West African
demise, but paramount among them were finance and ravaging Nigerian Biafra Civil
War at that time.
However,
this magazine, after some serious re-organization four years after the war,
resumed publication that lasted for eight years. That was the period between
1974 and 1982.
The
plight of has been very similar to
that of other Nigerian Magazines. Many of them often are off the streets, the
very month they started.
Given this transience Magazine, there is no gain
saying the fact that Nigerian magazine readers should now have a more steady
Nigerian periodicals that are serious, objective, analytical, purposeful and
enduring.
At
least, one that could compete favourably with Newsketch, time etc. it was with
this five need in Nigerian readers that the birth of Newswatch was created with
such riotous joy and since then, some magazines in this same pedestal have
emerged, these are “This week” African Guardian” etc.
Since this study is focused towards finding out magazine
reading habits of students in the institutions of higher learning, one question
may manifest, what use of Nigerian under graduates make of the information
gathered form the magazines?
In
the study by Wilbur Schramm and David White in (1949:106), it was discovered
that readers with low education attainment, sensational news and pictorials
materials. They also found out that those at the top of education curve tend to
use it less mainly for information and public affair.
Again,
a similar study which proceeded that of Wilbur Schramm and David W, which was
conducted by other communication experts, Paul Lazarfled and Patricia Kendall
(1948:439) also discovered that readership of magazines increases with higher
level and decline as level of education decline.
In
the same note, Obiajulu Emejulu (2004), maintained other materials are
routinely adapted to classroom and other educational purpose by resourceful
teachers. This makes for diversity, creativity and fun in the classroom.
Our
interest in students of tertiary institutions is not without convincing
reasons. Studies have reverted that high propensity to read magazine is
contingent on a person’s educational background. We therefore, picked on
Nigerian undergraduates believing that they constitute one of the higher
educational groups in the country. This is based on the studies we have cited.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
1. Magazine credibility is likely to
determine high readership among Nigerian undergraduates.
2. The need for information form magazine
may positively or negatively determine high readership among Nigerian
undergraduates.
3. The value of magazine may determine its
vital source of information to Nigerian undergraduates.
4. Gender determines high readership of
magazine among students in .
5. year of study influences the high
readership of magazine among students in high institutions in Nigeria.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The
research is aimed at:
1. To find out the rate at which students in
higher institutions read magazine.
2. To examine the nature of news stories or
features and articles they read and why they read them.
3. To examine to what extent information
gathered form magazine is made useful by students of higher learning.
4. To obtain scientific information
regarding the habits of magazine readership of Nigeria undergraduates.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
An effective magazine editor should have foresight
to always meet its target audience. This
study on media pattern in
has not been extensive as we think would have been adequate, instead an
impediment to dissemination of information. It is of this reason I was
motivated to carry out this research. This study will enable the editors to
give insight into what their readers want to read. Again, this study is very
important because it will help both editors and the media in general and for
scholarship in communication.
1.5 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
The magazine reading habit is fairly wide in
scope. However, in this study the researcher will only focus on the magazine
reading habit of students in tertiary institution, using
, Awka as a
case study.
1.6
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions are to be used.
1.
Does magazine
credibility determine high readership among students in the higher level in ?
2.
Does the need
for information determine high readership by Nigerian undergraduates?
3.
Does vital
source of information determine high readership of magazine by Nigerian
students?
4.
Does gender
influence high readership of magazine among students in Nigeria?
5.
Does the year
of study influence the high readership of magazine among students in high
institutions in Nigeria?
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE SUTDY
This
research work was immensely constrained by the time scheduled based on other
school engagements like magazine production and my final semester examination.
On
a similar note, not all my respondents returned their questionnaires as at the
time needed. So, many of the respondents shy away form the questionnaires.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
CONCEPTUAL
DEFINITION
1.
Institution: A large important organization that has a
particular purpose.
2.
Magazine: Type of
large book printed with a paper cover that you can buy weekly or monthly
containing articles.
3.
Periodical: A magazine published every week, month especially
one that is concerned with an academic subject.
4.
Audience: Group of people who gather to watch or listen to
something like play, concert etc.
Operational Definition
1. Institution:
This is the place where the research is carried out or the school I find my
audience.
2. Magazine: Analytical
book for the audience that disseminates day-to-day information.
3. Periodical:
Publication intended for general audience at a given interval, weekly or
monthly.