DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES AND DIGITAL LITERACY OF MATHEMATICS STUDENTS IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The inexhaustible use of computer and technology in this Information
Communication and Technology (ICT) age has made digital literacy skills inevitable
for all to sustain development. It is on this premise that the study examined
demographic variables as determinants of digital literacy of Mathematics students
in senior secondary schools of Osun State Nigeria. The study investigated the
demographic variables of Mathematics students from the point of gender, age
bracket group and school locations on digital literacy. The descriptive survey
research design was adopted for the study. The study population consisted of all
Mathematics students in senior secondary schools in Osun State. The sample for the
study consisted of 360 students randomly selected through multi-stage sampling
from one senatorial district. Digital Tools Assessment Questionnaire (DTAQ) used
for data collection was scrutinised by two experts for content validity. DTAQ was
found reliable at 0.80 through cronbanch alpha from 30 students outside the study
area. One research question was raised and two hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level
of significance. Correlation matrix, multiple regression and post-hoc analysis
statistics were used for the analyses. The results of the findings showed gender
correlated negatively while school locations age bracket group correlated positively
with digital literacy. Findings also showed that older age bracket has higher
influence on digital literacy than the lower age bracket. Further findings also
revealed there is significant influence of the rural and urban schools on digital
literacy with greater influence from urban schools. The study concluded that gender
has no relationship on digital literacy but age differences and school locations have
significant influence on digital literacy. The study finally recommended that efforts
should be made on rural students' digital literacy improvement and the focus on the
Mathematics students is germane because all the students are offering the subject.