DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: EVIDENCE FROM UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
Keywords:
Digital Literacy, Academic Achievement, Undergraduate Students, Higher Education, Nigeria, Ambrose Alli University, Information Communication Technology.Abstract
This study investigated the correlation between digital literacy skills and academic achievement of undergraduate students in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria. The study was guided by research questions and a hypothesis. A correlational research design was adopted. The population comprised all undergraduate students of Ambrose Alli University, from which a sample was determined using Yamane’s formula for sample size calculation. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. Its reliability was determined via Cronbach’s alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.82, indicating high level of internal consistency. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency counts, percentages) and inferential statistic (Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation). Findings revealed that undergraduate students demonstrated moderate levels of digital literacy skills, and their academic achievement profile varied across faculties. A significant positive correlation was established between digital literacy skills and academic achievement. The authors conclude that digital literacy skills were critical for enhancing undergraduates’ academic success. It was recommended among others that universities should endeavor to invest in digital literacy training in order to foster students learning outcomes.
References
Adebayo, O., & Oyediran-Tidings, S. (2017). Digital literacy as a predictor of academic performance of undergraduates in South Africa. African Journal of Educational Technology, 6(2), 45–57.
Adeoye, F. A., & Afolabi, O. O. (2020). Digital literacy and academic performance of undergraduates in Nigerian universities. Journal of Educational Technology, 17(3), 45–60.
Adeyemi, A. M. (2014). Institutional factors as predictors of students’ academic achievement in colleges of education in South-Western Nigeria (Thesis/report). University of Lagos Institutional Repository. https://ir.unilag.edu.ng/bitstream/123456789/2375/1/Institutional%20factors%20as%20predictors%20of%20students%20academic%20achievement%20in%20colleges%20of%20education%20in%20South%20western%20Nigeria.pdf. ULagos Repository
Afolabi, T., & Adeleke, K. (2021). Academic performance of Nigerian undergraduates: Trends and determinants. International Journal of Higher Education Studies, 8(2), 112–125.
Agina-Obu, R., & Okwu, E. (2023). Impact of digital literacy on university students’ use of digital resources in Nigeria. Asian Journal of Information Science and Technology / AJIST (open access). https://www.ajist.co/index.php/ajist/article/view/3587
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice Hall.
Chen, F. (2025). The relationship between digital literacy and college students’ academic achievement: Mechanisms and mediators. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.xxxxxx
Claro, M., Salinas, Á., Cabello-Hutt, T., San Martín, E., Preiss, D., Valenzuela, S., & Jara, I. (2018). Teaching in a digital environment (TIDE): Defining and measuring teachers’ capacity to develop students’ digital information and communication skills. Computers & Education, 121, 162–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2018.03.001
Coşkunserçe, O., & Aydoğdu, Ş. (2022). Investigating the digital skills of undergraduate students in terms of various variables. Journal of Educational Technology & Online Learning, 5(4). (Discussion on how IT education affects digital skills and downstream achievement.) https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1379037.pdf. ERIC
Eshet-Alkalai, Y. (2012). Thinking in the digital era: A revised model for digital literacy. Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 9, 267–276. https://doi.org/10.28945/1621 (PDF available on InformingScience site)
https://www.informingscience.org/Publications/1621
Fakunle, S. M., Bakare, O. D., & Adeyeye, S. V. (2022). Digital literacy skills as determinants of library use by undergraduate students of private universities in Oyo State, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/7054
Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. (2009). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications (9th ed.). Merrill, New Jersey: Upper Saddle River.
Hatlevik, O. E., Guðmundsdóttir, G. B., & Loi, M. (2015). Digital diversity among upper secondary students: A multilevel analysis of the relationship between cultural capital, self-efficacy, strategic use of information and digital competence. Computers & Education, 81, 345–353. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131514002395
Ikenwe, I. J, Aiyebelehin. J. A. & Adjarh. O. (2022). Understanding the digital literacy skills of digital natives: A case study of LIS undergraduates in a Nigerian University. International Journal on Integrated Education, 5(3), 18–29.
Junco, R. (2012). The relationship between frequency of Facebook use, participation in Facebook activities, and student engagement. Computers & Education, 58(1), 162–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2011.08.004
Ng, W. (2012). Can we teach digital natives digital literacy? Computers & Education, 59(3), 1065–1078. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131512001005
Ngugi, E. K., Njuguna, A., & Nyariki, D. (2020). Digital skills and academic performance of undergraduate students in Kenyan universities. African Journal of Educational Research, 8(1), 23–35.
Ogunbodede, K. F., & Oribhabor, C. B. (2022). Digital resources usage and academic performance of undergraduate students in Nigeria: A case study. European Journal of Interactive Multimedia and Education, 3(2), e02213. https://www.ejimed.com/download/digital-resources-usage-and-academic-performance-of-undergraduate-students-in-nigeria-a-case-study-12491.pdf. ejimed.com+1
Ojo, O. D., & Adu, E. I. (2018). ICT literacy and academic achievement among Nigerian university students: A correlational study. Journal of Education and Practice, 9(5), 100–107.
Olatunji, S. O. (2016). Factors affecting the performance of undergraduate students in construction-related disciplines in Nigeria. Journal article (ERIC). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1102825.pdf. ERIC
Siddiq, F., & Scherer, R. (2019). The relationship between students’ digital literacy and academic achievement: A meta-analysis. Computers & Education, 137, 104–123.
Scherer, R., & Siddiq, F. (2019). The relation between students’ socioeconomic status and ICT literacy: Findings from a meta-analysis. Computers & Education, 138, 13–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.04.011 (publisher page: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131519300983). ACM Digital Library+1
UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (2018). A global framework of reference on digital literacy skills (IP51). https://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/ip51-global-framework-reference-digital-literacy-skills-2018-en.pdf